Are people without pets weird?

[BayBuzzard]

If everyone has pets, the poop would be piled pretty high

As a 27 year old career minded dude, a cat maybe, but how you gonna party and vacation before you are too old to go all out.

A more aged dude with a wife and some land might want a pet or two or three.

Can’t put people in boxes, it’s all relative to your current life situation.

$0.02

 

[Appalachickens]

Good grief, such a lot of judgment for a legitimate life choice. I have pets, but that doesn’t make me less weird than someone who chooses for whatever reason not to. There have been times in my life when I didn’t because of my situation, and I wasn’t more weird then. It’s like asking if people who choose not to have children are weird. Or if people who choose to rent instead of own a home are weird. Or if people who live in the city instead of the country are weird. Maybe can accept others’ autonomy?

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

Depends on why they don't have pets. If it's because they don't like animals or something like that then yes I think it's weird. If it's because of allergies, living situation, too busy, or something similar than no. I can't imagine not wanting to have a pet so I think it's more of a matter of do they not even want one or they just can't have one

 

[FrostRanger]

Weird? Nah, I love having pets and I can't resist interacting with random cats even if it's just saying hi and meowingat them (I am also easily distracted by dogs but will always ask the owner before petting) but I know plenty of people are scared of or allergic to animals and of course some just don't enjoy being around them for some reason or another (which is unfortunate but whatever). I do think me not liking kids is weirder than them not liking animals. Someone walks in with a baby and I will ignore said baby. Someone walks in with a dog and I will greet them and the dog and if I'm not helping someone else I will walk over and ask to pet the dog. The only point either would be a problem is if they wanted to hurt them, dislike is fine but in such situations just ignore them but don't go out of your way to actively harm animals or kids, both should be protected and cared for

 

[SourRoses]

People in this thread (and everywhere) seem to forget what weird means. It's just different.
Just because it's sometimes used as an insult, doesn't make it automatically insulting or judgemental.

I'm glad to say I'm weird in some ways. Quite a lot, actually. But I'm not "No Pets" weird. And I've always thought it was a weird mindset since I was a kid and most people at our former church thought it was "spiritually unclean" to have pets in the home. No joke.

Then I got older and made a friend who was a very kind person, but afraid of all animals. She had been attacked (mildly) by a dog as a child. But she was afraid even of hamsters. So I tried to talk her into fish... Nope, still scared. Well, the problem there is we couldn't talk about much once we got past work and family stuff (not enough content). All of my hobbies were animal related. She didn't read much either. And I don't exercise for "fun" (what?!?! ). Nor do I try weird food as entertainment.
It was strange knowing someone you got along with emotionally, but couldn't discuss much with. So, she was weird from my perspective, and I was weird from hers. Especially the part where keeping animals somehow helps me not wash all the skin off my hands (bonafide OCD).

 

[notabitail]

People in this thread (and everywhere) seem to forget what weird means. It's just different.
Just because it's sometimes used as an insult, doesn't make it automatically insulting or judgemental.

I'm glad to say I'm weird in some ways. Quite a lot, actually. But I'm not "No Pets" weird. And I've always thought it was a weird mindset since I was a kid and most people at our former church thought it was "spiritually unclean" to have pets in the home. No joke.

I've never had a pet because my family has the "if it isn't useful it's not going to be here" mentality. Chickens are "useful", so we have them.

The usefulness isn't as big of a deal to me with the chickens anymore, since I'm not seeing eggs everywhere I look.

Then I got older and made a friend who was a very kind person, but afraid of all animals. She had been attacked (mildly) by a dog as a child. But she was afraid even of hamsters. So I tried to talk her into fish... Nope, still scared. Well, the problem there is we couldn't talk about much once we got past work and family stuff (not enough content). All of my hobbies were animal related. She didn't read much either. And I don't exercise for "fun" (what?!?! ). Nor do I try weird food as entertainment.
It was strange knowing someone you got along with emotionally, but couldn't discuss much with. So, she was weird from my perspective, and I was weird from hers. Especially the part where keeping animals somehow helps me not wash all the skin off my hands (bonafide OCD).

I ride a bicycle for fun. It's also good exercise.

 

[SourRoses]

I've never had a pet because my family has the "if it isn't useful it's not going to be here" mentality.

Well you can't be blamed for parental restrictions... When you live on your own terms, you might get a pet.
The same way I wasn't to blame when my family treated Country music as the only acceptable choice.
Finally I became an adult and found Rock... then I converted my mom (a bit)
Recently we had an issue with a neighbor blaring their music from their truck and we'd turn to each other "Ewww, country..."

I ride a bicycle for fun. It's also good exercise.

Well, a bicycle ride can be nice, taking in the scenery.
But it is not fun to pant your way through a huge park after your very weird friend who's having a blast sweating... "What a cool tree" she shouts back in the wind.
Me: "What?! A tree? All I can see is blurs flashing past!" But of course I couldn't actually say it, because, you know, oxygen...

 

[nuthatched]

I find it wierd if someone has too many pets. Like "you need a new hobby or therapy" wierd. No pets? Not a concern.

 

[Squawkers]

I've never had a pet because my family has the "if it isn't useful it's not going to be here" mentality. Chickens are "useful", so we have them.

That’s sad Chase is my life. I don’t care if he doesn’t “give” me anything physical he is my best friend. I’m happily single and chase is my partner in crime. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I guess I understand it, but it just depends on what you define as useful. Having a best friend that is always there for me, is “useful”

 

[notabitail]

Well you can't be blamed for parental restrictions... When you live on your own terms, you might get a pet.
The same way I wasn't to blame when my family treated Country music as the only acceptable choice.
Finally I became an adult and found Rock... then I converted my mom (a bit)
Recently we had an issue with a neighbor blaring their music from their truck and we'd turn to each other "Ewww, country..."

I've done modern music before but I don't like it as much as my stacks of classical CDs.

Here everyone has the Mexican music that sounds like "OOMPH pah pah OOPMH" if you're not right in front of the speaker. If the neighbors behind you are blasting it at midnight you're going to hate it.

Well, a bicycle ride can be nice, taking in the scenery.
But it is not fun to pant your way through a huge park after your very weird friend who's having a blast sweating... "What a cool tree" she shouts back in the wind.
Me: "What?! A tree? All I can see is blurs flashing past!" But of course I couldn't actually say it, because, you know, oxygen...

I usually go at a slower pace, since I want to see what's around me.

Oxygen? Really? Wimp. You don't need it. Breathe nothing and drink sweat.