NORFOLK, VA — PETA has a penchant for deploying eccentric strategies and tactics to get a message across. Just last year, semi-nude members holding signs gathered in Canada and poured buckets of “blood” over their heads to protest the commercial slaughter of seals.
But the Norfolk-based group’s latest crusade has some saying there are probably bigger fish to fry.
On Tuesday, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asked people to be more considerate in what they say. Specifically, refrain from using phrases about “animal cruelty” — such as “kill two birds with one stone” — which the group likened to racist, homophobic and ablest language.
Instead, say “feed two birds with one scone.”
“Words matter, and as our understanding of social justice evolves, our language evolves with it,” PETA wrote in a Facebook post. Phrases that “trivialize” animal cruelty will go away, the group added, as more people appreciate animals “for who they are.”
Other phrases to drop from the lexicon:”Bringing home the bacon,” “be the guinea pig,””beat a dead horse” and “take the bull by the horns.”
Eradicating more than a century’s worth of phrases isn’t easy, so PETA offered up alternative sayings that it hopes will catch on: “be the test tube,” “feed a fed horse,” “bring home the bagels,” and “take the flowers by the thorns.”
Needless to say, social media users widely rejected the call to action, instead roasting the idea with clever phrases of their own.
“I think there are bigger fish to fry than these phrases,” commented Facebook user Hector Flores. That prompted another user to reply “I don’t know… I think they’ve got a tiger by the tail with this one.”
PETA shot back at one commenter who said the post made him rethink being a vegetarian.
“If a post from PETA about language can make you doubt your commitment to animal rights, PETA probably isn’t the problem,” the organization responded.
PETA also changed its Twitter account name to “PETA: Bringing Home The Bagels Since 1980” and addressed the “haters,” saying there’s too much negativity in society as is, so why not lighten up and use language that’s not “speciesist.”
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