I think the god thing is sort of off topic, though I get why you guys are talking about it.
Her first post seemed to express relief, and to defend herself as a parent. Natural I suppose, but it's douchey nonetheless. The whole post is so self centered and thoughtless in many ways.
The problem with the Internet is everyone gets these celebrity moments now, and the whole world is quick to judge every detail. I hope I never have the misfortune to become Internet famous. I will certainly never be dumb enough to use fb to post anything that even might attract nation all attention.

The barrier is 1 metre tall. The average height of a 4 year old is about 1 metre. Either there was a hole in the barrier (zoos fault) or the boy climbed over what was (to him) a head high obstacle - in which case the parents must be negligent to some extent for not spotting this.
The details will no doubt come out in due course.
The zoo was correct to shoot the gorilla, it was the least bad thing to do.

Grimesy

(June 1, 2016 at 5:23 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: Sorry. That's a colloquial saying, though. I'm calling her a douche, but I thought it was clear by my previous statements that I 1) don't know this person and 2) am judging this specific action.

The action makes her a douche. I don't know her well enough to make an overall character judgement.

Fair enough then. Though I don't agree that being grateful to God when something good happens is a douchey thing for a believer to do.

I understand how you guys see the whole "thanks to God" thing as being narcissistic, I really do. But the point is others who believe differently may see it completely differently. As for us, we see thanking God as a sign of humility which is the complete opposite of narcissism. Personally when I thank God for something it reminds me how small and vulnerable I am to the universe and it makes me grateful for every second and every good thing I have, particularly because I know so many others don't have the same. Narcissism is the last thing from my mind. I feel unworthy and humbled, and it reminds me that I need to give back with what I was given. I mean, is that douchey??  

....That just goes to show how much we see and think differently. So I don't understand how you can assign your own way of thinking to others and then think they're douchey for it, when the way they see it is completely different. The point is I just feel like sometimes some of you can be as judgmental as the evangelicals you love to criticize.

Anyway, this was an off topic rant, so sorry. Sorry for the overall drama I started in this thread. I shouldn't be on AF so much right now. I need to go for a walk anyway.  

Back to the topic.... 

(June 1, 2016 at 5:32 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote:

(June 1, 2016 at 5:20 pm)Alex K Wrote: I don't know what it is about discussions on the internet that tends to magnify any criticism to Hitleresque proportions.

Well that's not really fair. I never magnified anything. I always called it exactly what it was - "saying the lady is a douche for giving thanks to God." I never accused anyone of calling her Hitler or of calling her anything other than what they called her.

I really wasn't criticising you for doing that. Just observing the general problem that these discussions about emotional topics blow up because subtlety and perspective is lost.

(June 1, 2016 at 6:42 am)Homeless Nutter Wrote: Wow, must be some sort of a new trend...

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/22/americ...cide-trnd/

Quote:A zoo killed two lions to save a man who jumped into the big cats' enclosure in the Chilean capital.

The man climbed over the fence Saturday and removed his clothes before approaching the lions, according to a statement posted on the Santiago Metropolitan Zoo Facebook page.[...]

[...]Once he had entered the enclosure, the intruder removed his clothes he began to bother the lions, to jump towards them and to chant "very apocalyptic, very religious" proverbs, the park's director, Mauricio Fabry told CNN. He was mauled by the lions, which began dragging him to their den, before they were shot.

If some nut got naked and started chanting religious bullsh*t at me - I'd f*cking maul him...

Wow, that situation is extremely serious. He's not a nut, he was suicidal - but he was an ordinary human being. Look, I'm really pleased they saved him from his suicide attempt and hope that the man's recovery goes well.

(June 1, 2016 at 5:51 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Fair enough then. Though I don't agree that being grateful to God when something good happens is a douchey thing for a believer to do.

Something good didn't happen though.  A Gorilla was killed in order to save her son.  That's why I'd agree that it was a tad douchey to invoke god in this scenario. I think the Zoo made the right decision, but it's still unfortunate that Harambe had to die.

I read a post that really sums it up for me.

Parents should be responsible for their kids actions! I’m not going not call these people bad parents because as a parent myself I know you can’t watch your kids 24/7 … BUT you do (or should) accept responsibility for their actions! If your child breaks a neighbor’s window, you’re responsible … if you’re kid’s action kill a gorilla, you’re responsible. Does made you a bad person – but being a parent comes with responsibility and consequences as the adult of a situation.

So there you go. I'm not saying she's a bad mom. I'm not saying parents can watch their kids every moment of every day. I am saying people need to take responsibility for their children, even if there was no lapse in parental judgement involved. This woman has expressed no regret for the dead gorilla, not one response she has made had one iota of that, and she has certainly said nothing that makes me want to defend her.

I'd be happy to defend her if she showed a mature emotion herself, but her reactionson are just completely off putting.

(June 1, 2016 at 11:40 am)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(June 1, 2016 at 11:22 am)Chad32 Wrote: I know tranquilizers aren't as fast working in real life as in movies, but unless the Gorilla was actively torturing the kid or something, I don't think lethal force was needed. I also know he could have killed the kid instantly too, but I don't think you should kill something because a bad thing might happen.

The gorilla was dragging the child through the water at high speed in a way likely to kill the child or at least traumatise it, there was no option but to kill the gorilla, unfortunate though that was.

The kid wasn't physically hurt.

(June 1, 2016 at 7:03 pm)Wyrd of Gawd Wrote:

(June 1, 2016 at 11:40 am)downbeatplumb Wrote: The gorilla was dragging the child through the water at high speed in a way likely to kill the child or at least traumatise it, there was no option but to kill the gorilla, unfortunate though that was.

The kid wasn't physically hurt.

But there was still a risk that the gorilla could hurt the child. I'm glad they made the right choice.

(June 1, 2016 at 1:50 pm)Aroura Wrote: There are 4 barriers at this gorilla enclosure.  A railed fence, bushes, a second low fence (which he apparently did crawl over), and a 10 foot drop.
These kinds of enclosures with low barriers are becoming more common, because it is better for the animals.  There are warning signs all around the zoo about keeping children close and under supervision.

I knew a toddler that could climb up a chained link fence (he did it in his moms backyard and got out once, he fell on the other side and cried loudly, but was not hurt).  You just CANNOT account for everything.  People need to take some responsibility themselves, as well.  If you are at an enclosure that has low wall and warnings all around, maybe don't chose that moment to fiddle with the stroller while leaving your toddler unattended?  If your kid is hollering that he's going into the enclosure to swim with the Gorillas, maybe don't chose that moment to ignore him?  As a parent, my kid got away and ALMOST rode her tricycle into the street when she was 3.  I was reading a book instead of watching her. I had not given her clear instructions to stay away from that side of the parking area she was riding in. I panicked and screamed and ran after her.  This caused her to panic and crash her trike, and she broke one of her front teeth.  Know who's fault that was that she got away and then got hurt?  MINE!  It wasn't just "some accident", or oh, kids just sometimes get away.  No.  If little ones, and all little ones can get into trouble quick, are in a situation that is dangerous, you as a parent are responsible for taking steps to keep them safe.

Or maybe the zoo should just offer bubble wrap to all the patrons as they enter, lol.  It might do a few of them some good. :p

"At Cincinnati's Gorilla World on Saturday, witnesses said the 3-year-old boy managed to crawl between fence railings, through some bushes and over another barrier before dropping into the moat with Harambe."

Give them individual signs that say "If you're stupid the animals will eat you today so save your whining."