― oops (Oops), Monday, 26 January 2004 20:55 (twenty years ago) link
Once again -- don't misunderstand me. I'm not spearheading a movement to eliminate pit bulls, I'm just trying to fathom why a rational person would want such a dog (and for what it's worth, I remain unconvinced of their appeal). Perhaps I'm simply buying into the negative aspects of their reputation, but said reputation is steeped in some pretty grizzly fact. Also, I suspect many (read:NOT ALL) pit bull owners see them as some sort've tough guy mystique-enhancing accessory as opposed to a proper pet.
I don't know any pit bulls. I haven't had any bad experiences with them (my bad dog experiences involve Boxers, actually). I'm just puzzled by their appeal.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:00 (twenty years ago) link
― NA (Nick A.), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:04 (twenty years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:05 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:06 (twenty years ago) link
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:08 (twenty years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:08 (twenty years ago) link
― Felcher (Felcher), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:08 (twenty years ago) link
[/twee]
And pits are just better than labs. Sorry, but I think labs are more boring.
― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:09 (twenty years ago) link
― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:10 (twenty years ago) link
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:11 (twenty years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:13 (twenty years ago) link
― luna (luna.c), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:14 (twenty years ago) link
― Felcher (Felcher), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:14 (twenty years ago) link
I certainly have them to enhance my tough guy appeal.
Luna, I said SOME pit bull owners.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:15 (twenty years ago) link
― oops (Oops), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:15 (twenty years ago) link
― luna (luna.c), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:16 (twenty years ago) link
― Felcher (Felcher), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:17 (twenty years ago) link
Maybe I AM NOT CONVINCED BY YOUR EXPLANATION, how about that?
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:17 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:17 (twenty years ago) link
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:18 (twenty years ago) link
― oops (Oops), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:20 (twenty years ago) link
― Felcher (Felcher), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:22 (twenty years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:23 (twenty years ago) link
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:23 (twenty years ago) link
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0060537795.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpgIn her sixth true crime book (after The Embrace), Jones displays a remarkable ability to present an enormous amount of detailed information in a thrilling narrative that is neither sensationalistic nor maudlin. Still, this is a shocking tale, as Jones provides a no-holds-barred investigation into the brutal death of 33-year-old Diane Whipple after being mauled when savage dogs owned by lawyers Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel entered the "red zone," a nonscientific term used to describe dogs "in the height of attack mode... beyond human control." The incident immediately received major national news attention, and Jones elaborates on the sordid details that emerged, including that the lawyers bred killer dogs to be sold to guard illegal methamphetamine labs, a scheme run from behind bars by Paul Schnieder, an Aryan Brotherhood member whom the lawyers not only represented but later adopted as part of a planned bizarre sexual triangle. Combining investigative reporting with exclusive access to Noel as well as to members of the San Francisco Police Department and the district attorney's office, Jones explores the lawyers' self-styled gothic world, a human "red zone" involving pornography and bestiality that had existed well before the death of Diane Whipple. With its graphic descriptions, this book is not for the squeamish.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:25 (twenty years ago) link
(xpost)
haha basically you ARE a cartoon character to me, and I don't think I'm alone in thinking that here
― oops (Oops), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:26 (twenty years ago) link
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:26 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:27 (twenty years ago) link
Sort of - because people don't understand anything about them and only go by what they've heard and not their own experience. However, I know what mine are like, and those of my friends and neighbors, so I kind of don't care if other people don't like it or don't get it - they don't have to. And yeah, people have crossed the street to avoid walking by my dogs - but I chalk it up to ignorance. It's very clear that I'm not walking a snarling ball of rage on the end of a leash, but a happy, sometimes drooling, always tail wagging and obedient big ball of puppy.
― luna (luna.c), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:27 (twenty years ago) link
(goshdarned xposts!)
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:27 (twenty years ago) link
― luna (luna.c), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:28 (twenty years ago) link
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:29 (twenty years ago) link
I agree, which is what prompts the question.
I know the Whipple case dogs weren't pit bulls, but pit bulls entertain a simillar reputation.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:29 (twenty years ago) link
I'd put this same question to gun owners.
― luna (luna.c), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:32 (twenty years ago) link
Also, what's the appeal of a shotgun? (xpost)
I'm not saying this is a factor for Luna, but she is a woman living alone in a dangerous city.
― oops (Oops), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:33 (twenty years ago) link
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:33 (twenty years ago) link
xposts, whoo hoo!
― lauren (laurenp), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:33 (twenty years ago) link
― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:34 (twenty years ago) link
― dyson (dyson), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:34 (twenty years ago) link
damn x-post
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:34 (twenty years ago) link
― oops (Oops), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:36 (twenty years ago) link
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:37 (twenty years ago) link
― oops (Oops), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:39 (twenty years ago) link
and if it was legal to own one of these, people would too:
http://www.supposedlysane.com/busterdog.jpg
what's your point?
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:39 (twenty years ago) link
― oops (Oops), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:40 (twenty years ago) link
There are lots of reasons to own a pit bull, which have been enumerated at length. Making a major decision like choosing the pet with whom you'll spend the next decade or so should be a personal one, and ideally not influenced by others' stereotypes.
xp-a-rama
― JuliaA (j_bdules), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:41 (twenty years ago) link
you're the one who brought up the shotgun, I was merely pointing out that owning a dog in a city is something that is done in public.
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:41 (twenty years ago) link
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 26 January 2004 21:42 (twenty years ago) link