I was in the office pantry, when out of the blue, a colleague (A) suddenly mentioned that she has only very recently learnt that HDB does not allow the keeping of pet cats, and she wondered why. In the midst of explaining HDB's archaic rule to A (who has a pet Shih Tzu), colleagues B and C came into the pantry and overheard our conversation on cats and dogs.
Suddenly B declared that she just does not like animals, and that the mere mention of dogs and cats will make her hair stand. Then she raised her forearm to show us her arm-hair, as if to emphasise her point. Colleague C was so happy to share the same sentiment (of dislike for animals) and immediately wanted to give B a high-5. I took my coffee mug and quietly walked away...shaking my head, I muttered to myself: No wonder!
No wonder I don't have any warm affinity with both colleagues B and C. B is in HR but I've always felt her behaviour is so totally un-HR, meaning, unbefitting of a HR person. C is a new colleague and though I've bumped into her in the lift several times, I've never spoken with her, and neither have I felt the inclination to speak with her, which was so unlike me (I would usually say hi and introduce myself). I've always felt that there was something about C's demeanor that made me didn't want to bother. Perhaps it's their vibes. Their lack of affinity, lack of warmth and compassion for animals somehow came across in their behaviour or body language, in one way or another. I don't know, or I could be reading too much into things, but I've always felt that people who likes animals and can tolerate them tend to be warmer and kinder to people as well . It's just my hunch.
*shrug*
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17 comments:
People who don't like animals are missing alot in life.
I feel the same as you. : )
The worse ones are the new parent with a dislike for animals that they make sure their child also dislikes animals..
On another wavelength,are the ones that jokingly say we should put our housepets down if we complain about them. This group is mostly the one that have only themselves to think about.
I agree with you. I have the same experiences too. Those people are always selfish, egoistic, shallow individuals.
Anyway, they don't know what they are missing out on.
Why don't you tell them, don't like animals? Your ancestors are monkeys for goodness sake!!!
Trying not to generalise, but many people who claim not to like animals do seem to be less compassionate by nature.
Then again, the husband sometimes tells me (off) that I seem to love animals but can't/won't be nicer or more patient with humans.
It's something I need to work on. :P
Catdonna, I am like you too. Prefer the companion of animals than humans.
There are 2 kinds: The first kind does not like animals and the second kind are scared of them. My sister belongs to the 2nd kind. She is afraid of animals with fur eg dogs and cats, even hammies. But my niece, though only a year old, loves my kxbc gang. Too bad the kxbc gang is freaked out by this little girl. Note to self: Make the gang comfy with my little niece.
I have to join CatDonna and KXBC's group. While I enjoy interacting with people, I do prefer the company of animals... so much so that I find myself a much better person in their company. I'm kinder, more understanding and a lot more giving with animals.
On the other hand, I have two aunts who amaze me to no end. One is dead afraid of dogs and cats. The other has a huge phobia of cats, one she has no desire to get over in her lifetime.
In spite of their fears, both my aunts are very dedicated cat feeders in their estate. They will set dinner dates and get-togethers around their cat feeding schedule. They will feel terrible if they are late with the feeding so they are always on time. But because they are so fearful of the cats, they bring along with them a long stick (not to beat the cats with, but to keep the hungry ones at a safe distance away).
If any stray cat or dog is knocked down along the road, they will send it to the vet at their own expense.
They do this because they feel sorry for the stray animals going hungry or feeling sickly and not get treated for their ailments.
Undeniably, my aunts have enormous hearts even though they do not like cats and dogs. Yet, they will keep on putting up with enthusiastic cats delighted to see them, leaving them running away screaming in utter fear. Why? Because their hearts give them the courage to.
~5-Cat Style
Well all kinds made the world. Wouldn't it be a boring place if every single human being likes animals? Otherwise you all won't be here making and poking fun at them. Right? :)
Thank you all for your interesting comments. I didn't expect this post to garner so many comments, but I guess it's an issue close to many of our hearts.
5 Cat style, your aunts are indeed amazing! Thanks for giving us another angle from which to view the folks who are afraid of animals - being afraid of animals does not mean lacking in compassion for them. :)
The only comment that I have to disagree with is the one by anonymous (9 May, 1.59pm). Contrary to being a boring place, the world would be a much better place if everyone likes animals and will be kind to them. And we are not poking fun at animals, so I'm not quite sure what you were trying to say.
I think something was lost in translation, Auntie P. If you care to read carefully, surely, the "poking fun at" I was referring to wasn't animals?
Much better place if *everyone* likes animals? Take a good look at your hands. Are all your ten fingers of exact same length? Similarly, human beings come in all sorts of forms, shapes and characters with different mindsets - don't they? Or - in your perspective - they SHOULD all be the same because we are human beings? We MUST all love animals because we are human beings?
If that is the case, your and those who share your attitude and "prejudice" towards anti-animal types are no different from the latter. Similarly, the impression I have of you and other self-proclaimed animal lovers are no different from those Christian zealots who think it's so honorable to convert non-animal lovers.
Please note the key word here is "similarly". It does not mean exactly same :)
well..just wish to add my 2-cent worth of view...
i think every human had the right to like or hate animals. you cannot force a person to like an animal if in that person's mind, HATE meant HATE even if u list a hundred reason why animals are good for you, in the end, as i said, HATE meant HATE. you can hardly change a person's view of animals that easily.
As long as that person whom dislike animals do not go to the extend of harming the animal eg what those idiots love to do - complained to TC to remove cats or hit the animal, i am ok if someone told me that he do not like animals. so my point is "if you do not like animals, just leave it alone".
forget to add another thing, i will never talk to ppl whom dislike animals about 'animals' again....
Anonymous, I'm not into double speak or triple speak, so I'm not going to even try to double read your post and triple guess what your definition of animals is or what you're trying to say.
You have made assumptions about the "attitudes and prejudices" (to quote you) about the rest of us who likes animals. You know what they say when you assume - you make an "ass" of "u" and "me". :)
Not only that, you have made unsavory comments about Christians. I am not a Christian and I would appreciate it if you would refrain from making comments which are offensive to any religion, especially under the cloak of anonymity.
You have been warned.
Jennifer, I agree with your first post.
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