Michael Vick to plead guilty to state dogfighting charges

[Paulo Pereira]

He's hoping to be eligible for early release into a halfway house. I saw this news scrawled across the botton of the ESPN screen and I was struck by the odd mentality and, frankly, hypocrisy. To many, Vick is the lowest of the low, just an awful human being for what he did. Of course, what he did was horrible. But every day, the same sort of cruelty is done legally and the people who condemn Vick endorse or tolerate the same degree of cruelty. This is not meant as judgement since I myself was an omnivore not long ago. I just find it mind-boggling how human minds can be conditioned to think this way.

[KHADIJAH]

I dont think he needs to get out. He was wrong for what he did. This is just my opinion.

[Dieselsmom]

You are so right, totally a double standard. Maybe if Michael Vick had had tables and bunsen burners sitting around, he could have claimed he was doing medical or product research and he would have gotten off. What goes on behind research clinic doors is as bad as what went on at Vicks houses!

[Wolfie]

He didn't get enough time if you ask me. But I am thrilled that he had to pay for the rehab for the dogs rescued from him. Hopefully he learned something from the whole ordeal, but somehow I doubt it.

[animallover7249]

He didn't get nearly enough time. What he did was horrible, and he should rot in jail.

[Irizary]

I can't even imagine what kind of sick woman would find him marriage material, but I hope she's not thinking of ever having a pet around him. And she knows he can lie with a straight face. They probably deserve each other. It's quite likely everyone close to him knew what he was up to.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-11-25-vick-state-plea_N.htm

Vick's mother, Brenda Boddie, brother Marcus Vick and fiancee
Kijafa Frink walked in together and sat together in the front
row of the gallery with other family and friends.

[sallyomally]

I have to agree with what was said here. I'm glad this sorry excuse for a human being will do time for what he has done (not enough time), and I am amazed at how people think.
Did any of you see the special on Animal Planet which traced the history of the case and gave an update on the dogs? Turns out two had to be put down,one who was determined to be far to aggressive and one who was very ill,several have been adopted ,some are residents of Dog Town and (this is the best part) one is a therapy dog!!
This big bad pit bull was strolling through an old folk's home wearing a pink foofooey thing around its' neck, getting kisses from a little old lady! The story was beautifully done and told the truth about these wonderful dogs. I was in tears!

[rainforests1]

I'm not a big football fan, but I am curious to see what kind of a reaction he gets and whether any teams would be willing to risk signing him. I also feel he should have gotten more time, but he got pretty much what I expected.

[Paulo Pereira]

You are so right, totally a double standard. Maybe if Michael Vick had had tables and bunsen burners sitting around, he could have claimed he was doing medical or product research and he would have gotten off. What goes on behind research clinic doors is as bad as what went on at Vicks houses!

Thanks for addressing my point of my post, DM, which wasn't that Michael Vick is a bastard for what he did. I think we can all agree that he is. There's no dispute there. But he's being sent to jail and losing a great deal of money, while others who perpetuate the same degree of mistreatment are scott free. And people who bash Vick look the other way from and/or enjoy the fruits of those other legalized venues of abuse. I was just wondering out loud at this odd, as you have accurately dubbed it, double standard. What makes one method of abuse completely acceptable and the other punishable, in some opinions, by life sentence?

[peace]

Did anyone catch this latest story to come to light?

Vick thought it was "funny" to put pets in the ring with trained fighting dogs. (http://www.zootoo.com/petnews/newreportsaysvickfounditfunnyt-1032)

[lovemyveggies]

I'n my opinion he should rot in jail forever. It also makes me think that his character in general is very flawed. If he wasn't a famous football player what would he be doing with his life? I'm sure it wouldn't be anything productive. Any human being that can participate in such acts as he did probably isn't a good person in general and wouldn't contribute anything to society. Just my opinion.

[lirpa1]

:-/Since this thread is abt the double standards most people have, I thought I would add this.

Right now many aussies are angry abt how the japanese are killing dolphins, and how they are herding them into small areas to murder them, or keep them in a place to later sell for entertainment..

and all I can think each time I see it on the news is Yes this is wrong, but so is the mass murder of cows/pigs/chickens/baby cows/sheep/ etc... why can most people not make that connection? I mean they dont want the dolfins sold for exploitation yet they will go to a circus and watch an elephant/monkey/lion for entertainment? they dont want the dolfins murdered as they sit there watching the news eating a steak, or hamburger?

[Kiz]

:-/Since this thread is abt the double standards most people have, I thought I would add this.

Right now many aussies are angry abt how the japanese are killing dolphins, and how they are herding them into small areas to murder them, or keep them in a place to later sell for entertainment..

and all I can think each time I see it on the news is Yes this is wrong, but so is the mass murder of cows/pigs/chickens/baby cows/sheep/ etc... why can most people not make that connection? I mean they dont want the dolfins sold for exploitation yet they will go to a circus and watch an elephant/monkey/lion for entertainment? they dont want the dolfins murdered as they sit there watching the news eating a steak, or hamburger?

A lot of people are against whaling for environmental and conservation reasons, not because of animal rights. They believe it is OK to kill, just not OK to drive a species to extinction. This is not a "double standard" just a radically different outlook to the one most, but not all, people on this board hold.

[lirpa1]

A lot of people are against whaling for environmental and conservation reasons, not because of animal rights. They believe it is OK to kill, just not OK to drive a species to extinction. This is not a "double standard" just a radically different outlook to the one most, but not all, people on this board hold.

so the dolfins are close to extinction?

and yea, sorry about being wrong about double standards

[Kiz]

You're not wrong, necessarily. It's just not a black and white issue. For some people it may very well be a double standard. (And yes, there are quite a few species of dolphins that are not populous). I've just spoken to quite a few people who sincerely believe the reason why it is OK to kill cows and not whales is because there are a tonne of cows around and all we have to do is breed more, but there aren't that many whales so we should ease up on their slaughter.

PS. Yes, some species of dolphins are close to extinction. Some have gone extinct very recently. And some are quite populous.

[Southeast]

LOL Kiz - the funny thing about it is, there are so many cows because they keep being bred.
Lirpa, in the US the reason most people go merrily about their meat-eating ways is because the meat/dairy/egg industries pay huge sums of money to promote the diet their industries support as being healthy and beneficial. I am always cooking vegan food in the kitchen with the tv on in the background - and when the news is on you hear tons about cancer. And I laugh, not because having cancer is funny, but because it is so PREVENTABLE. The way to get rid of and prevent cancer is SO obvious - and has been proven by geniuses like T. Colin Campbell of The China Study et al - but most mainstream Americans have ZERO CLUE their health is so much in THEIR HANDS. It's just mind blowing.
Sorry for the tangent. It's just so highly irritating.

PS - I live in GA in the USA and fortunately 95% of GA citizens are totally disgusted and ashamed of Vick and have been since what happened was exposed. The fact that he never publicly (that I have read) apologized TO THE DOGS or to the public for what he did to the dogs blows my mind. It is never acknowledged point blank. What a sick jerk.

[Savannah]

Like I said back on another thread when the case was in the news, I don't like Vick being incarcerated in the least. in my opinion, jails are for people that are likely to be a danger to others and must be kept away from the rest of the population because of that. Vick although a 'jerk' on the other hand is a primary example of someone that can be rehabilitated. the man was ignorant but there are many ignorant people just like him. if he can be rehabbed why not use his celebrity in a good and constructive way to educate others about animal cruelty. keeping him locked up in my opinion is a waste of life and not positive for society. rather, its just revenge. i know this is not a popular opinion, but i truly believe jail to be one of the great horrors perpetuated in our society. there are thousands of people, mostly young guys, wasting away in jail for things like drug offenses. it is simply asinine.