West Seattle Blog...

WSB Forum » Open Discussion

(45 posts)

Wearing fur

Started 3 years ago by transplantella
Latest reply from mellaw6565

transplantella
Member Profile

We moved here from a cold northern European country (we are Americans).

All of my winter outerwear is furred. Hats, mittens, mufflers, boots. It's warm, dry, and brilliant in the snow. I love it all.

But I have heard that there are such people here who keep an eye out for fur wearers and splatter them in paint. I love my winter wear, it keeps me warm, and I certainly don't want it ruined.

Is there a real possibility that some crackpot on the street would try to destroy my clothing? Is this true? Hate me if you want, but don't ruin my winter clothes.

Posted 3 years ago #
pigeonmom
Member Profile

While opinions differ, some might call wearing fur a "crackpot" thing to do

Posted 3 years ago #
transplantella
Member Profile

Thanks for the condemnation. Just keep your paint to yourself.

Posted 3 years ago #
Ken
Member Profile

Never seen one of those paint throwers around here that I know of.

It is winter after all. The guy that dresses as a carrot from PITA seems to hang around the U district and Westlake and usually in the summer :)

Go for it. If I had a fur hat I would have it on tonight.

Posted 3 years ago #
Zenguy
Member Profile

I have seen this happen before. If it is going to happen (rare actually) it would be at the opening of play at the Fifth Ave or Paramount, the most you will get outside of that is someone yelling at you.

I wish people could put this in perspective, my 89 year old grandmother cannot grasp this concept and at 89 I do not think she should have to.

Posted 3 years ago #
RainyDay1235
Member Profile

Just tell people's it's fake fur and only buy fake fur items in the future. The two are so close now you cannot tell. But be prepared for nasty looks in either case. Deserved? You won't like my answer....

Posted 3 years ago #
Ken
Member Profile

Well now let's make this a discussion.

Animals raised for fur are no different from those raised for food except they are sold in different stores.

There are still trappers in parts of the northwest. This is not exactly Hollywood yet.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/trapping/index.htm

I am as hardheaded a Dem as you will find but I still don't subscribe to every fringe you will find in the big tent.

I own guns, I would wear fur if it was cold enough and I could afford it.

I eat meat and wear leather and have made both pork sausage and elk chili from scratch, so a matter of degree is not going to turn me into a hypocrite.

I was attacked by the carrot for supporting a political candidate that it seems was insufficiently pacifist.

Ain't life strange sometimes.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
Member Profile

This is Seattle, so people are going to assume that it's fake (because if people are wearing fur in Seattle, generally it is.) Tell people it's fake, don't call attention to the fact that you're wearing it and avoid opening nights at theaters.

I would never wear or buy fur myself, but people need to realize that this is a cultural/generational difference in our society and not a reason to throw paint. If you feel that strongly get involved in an organization like PETA and ACTUALLY make a difference instead of engaging in personal property damage and assault.

Posted 3 years ago #
pigeonmom
Member Profile

transplantella I was not condeming or threatening you with paint, just looking at both sides

Posted 3 years ago #
Traci
Member Profile

I've never heard of people getting paint thrown on them for wearing fur around here...just dirty looks because, to some, the whole concept of it is disgusting.

Posted 3 years ago #
Magpie
Member Profile

If you don't wear your fur now, you may never get another chance, it hasn't gotten this cold for this long in years.
The only time I have seen the Peta folks out getting nasty is at events like the opera, ballet, etc. (one of them harrassed me once and told me my fake fur was just as bad as the real thing for what it implied..whatever)

Posted 3 years ago #
JenV
Member Profile

I love that people get so up in arms about fur, but don't have the same problem with leather- or eating meat, for that matter.

Transplantella, get down with your bad self. :) I agree - tell people it's fake...then ask them what their shoes are made from.

Posted 3 years ago #
shed22
Member Profile

i would love me a fur hat right now. i would have put a live squirrel on my head this morning, it was that cold.

Posted 3 years ago #
transplantella
Member Profile

"It is winter after all. The guy that dresses as a carrot from PITA seems to hang around the U district and Westlake and usually in the summer :)"

Hahaha, that's pretty funny. It's ok to walk around dressed as a carrot, but it's not ok to wear a warm fur hat in the winter?

Oh, Seattle.....

Posted 3 years ago #
JanS
Member Profile

transplantella....I say go for it...the paint is frozen over, and it's frikkin' cold out there.

Posted 3 years ago #
villagegreen
Member Profile

I grew up in Minnesota where 20 below zero temps (not windchills, actual temps) are commonplace and no one wears fur (or, I guess, not that I noticed).

It really isn't necessary. There are many other fabrics in this day and age that will keep you just as warm as fur (actually warmer). Plus, I don't know a lot about how they 'harvest' fur, but don't they skin animals alive in certain countries? That's just sickening.

But, I promise not to throw paint at you. However, if I see someone walking down the street here in WS with fur coat, hat, mittens, mufflers, and boots I may burst out laughing simply because I imagine that might look quite ridiculous.

Posted 3 years ago #
WesCAddle
Member Profile

Posted 3 years ago #
JanS
Member Profile

ohhhh...I like the fur pants - lolol....have known some guys who came by that naturally - lol....bet a visit to the local spa will take care of that ;-)

Posted 3 years ago #
Bayou
Member Profile

Aren't those Ugg boots? He was just ahead of his time.

Posted 3 years ago #
hammerhead
Member Profile

Fur was intended to keep people warm, but when used properly the WHOLE animal is used, just as in leather ect. I am not PETA fan. I am a supporter of the HSUS and footage of a dog being skinned a live is pretty horrible. Just to line a hood on a jacket. Paint throwing is not very common around here.

Synthetic is just as good as fur. My mom has silver fox and doesn't know what to do with it. She has had it for over 20 yrs.

I can tell fake fur from real fur. I would never say anything. Karma has a funny way of biting you in the $%#!!

Posted 3 years ago #
swthistle
Member Profile

Wear your fur and love wearing it!! I have a mink jacket I bought in the 80's and I loved wearing it!! Whistler Village was made for that coat...good times!

There are so many tree huggers around here that forget about those leather shoes belts jackets and all those meat meals that they enjoy.

Go for it!!

Posted 3 years ago #
Magpie
Member Profile

Maybe you can find someone to make the old fox fur in to throw pillows..it can be recycled fur. I am thinking of doing that with the sheared beaver (antique, I think it was a long dead relatives) wrap I have.

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
Member Profile

I agree with Hammerhead - we are way past the evolutionary stage intellectually to rely on fur as a way of staying warm. 70-100 years ago ok, but now there are many alternatives that are actually warmer.

And for those of you tauting faux fur as a viable alternative, most of it is made from dogs that are skinned alive to preserve the fur. There are many videos of it online (not PETA related) that will demonstrate the process if you can stomach it. And the rest of the dog is not used.

Far different from the leather I wear on my feet -cows are (usually) humanely euthanized before we use any part of them, and even then we use almost all of the animal in various ways. I don't see any analogy between that and the cruel & inhumane ways that fur animals are killed and discarded.

I would never throw paint on anyone, but I would give you a nasty look. And I certainly educate my students not to believe the fake fur collar tags that say it's synthetic when it feels like fur - it most likely is dog fur. Very common in Asia - where almost all of the jackets & coats with "fake fur" are made.

Posted 3 years ago #
waterworld
Member Profile

I do not believe that anyone who has been inside a typical slaughterhouse could rationally state that cows are humanely euthanized. Eat what you're going to eat and wear what you're going to wear, but don't kid yourself about what goes on in modern meat production facilities.

Posted 3 years ago #
Kayleigh2
Member Profile

People still wear fur?

Hello, it's 2008. We know better now.

--Kayleigh, who does not wear leather or fur

Posted 3 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

I don't know how to tell you this.. but a fair number of us still own fur that was purchased long before it became PC not to wear fur.

in this age of recycling.. do you really think we should just throw them out or make throw pillows of them?

I would not choose to buy a new fur today... i haven't for decades... though there were some possum furs in Australia that were pretty darn tempting... but i am not about to throw out what i already own... and would buy it used in a heartbeat if it was something i loved.

As someone who suffers terribly in the cold, i can tell you that a fur coat processed the old fashioned way really is one of the warmest coats you can own... and boots too.. and hats.

both my hat and my boots are alpaca.. and my coats are shearling... but the animals who wore those skins last obviously died to make them...

Kayleigh... synthetics make my feet stink.. worse than they do in leather if i am wearing synthetic socks... i wear leather:)

WesCAddle.. i am not sure i looked so different when i was in Minnesota at 20 below.. though for that i was swaddled mostly in down... it easier to wash.. dirty snow got on everything. first thing i did when i found we were moving back to the northwest was put that walking sleeping bag coat and a couple of my furs in a consignment shop. Perhaps i shouldn't have been so hasty:)

Posted 3 years ago #
MellyMel
Member Profile

**details on cow slaughter, please skip if you dont want to know**

I eat red meat on occasion and do wear leather, but cows are not "euthanized" in the way that the word suggests a quiet painless death. My graduate school buddy worked summers a processing plant in the "knock box" where they used a pneumatic bolt and administered the shot to the head. It doesn’t always work and a second station takes care of those who dont immediately go down by slitting the throat.

This is, from what I know, more humane than industrial age practices and is designed to be quick, though not perfect.

I have more of an issue with the way cows (and other livestock) are raised/fattened than the way they are slaughtered. "The Omnivore's Dilemma" is a great read that is not liberal preachy or pushing vegetarianism.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
Member Profile

If you want to know about a real animal AND human tragedy, read the book Chicken that details life for slaughterhouse workers and how horribly the chickens are treated. Don't even think about lecturing me if you have eaten chicken or have used their feathers for anything. You can be as careful as you want and you're still going to harm animals, that's the harsh truth. Do your best.

I wouldn't buy new fur, but I eat meat. I do and I know how it gets to my plate. BUT! If we're going to split hairs here and get preachy and downright disgusting with examples, let's take a look at Chicken. Try avoiding that in your every day life.

Posted 3 years ago #
Zenguy
Member Profile

What are these cows you speak of??? Doesn't meat come from little packages in the store?

Ignorance is bliss, I do not want to see the inside of a meat packing plant or a sausage factory either. I do not want to what is in sausage intentionally or unintentionally.

Posted 3 years ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

I wish I could remember the name of the book, but there's one out there that talks about getting to more mindful living in stages; not expecting that you will be able to suddenly do a lifestyle 180, but to take purposeful steps. It might mean buying products with less packaging, are more humanely raised, or are made by workers with fair labor practices. It also addressed diet, exercise, smoking, many aspects of "living life." I found it encouraging because you can always keep moving along the spectrum. That said, I do have a coat that was my grandmother's ca. 1960 and I do tell people it's fake, because a) I would never buy a new fur and b) it is a style that is popularly copied now.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
Member Profile

GenHillOne - I think that's the right idea. I'd love to read that book if you have the title handy. Sounds like it might be a nice gifty for the white elephant exchange coming up on my "that side of the family" celebration this weekend.

Posted 3 years ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

I found it - Quantum Wellness.
http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Wellness-Practical-Spiritual-Happiness/dp/1602860181/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229461259&sr=8-1
Had to go to the review at the bottom to be sure, but it had a quote that confirmed it for me, "leaning into wellness, comfortably, adding things here and there to the thrust and taking baby steps toward the changes we want to achieve."

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
Member Profile

Job - FYI - Alpacas & llamas are sheared like sheep - they don't die from harvesting their "fur", so your items are PC to that extent:)

Posted 3 years ago #
HeavyMetalConservative
Member Profile

If you want to see what life was like before being PC or environmentally aware, go to Russia. What a time warp. We were there last year. About 60 to 70 percent (maybe more) of the people wear fur, and lots of it during the winter.

You want to talk about shoes and boots, it seems like there is a boot store every 30 feet in Vladivostok. As our driver Sergei said, "Vladivostok pretty city, as long as you not look too close" Translation - They don't care if they litter or not. Trash is everywhere. I saw a guy open up his pack of cigarettes and throw the wrapper on the ground.

They also have a lot of smokestacks spewing black smoke. It took me back to the 60's. Oh yeah, they charge for your grocery bags too.

If you are worried about getting paint thrown on you, just carry a concealed paint gun. I think the permit costs about $500.00. Just kidding.

Posted 3 years ago #
nuni
Member Profile

My brother had a piece of fur once..and it started growing fur. How is that possible? We thought it was interesting so we kept it around for a while.

Posted 3 years ago #
transplantella
Member Profile

"If you want to see what life was like before being PC or environmentally aware, go to Russia. What a time warp. We were there last year. About 60 to 70 percent (maybe more) of the people wear fur, and lots of it during the winter.

You want to talk about shoes and boots, it seems like there is a boot store every 30 feet in Vladivostok. As our driver Sergei said, "Vladivostok pretty city, as long as you not look too close" Translation - They don't care if they litter or not. Trash is everywhere. I saw a guy open up his pack of cigarettes and throw the wrapper on the ground.

They also have a lot of smokestacks spewing black smoke."

Amazing. So you mean the whole world isn't like Seattle? :~/

Posted 3 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

mellaw6565

when the skin is still attached, the animal was slaughtered.

in the case of the alpaca. i can be fairly certain that the animal simply died of reasonably natural causes... or had to be put down for some reason.. because alpacas aren't grown for their meat.. and if they were it would be make kobi beef look cheap...

but the sheep? i suspect that one was raised for slaughter.

I am all for using all of an animal.. including it's skin and fur... when it dies or is slaughtered.

i wish i could be so useful when i die...

though i expect i won't have enough good skin left by then to make a decent wallet:)

maybe someone will use my ashes for fertilizer.. though i don't think they are as powerful as decomposing bodies...

i would like to think i keep things growing long after i am gone.

Posted 3 years ago #
RT
Member Profile

"Amazing. So you mean the whole world isn't like Seattle? :~/"

You don't seem to like it here very much, so I have to wonder why you chose to move here. Seattle is one of the most liberal places in the country, so of course you're going to encounter opposition to things like wearing fur. Maybe you should have moved to Idaho or Wyoming instead.

Posted 3 years ago #
transplantella
Member Profile

I'm always tickled when people describe Seattle as "liberal".

I checked on the defininition of liberal and it included "flexible, unbiased, tolerant, unprejudiced".

Which does not often characterize the Seattle I've met.

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
Member Profile

transplantella, are liberals to be fluid in all things at all times to remain a liberal? Most of us have fixed opinions just like conservatives. Where we differ is what we do with new information and facts. That is were we evolve our thinking and actions, or at least try to. I imagine if it could be assured that no suffering were involved, not many would take issue with fur, leather, or meat.

Posted 3 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

JT..

i loved this comment.. "are liberals to be fluid in all things at all times to remain a liberal?"

transplantella..

if "flexible, unbiased, tolerant, unprejudiced" equates with giving in to and agreeing with everyone who crosses their path.. then probably we aren't so liberal.

(yes, i am a transplant.. but it didn't take me long to figure out i belong here.. i am one of those you so carelessly condemn now :)

but there are other ways of defining those terms...

flexible?.. have you looked outside your window? the flexibility of people here is confirmed by the incredible transportation options people are using today:) so far i have seen sleds (made of everything possible) snowshoes, cross country skis... and every motorized option short of a snowmobile:) And that is just on one street.

that same flexibility fuels the innovation of Seattle's business and arts community... and produces some of the best geo-tech engineers in the world:)

my daughter is visiting and i am geo-tech focused right now.. but i suspect the same is true of several ground breaking areas of science...

unbiased? ... the lack of bias here fuels the imaginations of those who lead the pack in innovation... you can't get innovation from biased minds... You have to be willing to concede that there is much you don't know to look for what is possible instead of labeling the unknown impossible.

tolerant? ... on any given day in any pub in town you will hear a broad range of opinions being voiced on a broad range of subjects .. and the most likely comment is.. "you might be right, but".... present your argument well and someone is likely to buy you a beer... I'd call that pretty tolerant.

The range of diversity in lifestyles here is also proof of a pretty tolerant society... When somene here says.. "some of my best friends are ____ " .. they probably are.. and not because they went out of their way to cultivate a token friend...

but, come to think of it, most of us would never think to make that statement at all.. we'd just be indignant that you were so insensitive as to talk about our friends that way...

unprejudiced? ... I think a lot of us struggle with our own personal prejudices.. but as a whole we tend to err on the side of bending over backwards to compensate for that prejudice rather than let that prejudice control our actions.

while i am fully aware that is a form of prejudice.. i suspect it isn't the one you were noting.

Have you noticed the way we tend to look after those who are different or disadvantaged here.. even bag ladies and tramps.. ???

I think you got us wrong... your loss ;)

Don't confuse our intolerance of dogma for intolerance in general because there is one thing that is definately true here.. we seem to be a fairly well educated group of people who were taught to think for ourselves... and don't much value those who can't or won't.

I suspect intolerance of bull is one of our most consistent traits.. maybe that's why we choose to live here ;~>

but.... we are mostly too polite to call you on your bull unless you insist on foolishly repeating stereotypes without bothering to scratch the surface for substance...

scratch a little and you might find what you have been missing.

unless of course, you are inflexible, biased, intolerant and prejudiced yourself..

in which case no matter how deeply you look, there will be nothing you can see.

Posted 3 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

JT..

i loved this comment.. "are liberals to be fluid in all things at all times to remain a liberal?"

transplantella..

if "flexible, unbiased, tolerant, unprejudiced" equates with giving in to and agreeing with everyone who crosses their path.. then probably we aren't so liberal.

(yes, i am a transplant.. but it didn't take me long to figure out i belong here.. i am one of those you so carelessly condemn now :)

but there are other ways of defining those terms...

flexible?.. have you looked outside your window? the flexibility of people here is confirmed by the incredible transportation options people are using today:) so far i have seen sleds (made of everything possible) snowshoes, cross country skis... and every motorized option short of a snowmobile:) And that is just on one street.

that same flexibility fuels the innovation of Seattle's business and arts community... and produces some of the best geo-tech engineers in the world:)

my daughter is visiting and i am geo-tech focused right now.. but i suspect the same is true of several ground breaking areas of science...

unbiased? ... the lack of bias here fuels the imaginations of those who lead the pack in innovation... you can't get innovation from biased minds... You have to be willing to concede that there is much you don't know to look for what is possible instead of labeling the unknown impossible.

tolerant? ... on any given day in any pub in town you will hear a broad range of opinions being voiced on a broad range of subjects .. and the most likely comment is.. "you might be right, but".... present your argument well and someone is likely to buy you a beer... I'd call that pretty tolerant.

The range of diversity in lifestyles here is also proof of a pretty tolerant society... When somene here says.. "some of my best friends are ____ " .. they probably are.. and not because they went out of their way to cultivate a token friend...

but, come to think of it, most of us would never think to make that statement at all.. we'd just be indignant that you were so insensitive as to talk about our friends that way...

unprejudiced? ... I think a lot of us struggle with our own personal prejudices.. but as a whole we tend to err on the side of bending over backwards to compensate for that prejudice rather than let that prejudice control our actions.

while i am fully aware that is a form of prejudice.. i suspect it isn't the one you were noting.

Have you noticed the way we tend to look after those who are different or disadvantaged here.. even bag ladies and tramps.. ???

I think you got us wrong... your loss ;)

Don't confuse our intolerance of dogma for intolerance in general because there is one thing that is definately true here.. we seem to be a fairly well educated group of people who were taught to think for ourselves... and don't much value those who can't or won't.

I suspect intolerance of bull is one of our most consistent traits.. maybe that's why we choose to live here ;~>

but.... we are mostly too polite to call you on your bull unless you insist on foolishly repeating stereotypes without bothering to scratch the surface for substance...

scratch a little and you might find what you have been missing.

unless of course, you are inflexible, biased, intolerant and prejudiced yourself..

in which case no matter how deeply you look, there will be nothing you can see.

Posted 3 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

oops.. my bad

impatience is not a virtue.. but it sure gets a lot done sometimes:)

Posted 3 years ago #
Kayleigh2
Member Profile

I'm really tired of people claiming Seattle isn't "liberal" because we don't agree with conservative viewpoints spouted on a freaking Internet board. I'm also tired of people who move here and then proceed to insult everybody--this is beyond rude.

I'm a liberal. I listen to lots of points of view. I also belive in social justice and protecting animals and the earth

I think wearing fur is outdated and cruel, and if you think that means I'm not liberal, then we must disagree about the definition of the word.

Edited out some crankiness.

Posted 3 years ago #
Aim
Member Profile

Let's take a left turn to a useful place...

I saw an article the other day on what to do with used furs to keep them useful. Wildlife rehabilitators use them to help orphaned baby animals. Who doesn't love some baby animals?

http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/spring_cleaning_donate_fur_garments_to_wildlife_in_need.html

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
Member Profile

Very cool Aim - thanks for the link!!

Posted 3 years ago #