>Was checking out Petsmart on-line and saw some disturbing products
>and information on ferrets.
 
It seems that on the website they unfortunately group "ferrets" with
"small animals" - which latter category usually means rodents.  The
descriptions for these items don't mention ferrets specifically, but
they do show up under the "Ferret Shop".  I don't think Petsmart meant
to mislead, but yes this could definitely be confusing to a new ferret
owner.  I'm pretty confident my ferrets wouldn't go for wood chews,
though....
 
In their stores these items aren't racked in the ferret section, so I
think this is simply a mistake on the website - though one they should
fix.
 
Petsmart *does* carry Kaytee foods though, which I find irresponsible in
itself.
 
  -----------
 
>Nueby was left with the water trickling in the shower and a 10 lbs
>bag of cat food on the floor ripped open.
 
I am totally sickened by this.  Is it just me, or does it seem the ferret
earns the honor of "animal most likely to be abandoned in a vacated
apartment."  Imagine yourself locked in these conditions for 1-2 years;
that's probably what it seemed like to this poor ferret.  At least these
people left him food and water unlike many similar stories we have heard.
(And hearing just ONE of these stories is way too many.)
 
So, Mark, did your illness affect you more than we know?  We seem to have
gotten the kinder, gentler Death Adder back. ;-)  Welcome back, man.
 
 ------------
 
Well-crafted satire is a high art, for sure.  We have to be careful with
it though; there is a very fine line between good satire and outright
abuse.  The distinction depends on the author's intent, the audience's
receptivity to satire, and even the language used.  And sadly many
people, particularly those who take themselves too seriously, will
*never* be receptive to satire no matter how well-crafted it is.  (a
la Bob, I'm not pointing fingers, just pointing out facts!)
 
Whether you choose to attack, satirize, or write kindly, the most
important point is that you MUST make clear what your intentions are -
you must point out what it is you hope to accomplish, or what you hope
to have changed.
 
By writing in all forms, the ferret community got Ben S. to apologize.
Continuing to attack the sincerity of his apology will accomplish
nothing.  If he doesn't sincerely believe his own words, no amount of
letter writing - kindly or otherwise - is going to change that basic
fact.  So what do we hope to accomplish by persisting?  Sometimes you
have to cut your losses and wait to win the larger battle.  Ben
apologized; remember that however insincere he may have been, a large
part of the public is easily swayed by the most insincere of actors -
and politicians.  I have to call that a reasonable win; the best we're
going to get.
 
Not to mention that acting is very the business of insincerity - the
business of getting people to believe you are someone or something you
aren't.
 
roger
missing bear, lancelot and kodi
[Posted in FML issue 4400]