Fur coats

[washerboy]

Hey Guys:

I know from time to time there's topics discussed that dont relate to appliances or our favorite fabric softner. I'm in a quandry this morning. I have a partner of 6 years. Last night at dinner he was talking about buying a sport coat from Lord and Taylor; it's a wool and mink blend. I almost choked on my food. I volonteer two Saturdays a month at a spay and nurter clinic; we cater to low income pet owners and strays. I run the lab part of the clinic..some Saturday's I draw up 200 injections for vacs, antibotics and sedation..soooo needless to say animal welfare is an issue for me. I've brewed about this all night!!! From what I've read most of the fur trade comes from Asian countries. Often times the pelts are removed while the animal is still alive..not to mention that some fur textiles are mixed with dog and cat. I just cant wrap my head around what he's wanting to do. I've almost decided to tell him if he wants to purchase this sport coat I refuse to be seen with him in public or even adknowlege his prescents in public if he is wearing it. Honestly folks..do think I'm being a drama queen..should I just suck it up and go on; just to keep the peace? Your thoughts please.

 

[foraloysius]

My mother has a few fur coats which she bought in the not so recent past. We (the rest of the family) forbid her to wear them any longer. No need to show off with a "second hand coat" as we call them.

 

[mixfinder]

The Little Minx!

Friends of mine live close to a mink farm. Two years ago PETA vigilantees turned 1,000s of mink loose. Some starved, were run over by cars, eaten by large predators and conversly attacked all the small pets in the surrounding area. It continues to be a disaster of epic proportions as the mink are out in the woods, screwing like mink and preying on poultry and pets. If a mink came to shred your cat or dog, would you feel less sorry for the mink? How do justify entrapment of your own pet. Wouldn't they be happier in the wild, matted, cold and hungry? I support the position of no fur ets, if everyone stops using ANY product that any way uses an animal. It is hard to prove raising mink for slaughter is any less human human that using cows for milk, chicken for eggs, and animal hide for shoes, belts atc, to say nothing of vaccines and medically related uses. I am not convinced a mink perceives life in a cage as worse than life in the wild.
Kelly

 

[sikiguya]

Get one of those shirts that say "I'm with STUPID" and an arrow pointing at him for whenever you two go out.

I'd just tell him that you are not going to be seen with him if he wears it. Ask him to come down to the shelter to help you volunteer or show him where the fur really comes from (I am sure you could fun some nasty stuff on the internet) and maybe he would change his mind about the fur thing.

I would never wear a fur, it's just too wierd to think that someone else wants to look like an animal while wearing it.

 

[toggleswitch]

oooh that is a tough question.

Besides the ethical and moral issues, answer these for me:

1- What man looks like a MAN in a fur?
2- What man does not look like a pimp in a fur? Perhaps a nice fedora, some bling-bling, burgundy patent leather shoes and a walking-stick to complement the look?

Perhaps your hubby can simply stop the man-scaping and voila...fur!

 

[washerboy]

Thanks

you guys are the best (I know..I've said that before.) I never thought about the "I'm with stupid t-shirt", if that does'nt work pointing out the pimp and walking stick will push him over the top!!! This has really been an issue for me..I generally do not care what other people do or how they choose to spend their money. But this whole thing has not set right with me. thanks for letting me bend your ears and thanks for the comments!!/mark

 

[oxydolfan1]

I sort of agree with Toggleswitch on the pimp connotation...why not just buy an Escalade, get a gold tooth and complete the whole fashion ensemble, lol?

In seriousness, I agreed with the anti-fur contingent...until two things happened. Outside of Macys, where I worked years ago, PETA activists ambushed fur-wearers coming out of the subway, and I immediately thought, well, these people are in need of an immediate smackdown....then, I thought it out and realized that I had closets of leather and boots at home, bacon in the fridge....

I realized it would be hypocritical for me to dictate to other people what they should spend their money on, especially when the products themselves were legal.

But I do believe the folks that are total vegan, go completely synthetic, or at least wear only leather shoes from the hides of animals who have died of natural causes do have a right to participate in an honest debate. I just think they should take it up on a political or anti-corporatist level, not whine to total strangers, or terrorize them for their choices.

I'm a proud leftist and believe in global awareness, but if I'm wearing a good jacket of any sort and you come near me with a paint stick, I'm sorry but you're getting your a*s kicked, pure and simple.

 

[DADoES]

I don't have a fur coat and wouldn't ever buy one, but consider that the human animal has been wearing skins of other critters for some number of years, back to the caveman days ...

 

[toggleswitch]

The Escalade and the gold tooth is perfect. Just what was ne

I sort of agree with Toggleswitch on the pimp connotation...

NOW JUST WAIT ONE DARNED MINUTE! With Mars, moon, Neptune and my rising in Scorpio, (think poles of a magnet) I am either loved or hated. There is no in-between. So go back to your room mister and don't come out till you have an answer. Right now. March.

LOL ROFL LMAO.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Oh. I have an opinion on this.

Please don't be offended, Washerboy, as I don't know you. If I'm wrong then just let me have it

This whole issue is much deeper than a lousy coat or the use of fur. I am struck with the issue of respect for each others feelings and desires. I would never consider telling my partner what he could or couldn't wear. I am my own person and am not responsible for others actions. If anyone ever told me that they wouldn't be seen with me because of what I chose to wear...well I guess that THEY would be staying home. I can understand how you feel but I wouldn't be losing sleep over it. Pick your battles wisely. Six years is a long time! Perhaps letting him know how you feel, without ultimatums or threats, you might find that he would respect your feelings. Though the "I'm with Stupid" tee shirt idea is kinda funny....it's not the smartest idea. If my partner did that to me they would, not only, be walking with out but they would be eating, sleeping and living with out me! I have little tolerance for someone else "taking my personal inventory" and invalidating my desires and opinions. Would you want it for you?

Respect is what good, long term relationships are based on!!!At the end of a day it's not sex, looks or opinions/values that matter. It's respecting your partner for all of the above things

Good luck in what ever you decide to do.

Rich (a guy who has owned three fur coats, has various differing opinions and 18 years "married" to a non-fur wearing man)

 

[perc-o-prince]

Mixfinder

What is that coat that you have pictured?

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Our eyes are in front of our head, and we have sharp teeth. We are the hunters, not the hunted.
The hunted have eyes on the side of the head so they might see us comming to hunt and eat and/or wear them.

You are what you is.

Ken

 

[oxydolfan1]

If there's any discipline to be meted out, son......

Scorpio, born in the Chinese Year of The Snake.

Dedication, Discipline, Mercilessness, Sadism, Suspicion, Intransigence.

Intuition, Discretion, Sagacity, Clairvoyance, Compassion, Extravagance.

Uh, any Cancer/Virgo/Capricorn/Pisces Roosters that wanna spend some time? (winks)

I'd check the kabbalistic chart as well, but they keep changing my birthday on me, every year (scratches head)....

You're right on one score, anyhoo. Nothing passes my purview without being either loved or hated, it seems....

High maintenance. Grrr....

Seriously, Toggs, you done inspired me (in another thread).

I've been chopping and grinding nuts in preparation for my world famous marzipan baklava all evening (hmmmmm...)

 

[oxydolfan1]

Ken, your post could honestly be posted as a public service announcement on any one of a half-dozen bars I could name.....

I wonder what our furry woodland creatures actually think of US, when they watch our shenanigans? lol....

 

[bewitched]

Down with animal furs!!!

The only fur I like is my genuine self produced one...
My aunt had an old fur she used to wear on special occasions...I found some fish worms and I filled fur's pockets...My aunt never wore it again!!!

 

[Maytagmom]

Arkansas has a Lord & Taylor???

*runs*

 

[perc-o-prince]

Oh. I have an opinion on this.

Me too!

I won't go into all of the animal rights, ethical treatment thing because we all have our oun thoughts on that, right or wrong (this from a man who cries like a baby when we lose a pet).

What I would like to add two cents to is Rich's post. He wrote, "you might find that he would respect your feelings." I think that's what it's all about. Having respect for one another. If you have respect for one another, I think you would respect his desire to buy the coat, but he would also respect that you have very definite feelings about it and not wear it around you. And, if that's the case, perhaps he'd pass on buying it if he was only going to wear it when he went out without you (probably not that often!). Or, maybe I'm just thinking in an ideal world!!!

I wouldn't tell Rich that I wouldn't be seen with him in public with a fur on, but I would let him know how uncomfortable I would be. Actually, I believe I did many years ago.

Chuck
(non-fur wearing partner of 18 years to a man who owns 3 fur coats but hasn't worn them in I can't remember how long)

 

[oxydolfan1]

I agree, although it's still hard when you worship the ground your significant other walks on, and he/she worships the ground you walk on....yet you frequently find you're just not on the same ground after twelve years....

(hangs head, hopelessly)

 

[toggleswitch]

Are you AC or DC?

Now mind you, I'm not one for wearing furs. HOWEVER, I saw the COOLEST leather men's bomber jacket with a mink interior/lining. Even better if perhaps it could be faux. THAT might make a great compromise if one's S.O. HAD to have one..............

BTW my grandfather, and great-uncle (his brother) were mink furriers. My uncle still is. So I for one may not stand in judgement for those who wish to wear fur.

This is a remnant of the Ottoman (Turkish) occcupation of Greece for 450+/- years. Apparently the Greeks, ostensibly slaves, (do this, or we slit your throat kind-of-thing), were taught how to breed, raise and make coats out of minks for the Imams and Pashas (High level religious-os and politcos who had a taste for luxury).

We won't discuss the dismal failure of trying to appretice me to this craft. I mean YES I will sit behind a sewing machine, but the work was mindless and not for me! Neither was being a nailer (hush now!) a stretcher, a slicer or a color-matcher. Believe me dears, I was more interested in the fact that the factory on 28th and 7th in Manhattan still had DC current as well as AC current! I was warned to watch what I plugged in and where! (Severe repercussions; Not bad advice in Manhattan). Anyhoo.... Apparently DC is better / more easily applied to variable speed motors.

And yes MaytagMom, New York has/had a Lord & Taylor and uncle-dearest made coats for them!

 

[toggleswitch]

Yet you frequently find you're just not on the same ground after twelve years....

OMG that is the biggest truth I have ever heard.