PETA Asks Virginia to Sponsor a 'Fishing Hurts' Road Stop on Interstate 81
The Roanoke Times has discovered that opening Virginia's highway rest stops to sponsors might not mean just more advertising for fast food. It could lead to requests from opponents of the mainstream ideas of food and leisure activities:
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced an initiative last week that would allow for sponsorships at Virginia's highway rest areas to help offset the cost of operating the facilities.
And now the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants in on the action. PETA has sent a letter to the Virginia Department of Transportation expressing its interest in sponsoring the Interstate 81 rest stop at mile marker 158 near Troutville and renaming it the "Fishing Hurts" rest area. It also would like to get a reduced sponsorship rate as a nonprofit.
PETA's letter to VDOT included these lines:
Once upon a time, no one thought twice about fishing, but nowadays, given the research into fish sentience and their ability to feel pain, fishing can only be considered a blood sport that causes significant physical and psychological suffering....
PETA’s “Fishing Hurts” Rest Area in Troutville would feature displays about fish intelligence, the pain caused by fishing, and the harm done to water birds and other aquatic life who become entangled in fishing line and ingest lost and discarded bobs and hooks. Our vending machines would dispense plush Sammy the Sea Kitten toys, which would teach children to have empathy for fish by comparing them to the kittens whom many of us are more familiar with.
We would also consider stocking the vending machines with delicious vegan faux-fish sticks (made of healthy plant protein and spices) and other healthy fish-free snacks.
Allowing us to rename the Troutville facility the “Fishing Hurts” Rest Area would send a clear message that all violence is unacceptable, even when it is directed at those who are different from us.
I'm sure that VDOT's plan would not mean that sponsoring a rest area would be an opportunity for "vegan faux-fish stick" vending and other surprises that drivers don't expect when they pull off the road.
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Comments
drop me a line
Submitted by MidAmerica on Sun, 04/03/2011 - 11:30pm.
The weather has warmed around here and I already have my new fishing license and plan on pursuing my role as a top predator any day now.
This is totally ridiculous
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Sun, 04/03/2011 - 11:53pm.
This is totally ridiculous and Virginia should tell them to go fish.
Dan
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 9:03am.
What is more ridiculous is PETA asking for a rate reduction. Their HQ building is in downtown Norfolk on the banks of the Elizabeth River. The building and property have to be worth several million. I wonder how many of their contributors know what lavish digs they require to protect "animals."
This rest area is just down the road from me. If things get really kooky in this process, I might go down to take some pictures.
Go fishing right in front of
Submitted by MaximusBraveheart on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 4:34pm.
Go fishing right in front of their building... see if they will assault you.
-- Maximusbraveheart -- Is TRUTH knowable? Moral Relativism is the abandonment of Truth. Truth is knowable. Truth conforms to Reality. Reality is observable by evidence & witness in this day & from history. Relativism is Sesame Street play land.
I'll tell you what about fishing hurts
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 12:32am.
.....not catching (which is why they call if fishing and not catching).
But for these PETA idiots, what will really hurt is ten custom made rods....you can guess the rest. These PETA peeps will stand up nice and straight, however.
Sammy the Sea Kitten? Wonder if he tastes better with butter or lime. Hmmm.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
I need help here, Blonde.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 12:18pm.
"teach children to have empathy for fish by comparing them to the kittens"
What kind of rig do you use to catch a kitten? Do they fight hard?
Not sure about your "butter or lime" thing with the kitten fritters, but manatee steaks are great with key lime juice!
There, I made it all the way through that without one pun of the obvious nature on this subject!
Go ahead and post your stupid sign...
Submitted by NascarShizzle on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 1:03am.
people will continue to fish anyway...
Maybe
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 5:07am.
How about an 'Abortion Hurts' rest area? NPR and Planned Parenthood could sponsor it.
ding ding ding
Submitted by ripper58 on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 5:39am.
we have a winner !
I have seen it all now...
Submitted by Iron Tigers Vet on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 6:49am.
People for the
Eating of
Tasty
Animals
I guess they would like to shoot all the eagles and hawks in the state as well for surviving on fish, since you know, talons and beaks are sharp and the fish "feel pain".
I wonder how many tax payer dollars went into that study from the Oblunder stimulus.
What's next, for the deer hunters... Antlers Anonymous?
.
'Sea Kittens' was the most idiotic PR campaign in history.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 8:15am.
"PETA said in a statement that “If [Whitefish High School in Missoula, Montana] became Sea Kitten High and everyone in town starts calling fish ‘sea kittens,’ fewer of these gentle animals would be violently killed for food, painfully hooked for ‘sport,’ or cruelly confined to aquariums. Schools strive for achievements in academics and sports, so why not add compassion to the list?”
Yeah, those barbed hooks can really hurt
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 9:56am.
...when you get one jammed in your thumb while trying to attach one of those squirming minnows.
And slipping and busting your hiney on a muddy bank doesn't feel all that good, either.
Getting hooked in the ear by the person on the other end of the bass boat can be pretty painful, too.
LOL - But dropping that huge cooler of beer on your toe is the absolute worst.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
LOL ... Agreed, but consider the real “psychology” of fish!
Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 11:06am.
“…fishing can only be considered a blood sport that causes significant physical and psychological suffering....”
Have you ever spent the whole day sitting on a rock trying to catch a trout, or spent the day strapped into an uncomfortable chair on a leaky fishing boat (liable to sink at any moment), only to wind-up back at the bait store or bar while surrounded by other fishermen (liars)!
Well, speaking as a non-accredited ‘fish psychologist’ (after spending much time in bars with fish tanks and observing the lifestyles of the fishies) I can guarantee that what causes psychological damage in fish is having nothing to do but stare back at the customers - or worse, the fishermen in waders. Why else do you think the rate of suicide is so high among fish?
- Grump :o)
LOL Grump! And if it hurts so
Submitted by bassndude on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 3:09pm.
LOL Grump! And if it hurts so much and causes so much pain and psychological suffering, perhaps they can explain why you can catch a bluegill, throw him back in, and the little twit come right back and bite the same hook, again! All in a span of about 2 minutes.
I once sat on a large bolder and dangled a small gold colored hook in very clear water and proceeded to rack up the twits. And you could watch them come and bite the hook, throw them back and do it all over again. Thing was, you could count the hook holes in their little mouths.
Fish are dumber than PETA members. And that's saying something!
Save a SeAL, club a liberal/troll!!
Worst, ever, Dave
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 4:42pm.
I was fly fishing for trout in Colorado, wearing my cowboy boots, and I slipped and fell in. I was soooo mad!
Although I have a friend that was yanked over the side while trying to gaff a 165 lb. yellowfin tuna. (that's just a misc internet pic) He took a double wrap on the line, but wasn't wearing his own gloves, and the fish gave a sudden lunge. He was unable to dump the wrap and got yanked over the side. He was about 30' down before he got free. Amazingly, the fish was still hooked. That fish hangs in his living room today, it's really cool, a 360 degree mount.
People do die sport fishing, but not often. I'd liked to have killed the ex on more than one occasion while out fishing, but that's another story. :)
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Ban large white coolers!
Submitted by MaximusBraveheart on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 4:50pm.
"Lots" of dead people end up in them (per TV shows). Be sure your cooler is safely unloaded AND locked before storing it! Keep your beer and your cooler locked separately unless it is in use!
-- Maximusbraveheart -- Is TRUTH knowable? Moral Relativism is the abandonment of Truth. Truth is knowable. Truth conforms to Reality. Reality is observable by evidence & witness in this day & from history. Relativism is Sesame Street play land.
J,
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 6:13pm.
Ooh, I bet that Colorado water was cold, too.
My brother is the deep sea fisherman in this family, although I have done it a couple of times.
Some days, I just like to go crabbing off a pier, especially if the fish aren't biting. Besides, I have yet to do a crab boil where at least one of those suckers didn't miss the pot, hit the floor, and take off for the nearest corner.
I had to move a refrigerator once to retrieve one.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Um, Dave
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 6:49pm.
....I keep telling you to come down for a visit, fella.
We can go crabbing in my back yard. We have big old honkin' blue crabs. I even have 2 nets, so we don't have to share. It's great, haul the chairs out there, and a cooler, and the boom box, and kick back and relax.
As for these sea kittens, I think we could come up with a decent way to bbq them. I'm working on garlic/lime grilled chicken as we speak. Sea kittens, no problemo.
P.S. It was cold! I was wearing alot of clothes because it was so cold, and then I got even colder. Of course, the laughter from the gang didn't help my mood at all. Arghhh!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Haven't gone crabbing in a
Submitted by MaximusBraveheart on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 7:54pm.
Haven't gone crabbing in a long time! That was fun! And you don't have to buy ammo or bait!
-- Maximusbraveheart -- Is TRUTH knowable? Moral Relativism is the abandonment of Truth. Truth is knowable. Truth conforms to Reality. Reality is observable by evidence & witness in this day & from history. Relativism is Sesame Street play land.
No...you don't
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 9:42pm.
The only thing you need are chicken necks and adult beverages.
Sweet!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
I think we just stalked them
Submitted by MaximusBraveheart on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 9:59pm.
It was 20 years ago & we just stalked them in the shallows of the mangroves (w/ a long net). You had to be very fast but it was fun. We did not consider sting rays. I'm sure that is a real hazard in doing that! Chicken necks: That sound much easier! So you just pull them in slow like you can a craw fish? I also remember snorkeling off of Key Largo for tropical lobsters. Those things are like lightning also.
-- Maximusbraveheart -- Is TRUTH knowable? Moral Relativism is the abandonment of Truth. Truth is knowable. Truth conforms to Reality. Reality is observable by evidence & witness in this day & from history. Relativism is Sesame Street play land.
This is a crock! Out right
Submitted by bassndude on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 10:33am.
This is a crock! Out right lies here. A fish's nervous system that is attuned to specific fish needs. The brain of the fish, according to "nowadays, given the research into fish sentience and their ability to feel pain" conducted by biologist's has shown that fish do not feel pain. There is no place in the fish brain that registers pain. All of a fishes senses are geared towards survival,(i.e. food and prey).
Now I don't know about whales or seals or dolphins, but then again, they are not fish.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal/troll!!
WTFuture, Fish hook in a dogs mouth?
Submitted by upcountrywater on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 11:35am.
PETA got some serious brain cell loss due to reduced protein. Then again as the economy continues to flounder, an uptick in dog recipes may be exchanged, as they are in a few other countries.
You Didn't Build That.
I'll listen to PETA
Submitted by HockeyKid on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 2:58pm.
the day they go public with the fact that they are Virginia's largest euthanizer of dogs and cats. Yes, folks, their Norfolk HQ building has a large walk-in freezer that they use to store euthanized animals for disposal. PETA makes big claims about all the animals they rescue, but as the Roach Motel slogan said, "they check in, but they don't check out".
PETA supporters are among the world's most insane.
BTW, didja hear the story about the French couple charged with child abuse and manslaughter for the death of their baby? They are "vegans", and refused to feed the baby anything but its mother's milk, which was severely nutritionally stripped due to her diet. Poor kid died of malnutrition. I bet they loved PETA.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Fortunately
Submitted by Model850 on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 5:50pm.
Fortunately the sponsorship proposal specifically precludes renaming a rest stop, so even if VA were to accept PETA's offer the organization couldn't name the rest stop.
VDOT spokesman Joe Vagi was quoted by a Norfolk newspaper columnist saying, "We are not selling naming rights."
That said, as everyone knows these folks are always cooking up one publicity stunt after another and I feel this is just another one of those attention-grabbing ploys.