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This is a question This book changed my life

The Goat writes, "Some books have made a huge impact on my life." It's true. It wasn't until the b3ta mods read the Flashman novels that we changed from mild-mannered computer operators into heavily-whiskered copulators, poltroons and all round bastards in a well-known cavalry regiment.

What books have changed the way you think, the way you live, or just gave you a rollicking good time?

Friendly hint: A bit of background rather than just a bunch of book titles would make your stories more readable

(, Thu 15 May 2008, 15:11)
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passages of sadness, passages of hope.
I am a huge reader. i dont have tv at home so i spend my evening with various litaray texts, exploring my own deep imagination.

These links aren't books.. but small passages by anonymous people. These passages changed my life, and have helped me time and time again when loosing friends and rescues alike. For anyone who has lost a beloved pet, or for those heros who work with dumped, abused and elderly animals... This is for you. Read, enjoy and know they are safe.

You have CHosen Tears: (why we adopt)
www.catforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=11824

Rainbow Bridge: (for those who have lost)
www.catforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=1959

The Rescuers: (for those who care)
www.catforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13489

enjoy people, i know i did, and now i know what its like to cry as you read something.


PS - if your going to reply with some bullshit about how 'they are only animals' have a fucking heart you cold bastards.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:32, 30 replies)
top stuff
I love these inept and illiterate 'poems' that people trot out when a relative or pet snuffs it. In some ways it's a tragedy that people can't find the words to express any genuine and heartfelt emotion - in other ways, it's a comedy that anyone could believe this shite is anything more than retarded.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:36, closed)
Eh?
And again: Eh?
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:40, closed)
this is probably going to get me abuse
I love animals but I find this sort of thing far too self-indulgent, and symptomatic of how far removed we are in this country from reality - probably due to the fact that we live in such comfort and oblivious complacency

there's far too much human misery around, without wasting sympathy and anthropomorphising something that would eat your face off if it was hungry enough - get a sense of proportion man!

although, good to hear you gave up the TV, I did too a few months ago and it's amazing how better life is without the one eyed soul sucker in the corner of the room
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:43, closed)
Seriously?

I have loved many an animal in my time *cough* but this is quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I have ever, ever read.

You're taking the piss, no?
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:45, closed)
..
It is rather mushy, but it helps me when i have animals come thru my doors that have been abused and dont make it. It lets me think that at least in death they are free. And reminds me why time and time again i take these poor creatures, and why i put up with the tears and sadness when they pass away.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:46, closed)
But
They're all just so fucking twee!
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:46, closed)
what the
seriously, what? Thats awful stuff. In the words of Bill Oddie, awful, awful stuff. Awful.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:49, closed)
@Serbitar
"at least in death they are free"...

I'm trying not to giggle laugh give myself a mirth-induced hernia at that.

But I'm failing.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:50, closed)
made me cry
the you have chosen tears poem was particularly heart rending for me- I lost my lovely cat OJ, a big orange tom, in Sept. He was only 7 and after seemingly bouncing back from a lumpectomy and chemo for a sarcoma on his neck, the cancer returned with vengeance and we had to put him to sleep. Hubby and I were inconsolable for a time and yet we are now thinking about getting two more cats because they are such a joy to love. Even with the full knowledge that they are unlikely to outlive us and we will have to endure that heartbreak again; we will choose tears. They are twee but the point the first one makes is very true - we were devestated to lose our cat but we are willing to put ourselves through it again.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:50, closed)
..
thankyou monk, at least someone sees the beauty words can create. and understands what its like to care for a pet so much you are heartbroken when they die.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:52, closed)
I have no feelings
Do you believe that somewhere there is a secret group of cats sitting around discussing how wonderful their humans are/were?
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:55, closed)
I'm going to try and sound nice, but I think I'll fail...
OK, so... I understand that people can be really close to pets. And I've said before that feeling pain after the loss of an animal is understandable. I get that.

But these poems? I suspect there's a reason that 'You Have Chosen Tears' is listed as 'Author Unknown' - because the writer is understandably embarrassed at the drivel they've trotted out. Over sentimental, sticky, twee and glib. It's not even as if it's well-written, or uses decent metaphor. It is, frankly, a waste of a perfectly worthwhile piece of the internet.

If you want to read decent, heartfelt, well-structured and meaningful poetry, I'd suggest a bookstore. It's probably even got a Pet Poems bpook or suchlike.

EDIT (AGAIN): Rainbow Bridge? What on Earth? I don't know what to say, I really don't.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:59, closed)
Hmm
Last week a girl at work took 3 days off when her cat was sick... SICK, not dead, sick!!!

Now I love my cat very much and will be very sad when she goes, but I value my relationships with humans much more than with an animal who views me as nothing more than a walking food dispenser.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 12:59, closed)
..
well people, i love my animals more than i love another human. They dont judge, dont shout, listen when i need to talk, they dont offer advice they just listen. My pets love me unconditionally, it doesnt matter how i look, if im sick, if i smell bad or im angry or crying... they will always sit with me, purr at me and be there for me when i need someone to lean on.

Which is alot more than any human has ever done for me. So i read them and i belive in the reasons for taking in pets when i know they will die and know what heartbreak is just round the corner.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 13:03, closed)
Serbitar
you're anthropomorphising something that would eat your face off if it was hungry enough

yes nature is beautiful and amazing, but it's also cruel, complex and brutal ... and it doesn't wear pink fluffy socks handknitted by your Aunt Marjory
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 13:04, closed)
No
your pets do not love you unconditionally, their love for you is entirely conditional on the fact that you feed and look after them. The moment you stop is the moment that, as TheGoat so brilliantly put it, they will eat your face given half the chance.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 13:08, closed)
Cringe.
I feel like stamping on a kitten after reading this. But, after careful consideration I think it should win, it deserves a place in the newsletter. Or mewsletter.

The internet needs more poems like this.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 13:10, closed)
Serbitar
I'm cat-daft. I'd be bereft if anything happened to mine - far more upset than I would be if anything happened to a human member of my family. Devotion to a cat I understand.

But... jeeez. Those posts are just drivel - as is the mushy crap you're spouting about them.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 13:11, closed)
fluffy
You were a tabby full of love and joy
A furry, loving little boy
You purred and stretched and leaped and slept
I can't even function now you've 'left'

I loved the way you closed your eyes
I loved the way you ate my fries
You gave me love like no one did
And now you're sealed in with a lid

Your grave is pretty, sweet and neat
It's where I like to go and meet
Your furry spirit, purring still
Asleep upon the window sill

Oh, fluffy - I miss you like a lung or eye
I still can't bear to say goodbye
But you are dead and rotting bits
And I'm a bullshit-spouting tit
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 13:20, closed)
How can
a b3tard also haunt pages such as that?

I'm afraid I switched off almost immediately, but only after I'd checked the bottom of the page to see whether or not it said:
"If you don't send this to 10 people in 2 minutes then you will die from your lower intestines squirming out of your body and throttling you."

edit: ^^ I wish I hadn't posted anything after the heartrending poem above. Nothing can follow such a tear inducing ode :(
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 13:22, closed)
Aaah frank
you brought a little tear of salty warmth to my japs eye.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 13:26, closed)
blimey
I had to stop reading after the first few lines in case my eyes fell out

But I understand the sentiment.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 13:47, closed)
cat mad here too
but those are rubbish.

As far as sentimental pet poems go, it's got to be "Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes" by Thomas Gray.

Everything else is twoddle.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 13:57, closed)
What utter drivel
had to come from 'merca, didn't it? Terrible, awful pet lovers- as you probably know, I posted a picture of my dog earlier in the week, and when he dies, I'll find it hard- but fucked if I will write a poem or eulogy on the white boy who couldn't see his mommy. Can I find the asshole that posted on that board originally, and rip the feckers eyes out, please, to make up the 5 minutes I wasted reading that pish?
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 13:58, closed)
@Enzyme.
Cat-daft! love it.

Same here and agree what absolute pish. I've had a cat die in my arms and I cried and such and then I went home and got on with my life.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 14:57, closed)
AHAAAAA
AHAAAAA, AHHAA *pauses for breath* AHA hA HA HAA haaaa.

*bludgeons 'writers' to death with dead kitten until they get a sense of perspective*

Gosh, I really hope nothing actually bad happens in their lives.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 15:04, closed)
I had to kill a cat once
This is a true story. A little graphic, so be warned.

I was walking to the shops one day, and I took a shortcut through a residential area.

Very quiet, no traffic about.
A cat ran across the road, only to be crunched by a van that came speeding down the road.

The van didn't stop.

I ran over to see if the cat was still alive or if I needed to take it to the vets or anything.

It was in a bad way, thing was shaking, and wheezing. I saw why when I turned it over. The whole of its chest had been ripped open, most of the organs had been mushed. The lungs were ripped, and I could see part of the heart.

I knew the thing was fucked, nothing I could do for it, nothing a vet could do for it.
It was going to take a few minutes to die, so I did the kindest thing, and snapped it neck.

Not a nicest thing I've ever done, damn thing tried to bite me. I didn't miss any sleep over it though.
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 15:05, closed)
mmmm

serbitar,

why does no-one love you? do you not think you might spend your time a little better interacting with humanoids? It is nice that pets love you unconditionally, but that would enable you to become detached from reality surely? would it not be better to experience the ups and downs of inter-humanoid relationships and maybe actually learn and develop oneself. The pets only love you because you feed them and stroke them.
Dunno what i am saying, those links you posted were the biggest pile of drivel i think i have ever read, no but seriously, it scares me to think that there are people out there like that.



uh oh, i am scared now.


will have to go and kill a cat to restore proper order. murder the fucking cats, MURDER THEM ALL
(, Tue 20 May 2008, 16:36, closed)
.
@kaol

You did the right thing. I’d never have the guts to do something like that and would feel guilty about not taking the opportunity. Have a hug from me. * hugs *

@ Serbitar

Don’t give up on humanity just yet. Just don’t have high expectations and just go with the flow.

@ most of the respondents

I’m going to break from the flock and say that while this isn’t exactly the most well written prose or poetry, try reading it again when you next lose a pet.

While we can fool ourselves into thinking that our pets may love us unconditionally, the grief we feel when a pet dies is real. It’s not about the pets loving us; it’s about us loving the pets. Writing these is more a form of therapy than an attempt to be noticed as an author/poet. Most of the time, these people don’t have much writing talent and go about their lives without this being a hindrance to them. Being grief-stricken does not magically give them the ability to write eloquent and profound prose or poetry out of nowhere. They just need a means of letting it all out. Quite frankly, I think this is soppy and not meant to be read when not mourning a pet, but when you’re grief-stricken, your soppy-ness threshold briefly skyrockets which gives you the capacity to write soppy stuff you wouldn’t even consider writing otherwise. Yes, things that are actually bad (shit) do happen, but even so, to the authors, the pain is real,

So in summary, it’s therapy, not literary talent. These texts were more meant to be written than they were to be read.
(, Wed 21 May 2008, 2:00, closed)

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