I have to agree with Leese... she just beat me to the punch on her take
of the Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston thing.
 
As an avid cat lover (I have 11), I am hurt and sometimes offended by
remarks people make about cats.  There are many famous people who dislike
cats, too.  However, I don't feel an all consuming NEED to send letters
to every person who makes disparaging remarks about cats.  Just because I
LOVE cats doesn't mean that everyone else should, too.  They are just as
free to make their comments as I am to feel passionate about cats.
 
Sometimes people's remarks or feelings are shaped by misinformation and
sometimes it's simply a "fear" or a "paranoia".  I am terribly afraid of
scorpions.  If I saw one in real life, I would probably faint BUT... I
know there are people who keep them for "pets".  *I* think scorpions are
disgusting, repulsive, frightening creatures.... Scorpion fanciers would
deem me an idiot.  Oh, well.  I have no rhyme or reason for being so
afraid of them... I simply do NOT like them.  Many people feel the same
about snakes.
 
My point is, just because you love something doesn't mean that someone
else should.  Nothing anyone could say (or educate me) about scorpions
would change my mind.  The ferret community has a way of going overboard
sometimes and becoming fanatical.  An apology egged on by thousands of
fanatical, righteous, demanding, rude, and threatening pieces of mail is
a "forced" apology and THAT is an insincere apology.
 
Renee
[Posted in FML issue 4396]