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Animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is urging humans to stop using animals as insults, arguing that it is a form of oppression.
Insults such as “pig,” “rat,” snake” and “chicken,” among others, are considered animal slurs that are part of a “supremacist” and “speciesist language,” the group said on Twitter on Jan. 27.
“Words can create a more inclusive world, or perpetuate oppression. Calling someone an animal as an insult reinforces the myth that humans are superior to other animals & justified in violating them,” PETA said.
“Stand up for justice by rejecting supremacist language,” it added.
Words can create a more inclusive world, or perpetuate oppression.
Calling someone an animal as an insult reinforces the myth that humans are superior to other animals & justified in violating them.
Stand up for justice by rejecting supremacist language. pic.twitter.com/HFmMWDcc5A
— PETA (@peta) January 26, 2021
In the Twitter thread, PETA stressed how these “anti-animal slurs” degrade animals by apparently applying negative traits humans have to certain species.
“Perpetuating the idea that animals are sly, dirty, or heartless desensitizes the public and normalizes violence against other animals,” the group argued.
PETA also explained that this “speciesist language” is not just harmful, but also inaccurate.
“Pigs, for instance, are intelligent, lead complex social lives, and show empathy for other pigs in distress. Snakes are clever, have family relationships, and prefer to associate with their relatives,” PETA said.
The non-profit organization then called on those “who [believe] in equality and justice to take a look at their personal beliefs and the language they use, and break free of this outdated mindset that denigrates other animals.”
PETA also aptly gave the public some alternatives to the animal insults. Instead of “chicken,” one can say “coward”; instead of “rat,” one can say “snitch”; instead of snake, one can say “jerk,” among others.
The organization’s attempt, however, received mixed reaction on the internet. While others seemed to agree with PETA’s sentiments, a huge number of netizens mocked the group’s tweets.
“[Six] years vegan, please stop making us look ridiculous,” one Twitter user @jessicakeogh replied to PETA, gaining over 6,000 likes.
https://twitter.com/jessicakeogh/status/1354183603069067267
British rapper Zuby, meanwhile, simply reacted to PETA’s suggestion with laughter, which has so far received almost 18,000 likes, a lot more than the original tweet of PETA that gained around 5,000.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!
(breathes)
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!
— ZUBY: (@ZubyMusic) January 27, 2021
Another Twitter user, with the handle @ethanisgroovy, replied to PETA, “sloths were literally named after the concept of sloth. can u get off this sh*t please.”
sloths were literally named after the concept of sloth. can u get off this shit please.
— ethan (@ethanisgroovy) January 27, 2021
“I legitimately can’t tell if this is satire or not,” Twitter user @Goreshx, meanwhile, said.
I legitimately can’t tell if this is satire or not.
— Goresh (@Goreshx) January 28, 2021
Canadian actress Katherine Ramdeen supported PETA’s sentiments, replying to the tweet, “I reject #speciesism. I am #vegan. I have no need to harm and kill animals and so I don’t, and instead #ChooseLove.”
https://twitter.com/katramdeen/status/1354400103293829123
The official Twitter page for the film “Nightmare Gallery” likewise supported PETA, stressing that “speciesism has no place in our everyday language.”
“If you’re going to insult someone, be creative, not a human supremacist,” the page said.
Speciesism has no place in our everyday language. If you're going to insult someone, be creative, not a human supremacist.
— Nightmare Gallery (@nitemaregallery) January 28, 2021
PETA, which started in the United States, is the world’s largest animal rights organization that is “dedicated to establishing and protecting the rights of all animals.”. /ra
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