Yup, this is exactly how I see it: Dogs see us as "one of us" (i.e. the pack, specifically you, the human, are typically the "alpha" dog). They intrinsically TRUST us.
Subverting this trust and causing harm to the animal for the sole purpose of some sick, perverted, and twisted version of "entertainment" is abhorrent to any rational and civilized human being. If it's "cultural", then your culture SUCKS. I recommend getting a new one, post haste.
Vick has shown a consistent and blatant disregard for the law throughout his "career", and it finally caught up with him. He managed to skate through many scrapes prior to this one, so his behaviour is no surprise to anyone that was paying attention. He probably should have been at the very least suspended numerous times but was given a "pass" because he was MIKE VICK for gosh sake, and he's brining in a lotta dough, for both the Falcons and the NFL. It took a major felony to finally get everyone's attention.
Sadly, as I pointed out elsewhere, this simple fact - Mike Vick is an admitted felon! (and only because he was cornered by the facts, I'm sure he would have still been spewing lies and obfuscations right this moment if the pure facts had not painted him so perfectly into said corner) - seems to escape all too many NFL players and fans, as evidenced by the actions and clothing seen at the game Monday night. :scowl:
Also, Vick is a certifiable MORON, whether by choice, circumstance, or some other reason. Any idiot would have been able to add the 2 and 2 to end up with 4 when as part of his release until sentencing the judge made random drug testing a condition of the release. Uh..."I was under a lot of stress...uh...." ain't gonna cut it, hoss. You KNOW they're gonna hit you sometime, if you have even the slightest bit of basic logic and intelligence at your fingertips, you DON'T smoke the joint!However, what this almost certainly points out is that he STILL believes that the "rules" (or more correctly the LAW) only applies to guys that don't have his physical skillz.
For those that think his sentence is too much: Wrong. He committed a felony. He lied, both under oath and otherwise, repeatedly about the felony. He then broke the conditons of his pre-sentencing release. I'd say that under those circumstances, the judge was pretty lenient - sentencing guidelines allow up to a 5 year sentence, he won't serve half of that, even without any good behavior early release.
Comparing this to any other issue is a straw man argument, the issue is that he committed a felony, got caught, lied through his teeth, and got a pretty darn light slap on the wrist for it, when you look at it. The type of felony, and the fact that other felonies are worse, or that other perps get lighter sentences for greater wrongs just tells us to get off our collective arses and get those that we hire (by voting, you do that, right? No? Then please STFU about how the world ain't run right!) to write our laws to get it straight - not to sit and type on the internet about how "unfairly" Vick got treated.
Stupid should hurt, and it DID this one time. Hit him right where it would have at least a moderate affect on his brain, in his wallet. Let's see if Mikey can get out and learn to live in a world where he isn't "Michael Vick, superstar football player". I doubt he will do well in that world.
Gard, you sound like the one making a strawman. Nobody I read who said that they felt Vick's sentence should have been lighter said he was innocent of anything. I just don't see what he did in the same light you and others do. I do not see dogs as one of "us." They are animals, not family members. That said, they did not deserve to be abused, and Vic deserved to be punished for what he did. I just think the degree of punishment should have been less.
