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The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an organization as well known for going overboard in defense of animals as it is for actually helping them.
In a recent example of this trend, the animal-rights advocacy group recently released a list of "anti-animal" expressions and their less offensive alternatives.
Okay, nothing too extreme there.
But then...
Words matter, and as our understanding of social justice evolves, our language evolves along with it. Here’s how to… https://t.co/X893u2zPhH— PETA: Bringing Home the Bagels Since 1980 (@PETA: Bringing Home the Bagels Since 1980)1543958601.0
PETA compared it to racism, homophobia and ableist language.
Because animals speak the language and understand the supposed insults just like a human would.
Just as it became unacceptable to use racist, homophobic, or ableist language, phrases that trivialize cruelty to a… https://t.co/SSWGW1xnuo— PETA: Bringing Home the Bagels Since 1980 (@PETA: Bringing Home the Bagels Since 1980)1543958638.0
On Wednesday, December 5, Don Lemon joined Chris Cuomo on CNN to dissect how PETA's comments and the chart were needlessly comparing harmless expressions to racism:
"They should actually be concerned about homophobia and racism."
Don Lemon to PETA: Animals aren't offended by phrases youtu.be
He went on:
"PETA should have several seats. That's one. Is that one up there? PETA does some great work. I'm sure, but, come on. Pick your battles. Really? As someone who knows a bit about both of those, come on. Listen, an animal who gets eaten doesn't get eaten because of their gender."
@Essence Don Lemon flipped Peta the bird.— Victor Steele (@Victor Steele)1544176950.0
Chris Cuomo thought the chart represented the worst parts of what he called "political correctness:"
"We put too much weight on what we say and not enough on what we do. This is my thing with political correctness."
I will have to say this is a brilliant social media campaign by #PETA but that's all it is. Absolutely ridiculous t… https://t.co/JBEEuqDEEv— Johanne Britton (@Johanne Britton)1544128005.0
PETA responded to CNN's criticism to TheWrap on Thursday, saying:
"PETA was started by women and members of the LGBTQ community, so many of us have personally felt the sting of thoughtless language. That's part of why we believe in changing long-used expressions that make us all cringe, like 'There's more than one way to skin a cat' or 'kill two birds with one stone'–it's a fun way to remind people that our words matter."
@CNN https://t.co/P904VZY8Ap— Natasha (@Natasha)1544009036.0
Unfortunately for PETA, Twitter seemed to think their chart was more silly than serious.
@KDKA Peter needs to get a life on my god are you kidding me— jeffrey dzikowski (@jeffrey dzikowski)1544391228.0
@KDKA Well I'll be dog gone...— JustOldSkool (@JustOldSkool)1544416404.0
@KDKA It’s a shame because I can get behind some of their stuff but they say stuff like this and no one takes the seriously— 105.9 commenter (@105.9 commenter)1544389521.0
People were incredibly amused by the silly new sayings.
Speciesism aside, these Peta expressions are way more fun that the originals, and I am all about it. 🐤🐴🐷🐮 https://t.co/L1pdncTHzt— Nikki Manzella (@Nikki Manzella)1543979761.0
Genuinely thought Peta's list of revised animal expressions was an article from @mcsweeneys— 白かぼちゃ (@白かぼちゃ)1544109809.0
Others were tired of PETA's online antics.
@peta Oh my God, Peta. They're just expressions. It's not like people are gonna kill a bird with a stone over a fig… https://t.co/jlWbH6IgTX— OctoFishV2 (@OctoFishV2)1544077502.0
There are too many groups already fighting for rights and respect for PETA to throw animal-related expressions into… https://t.co/ftVEB193za— Eddie Bingham (@Eddie Bingham)1544086247.0
@peta Yep, @peta just compared racism and homophobia with language expressions. Enough internet for today. https://t.co/FoujOSOO8g— Lala (@Lala)1543998701.0
@23Syncope This is just silly. No one means these literally they're just expressions. What is wrong with Peta— Average Skillet (@Average Skillet)1544110341.0
People now seem to be using PETA's strange alternate expressions ironically...which is maybe what they wanted all along?
what do you think the odds are the alternative expressions in that peta tweet start being used ironically Online, a… https://t.co/NKubMsz7yd— jason (@jason)1544039538.0
Well played, PETA...well played.