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@pezmico@mastodon.nz · activity timestamp 9 hr. ago

Little One's Japanese grandparents want to take them to a Sea World park in Japan to see orca, because kiddo is currently a huge fan of killer whales. 🫍

I of course have enormous issues with orca in captivity, and worse yet when they're made to perform 5 or 6 times a day, and kept in tanks too small for them and with no regard of their welfare.
So I (politely) opposed the invite.

I get the grandparents invite LO out of love and kindness, and kiddo is excited because up close orca. But it's cruel and sad to support this industry that basically tortures these gorgeous, smart, social creatures.

Am I too radical for saying we should not go?
Not a great feeling to rain on their parade.
I would much rather do a whale watching tour and see them in the wild (even with no guarantee of finding them)

#parenting

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Oliver Seiler

@oseiler@mastodon.nz · activity timestamp 2 hr. ago

@pezmico you could talk to your kid about your concerns and why you don't want to support these shows and let them decide. If they're old enough to understand and share your concerns it'll be a much stronger decision than you telling them and will likely also have more impact on the grandparents. If your little one still wants to go then prohibiting the visit will probably not convince them much anyway. You not joining the visit will also be a learning experience for your little one that will make them think.
This can be tough especially when close family is involved and the stakes are high.

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Ika Makimaki

@pezmico@mastodon.nz · activity timestamp 2 hr. ago

@oseiler yes. I think this is what I will do.
I agree that the best is to let the kiddo make their choice, and let them know which and why I've made mine.

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Oliver Seiler

@oseiler@mastodon.nz · activity timestamp 43 min. ago

@pezmico might want to add that you know everyone involved best and there might be other aspects to consider, eg for some kids it might be too much of a burden to decide or defend their decision. Allow people to change their mind or make exceptions - nobody is perfect and whatever way looks best now might not have been optimal in hindsight. Be kind. I'm sure you're a great role model and your little one will find their way.

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garland

@garland@social.seattle.wa.us · activity timestamp 8 hr. ago

@pezmico I don’t think opposing the invite is too radical. There’s no ethical way to participate in orca captivity.

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Harshad Sharma

@hiway@mastodon.social · activity timestamp 9 hr. ago

@pezmico (I'm not a parent so feel free to discard what I say, but i sure was a kid not too long ago): I'd go, let the kids experience the thing, then show videos of wild orcas and explain why I feel a certain way about the visit. The refusal to participate should come from within them, not because you said so.

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Ika Makimaki

@pezmico@mastodon.nz · activity timestamp 9 hr. ago

@hiway thank you.
I wouldn't go anyway, as I'd sour the day for everyone else. I would not be able to fake enjoyment there.
My conflict is more whether I should stand on the way of the rest of the family going. Or just be quiet about it.
This is one of the last two remaining parks that make orcas perform like circus animals and the dolphin enclosure is plain evil.
But then again, I'm an environmental activist so...

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💎cinderdazzle ⁷ 💜

@cinderdazzle612@apobangpo.space · activity timestamp 9 hr. ago

@hiway @pezmico they are going to have to shape their own lives and beliefs. There are things you should definitely prohibit, and this may be one of them but don’t make that list very long. If they don’t know about the outing yet then maybe since they don’t know. I had certain beliefs very strictly put upon me in my upbringing. I still think about those and how I’m doing the opposite.

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Ika Makimaki

@pezmico@mastodon.nz · activity timestamp 8 hr. ago

@cinderdazzle612 @hiway good point.
I want to prohibit as little as possible.

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