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Notes -
Non-political topic—dog culture. For the holidays, I was in physical stores shopping. It amazed how many people brought their dogs. One had brought a big dog that when it went by someone the dog owner struggled to keep the dog from jumping on the other customer. Dogs were in the freaking grocery store.
To me, this is entirely unacceptable. Some people (yours truly) don’t much care for dogs as the barking can be disquieting. More to the point I was raised believing there was a time and place for everything. Stores were not dog places. Yet that has seemed to break down. My question is why.
Are dog people convinced that all humans love dogs (except for evil humans) and therefore there ought not be a problem? Do they simply not care about old norms?
It’s like the white person version of playing one’s music loudly on public transportation. It’s a flex, finding pleasure in imposing yourself upon others, enjoying the discomfort of others, and daring others for a confrontation.
YTA if you don’t want dog hair and slobber all over your groceries, dog hair in your restaurant food or the residuals of dog paw or asshole plopped on your seat or table. And fuck people with dog allergies. If your kid didn’t want to get mostly peacefully nannied by my emotional support pitbull while you two were shopping, maybe he or she shouldn’t have made a sudden noise or movement, or breathed.
Few things make me automatically despise a person more than seeing them with a dog donned in a “Emotional Support Animal” vest. Apparently, in the states, the ADA forbids public venues from asking for proof that a pet’s a service animal.
And I mildly but generally like dogs (as long as they’re quiet and not a pitbull; yes_chad.jpg: I’m a doggo racist). I can only imagine what’s it’s like for those who dislike dogs or have a phobia or allergy, encountering dogs left and right in public venues (and sometimes even on airplanes, although thankfully airlines have been trying to push back on that—hail corporate!).
Yes, you are the asshole for assuming the only reason people might take their dogs out is to enjoy imposing themselves on others. I'm not an asshole, so I assume they enjoy the companionship.
Yes, what a Kind and Empathetic person I'm sure you are. I didn't say it was the only reason. I imagine the Persons of Public Transport who selflessly share their music with the people around them also enjoy the companionship of their music on some level.
Honestly having run into some Persons of Public Transport who were cheerfully trying to get people to watch the youtube video or enjoy the music they were max-volume blasting I don't think they were even necessarily 'malicious'. Still doesn't stop it being annoying.
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