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Many popular dictionaries, including Merriam Websterthen Collins English Dictionarythen Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary.com, and WordReference.com– include arrogant insults in their definitions of “dog”, “pig”, “rat” and “snake” and they need to remove them or label them as such. Definitions like this fuel arrogance– the belief that humans are superior to all other animals.
Animal insults used to humiliate humans reinforce the inaccurate and harmful characteristics of animals.
PETA asks @MerriamWebster, @Dictionarycom, and others to help combat speciasis and reduce cruelty to animals by removing derogatory definitions of pigs, snakes and dogs. pic.twitter.com/w9KXoTk0vl
– MAP (@peta) January 28, 2021
Most people who share their lives with dogs know how smart, loving and devoted they are. 🐶 Similarly, pigs are also playful, friendly, sensitive and intelligent. Like humans, pigs enjoy listening to music, playing with soccer balls, getting massage, and even playing video games! 🐷
If a rats went to school, they will be excellent students. They excel at learning and have an excellent memory, never forgetting how to navigate a route once they have learned it. They are highly social animals that bond with one another, love their families, and bond easily with their human guardians, returning them as much affection as they are given. 🐀 Regarding snakes, they are actually shy and secretive and, contrary to what most people think, are not aggressive or territorial. Fun fact: they are mostly solar powered! They rely on external sources (notably the sun) to give them energy. 🐍
All of these animals are complex and intelligent. Calling a person a different kind of animal should be a compliment, not a curse.
Stand up for the animals! Ask dictionaries to flag their harmful animal insults as species, or remove them from definitions altogether.
1. Write on Twitter @MerriamWebsterand comment on it on Instagram. Tell the editors that a dog is not a “worthless or despicable person,” a pig is not a “dirty, voracious, or disgusting person,” a rat is not a “despicable person,” and a snake is not a “worthless or worthless person.” insidious guy “:
Comment on Merriam Webster Instagram Account
2. Post a photo of your dog, rat, snake or pig on Instagram with a suggestion telling these dictionary editors why they should ban derogatory, specific definitions of animals or label them as such.
Feel free to use our sample text, but remember that using your own words is always more efficient. Be sure to check @MerriamWebster, @Dictionarycom, and @Collins_Dictionary_Official in your post!
Sample text:
Dictionaries such as @MerriamWebster, @Dictionarycom and @Collins_Dictionary_Official should prohibit derogatory, arrogant definitions [insert animal here] or mark them like this because [insert animal here]-as [insert companion animal’s name here]– nice, intelligent people, and they should not be used as insults.
3. Contact Merriam-Webster and WordReference.com online. Encourage editors to remove or tag offensive, specific definitions of animals such as dogs, pigs, rats, and snakes:
Contact Merriam-Webster
Contact WordReference.com
4. Comment on the Twitter account of the Oxford English Dictionary. @OED… We urge him to remove all definitions of animals that include harmful, inaccurate insults aimed at insulting humans or labeling them as animal species:
5. Email the Merriam-Webster podcast, The word matters, in [email protected] to suggest that its hosts talk about specisism and specisistic vocabulary in the show.
Feel free to use our sample letterbut remember that using your own words is always more effective.
Email Podcast Merriam-Webster
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