This relates to my “animals aren’t cute by proxy of being an animal” post but it seems like a lot of people use pet symbolism and gear as wild animals. This is not inherently bad. By any means. Like at all wear your collars even though you’re a fox do your sits and give your paw even though you’re a wolf, eat your kitty treats even if you’re a lion. Most people do know that theriform wild animals do not behave like this or desire these things. But i have an icky suspicion that a lot of people who are wild animals attach themselves to these things not because they just identify with those things knowing it’s not typical of a wild animal, but because they need to unlearn a sort of human assumption that I’ve observed therians still obtain in a lot of cases.
Society teaches you that animals are not only below humans, but they are for humans.
Unfortunately, I am worried that some people may unconsciously view ALL animals as adjacent to “pet things” because they are animals. And of course they’d use pet things, because they are animals. And animals belong to humans. And we are forced to be a part of human society even if you don’t identify as such.
You are not immune to propaganda. You are not immune to conditioning.
There seems to be a group of people that attach themselves to these things without a second thought. As though it’s an obvious inherent component of being an animal. Anything can be a pet. Because it’s an animal. Animals are pets. Animals belong to humans.
In the same way pet themed children’s toys will include wild animals in their lineup up of cute bow clad collar wearing figurines or stuffed animals.
In the same way you could have a tiger in your childhood pet-care DS game or app.
“Pet theme” sticker packs and postcards will include a cheetah or two. Throw in a couple zebras while we’re at it.
Grown ass rich men will buy baby lions if they can get their grimy hands on enough money to have one.
To human society, animals ARE pets. In fact, this leads into a wider conversation about the exploitation of nature and the Christian derivative idea that it was the job of humanity to conquer nature and that all of it was put here in order for humans to use as they please.
Animals belong to humans. And to human social norms, they are pets. Just maybe dangerous and hard to catch potential pets.
Again, and please I beg you not to bean soup me. Please do not bean soup me. If you are wild and you like pet things because that’s just what makes you feel good and you’re aware that wild animals are not pets by proxy of being an animal, please do not bring that up to me. I’m not talking about you.
I’m talking about people who go “oh. I’m a wolf? I need to buy a collar! Because I’m a wolf. And wolves are animals.”
Was this decision made without a second thought? Did you decide you needed that collar BECAUSE you are a wolf? Not that you are a wolf WHO happens to wear a collar? And that’s all there is to it?
This is related to another concept I want to talk about later and that is the phenomenon of some therians perceiving animals as characters almost. Also in a very exploitative way. Something to draw, something to identify as, something to look at on the internet, and need desperately to be reminded that theriform animals are real and are out there and exist and breathe right now as we speak. They are not just characters. Idk.
