Questions:

Yk what I'd also like to add to this discussion? (TW mentions of dead animals)

I've seen way too many videos and "memes" and more of people just, goofing around with dead or half-dead fish. Ethical discussions about live seafood aside - the complete casualness with which people handle dead fish???

The most disturbing one I've seen was probably a guy on a boat putting his own head inside a giant cut-off fish head and wearing it as if it's a hat (and I'm 100% serious about seeing this. Tiktok is a wild place.) Nobody EVER picks up a dead pigeon or roadkill and plays with it like a ragdoll without being seen like a complete madman. Why is fish different? Why are they not seen as alive?

Now, this guy be desensitised to a sight of dead fish after seeing it often, sure. But still - I *really* don't understand how so many people don't really seem to see fish as.. living breathing beings?

Sure we eat some of them, but don't they deserve at least a little bit of respect, at least in death? Nobody is laughing at a whole chicken carcass in a super market, just because it has big glossy eyes (and nobody is displaying whole chickens with a head for sale.. almost as if it's any other animal, it's suddenly to disturbing to be reminded it was once walking around alive).

Why is fish an exception ? Why is it so completely normalised to not see them as animals? To not ever see them as alive?

I'm not vegetarian. To be clear. But I just think smth that gave its life to give me nutrition deserves at LEAST for me to not disrespect its body

When I was young my dad offhandedly told me he thought people treated fish with so much casual cruelty because fish can’t scream.

The words branded themselves across my soul.

As an adult I think he may have been joking. He payed no especial attention to any indignities fish suffered in our household but I could never forget. I saw fish in a different light after that.

Fish kept in tiny bowls, breathing their own poisons, dying by inches. Fish kept in cold tanks, casually disposed of. Fish touted as being short lived when they could outlive the better loved family dog if only they could breathe. Fish casually won and discarded in cheap plastic bags, thrown away a week later.

How they would scream, if they could.

buddy comedy duo i’m just sayin

Sometimes, I, too, feel like a wet rat reaching out to the sky

Everyone seemed to really need/appreciate this last time I did it so I'm doing it again:

them

HEY DISCORD USERS!!

unfortunately, discord continues to be the Worst Messaging Company Of All Time with its updates, and this time, its one that is not only a privacy violation, not only enabled by default, but ROLLED OUT SILENTLY, MEANING YOU MUST KNOW IT EXISTS TO TURN IT OFF.

i am talking about "clips", an exciting new feature /s that allows people to record you in voice chat without your knowledge or consent! Wow!

fortunately, you can turn this off, but its kinda shitty how they didnt tell you this existed at all, yeah?

settings > clips> the button should be clicked to turn it off

(note that it should be ON by default, you will have to click the button to turn it off)

thanks, discord, for Telling Us This Violating Setting Exists In An Update And Making Sure It Is Off By Default. /s.

reblogs are appreciated to spread the word.

LOOK WHAT ONE OF MY ROOMMATES JUST GOT ME!!!! it's a set of cups— soup can for scale! these will go great with my set of clear fish-shaped dinner plates... and my crawfish- and corncob-shaped salt and pepper shakers......

You guys just have to trust me on this one and click here okay?

Great job little dude, you're getting it all figured out