Kitty's gonna get you!

XCheck

XCheck

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Hearing this from our friend K., my wife and I burst out laughing. Same people, different times.

The last time we heard this was about two years ago, when K. was instructing his daughter to stay close to him when we were walking in the wilderness of Vancouver Island. You know, kitty=cougar.

This time around, it was K. instructing his two years younger son not to get to close to our cat Fluffy, which is an adult cat that grew up with two kids in the house, which is to say - pretty harmless.

Undoubtedly, K. has the right to conduct his experiment (as he likes to refer to parenting) the way he sees fit. What we laughed about was the exactness of the tone in contrast with the difference between the two situations. What struck me, was the non-discrimination between the real and perceived danger, and the use of words to describe the vastly different animals (even though they are technically cats).

K. is also an avid nature lover (which is one thing that makes us friends), and describes pretty much any activity of mankind as 'an open warfare against nature'. And here it stops being funny, IMO. I think bringing up kids with the idea that "Kitty's gonna get you" contributes to new generations growing up with fear of unknown (the nature), which they want to obliterate when they get a chance. Thus, K. may unwillingly contribute to the very attitudes he criticizes in the human race.

Of course, he sees things differently. There was quite a discussion after the famous words were spoken, and I found the subject fascinating. It might well be that I am dead wrong, so I'd like to hear if anyone has an opinion. It might be a good subject for a future documentary ;).

The question is: Is "Kitty's gonna get you" more likely to create a nature lover or a nature loather?
 
Re: Kitty's gonna get you!

Nature Lover.

Me telling my 4 and half year old son to 'Stay next to me on the trail..." because kitty might come and get him is instilling respect of the environment.
 
Re: Kitty's gonna get you!

Oh, don't get me wrong - instilling respect for nature is important if you want to bring up a nature lover.

It's the idea that nature is out to get us that I think turns many people's attitude into 'let's get it before it gets us'. Why else would people buy pesticidal sprays to keep spiders out of their houses? On the animal size scale, where do we stop referring to them as 'kitties' (ala pets) and stop calling them pests? Just asking...

I think it's somewhere near racoon's size. People seem to be evenly divided whether racoons are just animals that happen to like by-products of human existence, or pests to be shot or poisoned. Squirrels are already firmly in the 'pest' territory...

Keep the votes coming!
 
Re: Kitty's gonna get you!

I voted on how I was raised. I don't recall my parents ever telling me "nature's going to get me" and I am a nature lover. Almost to the point of it being unnatural. ;)
 
Re: Kitty's gonna get you!

I'm a total nature lover. But I ma also aware of my sorroundings and the environment. Wheter it be the mountains, desert or ocean; I think it's prudent to be aware of the reality of where your at.

I had a neighbors dog approach my son and me one day that acted a little 'aprehensive' towards my kid. I pulled my kid towards me into 'supervise' mode. Jared (at the time about 3 and half) wanted to pet the dog but kept getting his face in the dogs face and hands in the dogs mouth area.

I kept telling him till he understood "Keep your face out of the dogs face. Keep your hands out of the dogs mouth". This isnt a fear issue; this is just the reality of what is going on.

I bring my kid to the beach alot and constantly have to educate him on the waves and the cliffs and the undertow. This isnt instilling fear; it's merely educating about the reality of ones environment.

A lot of people claim to 'love nature' but they have ZERO respect for it.
 
Re: Kitty's gonna get you!

Quite the question to ponder. Many factors affect the lover vs. loather phenomena, so fear alone won't necessarily tip the scales. I live in an environment that is teeming with wildlife, including bears, coyotes, wolves, and bobcats. Although there are many, it is actually rare to see a bear. And yes, I have a healthy respect for/fear of bears. But it doesn't make me want to kill one. It humbles me.

One saying that kept my fear in perspective since I was a child: "Remember, they're just as afraid of you as you are of them." Mutual respect. If you don't have it, look at the other lessons your parents were teaching you, not "Kitty's gonna get you."

It's very sad that so many love nature, even as they abuse it out of existence.
 
Re: Kitty's gonna get you!

I think one either loves it or hates it.

I drive by the Ocean constantly and often think "I wonder how many people actually realize there is an ocean RIGHT HERE?"
 
Re: Kitty's gonna get you!

[quote author=Frizzle Fry link=board=Offtopic;num=1104872328;start=0#5 date=01/04/05 at 14:20:38]It's very sad that so many love nature, even as they abuse it out of existence.[/quote]
I agree. I had quite an eye opener when I went to Alaska a few years ago. IMO, 90% of people I met on the trip shouldn't have been there (possibly including myself). I am sure all of them would describe themselves as nature lovers - including the guy who was complaining on a wildlife watching boat tour "where is the ****ing wildlife? I paid forty bucks and seen nothin'!". I saw him later that day back in Seward, entering a 30' RV with an SUV on a trailer. ::)

It's only when you see how fragile some of the environments are that make you realize that people shouldn't really be there. Now, that brings up that whole 'what's human is natural' debate, but that's not the point. 'Ecotourism' is all the rage these days, and it is probably a step in the right direction - from freeways and super 8 motels every ten miles - but sometimes I wonder if it doesn't damage environment all the same, just in different ways.

I don't know if it's because I am getting older (and therefore lazier to travel?), but there used to be times I wanted to see it all - the polar bears, the pyramids, the coral reef, climb the Himalayas... Now I tend to think that National Geographic Channel will do just fine. It all goes back to Immanual Kant's definition of what's ethical: Imagine everyone does the same... It's just inconceivable 6 billion people should visit Alaska, even if they had the means to get there. ;)

And John, I am with you. I'll never forget the day I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time. I looked at some of the people cruising by and thought the same - how many of them ever realize there is an ocean right there?
 
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What's funny to me is how we refer to nature as if we are not part of it...I think that's where our trouble lies.
 
Re: Kitty's gonna get you!

I live in northern Wisconsin, where there is no mistaking the relationship between all living things. That is, until everyone from the metro areas want to experience it. It's amazing that, in their haste to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life, they cannot understand things are different up here. While they yearn for the quiet serenity of the lakes and the forests, they can't wait to launch their jet skis and 200 HP bass boats or snowmobiles. And pollute. And litter. And act like they own the place.

What a simple but profound conundrum: They destroy that which they seek. They transform our wonderland into the rat race they left only hours ago. Hurry up and relax. Tailgating, passing, cutting into lines, scramble scramble scramble to the lake.

And the once pristine will become the besmirched, exhaust-belching landscape I never wanted to live in. But not yet.

So why don't we feel a part of nature? Because nearly everything we (we collectively) do is pretty much incompatible with nature. </rant>

While I may sound a bit jaded, I do have faith in us. Nah, I hope Kitty DOES get you!! ;)
 
Re: Kitty's gonna get you!

I can dig the powerboat (jet skis and boats) analogy. I'm a purist by heart. Give me the calm of a 30' Sloop over a powerboat anyday. Maybe Aliens will come and take them away.
 
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I don't know Jerry, I wouldn't underestimate any cat, especially kittens!

They may look cute at first...
aba09b9eaaee847ca8f563b9e4814e55.jpg

but right when you turn your back...
catfight.jpg


Can you blame him? :D
 
Re: Kitty's gonna get you!

;D Cats are the devils minions. Just look at them. They never do anything productive. And they think they're sooooo much better than us! Sitting there licking themselves. GO GET A JOB!!!
 
Re: Kitty's gonna get you!

..i usually tell my daughter stuff pretty straight forward.  

"dont run into the street honey or you will get hit by a car. it will run you over and kill you under the tires"

"honey, dont touch the oven or it will burn your hand really badly"

"hey, let go of the cat or he will get you and scratch your eyes out"

.. its not really scary to her, a much as she percieves it as a reality since we have always been like that. we dont make a big scary deal out of it.. just tell her how it is, and she gets the point.. shes going to get hurt.  a little burn from the stove once confirms it.. or a fall off a chair.  but shes not afraid or disdained towards those things now, she just is more cautious, and more respectful. as she learns she feels a little more comfortable i think because the unknown is then the known. so she can understand her environment better.   but!

..it really all depends on how you say it. you can say the same thing and get a myriad of reactions pending your delivery. we've taught her plenty of stuff about animals to be wary of, but she loves them like penut butter loves jelly.
 
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i used to literaly scare the crap out of one of our cats when i was a kid. swing it around in the air by its tail. crap comes right out...poor animal. i dont take pride in this...anyway, i love animals and nature now though...so i dunno...
 
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I am lucky (???) to have a variety of friends/family with extreme attitudes toward animals and nature. One relative (no names please as this borders on criminal) used to put wallnut shells on a cat's paws, put the poor animal into an oven and turned the heat on. I don't know if being a kid at that time is any excuse, but I don't really like that person as an adult either...

On the other hand, a cousin of mine is obsessed with animals, and claims that who doesn't like cats and dogs can't like people either - which is probably close to truth. It can get extreme, though - I remember reading about a study a few years back that found that in large American cities, people are likely to mourn the death of their pet more than that of their grandmother/grandchild. That's sick.

But... loving pets is not necessarily the same as loving nature. I thought about this a lot yesterday. I think that an analogy with people is not entirely out of place. If I love someone, I want to be with her (yes, I am a straight guy, so it's HER) as much as possible, and do what's best for her. So, if I love Nature, I should be with her as much as possible, and what's best for her, right?

So, I think most people, when we say we 'Love the nature', actually love just the idea of it, nature being harsh and unforgiving (c'mon, who wants a woman like that?). When it comes to putting words into deeds, we just say 'nah, screw nature, I'll do what suits my immediate desire' - so, we treat her more like a street prostitute than a partner for life.

Or am I off the chart?
 
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