Words fail me with respect to the Halloween fantasy gore featured in MF's Issue #24. So, I'll not address those images directly. I have already returned the copy I purchased; and completed the required Returned Goods Form with the statement that I found some of its content "offensive". The lifeblood of a magazine is primarily its readers and advertisers. What *is* just as offensive to me is the *lack of respect* shown by MF to its supporters. Why would the principals of any publication make the *conscious choice* to knowingly offend a portion of its readership? To what end? And brag about being offensive on the cover? And be further disrespectful with editorial comments and by poking fun (in effect "thumbing their noses") at those readers who they already know *will* be offended? There seems to be LACK OF RESPECT: 1. For the ADVERTISERS who support MF and trust MF to provide the type content the ferret community desires. (MF loses readers; MF advertisers lose customers. Simple as that.) 2. For the INDIVIDUALS who submitted stories/photos of their ferrets. (Many of whom are proud of their submissions are now too embarrassed to show Issue #24 to others for fear of offending.) 3. For the CONTRIBUTING WRITERS who spend their valuable time researching and writing informative "gratis" articles that end up taking a back seat to shock-value features. (Alicia's excellent article on Helping Your Ferret Make a Great Recovery from Surgery---sadly, I fear will be overlooked in this firestorm re the gruesome/unfunny photos.) 4. For those FERRET OWNERS who have tragically lost their ferrets to horrible accidents and/or the abuse and hatred of others brought against their beloved pets. (How disrespectful--also to the memory of the beloved animal companion--to rekindle via graphic photos those traumatic memories for these already emotionally devastated ferret folks.) 5. For SHELTER OPERATORS who do see the tragic consequences of sadistic minds at work with regard to ferrets who have suffered REAL harm at the hands of dysfunctional people. 6. For the FERRETS themselves. (Publishing questionable photos which depict the dismemberment and killing of ferrets (albeit "staged") is indefensible....esp. around a holiday where it isn't even safe for black kittens/cats to go outside....much less be adopted from local Shelters!) So, what are OUR conscious choices if we are, indeed, offended? We have many. Too often, subscribers are a "captive" audience for questionable material in publications we trust. Thus, offended subscribers can, of course, do the ultimate: (1) Cancel your subscription and request a refund of your unused monies. (2) If your subscription is currently due for renewal, don't renew. (3) Remove the offending pages from your copy and mail back to MF with a request for a refund for Issue #24. (4) Those who are not subscribers can return the offending issue to the store where purchased and request a refund (as I did). (5) Do not purchase MF#24. (Stacks of unsold copies arriving back on a publisher's doorstep speak VOLUMES!) And, instead, contact MF directly requesting a reprint of Sue Peet's and/or Alicia Drakiotes' valuable articles. These are simple but effective ways to send your message of dissatisfaction. No need to put yourself in the uneviable position of being flamed by others with differing opinions. It can be pretty intimidating to speak out against the *big* names (no pun intended here, BIG!) who regularly post here. YOUR opinion is just as important as any one else's. Many will feel strong disapproval on MF#24, but may not have the time and/or feel comfortable to post publiclyl. Please don't think YOU can't do anything about it and, instead, opt to *do nothing*. By *doing nothing*, it will only be perceived that MF's in-poor-taste photojournalism IS acceptable to the *silent majority* of readers---and MF will continue and, most likely, ever so inconspicuously increase the amount of shocking content in future issues under various guises of "humor"...until you are desensitized to animal abuse/suffering. Do not let others have you question your own sense of what is funny and/or your Belief system in what is good and decent. Provide MF with *respectful* feedback of what you and/or your family consider distasteful/inappropriate in their magazine. Lastly, let's all not further this lack of respect for our fellow Beings by additionally having our hardworking and gracious Moderator have to sort through and reject a barrage of nasty flame-o-grams. If MF wishes to change the niche it seeks into something more "cultish" and prefers *not* to be supported by mainstream ferret folks seeking expert guidance and education in regard to keeping their ferrets as safe, happy and healthy beloved family members, that's their decision. It's up to us to take responsibility to provide MF with strong, but respectful feedback on items that DO, indeed, offend us. If MF continues to make conscious decisions to ignore valid criticism from the majority of its normally "silent" readers, then MF should not wonder "For Whom the Bell Tolls"...it tolls for thee. Sheri [Posted in FML issue 2779]