Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Posted by Momof3boys

Posted by MC09

Accidents happen, it's not like this mom tossed her son into the gorilla habitat, or she propped him up on a ledge to get a better selfie. People can ride that high horse to superiority all they want, but I'm sorry I just don't believe that something like this couldn't possibly happen to even the most overprotective of parents. Actually, I don't think I know anyone who hasn't had a close call with at least one of their kids. I guess I hang around nothing but crappy parents. This was a very unfortunate accident, and it's awful the gorilla was killed but was the zoo supposed to let the gorilla tear the kid apart to teach the parents a lesson?
Wtf! Why is the father's criminal history, how many kids they have, how they were spaced out, their family planning, or method of birth control even being brought up? It's all irrelevant and disgusting. Internet balls run rampant these days. The hateful things people have said about this family and this child, some of the bad things people have wished on the poor child, the race comments, the death threats, all leads me to believe we're surrunded by a nation of mentally ill people with internet access. People are vile disgusting pigs behind the safety and anonymity of their computer screen. It's entirely possible to feel compassion, empathy, and sympathy for both the child, his family, and the gorilla. It's not always a black and white situation. People just don't get that. The zoo is almost entirely at fault here. If you're going to go into the business of displaying wild animals to the public, you'd better be sure nothing can get in or out of those enclosures. Call me crazy, but I just don't think any 4 year old deserves to be mauled by tigers, even if he has the crappiest parents. That's something the holier than thou parents just don't get or agree on. In their mind, the children of less than perfect parents should be eaten by wild animals should they run off from their parents' side and manage to drop 15 feet off a cliff into a ravine so they have something to judge that day and pat themselves on the back for another day of perfect parenting.

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

On a different - and hopefully less controversial - note, this whole thing might have been the event that will push me away from zoos altogether.

I am an animal lover and I'm trying to take small steps to reduce the harm done to them in the world - cruelty free make up, etc.

I have volunteered at an animal shelters.

I have crossed White Post Farms off my list (the conditions there are absolutely deplorable.)

I really think I am done with zoos too.

Maybe if we have to sit there and debate about whether the enclosure was strong enough, whether the zoo or the parent was at fault, maybe that should tell us something about whether animals should be cooped up like that at all.

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

This mom might be an amazing mom 99% of the time. And yes, accident happen, and they are awful. But, to me, the crux of the issue is, the child said I want to swim with the gorilla before he went into the gorilla area. There was a moment where she needed to think I need to get this kid under control in this moment and not divert her attention to the other kids. That was the bad choice.had the kid just bolted for the exhibit and never uttered that phrase, I would feel completely differently and been on this mother's side, defending her. Should the zoo be designed differently, yes. Should the gorilla have been shot to protect the child, sadly, yes. But this mom, on this day, made a bad decision that had ramifications. Look, hindsight is 20/20 and we have the luxury of sitting behind a computer to analyze the decision that got us here. I have visited zoos, but I am not a big fan of them. I feel really badly that the animals are cooped up for what, entertainment?

Message edited 6/3/2016 9:18:02 AM.

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Posted by JennP

On a different - and hopefully less controversial - note, this whole thing might have been the event that will push me away from zoos altogether.

I am an animal lover and I'm trying to take small steps to reduce the harm done to them in the world - cruelty free make up, etc.

I have volunteered at an animal shelters.

I have crossed White Post Farms off my list (the conditions there are absolutely deplorable.)

I really think I am done with zoos too.

Maybe if we have to sit there and debate about whether the enclosure was strong enough, whether the zoo or the parent was at fault, maybe that should tell us something about whether animals should be cooped up like that at all.

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Posted by GoldenRod

I just want to make sure I get everything down properly....

If I take my eyes off of DC1 for 1 second to safely secure DC2, I'm a bad parent
If I use a leash to keep DC safe, I'm a bad parent
If I keep DC strapped into a stroller to keep them safe, I'm not letting them learn, so I'm a bad parent
If I take them to a zoo, they might not be safe, so I'm a bad parent
If I never take them out of the house, I'm not letting them learn, so I'm a bad parent.
If I turn DC forward facing before 4 years old, since that has been proven to be the safest thing, I'm a bad parent
If I let DC explore, they might get hurt, so I'm a bad parent.
If I helicopter parent every second of their lives to keep them safe, I'm a bad parent.
If I let DC CIO, I'm a bad parent.
If I comfort DC as soon as they cry, I'm a bad parent.
If I let DC alone in the house at 13, I'm a bad parent.
If I never let DC alone until after they are 18, I'm a bad parent.
Since car accidents are one of the major causes of injuries or death, putting DC in a car means I'm a bad parent.
If DC plays sports, they might get hurt, so I'm a bad parent
If DC doesn't play sports, they don't learn valuable team dynamics and don't get physical activity, so I'm a bad parent.
...

... and most of these conflicting things have been said on this forum, which is supposed to be mainly for women to help each other...

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Posted by itsagoodlife

Posted by MC09

Accidents happen, it's not like this mom tossed her son into the gorilla habitat, or she propped him up on a ledge to get a better selfie. People can ride that high horse to superiority all they want, but I'm sorry I just don't believe that something like this couldn't possibly happen to even the most overprotective of parents. Actually, I don't think I know anyone who hasn't had a close call with at least one of their kids. I guess I hang around nothing but crappy parents. This was a very unfortunate accident, and it's awful the gorilla was killed but was the zoo supposed to let the gorilla tear the kid apart to teach the parents a lesson?
Wtf! Why is the father's criminal history, how many kids they have, how they were spaced out, their family planning, or method of birth control even being brought up? It's all irrelevant and disgusting. Internet balls run rampant these days. The hateful things people have said about this family and this child, some of the bad things people have wished on the poor child, the race comments, the death threats, all leads me to believe we're surrunded by a nation of mentally ill people with internet access. People are vile disgusting pigs behind the safety and anonymity of their computer screen. It's entirely possible to feel compassion, empathy, and sympathy for both the child, his family, and the gorilla. It's not always a black and white situation. People just don't get that. The zoo is almost entirely at fault here. If you're going to go into the business of displaying wild animals to the public, you'd better be sure nothing can get in or out of those enclosures. Call me crazy, but I just don't think any 4 year old deserves to be mauled by tigers, even if he has the crappiest parents. That's something the holier than thou parents just don't get or agree on. In their mind, the children of less than perfect parents should be eaten by wild animals should they run off from their parents' side and manage to drop 15 feet off a cliff into a ravine so they have something to judge that day and pat themselves on the back for another day of perfect parenting.

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Posted by JennP

On a different - and hopefully less controversial - note, this whole thing might have been the event that will push me away from zoos altogether.

I am an animal lover and I'm trying to take small steps to reduce the harm done to them in the world - cruelty free make up, etc.

I have volunteered at an animal shelters.

I have crossed White Post Farms off my list (the conditions there are absolutely deplorable.)

I really think I am done with zoos too.

Maybe if we have to sit there and debate about whether the enclosure was strong enough, whether the zoo or the parent was at fault, maybe that should tell us something about whether animals should be cooped up like that at all.

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Posted by soontobemommyof2

Posted by JennP

On a different - and hopefully less controversial - note, this whole thing might have been the event that will push me away from zoos altogether.

I am an animal lover and I'm trying to take small steps to reduce the harm done to them in the world - cruelty free make up, etc.

I have volunteered at an animal shelters.

I have crossed White Post Farms off my list (the conditions there are absolutely deplorable.)

I really think I am done with zoos too.

Maybe if we have to sit there and debate about whether the enclosure was strong enough, whether the zoo or the parent was at fault, maybe that should tell us something about whether animals should be cooped up like that at all.

I can't even imagine what it'd be for a wild animal to leave within 4 cement walls, even worse for those that were born in captivity...they'll never be able to experience running free, smelling the fresh air, and exploring something new every day, it totally breaks my heart

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

I have twins. From the time they were walking age, they held my hand in a parking lot/street/potentially dangerous situation. If they didn't want to they got carried or removed from the situation. I am the parent. That said, I do not blame this mother especially seeing the setup of this zoo. It's asinine to have that tiny fence with such a small distance between guests and a 15 foot drop into a gorilla enclosure. I don't think she was a "horrible" parent, just one who lost site of her LO for a split second, which happens to the best of us.

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Posted by FirstMate

Posted by JennP

On a different - and hopefully less controversial - note, this whole thing might have been the event that will push me away from zoos altogether.

I am an animal lover and I'm trying to take small steps to reduce the harm done to them in the world - cruelty free make up, etc.

I have volunteered at an animal shelters.

I have crossed White Post Farms off my list (the conditions there are absolutely deplorable.)

I really think I am done with zoos too.

Maybe if we have to sit there and debate about whether the enclosure was strong enough, whether the zoo or the parent was at fault, maybe that should tell us something about whether animals should be cooped up like that at all.

I have to agree with you. My DS LOVES the zoo. He truly loves animals and will sit there mesmerized by them. I like animals but I'm not an animal lover like some of you are so I really had no clue that these animals are ever mistreated. I envisioned its like Madagascar where the animals are spoiled and loved. It's hard to listen when PETA acts up because they are just so extremist that I dismiss them. After this incident though, I feel so bad for the gorilla and think that

On a totally different note, yesterday, my mom took my 2 sons to the Holtsville Ecology Center. She sent me about 20 pictures of my kids in front of the various exhibits. All I kept thinking was "she better make sure my kid doesn't end up hugging the bear while she's futzing with the camera".

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Posted by SecretlyTTC14

Posted by FirstMate

Posted by JennP

On a different - and hopefully less controversial - note, this whole thing might have been the event that will push me away from zoos altogether.

I am an animal lover and I'm trying to take small steps to reduce the harm done to them in the world - cruelty free make up, etc.

I have volunteered at an animal shelters.

I have crossed White Post Farms off my list (the conditions there are absolutely deplorable.)

I really think I am done with zoos too.

Maybe if we have to sit there and debate about whether the enclosure was strong enough, whether the zoo or the parent was at fault, maybe that should tell us something about whether animals should be cooped up like that at all.

I have to agree with you. My DS LOVES the zoo. He truly loves animals and will sit there mesmerized by them. I like animals but I'm not an animal lover like some of you are so I really had no clue that these animals are ever mistreated. I envisioned its like Madagascar where the animals are spoiled and loved. It's hard to listen when PETA acts up because they are just so extremist that I dismiss them. After this incident though, I feel so bad for the gorilla and think that

On a totally different note, yesterday, my mom took my 2 sons to the Holtsville Ecology Center. She sent me about 20 pictures of my kids in front of the various exhibits. All I kept thinking was "she better make sure my kid doesn't end up hugging the bear while she's futzing with the camera".

That one bear has been pacing back and forth in the same spots for years. That enclosure is way too small (I know it seems like it's a decent size but it's way too small for 1 bear let alone 2 bears). He displays numerous signs of distress and for the handlers to ignore those signs is the epitome of why animals shouldn't be kept in captivity. Those animals should be released to a sanctuary. I feel so bad for the animals there. I will never go back.

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

Posted by JennP

Posted by SecretlyTTC14

Posted by FirstMate

Posted by JennP

On a different - and hopefully less controversial - note, this whole thing might have been the event that will push me away from zoos altogether.

I am an animal lover and I'm trying to take small steps to reduce the harm done to them in the world - cruelty free make up, etc.

I have volunteered at an animal shelters.

I have crossed White Post Farms off my list (the conditions there are absolutely deplorable.)

I really think I am done with zoos too.

Maybe if we have to sit there and debate about whether the enclosure was strong enough, whether the zoo or the parent was at fault, maybe that should tell us something about whether animals should be cooped up like that at all.

I have to agree with you. My DS LOVES the zoo. He truly loves animals and will sit there mesmerized by them. I like animals but I'm not an animal lover like some of you are so I really had no clue that these animals are ever mistreated. I envisioned its like Madagascar where the animals are spoiled and loved. It's hard to listen when PETA acts up because they are just so extremist that I dismiss them. After this incident though, I feel so bad for the gorilla and think that

On a totally different note, yesterday, my mom took my 2 sons to the Holtsville Ecology Center. She sent me about 20 pictures of my kids in front of the various exhibits. All I kept thinking was "she better make sure my kid doesn't end up hugging the bear while she's futzing with the camera".

That one bear has been pacing back and forth in the same spots for years. That enclosure is way too small (I know it seems like it's a decent size but it's way too small for 1 bear let alone 2 bears). He displays numerous signs of distress and for the handlers to ignore those signs is the epitome of why animals shouldn't be kept in captivity. Those animals should be released to a sanctuary. I feel so bad for the animals there. I will never go back.

Re: Cincinnati Zoo incident

I think the Bronx Zoo does a better job than most of giving the animals really large exhibits. For example, the whole monorail area exhibits are really huge and relatively natural. The tiger area is pretty big too. But a lot of other zoos arent like that.