Multiple Choice Question

Friday afternoon I stopped by the ServiceOntario desk to pick up a turkey tag. When I finally got to the counter, I produced my outdoors card and my turkey test certificate and the woman behind the counter looked at me and said (And I quote) "Oh you're a hunter? How could you... I could never do that, I love animals way too much. I'm a vegetarian".

If you were in this situation, would you:

a) laugh it off with a "different strokes for different folks" attitude,
b) explain that you're an animal lover too, and that responsible hunting is the most effective wildlife management tool in use in the country, or
c) ask if that's an official policy of the Government of Ontario and if not may I speak to your supervisor so as to clarify the Government's position on the subject?

For the record I chose a combination of A and B, then realized I was wasting my breath so I pulled out my phone and started texting my wife (aka ignoring the clerk while she completed her paperwork)

b and c, then if she was cute I would ask her if she want's to go experience Real wilderness camping. ;)

Have fun with it. No need to get all offended - A) was a good choice. Shrug it off. laugh a bit. then go complain about her on the internet.

As mentioned - was she cute? cuz then that would be a different answer =)

I would have said you have to hunt them because the growing number of vegetarians are eating all the vegetables leaving the turkeys to starve.

Since she was likely only trolling I wouldn't respond, it just encourages them.

Likely would have shrugged and not said anything

B).

There are no antis in family, greater circle of friends, plenty of non hunters some of whom feel "they just couldn't". It took some awhile to fathom how I could be both a hunter, and an avid "animal/wildlover" that spends hundreds of hours each year trying to photograph them. After awhile they all "got it".

My facebook status from Saturday?
A wolf is in my house and Venison is in the slow cooker. A perfect Saturday

Seems kind of at odds that I love wolves and am thrilled to have one in my house, yet at the same time be cooking up Venison. Being a wildlife lover and hunter are not mutually exclusive.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

b and c, then if she was cute I would ask her if she want's to go experience Real wilderness camping. ;)

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I'd second that. If the wife would let me.

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Originally Posted by trkyhntr21

I would have said you have to hunt them because the growing number of vegetarians are eating all the vegetables leaving the turkeys to starve.

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Best comment of the day. So far...

First would of advised her that she is a bit of a hypocrite to work form a company that endorses hunting and fishing and that a job with pita may be more ethical for her. Secondly tell her great more turkeys for me.

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Originally Posted by trkyhntr21

I would have said you have to hunt them because the growing number of vegetarians are eating all the vegetables leaving the turkeys to starve.

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http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...pscc84386d.jpg

I would opt for
d) close my eyes and thank god that I didn't marry a vegetarian - they smell funny

I don't get why guys fell the need to engage in conversation with someone who has no respect for your way of life. They don't deserve the time of day let alone an explanation. Walk away, the best response is no response.

I think I would have taken the time to explain to her why I hunt, in a positive manner. I would rather have someone like that have a positive experience with a hunter, rather than some redneck smartarse comment that just justifies her position. I am of the firm belief it takes many many positive interactions to counter one negative one and to each their own, if she chooses to be a vegetarian so be it. I too am entitled to my views and if she opens it up, I get my say too:)

Should have told her she had nothing to worry about you too loved animals....,baked, grilled, fried, broiled....

Just tell her "I'm a vegetarian,too,as long as they're beside the meat and taters."

a its a free country... its her choice although she does not know what she is missing

Cause we all know being a vegetarian is a "missed-steak"

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Originally Posted by DGearyFTE

Cause we all know being a vegetarian is a "missed-steak"

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Lol boo....

"V-e-g-e-t-a-r-i-a-n" is an old Native word that means---bad hunter.

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

"V-e-g-e-t-a-r-i-a-n" is an old Native word that means---bad hunter.

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LMAO Thanks Trimmer.

Best reply...hands down...lol

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Originally Posted by trkyhntr21

I would have said you have to hunt them because the growing number of vegetarians are eating all the vegetables leaving the turkeys to starve.

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Simply tell her that "my food pees on your food"!

Would this woman have asked if you were a homosexual, Jewish, Moslem, bigamist, wife beater, etc? What would a suitable response be then?

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Originally Posted by Pat32rf

Would this woman have asked if you were a homosexual, Jewish, Moslem, bigamist, wife beater, etc? What would a suitable response be then?

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mine...."can I speak with your supervisor please" !

All in good fun but I'm a believer that 90% of these people have no clue And most have been exposed to their beliefs by peer pressure or advertising or who knows what just as you have been exposed to hunting the outdoors or whatever in one way or another. Therefore, be proud of what you do and educate these people politely. These people " vegans, PETA and vegetarians" didn't exist 80 years ago but due to evolution in concrete jungles which majority of the population reside to raise there families these beliefs have been created by ignorant individuals as they do not know any better. Ignorance is exactly ignorance no matter what side it comes from. Just my thoughts.

Response still depends on if she is Hot looking. I would take her camping to really experience the Bush. ;)

Best response is option A. It takes all kinds, and some people aren't going to agree with the things you do. Recognize the fact, accept it, and move on.

I have no problem with vegans being against hunting. At least they believe in their life style. Its the non-vegan anti hunters that I have no time of day for.

Quick rant. She works for and thus represents the gov't of Ontario. I also work for the gov't of Ontario but in a different capacity. I wear a uniform to work. If I had said the same thing there would have been no multiple choice, I can pretty much guarantee I would have had a public complaint and probably have been disciplined. As gov't employees we are supposed to be impartial. What she said is unacceptable and she should be held accountable. Our society lets the simple minded get away with too much. If we held each other accountable more I believe we'd see a better society. I can't rant to anyone unless I have the anonymity of a forum but she can spout off her beliefs over the counter???!! WTF. The poster who compared what she said to religion or ethnicity was bang on, if she said something about either of those to report her would be a no brainer. I feel as strongly about hunting and the outdoors as a lot of people do about their religion. All of that to say I feel like she should have been reported to her supervisor and let them deal with it. If she doesn't like hunting she can rant on some PETA forum.

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Originally Posted by cvamuzz

Quick rant. She works for and thus represents the gov't of Ontario. --clip-- If she doesn't like hunting she can rant on some PETA forum.

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That was my feeling after I'd left. When I talk to my customers, I speak as a representative of the company I work for, not as me personally. If you're working for the government you'd think the same thinking would apply, perhaps even more so (based solely on the fact that my customers have a choice as to whether they deal with me and my company or not - I'm not sporting a "my taxes pay your salary" attitude, I swear!!!) I'm pretty easy going with this kind of thing and it didn't really bother me, but I was wondering what the consensus on this board would be.

As an aside, my wife works for the government of Ontario and was actually being considered for the role of general manager for that ServiceOntario location. She withdrew her application after doing a site visit. When I told her what happened she wasn't one bit surprised...

I recently came across a quote on the internet: " if vegetarians love animals so much, why do they keep eating the animals food?"

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Originally Posted by cvamuzz

Quick rant. She works for and thus represents the gov't of Ontario. I also work for the gov't of Ontario but in a different capacity. I wear a uniform to work. If I had said the same thing there would have been no multiple choice, I can pretty much guarantee I would have had a public complaint and probably have been disciplined. As gov't employees we are supposed to be impartial. What she said is unacceptable and she should be held accountable. Our society lets the simple minded get away with too much. If we held each other accountable more I believe we'd see a better society. I can't rant to anyone unless I have the anonymity of a forum but she can spout off her beliefs over the counter???!! WTF. The poster who compared what she said to religion or ethnicity was bang on, if she said something about either of those to report her would be a no brainer. I feel as strongly about hunting and the outdoors as a lot of people do about their religion. All of that to say I feel like she should have been reported to her supervisor and let them deal with it. If she doesn't like hunting she can rant on some PETA forum.

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That is the best response to this thread yet! I didn't post a response myself, rather just sat back and watched, but this post pretty well sums up my thoughts on the matter. This woman had no right to say what she did, given her position. J.Q Public isn't concerned about her personal feelings and she has no right to use her job as a pulpit to preach.

Can also mess with them. Tell them you hate turkeys. I had a english teacher in high school ask me how I could go moose hunting. I told him my grandfather was killed by a moose so I hate moose and just walked away. He didn't know what to say. They will either laugh if off or take you seriously and tell some else that will laugh at them for believing you.

I would lodge a formal complaint to the human rights commission of Ontario claiming prejudice and request $150,000 in damages. She is after all representing the government/people of Ontario.

What cvamuzz said!

Service Ontario is a private company that I pay for! I/WE do not pay her to spout out about what I can legally do. She has now gotten away with it, and may chat about how brave she was when selling a license to 'some hunting guy' with her colleagues, or family. I would have asked for her supervisor and have her explain her comments in front of everyone, then remind her that hunters also pay her wages, then ask her to quite her job...on the spot, if she did not like dealing with hunters! I have done something simular when dealing with my pilots license. I had to remind her that 'she' worked for 'me', not the other way around. I had a Canada post counter person give a similar snide remark when asking for a duck permit....I said 'PARDON ME' she stopped short and quickly finished the transaction.

If government employees, or employees working on behalf of the government, think their 'opinion' counts while dealing with the public, it should be dealt with immediately. 'Death by a thousand cuts' comes to mind.

D.

I have had similar happen ... What I end up doing is finish the transaction without saying a word or acknowledging them in any way ... this response gets my point accross and will usually piss them off more than a verbal response, which is really what they want ... then I may bang my head on the steering wheel after getting back to my car.

Other possiblilities:
"I have the right to ignore the narrow minded opinion of those who feel all in the world should conform to their own ideals"
OR
"Let's see ... my eyes are in the front of my head, therefore I can judge distance ... therefore I am a preditor ... therefore biology suggests to eat only vegetables would be unnatural and potentially unhealthy ... maybe you need to see a doctor to have things checked out, if you do not have one, I can recommend"
OR
"When someone is in here purchasing a license to shoot a turkey, maybe it is not a good idea to act like a turkey"

I have had a simmilar thing happen.My response was to talk about organic drug free meat and how much I enjoy sitting in the forrest and seeing all the things that a non hunter would never see and being a true part of the natural world.

Been the crotchety old man i am, i would of said i don't give a rats what you think, my hard earned tax dollars are used to pay your salary now do your job and keep your personal opinions to yourself! Also can i get my deer, bear and moose license now too?????

Up here the girls on staff want to know how you made out, where you hunt, who with, what are your favourite recipes, what kind of ATV you like, what gun you like, etc. then they pull out the pictures of the one they got last year.......

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Originally Posted by skeeter1

I think I would have taken the time to explain to her why I hunt, in a positive manner. I would rather have someone like that have a positive experience with a hunter, rather than some redneck smartarse comment that just justifies her position. I am of the firm belief it takes many many positive interactions to counter one negative one and to each their own, if she chooses to be a vegetarian so be it. I too am entitled to my views and if she opens it up, I get my say too:)

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Agreed. Times like this are an opportunity for open dialogue that could have positive consequences.

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Oh you're a hunter? How could you... I could never do that, I love animals way too much. I'm a vegetarian".

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I would have replied with, 'Yin and yang'.

Its obvious she was hitting on you. Engaging in conversation. Women can't resist an outdoorsman.

I'd laugh it off. Then offer to take her hunting, or play in the woods.
Here in Chelmsford (Sudbury) , those ladies at the desk offer hunter tips and
hot spots for hunting!! Gotta love our Northern Gals!!

Tell her "Well that's a relief as I'm already married!"

Just brush it off. I get it all the time from non-hunters, especially women. My wife and step-Daughter are anti-hunting and if they start saying "Oh that poor deer or that birds is no longer in the sky" my reply is " You had no problem eating that burger or chicken breast"? I just ignore it. It sets them off every time.

Funny though, when I make a venison stew or venison burgers over the BBQ, it breaks my heart seeing my wife and step daughter eating Kraft dinner while my 3 kids and I enjoy a wild game meal.

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Originally Posted by bushcannon

Just brush it off. I get it all the time from non-hunters, especially women. My wife and step-Daughter are anti-hunting and if they start saying "Oh that poor deer or that birds is no longer in the sky" my reply is " You had no problem eating that burger or chicken breast"? I just ignore it. It sets them off every time.

Funny though, when I make a venison stew or venison burgers over the BBQ, it breaks my heart seeing my wife and step daughter eating Kraft dinner while my 3 kids and I enjoy a wild game meal.

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Put your foot down.. Your the man and wear the pants.. In my house you eat what I eat or u starve.

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Originally Posted by topher

Put your foot down.. Your the man and wear the pants.. In my house you eat what I eat or u starve.

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Single eh:):):)

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Originally Posted by skeeter1

Single eh:):):)

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4 kids.. A wife. A dog.. A mortgage 13 Chuckens 2,turkeys.. 2,guinea pigs.. :cool:

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Originally Posted by topher

4 kids.. A wife. A dog.. A mortgage 13 Chuckens 2,turkeys.. 2,guinea pigs.. :cool:

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Those mortgages are hungry beasts, mine eats everything:)

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Originally Posted by skeeter1

Those mortgages are hungry beasts, mine eats everything:)

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Yup.. At least 70% of everything. Wynne gets the rest.

I hear you. But my wife would be surprised how much deer she has eaten over the years and didn't know it. Funny she has no problem eating beef even when I buy a live cow and have it sent to the butcher or chickens that I have slaughtered out back. Mind ya she didn't appreciate it when I had a before (live) aand after (all wrapped) pictures of the cow and brought them at at dinner (That was years ago).

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Originally Posted by bushcannon

Just brush it off. I get it all the time from non-hunters, especially women. My wife and step-Daughter are anti-hunting and if they start saying "Oh that poor deer or that birds is no longer in the sky" my reply is " You had no problem eating that burger or chicken breast"? I just ignore it. It sets them off every time.

Funny though, when I make a venison stew or venison burgers over the BBQ, it breaks my heart seeing my wife and step daughter eating Kraft dinner while my 3 kids and I enjoy a wild game meal.

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Topher - I'm with you.

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Originally Posted by topher

Put your foot down.. Your the man and wear the pants.. In my house you eat what I eat or u starve.

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I did put my foot down, she knows not to plan anything during hunting season and don't complain while me and the kids are enjoying baked mallard breast in honey/garlic sauce and she's stuck with a "Mc Cain hot pocket".

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

I hear you. But my wife would be surprised how much deer she has eaten over the years and didn't know it. Funny she has no problem eating beef even when I buy a live cow and have it sent to the butcher or chickens that I have slaughtered out back. Mind ya she didn't appreciate it when I had a before (live) aand after (all wrapped) pictures of the cow and brought them at at dinner (That was years ago).

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I hope the wife and my step daughter doesn't read this, but there was a couple of venison stews that passed for beef. Once I deep fried a wild turkey with wild rice stuffing, everything was OK............until a #5 pellet was found. Other than that, they were complementing me on the meal.

I have to hand it to my son, he's turning 14 in April, he went up to get a second helping of venison sausage and asked "does anyone want to split the last piece of real food before I make it vanish"?