Problem!!

[Pandorachik]

So this guy in my class started talking to me, he asked me my interests, and of course I included bunnies!! I think he likes me, but right now I have absolutely no interest in dating!

Anyways, when the teacher is talking about things I don’t need to know about I doodle!  So I was making a wish list and a list of things bunnies require. That guy (Dylan) was flipping thru my notebook and saw a bunch of bunny things and doodlesHe told me he had bunnies. I asked a few questions and apperantly he has them in about 2ft. cages and free range around the yard in afternoon. Also a diet of only pellets and water. He asked me questions, and my answers apperently shocked him.  He said I spoiled them, they don’t need to be indoors, don’t need hay, ect.

I didn’t know what to say, luckily just then the bell rang just then. He also always talk about butchering them..

He keeps telling details! He has about 20 rabbits and always have more in the spring. I feel bad for them and feel like buying them all!!

My mom  and his mom are good friends, and she wants me to go visit his farm soon.

I am just so confused and pretty ticked off.

[RabbitPam]

Sigh.
He’s a throwback to about 20 years ago before much was known about house rabbits, care, life span, treating them humanely as pets, etc.

You won’t change his mind unless he’s open to it. But you can stand your ground and refuse to visit his farm. You can’t rescue them. You can just agree to disagree. But make it clear that’s how you feel, you think he is cruel in his treatment, and he can just stop calling you names (like spoiling them) and stop discussing his mistreatment of his rabbits.

Guys sometimes will bend over backwards to impress a girl they like. So if he’s interested, I am betting he will start to change his tune and even listen to what you have to say and make some changes to please you. If not, count your blessings that you’re not dating him and keep your eyes out for the next cute guy. Who loves bunnies. (Maybe hang out with some vegetarians.)

[Pandorachik]

Posted By RabbitPam on 02/07/2012 02:00 PM

Guys sometimes will bend over backwards to impress a girl they like. So if he’s interested, I am betting he will start to change his tune and even listen to what you have to say and make some changes to please you. If not, count your blessings that you’re not dating him and keep your eyes out for the next cute guy. Who loves bunnies. (Maybe hang out with some vegetarians.)

 

Haha yeah. This spring I am joining a bunny group!~I am so excited! There is also a guy named David I have seen around and I have as a friend on FB. He is super cute

AND loves bunnies, infact he has 1! Indoors too!  Rabbit lovers are always sweet. I am a vegitarian. So is he! Kinda my dream guy lol.

Has anyone ever dealed with annoying rabbit cruelty situations? :/

[Monkeybun]

All the time.

And not all non-vegetarians are bad! I’m an omnivore, and always will be

[Pandorachik]

^ Idk what part you thought I said vegetarians were better. But I think all ppl are great (Oh, especially bunny ♥’rs!!!!!) LOL

[Elrohwen]

I think it’s a shame when people assume poor treatment of animals must be the best for them. If someone said “I keep my horse in my living room” I would be shocked, but I wouldn’t say “Oh, all horses need is a field somewhere – you’re spoiling them!” I would want to talk to the person and see how keeping them in the living room was working and if that was where horses were happiest. It’s a silly example, but I just don’t get people who say “Oh, this animal just needs the smallest shelter and bare minimum of food – any more than that and you’re spoiling them”

Sounds like the other guy is much more your type 😉 I would just avoid going to his farm because he’d probably want to show you his bunnies and it would just upset you.

[BinkyBunny]

This is not uncommon. I have come across so many people who just are in a completely different world when it comes to their view of having House Rabbits — or just rabbits as pets, like a cat or dog. And those people will think we are just out to lunch or have some sort of mental disorder. LOL. Some will be amazed (especially when I say rabbits can be litter trained, and learn words, can be clicker trained). Sometimes they will get a look of “wow, I did not know that”, and sort of ponder it all. While others just don’t care and see a rabbits only as certain way and that’s that.

I am lucky to have a great father who always has been a strong, well respected man but was a softy when it came to animals, and he set a great example for me. Not only that, there are PLENTY more! My TV news director friend, my dad’s kidney doctor, Manager, etc etc. all are rabbit lovers. (Not that you have to be white collar to set a good example for the male gender, but what I am saying is more and more rabbits are considered as a House Pet — animal companion, for the professional sectors as well). Your guy friend hasn’t been exposed to this way of treating rabbits and so he is not able to be a good authority on house rabbit care, and his ignorance allows him to judge your type of care in a negative way.

So I agree with Pam and just tell your friend you will have to agree to disagree — and that because you have your rabbit as a pet, you do not want to know the details of his type of farming. (with regards to the rabbits). That to you it would be just like seeing cats and dogs in this position. And it will be a subject you do not want to discuss unless he wants to learn about House Rabbit care. No need to be meek, NOR aggressive. Just be assertive in saying your boundaries. And if he pushes it, then just repeat and change the subject. At some point he should just stop uniless he’s a real jerk.

Pandorchik – I think you will find that many of us will have similar situations, where you tell someone you own a rabbit, and they for some ridiculous reason have to tell you about some horrible past thing that happened to their rabbit when they were a kid or at some point. It’s like some sort of weird human reaction that I can’t figure out. I mean rarely does this happen when you say you have a dog or cat. They don’t go telling you the worst thing ever happened to their dog or cat. One member said that after she tells someone she has a rabbit, and they begin to tell a story, she quickly stops them to ask them if it’s a bad story and then stops them if they say yes. So this is obviously something that happens all the time to most of us. Just weird.

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By Elrohwen on 02/07/2012 02:50 PM
I think it’s a shame when people assume poor treatment of animals must be the best for them. If someone said “I keep my horse in my living room” I would be shocked, but I wouldn’t say “Oh, all horses need is a field somewhere – you’re spoiling them!” I would want to talk to the person and see how keeping them in the living room was working and if that was where horses were happiest. It’s a silly example

That is actually a perfect example because that is probably exactly how some people do see house rabbits..   It seems shocking to them.   And you are right, where is just plain human decency and respect.  I mean you can disagree or speak your own truth without being so disrespectful to someone.  You can be strong and opinionated without directly insulting.  The manners of some people — geesh! 

[Pandorachik]

Posted By BB on 02/07/2012 03:01 PM

Pandorchik – I think you will find that many of us will have similar situations, where you tell someone you own a rabbit, and they for some ridiculous reason have to tell you about some horrible past thing that happened to their rabbit when they were a kid or at some point. It’s like some sort of weird human reaction that I can’t figure out. I mean rarely does this happen when you say you have a dog or cat. They don’t go telling you the worst thing ever happened to their dog or cat. One member said that after she tells someone she has a rabbit, and they begin to tell a story, she quickly stops them to ask them if it’s a bad story and then stops them if they say yes. So this is obviously something that happens all the time to most of us. Just weird.
 

Yeah. I don’t get people… ugh. I am not looking forward to class in the morning.-sigh-
 

But at the end of the week I am planning to go see a movie with my friend, Emily♥

[LBJ10]

You know, he might feel this way but he might be more open to your way of thinking than you think. Boys are weird sometimes. Sometimes teasing you about things and saying things they know will make you mad is their idea of flirting with you. It could mean he really likes you and doesn’t want to admit it.

[Pandorachik]

LBJ10: Actually, I will let u knw that ALL I mean every one of the guys like me. I think its because I just am really nice (?). But I get notes in my locker ALL THE TIME!! Thing is, I dont like any of them! And I don’t have interest in going out soon… unless its with someone REALLY special.

[Stickerbunny]

Just let him know the things he was saying were not things you approve and if he wants to be your friend, he has to respect your way of treating animals. He was probably taught how to “breed” rabbits and treat them like that from his parents and may be trying to “impress you” even though it’s totally the wrong approach. You will have to deal with it as long as you have buns, very few people will understand them being house pets – the socially “acceptable” way of treating them is still small cage, pellets, never let them out and treat them like a hamster is “supposed” to be treated on TV. I have to put up with people telling me horror stories of how they abused/killed their buns through neglect, breeding, eating them… and these people laugh and smile the whole time they are telling these stories when tey learn I have rabbits! They think it’s actually a way to connect. Ugh.

Be respectful to him, there is no reason to be rude just cause he was. Just explain your feelings and politely decline the visit to the farm, since you don’t agree with it.

[Pandorachik]

Sticker: I told my mom I wasn’t interested. I have been stressed lately. Strangely I usually enjoy school, but lately I have been lacking. :/

[LittlePuffyTail]

Tell this guy to get out of the bunny dark ages.

[Eepster]

I don’t think trying to convince him to change the way he keeps his bunnies is going to get anywhere, since he is seeing them as livestock and not pets.

When one is keeping a rabbit as a pet one has totally different goal than when one is raising rabbits for meat and fur.

In terms of diet… When one has a pet bunny the primary goal is to keep the bunny healthy and to use occasional treats to bond with bunny. This means a diet that keeps bunny reasonably lean. When one is raising bunnies as live stock the goal is different. The goal is to fatten up bunny ASAP so that it is ready to slaughter quickly. Long term health is of little concern since the plan is to have the bunny in a stew pot in a few more months.

In terms of housing… When one is keeping a pet bunny the goal is to make bunny happy, get bunny exercise for health and to facilitate human companionship. As large a habitat as possible provides room for exercise and makes bunny happy. having bunny in the house makes the human more connected to his/her bunny. When one is raising bunnies as live stock, ones goals are different. Too much exercise is not desired. Too much exercise slows fattening up and makes bunny tougher and more muscular. Obviously one doesn’t want to get emotionally attached to ones bunny if s/he is planning to skin and eat the bunny. Also when raising bunnies for fur, having them out side leads to a thicker pelt and more predictable molt season.

In terms of breeding… When one is keeping a pet bunny baby bunnies need to be found homes. having an unspayed female can shorten her life span and one wants ones pet to live as long as possible. Spaying and neutering can also improve behavior making bunny a better companion. When one is keeping bunny as live stock baby bunnies just mean more meat to eat and more pelts to sell. It doesn’t matter that the female bunny won’t live quite as long, since she is making replacements. One doesn’t care about bunny being a better companion, since one doesn’t want to get too attached to an animal that will be dinner next week.

From a farming/livestock keeping point of view, the guy is actually right about how he keeps his bunny. Where he is failing is to see that your bunny is a beloved pet and that from that point of view you are doing everything right. Unless you can turn him into a vegetarian, he is unlikely to want to change how he keeps his animals.

[Pandorachik]

Posted By LittlePuffyTail on 02/08/2012 04:47 AM
Tell this guy to get out of the bunny dark ages.

 

Haha. I would, but, … I don’t think he would listen AT ALL. Only thing he thinks of bunnies is that there food. And he laughs AT ANIMAL ABUSE! Like it’s no big deal, and its fine. I don’t get ppl when they commit crimes,murder, animal abuse ect.! PPL NEED TO GROW UP. I just heard a story on the news about a 15 y.o. girl who grusomely murdereds anotheer little girl, just to know how it felt!  It makes me so sad. I really want to be a cop to take ridiculous ppl like this to jail forever.I can’t stress that enough!

[Stickerbunny]

I can get that he doesn’t feel strongly about them, given to survive on a farm you have to have a disconnect with animals, but to not be able to have compassion about abuse or for other humans who love animals…

[RabbitPam]

That girl is what is called either a psychopath or a sociopath. They have been proven to be missing a part of the way the brain operates to create a moral compass and a sense of both right and wrong and revulsion at harm done to people and animals. It’s a mental disorder. Killing for pleasure, human or animal, is never considered on par with animal slaughter for food. Very different behavior and motivation.

Meat eating, and being OK with how you get it to the table, is considered a more normal human activity, but it is a point of view that many disagree with. It’s rare to be able to discuss it to a reasonable conclusion, so often best to just drop the subject after stating your own beliefs and learning something about their different point of view. That can be done actually without either of you insulting the other, in person or in writing. (Like here. Remember, he can read this site too if he wants.)

[FrankieFlash]

Posted By Pandorachik on 02/07/2012 04:04 PM
LBJ10: Actually, I will let u knw that ALL I mean every one of the guys like me. I think its because I just am really nice (?). But I get notes in my locker ALL THE TIME!! Thing is, I dont like any of them! And I don’t have interest in going out soon… unless its with someone REALLY special.

 

hehe that made me giggle. Oh the good ol’ days of notes in the lockers. But onto your point, make it clear that you differ in opinions and in NO way are you going to submit yourself to hearing about cruelty or seeing it. I do what that person BB says does and I ask before hand if it’s a nice story or a sad story and I walk away or say “please don’t tell me that” if it’s a bad/sad one. The best way to deal with people who neglect/mis-treat their animals (unless its on a level that you can report to ASPCA) is to mainly avoid. Or if they’re just ignorant sometimes you can do something. It’s a very hard thing to accept that there is not much you can do and I still struggle with it almost every day.

[BB Administrator]

This is a friendly reminder to keep this discussion in check. We do not allow discussions of breeding rabbits for meat. This discussion started about how to deal with talking to a friend who has a completely different mindset. But lets stay away from getting into details of meat rabbits otherwise this will cross the line from how to interact with others who have an offending or differing viewpoint and into the discussion of meat rabbits (which is not allowed on this board).

Helloworld!!

[Pandorachik]

Admin: Yes, I wasn’t going to go any further about meat rabbits.

[Author]

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