Comments on: Woman suspected of dumping cat in trash can under police protection http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 18 May 2013 13:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: social_maladroit http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868354 social_maladroit Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868354 Suitable punishment for her? Obviously, that would be being required to perform <a href="http://boingboing.net/2010/08/15/when-juggalos-attack.html">in front of a crowd of drunk juggalos</a> without a top on at <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/15/when-juggalos-attack.html#comment-861725">four in the morning</a>. So was that a garbage bin or a recycle bin? Oh well, I hope the cat's feeling chipper. Suitable punishment for her? Obviously, that would be being required to perform in front of a crowd of drunk juggalos without a top on at four in the morning.

So was that a garbage bin or a recycle bin? Oh well, I hope the cat’s feeling chipper.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-872963 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-872963 Seems perfectly fine to me. I would do exactly the same. Though if I knew who it was I would deal with them myself. I hope she gets hit by a bus. It's called karma ;) Seems perfectly fine to me. I would do exactly the same.

Though if I knew who it was I would deal with them myself.

I hope she gets hit by a bus.

It’s called karma ;)

]]> By: idontwant2liveinoprahsworld http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868356 idontwant2liveinoprahsworld Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868356 Forget this lady. We should have cameras on politicians and CEOs. Forget this lady.
We should have cameras on politicians and CEOs.

]]> By: ryanrafferty http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868358 ryanrafferty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868358 Wait a sec... I just reread the headline.... How can she be suspected of throwing a cat in a garbage can when the video makes it clear? I could understand if the headline read "woman suspected of animal cruelty after trashing a cat"... I know boingboing is trying to be on the safe side of things, but I think it's obvious she was recorded dumping a cat in the trash. Wait a sec… I just reread the headline…. How can she be suspected of throwing a cat in a garbage can when the video makes it clear? I could understand if the headline read “woman suspected of animal cruelty after trashing a cat”… I know boingboing is trying to be on the safe side of things, but I think it’s obvious she was recorded dumping a cat in the trash.

]]> By: blatantdisregard http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868614 blatantdisregard Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868614 Was she trying to kill the cat? Being gently placed in a trash bin does not equal instant death from where I stand. What I'm saying is I've seen a lot more heinous animal cruelty, most of it posted on 4chan, the very site calling for this woman's head. Gain some perspective. Was she trying to kill the cat? Being gently placed in a trash bin does not equal instant death from where I stand. What I’m saying is I’ve seen a lot more heinous animal cruelty, most of it posted on 4chan, the very site calling for this woman’s head. Gain some perspective.

]]> By: Talia http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868359 Talia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868359 Keep in mind this is the internet, and the anonymity granted by it makes people much more likely to say things they wouldn't ever actually act on. Pretty much all the people calling for blood, etc are all talk. And no, she shouldn't sue anyone. That's an obnoxiously American course of action, particularly when she was the one doing something wrong in the first place. Its like those stories about burglars suing homeowners when they fall and break an arm or something. Keep in mind this is the internet, and the anonymity granted by it makes people much more likely to say things they wouldn’t ever actually act on. Pretty much all the people calling for blood, etc are all talk.

And no, she shouldn’t sue anyone. That’s an obnoxiously American course of action, particularly when she was the one doing something wrong in the first place. Its like those stories about burglars suing homeowners when they fall and break an arm or something.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-869897 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-869897 Crazy Lady! http://www.zazzle.com/british_lady_who_threw_away_someone_s_cat_tshirt-235001096686843872?group=womens&lifestyle=classic&rf=238523477890361372 Crazy Lady! http://www.zazzle.com/british_lady_who_threw_away_someone_s_cat_tshirt-235001096686843872?group=womens&lifestyle=classic&rf=238523477890361372

]]> By: ackpht http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868363 ackpht Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868363 That woman will spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder. Justice? Debatable. Her fault entirely? Certainly. Feel sorry for her? Not me. That woman will spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder. Justice? Debatable. Her fault entirely? Certainly. Feel sorry for her? Not me.

]]> By: Mark Frauenfelder http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868364 Mark Frauenfelder Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868364 If she's guilty, she should be confined in a facility and given treatment until she no longer poses a threat to animals (and humans). If she’s guilty, she should be confined in a facility and given treatment until she no longer poses a threat to animals (and humans).

]]> By: Zhiva http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868876 Zhiva Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868876 # Woman suspected of dumping cat in trash can under police protection # Was she really under police protection when she threw cat in the can?.. # Woman suspected of dumping cat in trash can under police protection #

Was she really under police protection when she threw cat in the can?..

]]> By: Brett Myers http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868624 Brett Myers Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868624 The problem with your argument, MadMolecule, is that the cat didn't die. Even after 15 HOURS in the bin. Putting the cat in the bin was NOT likely to kill it or it would be dead. If one can judge from the pictures accompanying the article (and, let's face it, all we can do here is judge from the pictures), the cat appears perfect fit and healthy. If the woman is from the neighborhood, she likely knows the trash pick up schedules. If she intended anything by the act, it's likely she intended to send a message to the loose cat's owner, knowing that a few hours in the bin wouldn't really do it any harm. There is no comparison with putting a land mine (seriously, that's a ridiculous comparison) under your neighbors doormat. At the very minimum, it would cause serious property damage and grievous injury to your neighbor. That's what landmines do. Trash bins just sit there until someone opens the lid. It's a big harmless plastic tub. 15 HOURS and the worst thing that happened was the cat was frightened and needed a bath. The problem with your argument, MadMolecule, is that the cat didn’t die. Even after 15 HOURS in the bin. Putting the cat in the bin was NOT likely to kill it or it would be dead. If one can judge from the pictures accompanying the article (and, let’s face it, all we can do here is judge from the pictures), the cat appears perfect fit and healthy. If the woman is from the neighborhood, she likely knows the trash pick up schedules. If she intended anything by the act, it’s likely she intended to send a message to the loose cat’s owner, knowing that a few hours in the bin wouldn’t really do it any harm.

There is no comparison with putting a land mine (seriously, that’s a ridiculous comparison) under your neighbors doormat. At the very minimum, it would cause serious property damage and grievous injury to your neighbor. That’s what landmines do. Trash bins just sit there until someone opens the lid. It’s a big harmless plastic tub. 15 HOURS and the worst thing that happened was the cat was frightened and needed a bath.

]]> By: g0d5m15t4k3 http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868370 g0d5m15t4k3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868370 I agree. She will be thinking everyone's watching her for the rest of her sad life. If we're lucky she will go insane and get put in a home. Its likely what will happen is she gets fined money or has to do community service. I think a great punishment (that actually fits her crime) would be something along the measure of a fine, apologizing to the owners in person & getting to wear a sandwich board reporting herself to be the lady who threw the cat in the trash. Good old SHAME for her. She doesn't deserve death. I agree. She will be thinking everyone’s watching her for the rest of her sad life. If we’re lucky she will go insane and get put in a home.

Its likely what will happen is she gets fined money or has to do community service.

I think a great punishment (that actually fits her crime) would be something along the measure of a fine, apologizing to the owners in person & getting to wear a sandwich board reporting herself to be the lady who threw the cat in the trash. Good old SHAME for her. She doesn’t deserve death.

]]> By: Jesse M. http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868371 Jesse M. Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868371 The comments from her family in the Sun article were interesting: <i>The guard was put in place as her mum Celia claimed her daughter actually LOVES cats — and doesn't know what came over her.</i> <i>She said: "Her father Maurice is hospital in the moment and is very ill. I think she was just in a world of her own. We all are at the moment.</i> <i>"Mary said she just didn't know what possessed her, or what came over her, it's just very strange because she cannot explain her actions at all.</i> The human mind is a funny thing--one can perform all sorts of weird actions "unconsciously", and be completely unaware of things you'd really expect a person to be conscious of, just look at the <a href="http://boingboing.net/2004/05/06/brains-turn-gorilla-.html">gorilla/basketball experiment</a> (or the Harvard changing-student-behind-the-counter experiment shown <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAnKvo-fPs0">here</a>). So although everyone seems to be leaping to the conclusion that this <i>must</i> have been deliberate cruelty, I think it is actually possible that if she was in some kind of mentally frazzled state she may have just dumped the cat in the bin as a sort of reflex, because some part of the brain just thinks if you're standing by a bin you should put nearby stuff in it. I'm not saying this is the most likely explanation, but I think there's at least a decent chance it was something like this. The comments from her family in the Sun article were interesting:

The guard was put in place as her mum Celia claimed her daughter actually LOVES cats — and doesn’t know what came over her.

She said: “Her father Maurice is hospital in the moment and is very ill. I think she was just in a world of her own. We all are at the moment.

“Mary said she just didn’t know what possessed her, or what came over her, it’s just very strange because she cannot explain her actions at all.

The human mind is a funny thing–one can perform all sorts of weird actions “unconsciously”, and be completely unaware of things you’d really expect a person to be conscious of, just look at the gorilla/basketball experiment (or the Harvard changing-student-behind-the-counter experiment shown here). So although everyone seems to be leaping to the conclusion that this must have been deliberate cruelty, I think it is actually possible that if she was in some kind of mentally frazzled state she may have just dumped the cat in the bin as a sort of reflex, because some part of the brain just thinks if you’re standing by a bin you should put nearby stuff in it. I’m not saying this is the most likely explanation, but I think there’s at least a decent chance it was something like this.

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868372 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868372 Personally I love it. One of the nastiest things about abusive people is the fact that they often are able to hide themselves, even from themselves. I don't wish her to be physically harmed, but I will admit I'm kind of glad she's been massively exposed. Maybe it will give her some time to reflect on the kind of person she's turned into. Personally I love it. One of the nastiest things about abusive people is the fact that they often are able to hide themselves, even from themselves. I don’t wish her to be physically harmed, but I will admit I’m kind of glad she’s been massively exposed.

Maybe it will give her some time to reflect on the kind of person she’s turned into.

]]> By: WaylonWillie http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868373 WaylonWillie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868373 Ok, I know it isn't a popular opinion, but isn't there anyone else out there who wishes, just a tiny bit, that someone would do this to your cats? Ok, I know it isn’t a popular opinion, but isn’t there anyone else out there who wishes, just a tiny bit, that someone would do this to your cats?

]]> By: Macoy http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868376 Macoy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868376 BURN HER AT THE STAKE! BURN HER AT THE STAKE!

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868377 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868377 Kind of like the people who lock their two year olds in their cars here, crack the windows, and go to work while their kids die in the 107 degree heat? Kind of like the people who lock their two year olds in their cars here, crack the windows, and go to work while their kids die in the 107 degree heat?

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868378 Donald Petersen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868378 <blockquote>otherwise, yard waste</blockquote> I gotta admit, the last time I had to shovel up a flattened squirrel from my driveway, I agonized for a good ten minutes about which bin to toss it in. I think I finally decided the regular household trash one. Desiccated roadkill frisbee seems like a better fit for the landfill than to end up in the mulch, I guess. Wonder if I guessed right?

otherwise, yard waste

I gotta admit, the last time I had to shovel up a flattened squirrel from my driveway, I agonized for a good ten minutes about which bin to toss it in.

I think I finally decided the regular household trash one. Desiccated roadkill frisbee seems like a better fit for the landfill than to end up in the mulch, I guess. Wonder if I guessed right?

]]> By: ThomDowting http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868379 ThomDowting Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868379 Part of the problem is the police statement from the Guardian in which they say she cannot be arrested because she has not committed a crime. Bullocks. This is false as has been pointed out by several people over on Metafilter who have cited, chapter and verse, the criminal code section pertaining to animal cruelty. Vigilante justice is most likely to arise in a vacuum where the state has abrogated its responsibility and failed to perform its duty to enforce and uphold the laws. If the state won't perform it's function then the mob will step in to do it for them. And the mob often has a tendency to forget about the laws and why it's even there in the first place. If the police charged with upholding the law can forget about or ignore it, then it seems imminently reasonable that individuals taking it upon themselves to fill the void won't be terribly concerned with adhering to it either. If Socrates didn't stand a chance then my guess is that Mary Bale probably won't either. This could all be solved by arresting the woman and charging her with the crime of animal cruelty. Just sayin' Part of the problem is the police statement from the Guardian in which they say she cannot be arrested because she has not committed a crime. Bullocks. This is false as has been pointed out by several people over on Metafilter who have cited, chapter and verse, the criminal code section pertaining to animal cruelty.

Vigilante justice is most likely to arise in a vacuum where the state has abrogated its responsibility and failed to perform its duty to enforce and uphold the laws.

If the state won’t perform it’s function then the mob will step in to do it for them. And the mob often has a tendency to forget about the laws and why it’s even there in the first place. If the police charged with upholding the law can forget about or ignore it, then it seems imminently reasonable that individuals taking it upon themselves to fill the void won’t be terribly concerned with adhering to it either.

If Socrates didn’t stand a chance then my guess is that Mary Bale probably won’t either.

This could all be solved by arresting the woman and charging her with the crime of animal cruelty.

Just sayin’

]]> By: tyger11 http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868380 tyger11 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868380 You seem to be implying that a human life is worth more than a cat? How odd. You seem to be implying that a human life is worth more than a cat? How odd.

]]> By: Art Carnage http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868381 Art Carnage Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868381 > I can see where the owners are pissed off and want something done. Understandable. Animal > cruelty, esp. to an owner's pet, needs to be punished. > > ..but to post something on a social site with her name and address and wait for a mob or > some unhinged individual to go to her house and possible kill her for a CAT?!? Problem is, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. They posted on the social site in an effort to FIND OUT who did it. They couldn't have posted her name and address, because they didn't know it. No one did, until she called the police. > I can see where the owners are pissed off and want something done. Understandable. Animal
> cruelty, esp. to an owner’s pet, needs to be punished.
>
> ..but to post something on a social site with her name and address and wait for a mob or
> some unhinged individual to go to her house and possible kill her for a CAT?!?

Problem is, THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN. They posted on the social site in an effort to FIND OUT who did it. They couldn’t have posted her name and address, because they didn’t know it. No one did, until she called the police.

]]> By: tyger11 http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868382 tyger11 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868382 I CAN HAZ BLUDDY VENJANSE? I CAN HAZ BLUDDY VENJANSE?

]]> By: arikol http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868383 arikol Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868383 @ThomDowting you really think that /b would be appeased by mere police action? These people are screaming for blood, not appropriate punishment. @ThomDowting
you really think that /b would be appeased by mere police action?
These people are screaming for blood, not appropriate punishment.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-872737 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-872737 Animal torture (which this obviously is) is a sign that doctors use when evaluating people who have the potential to murder. Her nonchalance while doing it is truly scary. Animal torture (which this obviously is) is a sign that doctors use when evaluating people who have the potential to murder. Her nonchalance while doing it is truly scary.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868386 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868386 "Keep in mind this is the internet, and the anonymity granted by it makes people much more likely to say things they wouldn't ever actually act on. Pretty much all the people calling for blood, etc are all talk." This is known, in lay terms, as John Gabriel's Greater Internet F#ckwad Theory (see http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/3/19/ for diagram). “Keep in mind this is the internet, and the anonymity granted by it makes people much more likely to say things they wouldn’t ever actually act on. Pretty much all the people calling for blood, etc are all talk.”

This is known, in lay terms, as John Gabriel’s Greater Internet F#ckwad Theory (see http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/3/19/ for diagram).

]]> By: polychlorinated http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868388 polychlorinated Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868388 Indeed. In fact, she might have even been flummoxed AND frazzled! "What is this? A banana? Bananas belong in the rubbish bin; for land's sake what is this world coming to?" Cruelty may not start deliberately sometimes, but it certainly finishes as such. Her actions were at any time reversible and she chose not to go back in the following 15 hours. Maybe she can be released under the justification of the Milgram experiment defense and she was only following the authorities in her head. Maybe in reaching for a plausible explanation you have to really reach beyond your freshman psych class. Maybe you are thinking even less than Miz Bale. Indeed. In fact, she might have even been flummoxed AND frazzled!
“What is this? A banana? Bananas belong in the rubbish bin; for land’s sake what is this world coming to?”
Cruelty may not start deliberately sometimes, but it certainly finishes as such. Her actions were at any time reversible and she chose not to go back in the following 15 hours.
Maybe she can be released under the justification of the Milgram experiment defense and she was only following the authorities in her head. Maybe in reaching for a plausible explanation you have to really reach beyond your freshman psych class.
Maybe you are thinking even less than Miz Bale.

]]> By: Art http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868390 Art Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868390 I am disgusted with the woman's actions, the internet 'outing' of her actions, the rabid cries for her execution and most all forum comments. This whole internet "thing" kinda REALLY sucks. I am disgusted with the woman’s actions, the internet ‘outing’ of her actions, the rabid cries for her execution and most all forum comments.

This whole internet “thing” kinda REALLY sucks.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868391 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868391 For those of you who don't see this woman's actions as all that horrible, and especially to those of you who try to minimize the awfulness of the situation by pointing out things that you think are even worse and deserve greater attention, I suggest you exercise your brains by doing this: Think of what it's like to be a helpless creature trapped in a sweltering bin for hours. Think of what it's like for the owners of the cat. That's all you need to do. Consider this situation on its own. No comparisons to any other ills in the world need to be made. It's about having compassion for a helpless creature and the people who love her. For those of you who don’t see this woman’s actions as all that horrible, and especially to those of you who try to minimize the awfulness of the situation by pointing out things that you think are even worse and deserve greater attention, I suggest you exercise your brains by doing this:

Think of what it’s like to be a helpless creature trapped in a sweltering bin for hours. Think of what it’s like for the owners of the cat.

That’s all you need to do. Consider this situation on its own. No comparisons to any other ills in the world need to be made. It’s about having compassion for a helpless creature and the people who love her.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868393 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868393 Amusing to read so many pet lovers advocating such violence against the woman, regardless of her motivation or mental state. Inflicting pain and cruelty upon a human being is fine, as long as no one is being mean to animals (or at least not the cute and cuddly ones that we don't slaughter in mass quantities to eat...those don't count.) Amusing to read so many pet lovers advocating such violence against the woman, regardless of her motivation or mental state. Inflicting pain and cruelty upon a human being is fine, as long as no one is being mean to animals (or at least not the cute and cuddly ones that we don’t slaughter in mass quantities to eat…those don’t count.)

]]> By: t3hmadhatter http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/woman-suspected-of-d.html#comment-868394 t3hmadhatter Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868394 Why is the trashcan under police protection? Why is the trashcan under police protection?

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