Comments on: Bonfire of the Insanities: Dumbinance Strikes Again

By: Deborah Flick

Deborah Flick — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:13:50 +0000

Glad you stopped by! And thanks for your kind words

By: Nestor Belluz

Nestor Belluz — Thu, 27 May 2010 12:30:31 +0000

Damn, awesome website. I actually came across this on Bing, and I am happy I did. I will definately be returning here more often. Wish I could add to the conversation and bring a bit more to the table, but am just absorbing as much info as I can at the moment. Thank You Dog Toys and Clothes

By: 6 New Pet Blogs We’re Following Since BlogPaws

6 New Pet Blogs We’re Following Since BlogPaws — Fri, 07 May 2010 12:03:31 +0000

[...] for Hapless Humans.” Deborah doesn’t post often, but what she writes is powerful. Read Bonfire of the Insanities to get a [...]

By: Karen Wild

Karen Wild — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:16:45 +0000

Emperor’s New Clothes and Suspension of Disbelief! If people had first watched the show with the sound turned DOWN, they would not be so convinced.
As he is now here in the UK we are finding that news of his punishment methods preceeds him. The harsh methods not welcome. It is clear that the TV presenters do NOT allow hiding behind ‘the dog deserves it because the people let it get fat and made it wear a coat’ excuse.
There are no excuses for scaring animals beyond coping. There is no entertainment in this.

By: Jenny Ruth Yasi

Jenny Ruth Yasi — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:49:55 +0000

I saw that article in the NYT and it was just so horrifying and sweet at the same time. I’ve heard of “projection” in psychology, where we see ourselves in others, and so much of dog training involves a sort of showmanship, like where the magician convinces the audience that he REALLY DID saw the woman in half, and with Millan, it just boggles me the way people fill in what they want to expect to hear.

It is hard to listen deeply. We want to find goodness, especially in cute men with troubled dogs. We want everything to be nice and people to be right. And so, these people seem to be taking a fine approach to child care, and then they say they got it from Millan. They didn’t get it from Millan. They’re projecting.

By: Deborah Flick

Deborah Flick — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:43:28 +0000

Actually, I thought about writing that CM’s placid demeanor as he delivers torture looks deranged. Sadistic. Sick. I’m reminded of abusive parents who whip their children with a belt or hanger, totally straight faced. “This is for your own good.” Yuck!

By: Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart

Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:36:36 +0000

A friend sent me a link to the NYT piece over the weekend. Ick!

In a way, it’s almost scarier to me that Milan is so calm during these punishments. How cold and calculating is that?

By: Deborah Flick

Deborah Flick — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:20:21 +0000

Hi Debbie,

It’s hard not to be sarcastic! I do wonder what’s in the koolaide so many people are drinking. Or what’s already in people’s minds that CM’s bs sticks like velcro. OY!

By: Debbie Jacobs

Debbie Jacobs — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:12:52 +0000

Are you trying to say that everything that is shown on TV isn’t based on reality and truth? I mean if enough people believe it and it makes money it must be true, right? Surely the folks who produce TV shows have the best interests of our dogs (and children) as their first priority. Don’t they?

Maybe I shouldn’t employ sarcasm as it can too easily be misinterpreted, but I feel as though we are going through some kind of ‘dark age’ during which reason and science are seen as our enemy. The ease with which people can be manipulated doesn’t seem to change over the generations I suppose. When I watched Mr. Millan speaking to a group of nodding, smiling heads the word that kept going through my head was, ‘suckers’.