#things like don't declaw your cat‚ don't annoy them for social media content

[classicintp]

Can't stand it when professionals have objectively bad takes but they're legitmately professionals and you're just some guy. You recognize this, you acknowledge it, you even appreciate it in the appropriate context, but it's so fucking infuriating. Even if the professional is humble and concedes to your point, which is usually not going to happen to even the humble in general unless it's a correction directly being witnessed, you still have their diehard fans demonizing you because you proved their idol wrong (even if you weren't pompous or obnoxious about it, just the idea that their beloved expert was human and made an error drives them mad). So I white-knuckle it and say nothing and then log into Tumblr and blurt it out in the tags.

#the popular cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy #he is right about 99% of things‚ arguing with him is not smart #he has my respect! he has brought so much education to blatantly ignorant owners #but he has spent so much goddamned time with traumatized‚ abused‚ neglected cats that #all of his general advice not directed to a specific pet or stray still draws from those behavioral problems #he has a YouTube video of 7 things you should never do to your cat‚ the seven deadly sins he calls them #things like don't declaw your cat‚ don't annoy them for social media content #great advice in that video #except number 4: don't force interactions #of course on the surface i think most people would interpret that as #if your cat is clearly trying to get away from you or trying to flatten themselves into a 2D shape when you reach out for them don't do it #and I'm sure he also means that #but he instead directly says like don't approach your cat laying down minding it's business and pet it's head #don't give your cat a little love squeeze as you pass by while they nap on the couch #to only ever pet and interact with your cat when they approach you #and that's great advice for a skittish cat that has PTSD or just nervous around people in general #it's ridiculous advice however for cats that don't constantly hide when humans approach #If your cat has it's wittle tongue out during a nap and you just gotta squeeze them‚ #and when you do so you're always met with purrs and them pushing their head further into your palm for more #then it's not a forced interaction‚ or it is but they ENJOY it and then follow you around when you leave #like‚ I've raised over 30 cats in my life from just borns to adults. it doesn't touch the number Galaxy has raised #I get that. but it's not dead experience just because Galaxy has more experience and is successful. it's still valid experience. #but me going 'well actually' to a professional while I'm just offering anecdotal experience is never a good look #anyway my point is if your cat doesn't mind being randomly interacted with when it's sitting around then don't stop #ultimately he was right to put it in a video. if it helps people recognize a problem with their cat treatment then more power to him #but I only know the video exists because of someone quoting it an argument they were having #so now people really believe you can't pet or boop or squeeze your cat if it's just hanging out minding it's own business #that you have to sit and wait and hope the cat comes to you first. #someone should tell other cats that because they sure as fuck don't wait to bonk heads with their sleeping roommates #op