Re: The man who killed 10,000 dogs

On 17 Jul 2006 11:59:40 -0400, shore@xxxxxxxxx (Melinda Shore) wrote:

In article <61anb2tf7db6ueij1sho44afvpftfhsjsa@xxxxxxx>,
Michael A. Ball <Guardian@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
So, is this guy any more vile than the local animal shelter staff? Of
course not; he is just better paid--probably.

I'm not sure I'd use the word "vile" here and I'm pretty
mystified by the death threats (someone would really take a
human life for this?), but I can't see Smith's situation as
even remotely comparable to animal shelter staff. The
people at animal shelters have a much different role in the
community from someone who's found a niche market for
killing unwanted dogs.

It's kind of a standard joke among software people that any
problem can be solved by introducing a layer of indirection,
and that's what's happened here, I think...

You said, "Not all opportunities for profit need to be exploited." I
totally agree. I'm used to seeing things much as you see them, but not
this time.

You're unsure about the word vile? Fine, most any negative adjective
will do. As for death threats, people receive death threats every day,
for an endless list of small stuff. Even I have a short list of
perpetrators that I kill on sight. FWIW, making a threat and pulling the
trigger are vastly different--for most people; especially loud talkers.

Not "even remotely comparable?" to animal shelters? Smith does precisely
what shelter staffers do! Although I question his method, he disposes of
a waste product generated by a callous, self-serving society. That
society, lacking the guts, the compassion and the morality to deal with
the matter properly, turns to people like Smith, and shelter employees.

I don't like what Smith does, or that aspect of what animal shelters do,
but as Opinicus said, "The real baddies here are the owners/trainers."
I'd certainly take that thought a lot farther, but it is essentially
correct. I'd like to see everyone divert their disgust, anger, etc.,
from Smith to those who foster, support and encourage dog racing.

So much of the public despises what animal shelters do, yet they never
take a stand or make an effort to combat the problem; not even when it
exists next door or across the street.

___________________________
Don't sweat the small stuff--and most of it is small stuff. :-)
.