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Should one be able to ride a manatee without interference from the government?

Should the government be allowed to forbid manatee riding?

  • No, riding a manatee is guaranteed by the constitution

    Votes: 4 12.5%

  • yes, the government can forbid manatee riding

    Votes: 14 43.8%

  • the tea party has lost it's mind to campaign for manatee riding

    Votes: 6 18.8%

  • I have a different opinion, see my remarks

    Votes: 8 25.0%
  • Total voters
    32
mak2 said:
There is no reason to want to ride a manatee if it might cause them harm. Hey, I got an idea, maybe they could ride great white sharks instead.
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Someone died from being hit by a snowmobile during the X games.

You tell someone it's dangerous, and they have to do it.
 
Peter King said:
Actually, I was informed about this issue when I watched the daily show, in there Michael Coffman, who supports the tea party was voicing his opposition to the interference of the government with, in this case, manatee riding.

Although it was something that also has to do with other issues but in this case it was manatee riding. Sure, they made it out like it was more an issue about loosing rights but saving animals is also an important duty of mankind and if the federal government takes measures to protect endangered animals than they should be allowed to do so.

The manatee is also protected by state laws so it is not just federal laws.
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The manatee riding incident has become the poster child for both sides and IMO is nothing but sensationalism for the purpose of increasing ad and donation revenue, not to mention stoking peoples emotions who are easily stoked.

Get down to brass tacks. It's the only way to make an informed opinion and decision.
 
spanky said:
The manatee riding incident has become the poster child for both sides and IMO is nothing but sensationalism for the purpose of increasing ad and donation revenue, not to mention stoking peoples emotions who are easily stoked.

Get down to brass tacks. It's the only way to make an informed opinion and decision.
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It might have been a bit tongue in cheek the way I posted it here, but I do think it is a real and current problem. I think people have to take a stand in the defense of animals (through democratic ways) and if that limits some rights people think they should have than that is something these people will have to live with.

Now if it endangers a persons lively hood than actions to help him must be taken but if we do not do our best in conservation efforts then a lot of animals will go extinct.
 
Peter King said:
It might have been a bit tongue in cheek the way I posted it here, but I do think it is a real and current problem. I think people have to take a stand in the defense of animals (through democratic ways) and if that limits some rights people think they should have than that is something these people will have to live with.

Now if it endangers a persons lively hood than actions to help him must be taken but if we do not do our best in conservation efforts then a lot of animals will go extinct.
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As I said, sane and reasonable regulations that take the concerns and needs of all parties into consideration.
 
There is no need to ride a manatee. They could ride cows if they need to ride something. Hint: cows dont like it.
spanky said:
As I said, sane and reasonable regulations that take the concerns and needs of all parties into consideration.
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It is already illegal to ride a manatee and rightfully so.
 
Peter King said:
It might have been a bit tongue in cheek the way I posted it here, but I do think it is a real and current problem. I think people have to take a stand in the defense of animals (through democratic ways) and if that limits some rights people think they should have than that is something these people will have to live with.

Now if it endangers a persons lively hood than actions to help him must be taken but if we do not do our best in conservation efforts then a lot of animals will go extinct.
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Don't post from Examiner.com. There were underlying links that better explained the issue, Examiner.com is a website where any butt rumping a$$wipe can post their opinions and give them the aura of a responsible website.

Think of the worst poster here, they can be a "journalist" on Examiner.com.
 
The woman should pay a fine that goes to helping protect the manatees...problem solved, animal get's helped in the end, all is right in the world.
 
joko104 said:
As for "riding" manatees? No, I think not because then some people would go overboard and seek out manatees in their breeding and baby-raising areas where they gather. Do I think doing so is a serious offense? No. Just write a ticket and leave it at that.
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I agree with this. Some people are disrespectful of public places and interaction with wild life. The fact the woman rode a manatee, when I presume it's well posted not to ride manatees, is proof enough of that. Permit doofuses like that to ride them, and all manner of harassment and invasion of the manatee habitat will take place.
 
I think we should breed manatees with echidnas, and see someone try to ride them then.
 
For God's sake, IT'S ILLEGAL TO RIDE MANATEES...NOW.
 
spanky said:
For God's sake, IT'S ILLEGAL TO RIDE MANATEES...NOW.
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Yeah but people like that woman still do it and that is not the point of the OP and the poll, yes?
 
Gina said:
Yeah but people like that woman still do it and that is not the point of the OP and the poll, yes?
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The OP and poll were troll bait.
 
spanky said:
The OP and poll were troll bait.
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I thought it was an interesting topic. I don't care for the Tea Party angle, so I ignored it, but as you can see, some responses were pro-riding manatees.
 
Gina said:
I thought it was an interesting topic. I don't care for the Tea Party angle, so I ignored it, but as you can see, some responses were pro-riding manatees.
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This post was a thinly disguised attack on the TP, and any responses pro manatee riding were tongue in cheek.

There are some legitimate reasons to criticize TP actions, this is not one of them. Using this an example to oppose them is sophomoric and juvenile. It plays on the worst, most infantile knee jerk emotions and is not worthy of this site nor the thoughtful participants that engage.

But that's just me. That being said, I'm done with this thread because I don't think there is anything more to be said.

At least intelligently.
 
As long as the person isn't hurting the manatee in any way, I don't see why you shouldn't be allowed to ride one. Of course if one hurts you because it's 5 times your size, I feel no sorrow for you.

It's dumb of the government to punish the woman for something that didn't harm the manatee in any way, and it's dumb of the tea party to get involved. It really isn't a big deal.
 
spanky said:
This post was a thinly disguised attack on the TP, and any responses pro manatee riding were tongue in cheek.

There are some legitimate reasons to criticize TP actions, this is not one of them. Using this an example to oppose them is sophomoric and juvenile. It plays on the worst, most infantile knee jerk emotions and is not worthy of this site nor the thoughtful participants that engage.

But that's just me. That being said, I'm done with this thread because I don't think there is anything more to be said.

At least intelligently.
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I don't see piling on the TP in this thread. :shrug:

You participated quite a bit, but...ok.
 
Gina said:
I don't see piling on the TP in this thread. :shrug:

You participated quite a bit, but...ok.
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What left is there to be discussed?
 
spanky said:
What left is there to be discussed?
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In the meantime, Molten replied. So I guess he thought there was something to add and it was pro-manatee riding with nary a tongue or a cheek.

Participate or don't. Agree with me or not. I'm good.

Take it easy.
 
Next they're going to defend....I don't know something crazy.
 
Gina said:
In the meantime, Molten replied. So I guess he thought there was something to add and it was pro-manatee riding with nary a tongue or a cheek.

Participate or don't. Agree with me or not. I'm good.

Take it easy.
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Would you be okay with it if I rode you?
 
spanky said:
Don't post from Examiner.com. There were underlying links that better explained the issue, Examiner.com is a website where any butt rumping a$$wipe can post their opinions and give them the aura of a responsible website.

Think of the worst poster here, they can be a "journalist" on Examiner.com.
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I could care less if you think that no-one should post from the examiner.com because it is not the issue here it is the story that is the issue and whether or not the examiner wrote about it is a non-issue.

There are more news sources about this grand war on the manatees by the Florida tea party:

Tea Party takes aim at manatee regulations - UPI.com

The Daily Show takes on Florida Tea Party group's fight over manatee rules | Tampa Bay Times

The Daily Show takes on Florida Tea Party group's fight over manatee rules | Tampa Bay Times

The issues is and remains, does the government have the right to forbid people riding manatees. The law says they do, the tea party says they don't.
 
Some of the things the far right says are just soooo difficult for most of us to understand we wish they were tounge in cheek but I dont really think they are. REmember teh bonehead that thought women could will themselves not to get pregnant if it was "really" rape? No. I think they are serious about manatees.

We must ask ourselves, WWTND? with the manatees?
(what would Ted Nugent do?)
 
molten_dragon said:
As long as the person isn't hurting the manatee in any way, I don't see why you shouldn't be allowed to ride one. Of course if one hurts you because it's 5 times your size, I feel no sorrow for you.

It's dumb of the government to punish the woman for something that didn't harm the manatee in any way, and it's dumb of the tea party to get involved. It really isn't a big deal.
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manatees are not humans play things, the cold hard fact is that it is illegal to ride/bother/disturb them. The law has been in place for decades, if you are dumb enough to break the law by bothering these animals you deseirve to be punished. But jail and huge fines may not be the answer for first time offenders, community service to help protect the manatees would be the best option IMHO.
 
joko104 said:
Manatees sleep under our dock, the largest collections of manatees in N. America gather in winter within waterway minutes of our home, and I'm FWC meaning it is my specific job to protect manatees. I see manatees - many - nearly every day.

Manatees are very people friendly, beneign creatures. Not very smart creatures. Related to elephants, ie trophical, they die if water temperature falls below 68. So in winter they come to our warm spring waters to survive and breed. Hundreds can gather together in clear, shallow water. They have little body fat, unlike people think. Strict vegetarians.

Riding a manatee doesn't hurt it and some would enjoy it. Some would. Others not.

The problem is that if people are allowed such contacts, soon they are carving their initials on their backs. Manatees should be categorized as "protected", but not endangered in my opinion.

Some of the regulations about manatees actually are harmful to manatees - particularly federal regulations by zippy pinheads.

As for "riding" manatees? No, I think not because then some people would go overboard and seek out manatees in their breeding and baby-raising areas where they gather. Do I think doing so is a serious offense? No. Just write a ticket and leave it at that.
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There ya go.

/thread
 
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