Just a short note to tell everyone my research trip is going well, but much slower than anticipated. I am already two days behind and working desperately to catch up. As a consequence, I will not be able to visit a few people and for that I apologize. Sorry. ------- I have been watching the Modern Ferret Halloween photo debate with interest and I am forced to say that I am quite ashamed to be associated with some of you. It is one thing to express an opinion about a like or dislike, but it is another thing entirely to purposely go out and attempt to distroy someone's livelihood. The decision to pull Modern Ferret off the PetCo shelves has angered me to a degree that few things have angered me before. To know the decison was precipitated by a few vocal humorless people, including fellow FML people, has angered me even more. People have said they are afraid the pictures in Modern Ferret could hurt the ferret movement, but thier actions have far worse implications. I *KNOW* Mary and Eric, and I can tell you that if you think they are making a living off publishing Modern Ferret, you are dumber than a mule in tights. If both of them started working for McDonalds, their combined income would probably exceed what they pay themselves. PetCo's action will cost them thousands of dollars, and could force them into default on their bills. If you don't understand what this means, I'll tell you. There is a very real possibiity that this could mean Modern Ferret has to cease publication. No more Modern Ferret. This is exactly what Fancy Publications has wanted. They use, and I have researched this on my own, discussing the problem with non-Modern Ferret people who have seen the unfair business practices of this organization. I find it quite interesting that the initial complaints have been from anonymous sources (and I am not strictly speaking of FML posts, but AOL and other sources as well). Fancy publications have driven almost every competitor off the market, from Pet Dealer, to dog and cat publications, to the recently lost reptile and amphibian magazine. They have made an effort to creat a pet-magazine monopoly. The loss of revenue because of a few loud mouth humor-challenged people forcing PetCo to remove Modern Ferret from their shelves is possibly enough to force Mary and Eric out of publishing. They, after all, have to be able to eat. This debate, no matter HOW disgised in self-grandizing retoric, is essentially one of degree of taste. Nothing more. To say you dislike something is a right, but forcing someone out of business because you wish to impose your standards on others is no different that what the CaCaLand Gestapo and Mental Defect Society has been doing. It is neonazi censorship at the very basic level: "I don't like your work so I will make sure no one can see it." It is immoral, unethical and repugnant. I am reconsidering my long-standing decision to assist strangers at great cost of personal time, money and effort. I will most probably quit the FML because of this disgusting and repugnant act by a few people. They are likely going to be responsible for the demise of a fine publication SIMPLY BECAUSE OF TASTE! I am outraged. We have all lost a valuable and helpful magazine. I beg those of you who share my outrage to do what I will be doing: I will buy extra copies of the issue, use a felt-tip marker to write on the front "I WILL NO LONGER BUY FROM YOUR STORE" and mail the issues to PetCo. I also will no longer be willing to help ANYONE, and I mean ANYONE, who actively supports Fancy Publications OR attempts to censor my rights to read what *I* decide is appropriate. In other words, why the hell should I waste my valuable time helping ferret owners, when ferret owners distroy the people who have helped bring ferrets into the limelight. I have no objection to people disliking something, but the attempt to put the one magazine out of business that is more responsible than almost any other publication to mainstream ferrets is obscene. I am ashamed to be associated with small-minded moralistic neonazis who, simply because they do not understand the humor behind an obviously faked Halloween photo, attempt to drive fine and decent god-fearing people out of business. WWJD? Help Mary and Eric. Email your support. Send letters of outraged anger to PetCo. Buy extra issues and ship them to PetCo with letters of irate disapproval. If we lose Modern Ferret, do you honestly believe Fancy will continue paying you writers such large amounts of money per issue? Do you businesses think Fancy will continue to undercut Modern Ferret ad--or subscription--rates? Do you honestly think the quality of Ferrets will be maintained? Pick up their other magazines and read them. That is what you will get. We are losing a choice because of a few hateful and hurtful people. That harms the ferret community terribly. My God, people, you have the right to not like something, but harming fellow ferret lovers is an act of hate. That is despicable and shameful. You are what you do. Look in the mirror and be proud. Bob C and 18 Mo' Ashamed Ferrets [Posted in FML issue 2786]