Ignorance is Fright

In some cases, ignorance is bliss. We all enjoyed our Starbucks mocha-choca lattés a lot more before we found out there was bug protein in them. Other times, ignorance begets fear. The word "ignorance" isn't exactly fitting. It's more "acceptance without verification", but that's awfully lengthy. Humans have a tendency to outsource their thoughts when things are murky and complicated. We like definitive answers, so when someone proclaims one, we hop on board. Take Jenny McCarthy's posit that inoculation against disease caused her son to contract Autism. Moms and dads all over the country, afraid of the threat of Autism, did not get their children vaccinated. If these parents had done proper research, they would have learned that Autism is not a virus that can be transmitted. It's a genetic disorder. You're born with it or you're not. Fast-forward a few years, and the doctor who claimed the vaccination-Autism correlation admitted he fabricated the data and had financial motivations. Oddly, parents are still hell-bent on not vaccinating their kids. And now there is whooping cough in the Western part of the US.


This concept applies to Pit Bulls. A few bad apples have ruined the bunch. Instead of listening to the whole story on Pit Bulls, the original American family pet, many people have hopped on the bad news wagon. Their confirmation bias has forced them to focus on the sad stories of owners who have untoward agendas. They freeze or move aside when they encounter a Pit Bull in public spaces. They are afraid, and they shouldn't be.


 If enough of us pervade the public with happy tales of our pals, we might be able to shift the attitude. Here's one pooch we encountered at Bark in the Park, a fundraising event for the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley:

Bird Dog
June 2012

He just hangs out and walks along, nary a false move, with his bird buddy hitching a ride. And who could not love this face?

Sad face
June 2012

Maybe those who know why he had his sad, puppy-dog, sorry-mom eyes?

Bad Dog
June 2012

Dasher's new favorite weekday pastime is knocking his crate over and pushing the table and chairs as far as he can. Sometimes he manages to get them on their sides, too. Where do they come up with this stuff?!