Actually if you lost 1/4 of your house because a squirrel chewed into the electrical feed and set it on fire, you might not feel such affinity for them.

I got a measure of satisfaction and a hearty laugh seeing the demise of another tree rat.

It's all about perspective- squirrel video wasn't funny to the people who nurtured the squirrel, but it was funny to many of us. And that doesn't mean we're sick or twisted or lack compassion. It just means that we're human and appreciate the humor in the situation. That's funny just like seeing someone slip on a banana peel is funny. You don't want that person to be hurt, but it's funny in the moment.

If you don't understand that, then you probably don't think the Three Stooges are funny. But many many people do!

quote:

Originally posted by prairieviper:
I guess I missed the funny part.

Then you're perhaps not one of us afflicted with the condition known as schadenfreude, possibly genetic.

Look, I'll explain the funny part: Mankind likes to impose his viewpoint and morality on the world around him, forgetting nature is cruel and doesn't give a shit what we think. When nature sees fit to remind man of his folly, it's a lesson. This one was vividly illustrated.

I was about half laughing, half sympathetic to the terrified screaming. It's a squirrel who likely would have met the same fate without ever interacting with those people. They tried to help, it went well until right up to the end. Mother Nature always gets a say, and she's mightier than us. Cry about it if you like, I choose to laugh instead. The cat's gonna get us all in the end anyway.

I love squirrels. Seasoned flour and lard.

Back to the bull bait: Esta bueno,es sólo una herida de carne.

quote:

Originally posted by prairieviper:

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by prairieviper:
Nothing funny about the squirrel video.

Well, I laughed. Must be something funny about it.

There are people that laugh at all sorts of tragedies and misfortunes of others but that doesn't mean those things are funny. It certainly didn't appear to be funny to the folks that had rehabilitated the squirrel and were releasing it back to the wild and were screaming when that cat attacked it.

I can tell you that often times, wildlife rehabilitators form a relationship with animals much like we do with pets. It's not funny to them to see an animal they have cared for die, especially tragically, anymore than it would be if it was a dog, cat or other animal where a bond or feelings of love and affection are involved.

I have to wonder what part of the video you found funny. Was it the alarm felt by the folks when they started screaming or could it have been just watching a helpless animal that had no time to adjust to a new environment get killed?

I guess I missed the funny part.

Lighten up Francis. The best part of the squirrel video, is that they call the cat by his name. They know the cat. It might even be their cat.

It's possible that they neglected their own cat, favor of the squirrel. I mean if we're inventing stories wrapped around the video of two things doing what nature intended them to do and all...

Slightly off topic but still about cats. One of my wife's cats will completely ignore me unless the dog is getting attention. When I stretch out on the couch the dog will jump up alongside me, lay down and make it known the she is to be scratched.

That will be allowed by the cat for a couple of minutes. When she figures the dog has had enough attention she will jump on me and push the dog aside. And the dog goes along with this. Cat is about ten-twelve pounds, dog is 65 pounds part Pit. Dog just gets up and moves away while the cat will push her face right in mine.

So yeah, maybe the humans "babied" the squirrel enough to make the cat jealous, and first opportunity....

A lot of folks hit the nail on the head, mother nature has a way of showing you who the boss is. I don't mean to sound harsh or anything but a squirrel doesn't come close to being a pet like a dog or a cat is. I must be sick too, because I am still chuckling about it

You folks that think the video is funny can spare me the philosophical platitudes. I don't think it's funny and that doesn't make me wrong. We will just have to disagree.

quote:

Originally posted by prairieviper:
I don't think it's funny and that doesn't make me wrong.

You aren't wrong for not thinking its funny.

quote:

Originally posted by David W:

quote:

Originally posted by prairieviper:
I don't think it's funny and that doesn't make me wrong.

You aren't wrong for not thinking its funny.

No he's not. He's wrong for trying to implicate that there's something wrong with those that do.

quote:

Originally posted by prairieviper:
I have to wonder what part of the video you found funny.

quote:

Originally posted by prairieviper:
You folks that think the video is funny can spare me the philosophical platitudes. I don't think it's funny and that doesn't make me wrong. We will just have to disagree.

Well, which is it? You might've saved me the time trying to explain if you hadn't posted your own philosophical platitude and then asked for a fucking explanation.

Only further speaks to reinforce my point about trying to project our viewpoint onto nature. The cat has no philosophical platitudes to offer, but you can learn a lot about nature just from watching it for all about about fifteen frames. Same with the bull.

It seems that bulls are not threatened by anything below eye level

I’ve never been a fan of cats.

Was surprised on Friday to see a housecat (possibly lost, possibly feral) on the ranch. At first thought it was a bobcat (we have those as well as cougars) but on second look it had a tail and was more orange than tan. Had to tip my hat to it for getting as far into the ranch as it did without getting eaten.

Don’t have a problem with tree squirrels (have only ever seen one on the place), but am thrilled to have coyotes, bobcats, and great blue herons on the payroll as they all feed on those dirty no good ground squirrels.

Sorry for the folks that did a poor job of managing their cat and had it ruin their rescue project, but that is nature just bigger than heck. You can no more blame the cat for what he did than you can blame any predator for feeding on his prey.

It may be black humor, and it may be at the expense of those who appear to have tamed a squirrel in the process of helping him recover, but there is humor there. Sorry if that offends you.

That's two threads in a row I laughed out loud.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyspizza:
It seems that bulls are not threatened by anything below eye level

I won't confirm it for myself but I'll try to remember that next time I see a bull charging at me.

quote:

Originally posted by prairieviper:
You folks that think the video is funny can spare me the philosophical platitudes. I don't think it's funny and that doesn't make me wrong. We will just have to disagree.

Good grief.

It was, in fact, funny.

Not as patient as all those who have been kind in the face of your sanctimonious bullshit, I call you on it: Get over it.