By David Futrelle
Browsing Twitter this morning, I came across this video, which at first I thought was just a joke.
But no, these things are real. You can buy them at Target and Amazon and, I guess, everywhere else where vomiting, shitting toys are sold.
While I was initially a bit repulsed, I realized that these toys are the perfect symbol of a time in history when the news, on a daily basis, causes me and probably billions of others to (figuratively) shit ourselves in fear or vomit in disgust.
These aren’t just toys; they’re cultural commentators. And they’re a good deal better at their job than most of the commentators I see on the news or in the New York Times op-ed pages.
PS: Consider this an open thread.
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@Alan,
I’m glad I found you music you like. Interestingly enough, Melloncamp came from my area (roughly speaking) of Indiana, and still maintains a home there. Don’t know how much you know of him and his music, but he’s big into helping the small family farms survive in an era of factory farming and land ‘developments’. (The song Rain on the Scarecrow probably sums up his feelings best on that score.) He also organizes the FarmAid concerts every year, though I have no idea how much those actually help the farmers.
Now on to a vent.
Last week a longtime player on one of the fandom forum games I’m on decided enough was enough and quit for good. This wasn’t a surprise, since she’d been showing major signs of unhappiness at this place and its staff for several months now. In her farewell post she left a scathing critique of certain staff members, their characters, and the direction and frequency of major plot events; much of it was accurate on what problems this site currently has.
Then a few days ago this woman posted a similar rant about the game on Reddit. And, well…if the first post can be described as burning her bridges at the old game, this post was her nuking any remaining ties to players there for many many years to come. She held nothing back in expressing her hatred of how this game had changed over the years from the one she started playing years ago and loved. So far as she was concerned, the current player base was nothing more than a bunch of adults who were really 5 year-olds squabbling over shiny things and clogging up the game cbox with Kawaii-Desu emoticon bullshit (because genuinely mature players can read intent perfectly in text without emoticons, nor are silly with each other just because?), and outright stating in a reply to a commenter that certain players sabotaged each other during ad contests to prevent them from getting the ad points (and insinuating that I was the main person doing this to others). Crap like that.
Oh, and while attacking the Mary Sue-ism of certain admin players, went after another long-time player that had nothing to do with the problems she was upset about, but who dared have a character that was related to one of the admin’s ‘special snowflake’ characters, and therefor made her just as awful a player as the folks she blamed for ruining her beloved game for her. This is a player that is one of the nicest people you could play with, and in fact counted the angry player as a friend – up until this post, that is.
After reading that second post, all I can really do is just shake my head and sigh that someone I originally thought was at least a fair individual, if hot-tempered at times, turned out to have a really nasty vicious side to her. I’m not going to confront her on any of her lies (of the things I knew something about, at least some of her statements were lies of omission), because ultimately it would gain me nothing. Just wish her well in her life, and hope that her cathartic spilling of acidic hatred over her former RP mates was worth the loss of respect and/or friendship they might have felt for her.
/vent. Sorry it got a bit long there, but I really had nowhere else I could post this without a huge risk of it biting me back in ways I don’t want it to.
Hi, do you mind if I post this here for any Brit Mammotheers who might be interested in joining up…
JOIN ANIMAL REBELLION!
Animal Rebellion is a mass volunteer movement that uses methods of nonviolent civil disobedience to end the animal agriculture and fishing industries, halt mass extinction and minimize the risk of climate breakdown and social collapse. In partnership with Extinction Rebellion, Animal Rebellion will mobilise 10,000 animal advocates for a two-week Rebellion in London, beginning October 7th.
OUR STORY
We have woken up to the climate and ecological emergency unfolding around us. We know it is of our making—which means we have the power, and responsibility, to stop it. Every day we know more about how we’ve reached this point. Every day it becomes clearer that animal agriculture and fishing are leading causes of climate breakdown and ecosystem collapse. Billions of land animals and trillions of fishes are killed every year in an unjust and unsustainable food system that destroys rainforest, depletes our oceans, and cannot feed the planet. We know time is running out. That’s why Animal Rebellion is here—to help end these industries now and avert catastrophe.
We are a mass volunteer movement. If you want to get involved in any way, full-time or part-time, at home or on the streets, fill out our volunteer form!
OUR STRATEGY
In partnership with Extinction Rebellion, Animal Rebellion will mobilise 10,000 animal advocates for a two-week Rebellion in London, beginning October 7th. We will take part in nonviolent civil disobedience to demand system change, and make sure the need to end animal farming and fishing, and transition to a plant-based food system is central to this conversation.
We are partnering with Extinction Rebellion because they are growing more powerful every day. In April they achieved a cultural breakthrough when they took over London for two weeks, had over 1,000 people arrested, were on the front pages of the news, and got the UK Government to declare a Climate Emergency. We’ve been inspired by this success and believe it will continue if more of us join. We believe that this movement is the route to ending the industries of animal farming and fishing and achieving justice for animals, because we know that climate catastrophe and ecological collapse cannot be averted while these industries continue to exist.
Extinction Rebellion is demanding a citizen’s assembly that is given the power to legislate and act in an attempt to halt mass extinction and minimize the risk of social collapse. What this means for us includes an end to the industries of animal agriculture and fishing, and to transition the UK to a sustainable and just plant-based food system by 2025. This will involve the provision of justice for farmed animals, to include recognition of their resistance to exploitation and their liberation from animal agriculture, fishing and other unjust practices.
We are promoting mass “above the ground” civil disobedience for animals, in full public view. This means economic disruption to shake the current political system and the industries themselves and civil disruption to raise awareness. We are deeply sorry for any inconvenience that this causes to ordinary people, but we act out of urgency and necessity.
We practice and emphasise nonviolence in all our protests, both for strategic reasons, and to create the world we wish to see.
We will mobilise and train organisers to build Animal Rebellion groups locally, developing the tools each group needs to address local and global problems together.
We have made some decisions about security and our interactions with the police. We have made a strategic decision to communicate with the police about what we are doing when we believe that is more likely to enable things to go well (which we can’t always be sure of). Except for the case where a small group is trying to do a specific action that needs the element of surprise, we generally don’t try to be secure in our communications about plans. We expect that we will be infiltrated by those without our best interests at heart and suggest people bear this in mind.
We are a mass volunteer movement. If you want to get involved in any way, full-time or part-time, at home or on the streets, fill out our volunteer form!
OUR DEMANDS
All partners in this ‘movement of movements’ are calling for the same demands on government to bring about the changes we urgently need. Animal Rebellion joins this call, believing that this presents a profound opportunity to end the animal agriculture and fishing industries and halt mass extinction.
Tell the Truth
Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
Animal Rebellion understands this demand will not be met unless telling the truth includes the government declaring that the industries of animal farming and fishing are leading contributors to climate breakdown and ecosystem collapse, and communicating the urgent need to transition to a sustainable and just plant-based food system, alongside other key issues.
Act Now
Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
Animal Rebellion understands this demand will not be met unless government action includes ending the industries of animal farming and fishing and leading a transition to a sustainable and just plant-based food system, alongside other important measures.
Beyond Politics
Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
Animal Rebellion understands this demand will not be met unless the Citizens Assembly has the mandate to discuss and power to legislate for the transition to a sustainable and just plant-based food system alongside other key topics.
We are a mass volunteer movement. If you want to get involved in any way, full-time or part-time, at home or on the streets, fill out our volunteer form!
OUR CULTURE
Animal Rebellion has a regenerative culture. We place love, care, respect, honesty and integrity at the core of what we do. We work hard but know how to rest. We are a movement that welcomes everyone and every part of one, so that no individual is left out of acting to achieve our movement’s goal. We are inspired not only by human action but also animal resistance, and we believe in co-creating a world with individuals from all species for a just and secure future.
Because we were all born into a speciesist system not of our making, our demand and message is focused on changing the system. We don’t exist to ask individuals to go vegan, but to change the food system in its entirety. So while we welcome personal change, Animal Rebellion’s actions focus on system change and demands that call on government to tell the truth, act now, and go beyond politics on the climate and ecological emergencies we face.
We know that to achieve the change we want, we must work together with other movements, and focus on that which unites us, and not our differences. There is so much we can learn from each other as we practice solidarity across our approaches. In particular, we practice solidarity with all those exploited and marginalised groups in our human and animal societies. Our culture is one where we believe every individual, regardless of species, can be free from exploitation and be allowed to flourish in their species-specific ways.
We are a mass volunteer movement. If you want to get involved in any way, full-time or part-time, at home or on the streets, fill out our volunteer form!
OUR STRUCTURE
Animal Rebellion is a mass volunteer movement, and we need thousands of ordinary people to find their courage, get involved, take leadership, make decisions, and build this action together.
As long as people follow our ten principles and values you can take action in the name of Animal Rebellion, without the need for permission. As partner to Extinction Rebellion, we operate with the same Self-Organising System. We are seeking a balance between being able to act quickly in response to fast-changing situations and being able to integrate the collective wisdom of multiple perspectives when needed.
We are a mass volunteer movement. If you want to get involved in any way, full-time or part-time, at home or on the streets, fill out our volunteer form!
OUR PRINCIPLES AND VALUES
We believe in a world where all individuals of all species can flourish, free from exploitation and the worst threats of the climate emergency, where we work consciously to ensure no being is seen as a commodity. As such, we believe we need a political system rooted in collective decision-making made with and alongside our multispecies kin, where creativity and compassion are prioritized, and where the diversity of gifts among all species are recognized and celebrated.
1. We are an anti-speciesist movement, that has a shared vision of change.
Creating a world that protects beings of all species, for generations to come.
2. We set our mission on what is necessary
Mobilising 3.5% of the population to achieve wider system change,including a transition to a plant-based food system – using ideas such as “Momentum-driven organising” to achieve this.
3. We need a regenerative culture
Creating a culture which is healthy, resilient and adaptable.
4. We openly challenge ourselves and our toxic system
Leaving our comfort zones, to work in alliance with multiple movements, and take action for change.
5. We value reflecting and learning
Following a cycle of action, reflection, learning, and planning for more action.
Learning from other movements and contexts as well as our own experiences.
6. We welcome everyone and every part of everyone
Working actively to create safer and more accessible spaces.
7. We actively mitigate for power
Breaking down hierarchies of power for more equitable participation amongst all beings.
8. We avoid blaming and shaming
We live in a toxic system, but no one individual is to blame.
9. We are a non-violent network
Using non-violent strategy and tactics as the most effective way to bring
about systemic change.
10. We are based on autonomy and decentralisation
We collectively create the structures we need to achieve our vision and mission. Anyone who follows these core principles and values can take action in the name of Animal Rebellion.
We are a mass volunteer movement. If you want to get involved in any way, full-time or part-time, at home or on the streets, fill out our volunteer form!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16BKrvognx0h5a70uyBe4Nde3evQUMrI5yp0q9buAiMo/viewform?fbclid=IwAR00xbpfUd31Z90vs1Nbw8vGVSlxZ9MAD59TLGagYHSuZ_QalCvSZ6Zwgpo&edit_requested=true
However, succeeding at the latter would necessarily force the former … and that is problematic. I, for one, find most vegetables to be unpalatably bitter, and I rely on the ability to get chicken fairly cheaply to meet my nutritional needs. Soy-based and other substitutes, though I’ve found them palatable, are significantly more expensive, and my budget is limited.
I find it improbable that I am unique in this regard out of all of the people in the world. Most likely there are millions, or more, in the same situation vis-a-vis these things.
Unless the world you propose to create also either lowers the price tag significantly on non-bitter, vegetable-based meat substitutes, or significantly increases the minimum income a person can receive, it will have no place in it for me or those others like me.
Has this been taken into consideration in your group’s planning and its political platform? Will there be assistance for people of limited financial means who would find eliminating meat from their diets would raise their expenses significantly?
@Surplus
It has not, which is one of many reasons they are foredoomed to absolute failure. Another is that you never get systemic changes by trying to harangue people into changing their personal habits, because the problem is systemic. It’s the same as trying to fight pollution by bugging people to sort their recycling.
@Redsilkphoenix: Jetpack Vixen, Integalactic Meanie – That sounds frustrating. I’ve had situations where people are fighting for what seems like pointless reasons and I feel like picking them up and yelling at each one, “YOU! YOU! Stop arguing!”
Which, yeah, wouldn’t work… In this case, too, I think you’re right not to confront the person who’s been complaining behind your back, but it sounds like an exhausting thing to have to wrap your mind around in the first place.
@Dalillama –
Agreed. It seemed, though, that the manifesto @Alan posted was going more after systemic problems than individual choices (?)
I mean, the way I read it, the goal was to stop large-scale farming, not to stop everyone from eating meat. But I’m probably reading it through my own filter, since I don’t see humans eating other animals as inherently wrong, but I do have a problem with industrial farming and the environmental problems it causes.
Kind of OT, but I’ve also been a bit confused in other situations with the term “plant-based diet” because it’s been used to mean a) vegan, b) vegetarian, and c) not necessarily excluding meat, but not relying heavily on it.
@Surplus – Yes, that’s the thing, not everybody is good with being completely vegan. I had a friend with multiple nut and soy allergies. She tried to be vegan for a while but it was too hard to find enough food.
I was just curious, not that these have high protein content, but do you like sweeter veggies like beets, carrots, cauliflower, etc.? (Cauliflower can be expensive sometimes, but it’s nice roasted. Carrots and beets are cheaper, at least where I live, and can keep a long time.)
Cauliflower is icky. I’ve found carrots, corn, and potato to be palatable.
Some people who don’t like cauliflower raw like it cooked, e.g. like in this recipe (I just use olive oil, put it on the pan, roll the pieces of cauliflower in it and sprinkle them with savory.)
But maybe you just can’t stand the stuff, which is fair enough!
Onions are the vegetable I don’t like raw. Cooked? Yum. But raw onions in a salad? Nope. I’ll revert to kid-mode and pick them out.
(Plus raw onions make me gassy, and farting detracts from my aura of dignity. This is also why I prefer lentils over red beans, speaking of plant proteins.) 🙂
Tiny amounts of onion, as a flavoring. No more. No beans. Salad? I haven’t seen one that could be rescued by picking bits out. Especially since they are prone to be slathered in some icky sort of sauce or another with one or another strong, disagreeable flavour — typically extremely sour rather than bitter, with some additional indefinable ickiness to it.
And that’s before we get into how many of the things in them have an icky texture …
Gimme a soy burger. At a regular burger’s price. 🙂