Musicians object to SeaWorld

It's going to make the list of movies I've never seen, and don't ever plan on seeing.

It's on there with the Twilight series, an It's a Wonderful Life.

You should see It's a Wonderful Life - it will make you cry, though.

I understand some of the hostility about keeping mammals in captivity - I also understand (probably moreso) the need to educate the humans about the environment we ALL share. Orcas aren't doing squat to OUR environment - they're simply sharing the planet that WE have the capacity to destroy. It really is on the humans to improve things...and Sea World can be an invaluable teaching tool. In considering the other methods of encouraging people to care for the oceans, I don't know of another way that really gets the point across - we are CUSTODIANS of this planet, yet we act like we OWN it.

The company does a whole lot to rescue critters on both coasts as well, nursing them back to health and releasing them. The Conservation Fund is also a big deal.

All Free Willie's brothers, sisters, and friends would die too if released. It only works in a movie, but activists all believe life is as make believe in their heads as a movie. Blackfish and the has-been musician activists all s***! They can kiss Shamu's ***. Team Sea World!

Too bad we can't release Joan Jett and so many activists like her back to the wild. They are irritating slime in the same group as Michael Moore, Alec Baldwin, and Jane Fonda. I'm glad she's not playing as it makes room for someone worth listening to. I'm with you Jeff. Sea World rescues and cares for so many animals! I heard Jack Hanna talk about knowing the parks and he supports them and says if he thought that Sea World abused animals he would never support them. This bone-head activists know only what they want to believe they know, not what is real.

I watched Blackfish last night, its available on Netflix instant if anyone is interested.

Its a good documentary that paints a graphic picture of a problem happening in Sea World parks. Its also overtly manipulative and a one-sided attack piece on an organization that doesn't exactly deserve it (at least in my opinion).

If you're looking at the "big picture" Sea World has done more for conservation and rescue of marine animals than any documentary or organization probably could. If not for parks like Sea World, would humans have any interest or concerns for the well-being of oceans and sea animals? Probably a great deal less. If not for research opportunities provided by aquariums, sea world parks, etc. would we know as much about these animals as we do? Definitely a lot less. For those reasons my perception of Sea World remains unchanged and I will continue to visit their parks.

Maybe Sea World needs to consider retiring the Shamu shows and simply putting together a larger, more natural environment for a pod of orcas to live in; something along the lines of the dolphin areas. That would probably go some way in helping the perception and the quality of life for the animals. If you look at the enclosures provided to animals in most zoo environments, you have massive areas available to lions to roam freely that in some way resemble their natural surroundings, it would be nice to see killer whales in a similar way.

^Thank you for your contribution, Capitalize. It is thoughtful and fair, unlike the documentary that many of my fellow redditors have used to pronounce that they will never visit a Seaworld again. Thankfully, in this case, redditors do not represent the general public, but neither do we.

Well, here's the easily-predicted response from SeaWorld since the movie has (apparently successfully) told one side of the issue. Please note that I really do see BOTH sides of this, and am somewhat torn even though I firmly believe in the educational value of the parks and the cause of raising awareness.

http://seaworld.com/en/ourcare/Letter?utm_source=Silverpop&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=SEA.SeaWorldCaresLetter.Consumer.Dec2013%20(3)&utm_content=DIGITAL

I haven't seen the movie, and obviously I'm too close to the situation, but the suggestion that anything nefarious is going on is completely absurd to me. These are good people with the animals, many of them scientists. Perhaps if more people came to the parks and learned something about the animals, they would understand why it's important to have them there. Sure, the company makes money at this, I get that, but that doesn't mean it's at odds with its conservation efforts.

I am 10% with Jeff on this. Accidents happen all the time, so just because a trainer was killed by an animal that she was working with doesn't mean that Sea World is evil or whatever. It could happen at any zoo or marine life park. Making a documentary about it seems exploitative and kind of dirty to me.

Anyone who wants to complain about Sea World should see the Manatee show at the Orlando park. It pulled at my heartstrings and made me realize what Sea World's animal conservation is really all about. They still have that show, right?

LostKause said:

I am 10% with Jeff on this.

You must be talking about what's left after taxes.

The media blows everything out of proportion. Look at what's happening with Duck Dynasty. Now there's a problem? Seriously? If someone didn't like that guys stance on sexuality and race (both of which were apparently were well known before a GQ interview) then don't watch the show. The people that watch the show likely don't care about his opinions, of which he's entitled to.

I meant 100%. lol

I'm 64% with Tek.

Are you pulling a Tyler?

No.

Then it would have said 63.89624%. Plus or minus...