If you don't like it, don't read it. But really, I'm writing this post to ask you to stop attacking my readers. Insult me all you like. I'm a teacher, bring it. But, leave the readers alone. Let's put our big girl pants on, here.
Sorry you have to read this rant. People who think they are better than everyone else irritate me a bit. We all have different customs, values, ideas, etc. I don't agree or like what everyone else does but I would never assume that I'm a better person than they are because I do something differently.
Ugh. I'm stopping now. Sorry again. Sewing coming up later tonight. Promise!
51 comments:
Well said Dawn! We all read blogs out of choice, just like tv programs/radio programs/books/newspapers.....you get the picture!
If I don't like what I am reading I don't go back to the blog - but then I am very open minded and like the fact that we are all different, it is what makes the world go round.
From the comments on your blog it looks like there are a lot more 'dumb humans' out there (myself included :-)) than there are 'jules'.
Live and let live, the world would be a very boring place if we all had the same opinions/likes/dislikes etc. Please don't stop writing what you want to, that is the only thing that would make me stop reading Lol!
You know, where do people think meat comes from??? An animal... We live in ranching country, so butchered beef and venison is nothing to me. I don't know how to process, etc., since I am originally from Houston, but have learned to like the independent meat, farm eggs, etc. Well said, girl!
Hey! Deer Season just opened up here and we are all very excited. That is what we fill our2 freezers with for the winter. And i thought that was a lot of work. Good for you doing a whole moose.
Ps. I find those that leave nasty comments usually aren't happy people.
Can't wait to see your next sewing item!!!!
People are unbelievable. Honestly, the moose bits icked me out a bit. But I would never think to bitch about the subject matter someone chooses to write about on THEIR OWN BLOG!!! I just skip over those posts and scroll down to the sewing stuff. It is called free will and we all have it. People act like they are FORCED to read the blogs that offend them so mightily that they have to make nasty comments. I don't get it.
Dawn, I am so sorry that some internet trolls decided to come out from under their bridges and run amok in your comments. I love your blog (even if I don't comment, I read every post). I think that sometimes people will find something to be snarky about no matter what the post is about. I have had people be a**holes on my blog when I write about topstitching, much less butchering a moose. Rest assured, your readers love you and what you do. Tell the trolls to get back under their bridges where they belong.
I wonder if the people who are upset about the moose eat meat? And if so, do they think it is made in a factory or something? Killing and butchering an animal that you will eat yourself is a lot more honest than buying plastic trays of meat at the supermarket and pretending it was never alive.
I'll admit, I found the idea of killing a moose a shock at first. I didn't know that people ate them. But now I do know, so thanks for educating me.
Mind you, I'm not about to stop being a vegetarian any time soon!
Jules must be a vegan or something - I have no idea. I grew up in Canada with a father who fished, hunted and trapped and we also ate all of the animal. We had 2 freezers in the back shed - one for game and one for a half cow that he would buy from the farmer. How is it worse than buying your meat from the market? People on the extreme end of beliefs don't really WANT to understand our side of things. That's ok, they're entitled to their beliefs, but I agree with Dawn... there's no need to attack people for thinking differently. Honestly, this sort of thinking makes me REALLY afraid for the future.
Dawn, I think it's really great you can (and willingly) process the meat on your own. My dad used to either do it himself (with friends) or have someone else do it, so I was never exposed to that. I'm not fond of the idea of going out to kill an animal (and probably couldn't stomach it myself) but I sure did appreciate the food that was put on my table. I appreciate it more even now because I know how rare it is to have such quality food.
I look forward to hearing more about your life in Alaska and also how you're doing on your wardrobe challenge!!!
Dawn, well said! Don't let 'em get to ya too much, we all know your intention of the moose posts was to share your Alaskan life with us, since we are usually fascinated by it! Please keep sharing, and keep educating us "dumb humans"!!!
Wow, people are bitches! It's not like you're hunting baby seals!
I rather dislike trolling against a rather innocent post on someone's blog myself, and I sympathize with you re: your moose post.
I've been telling my husband about your moose prepping adventures even!
As for the comment about some vegans having 'extreme' beliefs that are intolerant of other beliefs, it goes the other way too. I know someone who slipped stock and butter into a vegan's food while cooking, and later told them that, to try and convince them that eating animal products was a good thing. You just got to try and respect the wishes of other people when those wishes are relatively innocent.
Hi, Dawn, I live in Palmer, AK, and enjoy following your posts. My duaghter once wore a barrette with Arctic Fox fur on it. A relative with different sensibilities was appalled and said she hoped "they had shaved the fur off and turned the animal back into the wild". Oh, right. Like that would be the more humane thing to do. And she wore leather shoes and ate hamburgers. Hmmm. Just let it go.
Don't let the trolls get to you. I enjoyed reading your posts about processing the moose. I don't think I'm up for that myself--it looks like a tremendous amount of work. But still--I'm fascinated. Excellent posts.
I concur with your comments . Although I have never hunted myself (mostly a beach girl) I found your post very interesting. And, I've never been to Alaska.
As far as hunting the moose - they are not an endangered or listed species under our environmental law, and in fact, permits are issues by USFWS for hunting purposes. Therefore, if Jules has an issue with hunting, etc - she should get involved in a public action group who can lobby to change our laws in the US. She can't expect a good result by complaining about your posts.
But, really, I love your blog and can't wait to see what else you are going to make!
I haven't made comments here before but felt I needed to add my two cents worth.
I check in here often and I love seeing what you are sewing and I also love the insights you share into a way of life that is very different to the one we live here.
I can't say I like the idea of eating moose, but hey some people would find eating kangaroo or emu strange (as I do) but people eat that too.
Wouldn't the world be a boring place if everyone did the same as everyone else. It's a shame people can't just read & learn and try to have a little understanding.
I was intrigued by the whole process and would hate to think that a few nasty comments would stop you sharing your experiences.
I've been reading your blog for a while now and I am a vegan (please don't put us all in the same extremeist box Marnie, it's not fair...).
I have a lot of respect for people who kill and prepare their own meat, I think that it's a far better way of eating than buying packages from the supermarket that you have no connection or respect for.
My only concern with hunting (besides the obvious that I don't like things being killed!) is about deer considering that there has been BSE discovered in quite a few American herds and maybe hunters wouldn't know what to look for and could expose themselves.
I grew up around hunting and I know how to use a gun, but I choose not to. I think if you are going to eat meat that killing and preparing it yourself is the right way to go, it's certainly more environmentally friendly than factory farming...
Love your blog - commenters that won't leave a link to who they are are a waste of space. I love hearing about the way you live! I love animals and I love to eat meat!
Dawn, I'm sorry you have had negative comments. You are living sustainably: you take only what you and your family need. I suspect that a vegan diet wouldn't "survive" well through an Alaskan winter. And that's the point: a healthy person's diet needs to reflect the climate they live in.Living in a temperate part of Australia, I can get away with a near vegetarian diet. Put me in an Alaskan winter and I'd be gnawing on a moose leg before too long! - Cat1
One of the reasons that I enjoy reading your blog is because you live a lifestyle very similar to us. Where I live, many families rely on deer and moose to feed them through the winter - it's a way of life!
Being a teacher myself, I feel it is important to teach children about different cultures and ways of life, and to be tolerant and understanding of others who are "different" from themselves. Now if only some of the "adults?" would get that message!!
Write on!
Dawn, I'm sorry you needed to even post on this topic. Adults either enjoy what you're posting, or ignore it and move on. It's just like changing the channel on the TV. Like others, I've enjoyed your "moose" posts so much. Life in AK is so different that most parts of the US, and it's really interesting to hear about. You go girl!
I come from a farm and ranching background. We've had deer meat and quail in the freezer, and having 5 boys, we have a chest freezer in the garage..plus you know how to appeal to little boys tastes in posts when you do your nature Alaskan posts. I appreciate you taking the time to type and take pictures of all the things you do besides sewing in Alaska. I love the sewing posts too, by the way
Dawn, I am sorry to read this post following the comments on your moose tales; as a lifelong vegetarian (and almost vegan dietwise), I was initially put off by your occasional comments on hunting, but it was not until this post that I realised that it is not purely for fun, but actually a means of food for you and your family; even when I was under the impression that the hunting might have been for fun, I kept my opinions to myself, since to each their own. Having said that, I agree with the other vego posters that killing your own meat is far more sustainable and animal friendly than buying meat from a supermarket, after factory farming; I always say to friends, some of whom kill their own meat, that it is a far better way to obtain meat than choosing to go the sterile way; my husband eats meat, and tries to kill his own;
In any case, regardless of my POV on this matter, the fact remains that I am fascinated by the content on this topic, since this is not something we come across much in Oz...not to mention the whole "do it yourself" take on things! I remain amazed...
Well, I'll be honest. I like meat. But, I don't like to know where my food comes from. But, I couldn't care less what you write about because I can pick and choose what I read. Just as I can pick and choose what I eat. Having worked at our State Department of Natural Resources, hunting doesn't bother me. Having dated police officers -- guns don't bother me. I'm just squeamish :) But, again, write whatever you want. I'd rather see those posts then think about food being wasted.
Wow Dawn,
Sorry that people feel the need to devalue others in order to feel superior. I don't hunt (or fish), but I certainly know where my food comes from. In fact, when I was reading your moose posts I was impressed with how you and your husband use EVERYTHING and thought 'more people should read this.....'.I enjoy your blog and learn alot (one of my favorites was your hike with your girlfriends and your dilemma as to whether or not to bring a firearm for anti-bear protection. Not a consideration for many of us!!!!)Oh well, keep your spirits up and sew up something fabulous this weekend for stress relief.
Kristen
Just another note to let you know that I'm jealous that you get to hunt, prepare and eat your own meat. I think it's really cool and my parents would think so too despite their vegan status. I suppose we could probably hunt our own here too (in Colorado- more like elk and deer than moose though!) but somehow since food is so cheap here and processing is so expensive we wind up not doing it. Ignore the naysayers.
The old saying, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all," fits the bill here.
I love your sewing posts and find your tutorials so helpful, but truthfully I think my favorite part of your blog are the posts about life in Alaska!
I'm not a hunter (nor can I even kill a spider), but live in an area heavily populated by hunters. In fact, we are pretty much surrounded by state hunting land. My only beef with hunters is them trespassing on my land and every year I worry about one of my dogs getting shot accidentally. But those are just idiots who are idiots whether they are hunters or not.
I wouldn't worry because I don't think anyone who reads really cares what this troll has to say.
Don't let her stop you from posting this kind of stuff.
Sounds like you have many, many supporters (I am one too)! Sometimes the best way to shoot down people like that is to never give them the time of day! Can you erase comments on your own blog??
I don't even sew, and I LOVE your blog! I enjoy reading about your projects and about life in Alaska.
I have found your posts about the Moose so interesting! I'm glad that you share all of this with us!
I hope that you don't let those comments get you down! Keep at it!
Good for you Dawn! I love reading about your sewing but I have also very much enjoyed reading about your life in Alaska. One of the wonderful things about sewing is that it unites so many different people with such different ways of life. As I live in London I've never been called upon to hunt a moose or prepare moose meat but I consider myself privileged to be able to read a first hand account from someone who lives so much closer to nature. Please don't stop telling us about Alaskan life.
Geez. I think all the Alaskan life posts, including the one about processing the moose are very interesting. Maybe not my thing to do, but interesting none the less. Oh, and my oldest grandson made is first hunting kill last weekend in WY - he got an antelope. As did his step-dad. We are quite proud of them. Life in Northern WI...
Geez. I think all the Alaskan life posts, including the one about processing the moose are very interesting. Maybe not my thing to do, but interesting none the less. Oh, and my oldest grandson made is first hunting kill last weekend in WY - he got an antelope. As did his step-dad. We are quite proud of them. Life in Northern WI...
I too find your posts about life in Alaska very interesting - please continue. (Hopefully I'll get to visit that great state some day, but until then, I love learning about it thru your posts!) I didn't know people ate kangaroo and emu either, but shortly before your posts with the hanging "quarter", I read an article about a HS girl in (I believe) North Carolina (possibly South) who shot an alligator at night, with a bow! I think it was a competition or something. At any rate, I learned people also eat Alligator!!! Hmmmmmm. Don't think I could force myself to try IT!
Dear, dear Dawn,
What the hell is going on with people these days? It is so annoying that there are people who think they have a right to.... These people are just disgraceful!
There are those who cannot stand your gathering your own food but will support American companies who exploit others by destroying the rain forest which is the only place where their food can survive.
There are those who say that decisions you make for your family and community do not match their choices and therefore are somehow awful choices for you to make. Some of these same people will turn their back on the homelessness and malnutrition in their own communities that has been exacerbated by our economic times. What have they done to help these families? I don't see too many people starting community gardens and giving the food away to the shelters!
I would bet that some of these people are dead set against the energy companies of the world also. Wonder how they get to work and get their children to school?
What is wrong with people these days?
I love what you write! Don't eat moose, don't think I could, but I love raw oysters! Your posts have made me so interested in Alaska, and life there. Please continue to share your non sewing life with us. p.s. I love your sewing!
I agree with pretty much everything said by the previous commentators here - just wanted to not lurk my agreement and speak up. Love your blog, your varied interests, and that you share so much. Keep it up!
Dear Dawn,
I usually read your blog site and enjoy it. I found the blog entry on the moose interesting, but to be honest it did gross me out. I realized that I so far removed from the actual process of killing and prepare another animal for comsumation that your blog entry just really gross me out. That being said, Its your blog and you can but write anything you want and say anthing you want. As a reader of your blog site, if I don't like want I see, I can look at some other site. If you are still talking about the moose, I can come back another day. Dawn please keep sharing your sewing and your life in Alaska. Even though I found your entry on the moose disturging, it was very informative and interesting.
Another lurker here. I am a vegan so while eating meat is not something I do, I think that your method sure beats the norm. Killing and using a whole animal is much more humane (and dare I say animal-friendly) than the process that goes on in the commercial meat industry.
It always dissapoints me when people use the anonimity of the internet to be cruel/mean.
-K
Well said Dawn!
I have been a vegetarian on and off (currently off), and to think I could have been a militant vegan. Sometime along the line I read the book "Mutant Message Down Under," and that completed my understanding that animals were put on this earth to sometimes be eaten.
I think it's really neat that you can use all the moose.
I'm leaving another message of support regarding your Alaskana posts. I can't add very much to the other posts, but I'll say that I enjoy reading your blog posts and I'm sure I would miss posts about the local way of life.
Rose in SV
You go, mama bear. Rock on.
Dawn, I love your posts--sewing and alaskana. I'm originally a city girl and don't know how to process meat, but I found your posts about the moose fascinating. I am amazed and impressed with your ability to do so many things so well. Your sewing is beautiful, your explanations detailed and helpful, and the fact that you can also butcher and process meat is cool.
Hi, Dawn - I read all of your posts and always enjoy them. I thought it was really cool that you posted so much information about the moose. I live in a big city, and we all think meat comes from the freezer at the supermarket (tee hee - I make myself giggle). Plus, I also think I remember you putting a warning at the beginning of one of the posts about the moose that people who don't want to hear about it shouldn't read it... Anyway, I just want to say thanks for all of your posts - moose, chanel jacket, running sneakers, etc. It's all interesting to read!!! That's one of the cool things about these blogs - you get to learn a little about life all over the place - what we have in common and what makes us different...
Holy hell. What'd I miss?
You know, I will comment again. Another thing forgot to mention earlier and others didn't, is that hunting can be good in the sense that if they overpopulate, they starve because too many are eating the same food/grass, become a nuisance to gardens and crops, get in the way of cars more than usual, etc. Besides, people have survived for centuries by hunting game.
Love your sewing, and admire the moose stuff.
Ignore the haters.
I'm so sorry you've received some pissy comments over your moose posts. I have found them fascinating and obviously I'm not in the minority seeing all of these posts that have said the same thing. It's so interesting that I even brought it up to my friend who used to live in Alaska and she was able to fill me in even more on how much a moose means up there. Keep writing what is important to you and your family and to hell with everyone who is somehow offended. Love your blog and love that you write about such a wide range of topics!
Hey Dawn, one of the many reasons I enjoy your blog is that it broadens my horizons. Living in a place where "back to the land" means harvesting ones Lilliputian arugula patch, it's pretty hard to find a neighbor processing fresh game. But believe me, we fight over grass-fed beef and free-range chickens at the Berkeley Bowl ( http://www.berkeleybowl.com/ ) where self-righteousness is the highest form of religious observation. See, I'm practicing right now :)
Keep writing, please. My life and my perspective is all the richer for your sharing.
Wow, I've been gone for a while and I guess I missed a lot. I'm sorry you and your readers have had to put up with muffinheads (my favorite insult of late) who hide behind the anonymity of the internet to attack. I could never butcher meat myself (it breaks nails and I can't have that, LOL), but I have gratefully received all sorts of delicious treats from my hunter friends, and I have the L.L. Bean Fish and game cookbook. Moose chili anyone?
Hi, Dawn I love all the Alaskan life posts. Here in Norway moose hunting season has just ended. What noone has said is that they need to be culled (at least here, they do) or they will starve come winter. Moose meatballs coming up! Delicious with gravy, brussel sprouts and tyttebær (lingonberries). Mmm
Vibeke in Oslo
Poor Dawn, I'm on your side with the whole "I hunt & gather my food, so what's it to ya" thing. I will definitely agree that background & education are a huge influence on one's perceptions. Having conducted excavations on coastal shell middens and prairie bison jumps, I'm perhaps more cognizant than some other city folk out there that through the ages people have been eating what's available. In Australia I ate wallaby stew, and in Africa, ostrich steak with local water lily au gratin. One of my favourite foods since early childhood has been tartar steak (chopped raw beef mixed with raw egg yolk & onion, yes really, and lots of pepper) and, though this was in the days longlonglong before the mad cow scare, fried calf's brains was a dinner delicacy at my family's table. I can just envision some of your readers going, ewwww! Well, being an omnivore may be soh! politically unpopular, but that's what we are, biologically. I also support the Canadian seal hunt, btw. It's an important part of our northern economy.
More support from me downunder. Your blog is one that I always read, usually late at night when everyone has gone to bed in our house. Love looking at your sewing and thoroughly enjoyed finding out about the moose. Thank you for writing about it.
sewkiwi
Post a Comment