Why do people do this?

by CucumberMouse Tue 16 Jan 2018, 11:11 pm

I need to rant. I was at the pet store a few days ago when I had an unpleasant encounter with someone there, and I can't get it off my mind. I was watching the mice like I usually do, when someone walked up to me and started telling me about their pet dog (I don't know why but whatever). They asked me if I had any pets of my own, and I mentioned that I owned a mouse. They made a weird face and asked why I would want a mouse, and if I was worried that it would spread a disease to me. I told them my mouse was a good pet for me and that he was sanitary enough. This person then started to talk about how it was weird I owned a mouse as a pet and how they couldn't even stand to look at mice because they were so "gross". Rolling Eyes

I just said "to each their own" and speed walked away from that isle as fast as possible. This isn't even the first time something like this has happened. In, the past year that I've owned a mouse (the time I started visiting the rodent sections of pet stores) I've had people tell me how "filthy" mice are, and how their tails are disgusting, and how bad they are as pets. One time a lady asked me if mice could be kept as pets, and I told her they could. Another man came up and interrupted me to say that mice "are only good as snake food". Why are people like this!? I can understand having your own opinions and all, people are entitled to that, but for them to continuously go out of their way to tell someone that they (in most cases) knew liked mice how "terrible" and "horrible" are... it just boggles my mind. Especially when it would be easier for them to not say anything. It happens almost every other time I go to the store. Honestly, if you didn't like dogs, and you saw someone getting a dog, would you go out of your way to tell them how much you hate dogs? I'd hope not... I just don't get it, and it gets really irritating. Has this happened to any of you before?

Well...I thought I'd try to end this post on a somewhat happier note, I have a good story. I was at the pet store, again, and I found a girl, maybe 10 ish years old looking at the mice. I asked her if she liked mice and she said she did. I told her I had a mouse and she asked if he was a good pet, of course I said "yes". I also mentioned that they were great pets as long as you know how to take care of them well, and the girl told me that she had been planning to get a mouse for a few months and had been trying to learn everything she could about them. It just made my day to see someone so young that excited about mice

by chiroptera Tue 16 Jan 2018, 11:30 pm

Ugh that's the worst, I hate people like that so much. People even saying that they prefer not to interact with dogs get treated like the devil but with small mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates, people think it's acceptable or even funny to say stuff like that... Newsflash, you're obnoxious if you do that. I'm not telling you to bring a mouse into your home but don't insult my pets or say that they're better off dead. Mad

When I first got Trouble and Yahtzee, we had to take Trouble and one of my roommates' rats to the vet. One of them works, so I went with the other roommate to the vet.

When the other roommate got home from work, they told us that their (now-ex, thankfully) boss had scoffed at taking them to the vet, and made "stomping on" motions, like "This is what I'd do to a rat"... I never met that lady and I'm glad because even hearing about half the stuff she did and said made my blood boil.

It's really rewarding though to bring the rodents into the pet store and let kids or even adults say hi to them! I love when my animals can educate people or just brighten their day! Love

by River Wed 17 Jan 2018, 12:03 am

I've never had a bad interaction with my mice, shockingly. At least not to my face, anyway -- people always end up loving them. I've had some weird comments about my bird, though, but these types are always different when it comes to parrots. They do a total 360 and go on rants about wanting one that could talk and look pretty...tragic.

by CallaLily Wed 17 Jan 2018, 7:36 am

Yes, I've been in that situation a lot. They either make a fuss about how "gross" they think they are or they like to inform me that my pet would be a yummy snack for their pet. Even some of my family members (outside of my home) can be quite rude about it or laugh at me like I'm crazy. I get laughed at for the hermit crabs too. I guess people feel like they're a child's pet and it's weird that an adult would have/want them? And then I have had strange looks for the reptiles too and people like to point out how "gross" they are too.

But I do also run into people who aren't like that. Just not as often. girl_sigh

by CinnamonPearl Wed 17 Jan 2018, 3:54 pm

I've had some people be rude to me. I'm pretty assertive, so I either usually just sass them until they feel uncomfortable or I go on the offensive and attack back. Both work very well! I never let a rude person like that win in that situation.

by violetindigo Fri 19 Jan 2018, 8:52 am

CucumberMouse wrote:... Honestly, if you didn't like dogs, and you saw someone getting a dog, would you go out of your way to tell them how much you hate dogs? I'd hope not... I just don't get it, and it gets really irritating. Has this happened to any of you before?
...

nope. I would just go on about my biz without a thought or a mention. People like to talk, some just need to let it out how they are feeling and you got to be the sounding board.
they should of at least thanked you for the conversation. mice tend to be one of those critters who bring about phobias, which are real things. maybe they were just working through their issues. it was sweet of you to listen.

almost like you have to have a full on masters degree just to get out and about, deal with people, conduct your business and buy groceries now a days. I smile and silently laugh to myself (jovial) as I mention. Really it is even the smallest interactions that can leave the biggest impact. When just being polite isn't enough you know then the person directing the interaction at you might have something going on emotionally they are just trying to talk themselves through and not to take it personal. why you huh? well, you are not the only one asking yourself that. people talk, about anything if given a chance, so i do my best to listen and go unnoticed. it isn't always possible.

by violetindigo Fri 19 Jan 2018, 8:59 am

mice are sweet creatures. it amazes me as a first time mouse owner just how well they interact and seem to show or share emotion. just adorable. the females tend to really attach to their mates, care for their families and it is almost as if they adopt their humans as part of their fam. the males tend to have attitude, but, it is just trying to interact, tend to and care for it's family while being tolerant of interruptions. I couldn't ask for cuter pets. they are comforting to watch and entertaining. the thing is they are quite clean little animals. you just would have to do your research to know that. they mean as well as a mouse can. they enjoy what i cook for them, so i really cannot complain.

by Mahjling Sun 11 Feb 2018, 6:53 am

Not with my mice (yet) though I once had a man pass me by while I was out letting my snake get some sunlight tell me my pet should be made into a handbag. I can be a relatively aggressive person however, and told him in no short terms exactly what he could do with his otherwise useless mouth.

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