Portis apparently is not a dog lover

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by PSUSkinsFan21

First of all, the issue is not that Portis chose not to bash Vick........he actually came to his defense and said that even if he was engaged in this illegal felonious activity, he doesn't see it as a big deal and people should mind their own business.

Second, growing up in an area where you witness a particular illegal activity being prevalent does not make the illegal activity any less illegal or the behavior any less disgusting. By your reasoning, it would be appropriate to support a white supremacist's actions because you grew up in an area where everyone was a member of the kkk. Or, it would be appropriate to condone Michael Irvin's use of crack/cocaine because where you grew up there was a crack whore on every corner. After all, shouldn't we just turn a blind eye to criminals and "mind our own business?" The position is preposterous.

Third, regarding the question of what should he say?: Nothing, would be a good start. "No comment" comes to mind. "I'm reserving judgment" would be ok with me. Pretty much anything except for, "big deal, so someone is treating animals with inhuman (in every sense of that word) and unadulterated cruelty......so what if it's a felony......so some dogs are being tortured and killed.........so what if the community is being put at risk........mind your own business and let's let the criminals in our society do what they want." Plain and simple, Portis's statements were stupid and ill-advised.

Very well put PSUSkinsFan, could not have been expressed any better. Who cares? There are many, many people who care, and they also consider it their business when a felony is being committed. Where one grew up is a poor excuse to use as justification for being able to understand why one would be associated with such behavior. To speak of Michael Vick in any sentence with the words "role model" is disgusting within itself.

[mlmpetert]

I love animals especially dogs. Is dog fighting really that bad? Isnt that why those types of dogs were breed for in the first place. Other then being illegal there is nothing really wrong with it. Don’t get me wrong, braking the law is bad but who hanst speed before or driven their car with a expired drivers license or safety inspection – even if just to get to the DMV to renew it.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

I love animals especially dogs. Is dog fighting really that bad? Isnt that why those types of dogs were breed for in the first place. Other then being illegal there is nothing really wrong with it. Don’t get me wrong, braking the law is bad but who hanst speed before or driven their car with a expired drivers license or safety inspection – even if just to get to the DMV to renew it.

yes it is that bad the way they do it if you loved dogs you would understand that

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

I love animals especially dogs. Is dog fighting really that bad? Isnt that why those types of dogs were breed for in the first place. Other then being illegal there is nothing really wrong with it. Don’t get me wrong, braking the law is bad but who hanst speed before or driven their car with a expired drivers license or safety inspection – even if just to get to the DMV to renew it.

These dogs aren't putting on tiny boxing gloves aqnd sparring for a few rounds, they're forcing them to kill one another.
That's the same as driving 5 miles over the speed limit to you?

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

These digs aren't putting on tiny boxing gloves aqnd sparring for a few rounds, they're forcing them to kill one another.
That's the same as driving 5 miles over the speed limit to you?

It's closer than you'd think. Around 35% of auto accident fatalities are caused by driving over the speed limit, which means an average of 14,000 people a year are killed because they, or the other driver was speeding. So my question to the people that are pretending this is only an issue of legality; what's worse? A couple of pit bulls fighting, or you putting your own life, and potentially the lives of a random soccer mom with three kids in the car at risk by speeding?

EDIT: I guess if you're a dog lover, I can understand your gripe with the dog fighting issue, but I don't buy the argument of the people claiming this is strictly a cut and dry legal issue.

[PSUSkinsFan21]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

Whether you want to believe it or not, the majority of people that grow up in areas where racism is an accepted norm are generally racist themselves or have a much higher tolerance for it than most people. And poor or unethical treatment of human beings is not even close to the same thing as poor treatment of pit bulls, no matter how much some of you try to relate the two.

The Michael Irvin issue is a completely different ballpark. The only people effected by his cocaine use is himself and his family. Why would I, or anyone else have anything to say about it?

Ok, so for the record, you would be in favor of any potential role model like Portis (or any other Redskin for that matter) supporting the actions of anyone committing any felony they want as long as it doesn't effect you directly if they happened to witness the commission of that felony in their neighborhood growing up. Got it.


Any yet somehow people are surprised that crime rates grow generation after generation.......I can't imagine why.

[Hog1]

Hey, I heard Cooley's organizing a Baby Harp seal club fest! Who's game?

[PSUSkinsFan21]

Originally Posted by Hog1

Hey, I heard Cooley's organizing a Baby Harp seal club fest! Who's game?

Can we make the seals fight each other to the death first and then just club the winner?

[Hog1]

Word of advice.....Baby Harp Seal looks sideways at you..........SHANK him

[Hog1]

Portis is like nationwide with this thing. Dan Patrick, and K.O. are hammerin' it on ESPN.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by PSUSkinsFan21

Ok, so for the record, you would be in favor of any potential role model like Portis (or any other Redskin for that matter) supporting the actions of anyone committing any felony they want as long as it doesn't effect you directly if they happened to witness the commission of that felony in their neighborhood growing up. Got it.


Any yet somehow people are surprised that crime rates grow generation after generation.......I can't imagine why.

I don't care what Portis says. I'm pretty sure he's allowed to say whatever he wants in the United States of America where the Bill of Rights allows him that freedom. Does that mean that if a future "role model" makes a similar comment my future children will start promoting dog fights? If it does, that would be more a reflection on me as a parent than the person that said it. I try not to blame my problems on what a celebrity says, or what's on TV, or any of the random garbage that the media tries to pass off as "news.

And you're correct. My attitude is the reason crime rates go up. That's a logical statement...

[PSUSkinsFan21]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

I don't care what Portis says. I'm pretty sure he's allowed to say whatever he wants in the United States of America where the Bill of Rights allows him that freedom. Does that mean that if a future "role model" makes a similar comment my future children will start promoting dog fights? If it does, that would be more a reflection on me as a parent than the person that said it. I try to blame my problems on what a celebrity says, or what's on TV, or any of the random garbage that the media tries to pass off as "news.

And you're correct. My attitude is the reason crime rates go up. That's a logical statement...

You're absolutely right, he can say whatever he wants. And the First Amendment allows us to talk about how incredibly stupid it is for him to make the statements that he made.

My problem is specifically with the "mind your own business" attitude. The precise reason society doesn't "mind its own business" when it comes to the commission of crimes is that doing so results in anarchy. To defend Vick by saying there is nothing wrong with what he's doing if he's on his own property committing felonies is absurd. To justify the behavior as somehow ok because you don't agree with the law and because the boys in your hood growing up all used to do it is even more ridiculous. That logic would have us letting criminals off the hook or "justifying" their behavior soley based on their life experiences. Not only would that be a completely inequitable result (presumably, I'd somehow be more culpable than Vick because I didn't grow up in a slum that had a bunch of degenerates promoting dog fighting), but it is also the very attitude that perpetuates continued commission of the same crimes from one generation to the next. If you can't see that connection, then I'm at a loss. I really don't know how to make it any clearer to you.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by PSUSkinsFan21

Not only would that be a completely inequitable result (presumably, I'd somehow be more culpable than Vick because I didn't grow up in a slum that had a bunch of degenerates promoting dog fighting), but it is also the very attitude that perpetuates continued commission of the same crimes from one generation to the next. If you can't see that connection, then I'm at a loss. I really don't know how to make it any clearer to you.

I understand what you're saying and I actually agree in principle, and I don't agree with or condone what Portis said and what Vick may have done. My point was that I also understood why Portis made the comments, and that part of the story should be a non-issue anyway.

I disagree though, with the idea that Portis' attitude perpetuates the continued commission of that particular crime, and I highly doubt that anyone is going to pickup dog fighting as a hobby because of what Portis said. Dog fighting, cock fighting, etc., has been part of rural southern culture for a very long time, and it's not going to stop because a few people are mad that Vick is involved in it. Something drastic will have to happen within the southern culture itself, to change things.

[Oakland Red]

Ficticious news story:

PORTIS COMMENTS ON WHALING AND OTHER CULINARY MATTERS
Associated News

By Stanley Winston
Hampton Roads, VA
May 21, 2007

Clinton Portis today commented that he had eaten whale meat while on a recent trip to Tokyo, and enjoyed it immensely.

Many fans of the Washington Redskins were immediate in their condemnation.

"Who the hell is Clinton Portis to say he enjoys eating whale meat?" said Al Pischotti, longtime Skins fan. "Doesn't he know that that whale meat comes from a whale that might another whale's parent? How can he be so insensitive to say he enjoys eating someone's parent and creating orphans in the process?"

Redskins fan Al Iddle concurred: "Portis likes making orphans?" He shook his head in apoplectic anger. "I'm just glad we signed Ladell Betts to a contract," he shouted.

Later, Portis was asked what he thought of a buffalo burger he ate at Ted's Montana Grill, owned by CNN founder and sports mogul Ted Turner. "I thought the buffalo burger was juicy and quite tasty actually. I give Ted's Montana Grill four stars."

Many Redskin fans were beside themselves with fury. "How can Clinton Portis say he likes buffalo burgers?" Janice Bulbright vociferated. "Doesn't he know that buffaloes are slaughtered so that he can have his juicy little plate at Ted's Montana Grill?"

While on his recent Asian trip, Portis took the opportunity to visit Peking, where he was surprised by the numerous Redskins fans who greeted him in the streets. When he accepted their offer of fried dog at a local bistro, Danwei Dachshund, they were thrilled to say the least.

"Clinton Portis is the best running back in the NFL, " Redskin fan Gao Zexu opined. "He very graciously ate dinner with us, and shared stories of his team's games and his wonderful plays. We were all very honored to welcome and host Clinton Portis, and share some delicious dachshund with him."

Clinton gave the Danwei Dachshund restaurant "four stars."

On the home front though, dozens of Redskin fans were picketing the entrance to Redskins Park, beside themselves with anger and resentment about Portis' controversial travels and culinary interests.

Many Redskins players and coaches were puzzled. Clinton Portis was asked for his reaction. "If people are going to get upset like this, that's cool. They are definitely energetic." He smiled and added, "I was hoping they'd save that energy for the Dallas game, but they know what rings their bell."

A Redskins trainer passed by the chanting crowd, quietly shaking his head as he gazed at the scene. A reporter asked him for his reaction. Turning to the front door he waved and said, "I don't have a dog in that fight."

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

If the issue is as cut and dry as a criminal act, then I'd estimate about 90% of Warpath members are "horrible people". I know it's impossible for some people to see the grey area with this issue, but if you come from a community where this type of activity is prevalent, you'll probably be more accepting of it than a kid from the northern suberbs.

And it's not like they're making labs and poodles fight to the death. Pit bulls have been bred to fight and kill animals for hundreds of years. I have a friend that owns a non fighting Pit that seems nice, just like any other dog, but if you look at it the wrong way or stutter step when you walk by it, it turns into a friggin monster. What's the purpose of owning a "pet" like that?

I'm not saying dog-fighting is wrong just because it is a criminal act. Quite honestly I couldn't care less if Vick smokes a pound of weed a week or breaks other "victimless laws" as long as he isn't hurting other people or putting others at risk. I'm saying dogfighting is wrong because for simple amusement or a gambling fix the idiots who are involved in this need, these sadists force defenseless animals to chew each other to death over the course of 15 to 30 minutes. To be involved in this in any way is sickening to me. I don't care what some may say the socialized "norm" is, IT'S WRONG no matter where you grew up.

Wolves and other wild dogs fight over territory or mating, however in the wild the dogs' instinct for survival (fight or flight) will usually make these fights non-lethal. The morons running the dog-fights need to train and force the survival instinct out of the dogs so they will fight to death. I cannot see any way this behavior can be justified. Dogfighting is a felony because most people (over 90% I would bet) find it repulsive.