Naked vet calendar backlash

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 22:48:04 GMT

I quote from the website:

"VVN supports an abolitionist approach to all forms of animal use and exploitation"

Hmm. ALL? I wonder why they have trained as veterinary surgeons then. There won't be anything for them to do.

[quote user="Cat Henstridge"]
It was a completely appalling way for professionals to behave to their peers. [/quote]

Exactly.

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Cat Henstridge — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 21:55:46 GMT

The most important point is being missed, or deliberately ignored, by most media outlets. This furore was started from within the profession.

The original post which kicked off the abuse (some of which included threats to life and left several students needing professional assistance - ironically from VetLife) was posted on the Veterinary Vegan Network facebook page by the page itself.

They eventually deleted it, but not before encouraging the aggressive comments made by members of the public, and they have not yet apologised or even acknowledged the damage they caused.

The page is run by veterinary surgeons (one very well known in the profession) and the post almost certainly runs counter to the GtoPC, and it has been flagged to the RCVS.

It was a completely appalling way for professionals to behave to their peers.

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

bob lehner — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 12:08:37 GMT

Well - I'm certainly no prude - but I can't say I am comfortable with a picture of a bunch of naked young men holding sheep between their legs in what might be seen to be a compromising position. And I don't think it's the sort of image with which our (once) noble profession should be associated.

Anyway the whole naked calender thing is tired and well past its sell-by date. Daring/amusing/controversial/saucy etc. when originally done by the Calender Girls - but since then has been copied by the world and his wife and no longer any of those things.

Consign to the dustbin of history and let the vet students come up with something new and more entertaining....?

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 19:48:47 GMT

In fairness to Stuart Reid the original RVC response was sent out while he was away and my guess is that he had little to do with it. But he has had the courage to "take ownership" of it. Soon after, as far as I can make out, he issued something that was far more on the students' side, indeed properly protective of his students, while in future photos are going to be looked at by some member of staff who are perhaps better placed to spot something that some idiot might find offensive. For instance, some in the dim and nasty world of soshul meeja innit might perceive a suggestion that the students were masturbating with the sheep.

But I agree, universities are far too ready to cave in and issue grovelling apologies to the professional offence-takers. When did all this start? Was it with certain nutters objecting to a statue of Cecil Rhodes (while happily accepting his money for their scholarships) or does it go back further?

I'd have issued a statement on the lines of "I'm sorry if anyone's offended, but the indulgence in harassment and threats, from a group who are supposed to be intelligent, has blown any chance of a deeper apology than that!"

Look on the bright side, though. Any copies of the calendar with that photograph that, er, "accidentally" escape pulping will now command a premium on the black market!

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Robert FalconerTaylor — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 18:05:15 GMT

Arlo as far as I can see you stand alone as the only member of the vet press to have the guts to report the story, show it up for what it is and support the students. It is a disgrace and shame on the RVC who must have spent a fortune having 'the picture/story' deleted off the internet - according to Radio 4 Today last week.

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Richard Carter — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 17:26:07 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]think the body should be objectified, whether male or female.[/quote]given the number of naked or near naked people on TV ads at present must mean we getting near to Christmas....

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Bob Russell — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 13:55:40 GMT

Just really boring IMO.

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 12:55:10 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]I'm one of the ones who thought naked calendars were sexist [/quote]

I haven't seen the full calendar, but I thought men and women were evenly represented?

[/quote]

That's a good point. What I am trying to say is that I don't think the body should be objectified, whether male or female. Is there a phrase or term for that? (Genuinely, I'm just having a blank moment in my vocabulary on this one.)

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 12:03:07 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]I'm one of the ones who thought naked calendars were sexist [/quote]

I haven't seen the full calendar, but I thought men and women were evenly represented?

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 12:01:19 GMT

I'm fairly unimpressed with the whole thing - I'm one of the ones who thought naked calendars were sexist and a bit patronizing, a cynical fundraising based on "ooh, skin!"

I don't want to ban them, but I certainly don't purchase them.

And yes, badly handled by the RVC!

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 18:30:03 GMT

I thought that was his brain!

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 18:24:55 GMT

The Raptured Spleen FB group (who are worth joining ...hilarious!) did some great GIFs:

RE: Naked vet calendar backlash

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 17:09:54 GMT

"Our institutions then seem to fall over themselves in the rush to apologise to the perpetually offended Facebook fruitcakes. We all need to fight this. Stuart Reid, ewe need to grow a pair. "

Hear hear.