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Paybacks Are Hell: Spear-Fisher Becomes Live Bait

Written by PETA

Posted 09-30-2011

A man who was spear-fishing off Anna Maria Island in the Gulf of Mexico found out what it was like to be speared by a fish when a shark bit his left thigh. By issuing a series of biting (geddit?) ads placed in the area, PETA is using this incident to remind Floridians that the deadliest killers in the water aren't sharks—but human beings.

Sharks aren't the only animals who have been striking back:

A grizzly bear made sure hers was the last life an avid hunter ever claimed when she charged a pair of men who were hunting animals along the border of Idaho and Montana, killing one of them before she was gunned down.
A woman "hunting" mice inside her California trailer dropped her gun, sending a shot through her knee and her male companion's groin. The mice escaped.
An Indonesian man who left his seven dogs alone for two weeks without food or water returned to find that they had developed a taste for chow mein man.

Perhaps if animals always fought back, people might think twice about abusing them. It would save a lot of lives all around. And speaking of saving lives—maybe these surfers will always be spared from shark attacks in return for their compassionate actions.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Tags:

vegan, vegetarian, dogs, mice, sharks, payback is hell

Recent Comments

Jess commented:

Sep 30, 2011 8:44 AM

I have to agree with Shark Friend. Many people have a hard time sympathizing with sharks, which is a big issue right now as they are being killed in huge numbers in vile ways (cutting off their fins and dumping them back in the water to suffer and die slowly). I don't see how putting out an add reinforcing their image as "people killers" is going to do anyone any good. Wouldn't it be better to point people towards a source that emphasizes how rare shark attacks actually are, while pointing out that spear fishing increases your risk of attack because of the blood and bait that you are introducing in the water around you? There is a way to get the message across that violating ocean life increases your chances of being attacked without reinforcing harmful and fallacious stereotypes about sharks.
Concerned commented:

Sep 30, 2011 2:31 AM

This is atrocious! First it makes animals look bad. It presents animals as being dangerous giving people fear and all the more reason to slaughter, harm, and viciously kill animals. I am appalled. The kind of message it sends is that PETA doesn't care for animals or humans. Secondly death and harm to a human is not acceptable either. Yes humans can be cruel and heartless, and honestly i prefer animals to humans, but not all people are. What if these people didn't deserve that at all? It makes it okay to use as a statement? Human life means less than animals? we are equal. We were both put on this earth to live. death to anything is unfortunate. Killing to make a point is absolutely horrendous. It sends a bad image to you. I am rethinking what you believe in. I want to save animals from pain, suffering, and death. I thought you were the perfect kind loving group that i could get involved with to really make a big difference in this world. But you break my heart when I see that you degrade animals when you should do the opposite.. I fully understand where you are coming from with this but its a nature thing. Humans invade their habitat and the animal gets scared and defensive. It happens all to often. Killing and testing in labs is not nature but it is humans being stupid again. Perhaps this is a better angle. We are invading their territory and that is why these attacks happen. It is still saying that maybe humans should respect animals and natural order or they are asking for a negative result. I am not an expert and maybe this doesnt make any sense. But i know that this ad is horrible. It hurts the animals just as much as humans.
Conscience commented:

Sep 29, 2011 11:56 PM

Pulled from Wikipedia regarding bull sharks: "[Bull Sharks] are extremely territorial and attack animals that enter their territory. Since bull sharks often dwell in very shallow waters, they may be more dangerous to humans than any other species of shark." What happened to that man is a tragedy and does not warrant in any shape or form promotion of the vegan lifestyle. Instead of investing in billboards that promote Go Vegan! through this rash and insensitive manner, why not raise a fundraiser to help the poor chap out? You can get positive publicity from acting kindly to humans rather than treating them as objects for your own campaign. As much as "ethical" treatment is deserving for Animals, advocates should set an example to, the very least, those of the same species. I know somewhere in PETA's heart and vision lies good intention, but even the conception and the publishing of calling such a circumstance as payback without due reason is utterly disgusting. Will not PETA rise to a higher standard of ethics? If PETA wishes zealousness for the ethical treatment of animals, should it not start from being good and ethical to humans in the first place? I hope PETA does the right thing.
Kristof commented:

Sep 29, 2011 10:59 PM

@Shark Friend: I don't see how this furthers the fear of sharks. All I see are surfers who set the poor fish free to swim... Nice clip!
maybenot? commented:

Sep 29, 2011 9:47 PM

I find this to be kind of disrespectful for the man who was bitten. What if he lost his life? If another human hurt him, you wouldn't have created and posted ads implying that he deserved it... even if he was at fault. And he was spearfishing... like millions of people have been doing for centuries for survival. Does that mean everyone including ancient hunters should have deserved to be fatally bit by a shark? He wasn't even even operating a mass fishing ship. "It would save a lot of lives all around." ...yes. Animal lives, that is. But human lives don't matter, right? Protecting animals and creating awareness for animal rights is awesome and I'm not trying to say otherwise... but I don't think this is the right way to do so.
RIDICULOUS commented:

Sep 29, 2011 9:21 PM

This is an absurd ad. It portrays sharks as horrible man-eating animals. This ad will only confirm people's fear of sharks and increase violence towards them. Who wants to protect an animal that will bite off their leg?
Britt commented:

Sep 29, 2011 8:06 PM

I get what this article is trying to say, but its not as if ANYONE or ANYTHING deserves to die. I don't agree with what those people were doing, but justifying their deaths and injuries is just low. I don't think spear fishing justifies having your leg torn off. The others I sympathize more with, especially the bear and dog one, but the rest is almost like saying if a little kid steps on a spider on purpose, they deserve to get killed my spiders as a form of "justice". And the animals were protecting themselves and the shark most likely just smelled blood in the water...
Zwabit commented:

Sep 29, 2011 7:34 PM

i agree with shark friend..i'd say keep the report just lose the picture...
kriemhilt commented:

Sep 29, 2011 7:28 PM

I understand Shark Friend's concern but I do love this theme: Payback is Hell! and especially enjoyed a German news item about the Tsunami washing a major shark de-finning factory out to sea. Am sure I am not the only one who has cheered the goring of matadors and the bear attacks on hunters, just to mention a few Happy Endings.
Justin commented:

Sep 29, 2011 7:03 PM

This ad makes me wanna kill all sharks.

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