My Childhood SeaWorld Memories Are Ruined

[dualstow]

Has anyone seen this documentary?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackfish_(film)
'Blackfish' is a documentary about the idea that orcas and other animals held in captivity to perform basic tricks for human enjoyment...might not want to be there.

[MachineGhost]

SeaWorld is phasing out its signature killer whale shows in San Diego and moving to a new "orca experience," according to executives at an Analyst Day presentation, although there was no mention of changes to the company's other two theme parks in Orlando and San Antonio. SeaWorld's (NYSE:SEAS) move follows much criticism from animal rights activists and others, as well as the threat of legislation to ban the public orca shows and breeding.

[WiseOne]

I've always thought Seaworld is disgusting.  It's Six Flags meets animal husbandry - or cruelty depending on your point of view.

The one good use for it is that the Seaworld in San Diego has an MRI scanner large enough to accommodate whales.  It comes in handy for patients over the 300 lb weight limit for hospital scanners.  Or at least that used to be the case. There's some rule that prohibits using it for humans now.  Some administrator got all worked up about animal cooties I guess.

[MediumTex]

Is it like Planet of the Apes with a killer whale in Charlton Heston's role?

Rather than the scene with the Statue of Liberty, is there a scene where the orca drives by a Long John Silver's and finally understands the truth?

In a nod to Soylent Green, the fish says: "Everything on this nasty menu is made of my people!!!"

[MediumTex]

I've always thought Seaworld is disgusting.  It's Six Flags meets animal husbandry - or cruelty depending on your point of view.

The one good use for it is that the Seaworld in San Diego has an MRI scanner large enough to accommodate whales.  It comes in handy for patients over the 300 lb weight limit for hospital scanners.  Or at least that used to be the case. There's some rule that prohibits using it for humans now.  Some administrator got all worked up about animal cooties I guess.

How would you like to be the doctor who informs the patient that they are going to have to go to Seaworld for their MRI because it has a machine that can handle whales.

[MediumTex]

Has anyone seen this documentary?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackfish_(film)
'Blackfish' is a documentary about the idea that orcas and other animals held in captivity to perform basic tricks for human enjoyment...might not want to be there.

The sea mammals and native Americans could get together and open a theme park called "White Man's World."

The attractions would all be themed around white people being subjugated politically, culturally, economically and ecologically.

The gift shops would be full of things like faux human scalps and snow globes full of stale air with light-complected humans crammed inside.

When any of the talent tried to leave it would look like this:



Of course, they would just taze him and put him back in his cage.

[MediumTex]

On the Seaworld topic, my family and I have pretty much agreed to stop going to zoos.  They're kind of depressing, even the good ones.

My kids like going every year or two, but they don't care about the fish jumping shows.  They like the water park and the theme park atmosphere.

I've always thought that treating sea mammals like livestock was misguided.  If an animal is smart enough to be trained to do tricks, it's probably smart enough to be pissed off about it.  The exception would be animals that have been specifically bred for domestic leisure like most dogs and cats (though training a cat to do tricks is exceptionally difficult).

[WiseOne]

Cats brought up around humans benefit from the social interaction (I like to think), so it's not quite the same situation as a penned-up zoo animal forced to do tricks for paying audiences.

They definitely have kept their wild instincts.  I take my cats for leash walks and it makes a world of difference in how relaxed they are when they get back inside.  They've each managed to catch and kill something (one mouse, one bird), which made them inordinately proud of themselves.  I can't imagine keeping them inside 100% of the time, no matter what all the experts say.

Also, a cat on a leash makes a great conversation starter.

[MediumTex]

Cats brought up around humans benefit from the social interaction (I like to think), so it's not quite the same situation as a penned-up zoo animal forced to do tricks for paying audiences.

They definitely have kept their wild instincts.  I take my cats for leash walks and it makes a world of difference in how relaxed they are when they get back inside.  They've each managed to catch and kill something (one mouse, one bird), which made them inordinately proud of themselves.  I can't imagine keeping them inside 100% of the time, no matter what all the experts say.

Also, a cat on a leash makes a great conversation starter.

Do your cats walk in a straight line?

[WiseOne]

Not at first.  They'll mostly just explore and chew on greenery and throw up.  I've done this long enough now that they've decided what their territory is, so they've got their own agenda.  First they patrol their territory, then they go walking down the block up to about a quarter mile away (so far).  Sometimes after the patrol they'll just go to a favorite spot and sit and watch birds and squirrels. That gets kinda boring so it's a good idea to bring along the iPhone.

This definitely works better in the suburbs but doable in the city as long as you watch out for poison ivy.  That should be NYC's signature plant.

[l82start]

i saw something recently about how all the big marine mammals in captivity have a bent over top (dorsal?) fin and that it is rare trait in the wild but blaming it on captivity is controversial. I wonder if this documentary is the place i heard about this?

[MediumTex]

i saw something recently about how all the big marine mammals in captivity have a bent over top (dorsal?) fin and that it is rare trait in the wild but blaming it on captivity is controversial. I wonder if this documentary is the place i heard about this?

It comes from the constant attempts to flip off the trainers.

[WildAboutHarry]

[quote="WiseOne'] They'll mostly just explore and chew on greenery and throw up. [/quote]

I sort of envision retirement kind of like that.  At least the later stages...