Dog gone funny
I have occasionally wondered the expression of a man being "shot like a dog", or just being treated in a way that "you wouldn't treat a dog".
The whole world that we can glimpse underneath these expressions is so
totally alien to our present-day mentality in which you can't even show
(pretended) killing of a dog in an otherwise violent and gory movie,
and a person who would really kick a dog would immediately be the
lowest of the low. In many aspects, dogs are more protected and
respected than humans, and most certainly no man would be allowed to
just arbitrarily shoot one and leave it to die with its blood and guts
spilling out on the ground.
Yet these expressions persist in the English language and everybody knows what they mean, and nobody assumes that being "treated like a dog" means that you live a life of comfort in which you are fed and groomed regularly with no expectations in return, other than that you act all enthusiastic whenever your benefactor comes home. I find this interesting. Of course, there is the expression of someone being "shot like a rabid dog" (i.e. without a trial which would obviously been needless) which still makes sense, but I assume that this one is different from the previous two.
Yet these expressions persist in the English language and everybody knows what they mean, and nobody assumes that being "treated like a dog" means that you live a life of comfort in which you are fed and groomed regularly with no expectations in return, other than that you act all enthusiastic whenever your benefactor comes home. I find this interesting. Of course, there is the expression of someone being "shot like a rabid dog" (i.e. without a trial which would obviously been needless) which still makes sense, but I assume that this one is different from the previous two.
Some years ago I was the writer for a comic based on the world of the "Terminator" movie. I had a scene where "stealth" terminators break into a rebel fort and demonstrate how stealthy they were by petting one of the guard dogs. When they began to attack, the one petting the dog killed it by breaking its neck. Others opened up with guns, killing men, women, and children.
The response from the editor at the licensing company was "Don't show him killing the dog." The children? Okay. The adults? Okay.
But no killing dogs.
Oy vey.
--Toren
Posted by Anonymous | 5:51 PM
Well, on sheep farms, working dogs get shot all the time. The minute they start attacking sheep, they get the bullet.
Posted by Loki on the run | 6:09 PM
Ilkka, what is your view on landmines? For readers: (US, Russia, China), Finland is one of the few countries in the world that hasn't signed the treaty on getting rid of landmines.
Posted by Anonymous | 6:42 PM
I am compiling a new blogroll of atheist and agnostic blogs. if you would like to be included in this list please leave a reply here :
Are You An Atheist Or An Agnostic?
http://beepbeepitsme.blogspot.com/2006/08/are-you-atheist-or-agnostic.html
Posted by beepbeepitsme | 1:42 AM
Isn't it obvious that it's just a lot easier to like a dog than a person. :D
Posted by Anonymous | 4:11 AM
Dogs are awesome. They give man a chance to cross the plain of life with a bit of nature at his side. If someone created a technological device that had all the atrributes of a dog, that device would be a must-have, hailed by all.
I dont know what the Saturday morning cartoons were like in Finland. But all folks who grew up in the '70s in the U.S. would be able to tell you that his blog would be a might better if you had a panther as a trusty, constant companion.
Steve
Posted by Anonymous | 5:17 AM
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Posted by Anonymous | 5:31 AM