Have you ever gotten into an argument about Greys?

[NerfGunWarHero]

The other day I was talking to someone about my new baby grey I am getting, and he ask if he could talk. I said no he is just a baby, but not all parrots end up talking. He said parrots are suppose to talk. He then went on to tell me how stupid birds are and how if they can't talk they aren't even worth having, if mine doesn't end up talking i should just get rid of it. And then he went on to tell me how much smarter dogs are. Has anyone else encountered someone like this before?

 Posts like this should go in the lounge

[Kibibi]

I've never heard of a dog named after Einstein But seriously .... birds do have a false reputation for not being intelligent (thus the term 'bird brain'). So look at your encounter as an opportunity to educate someone and if that particular someone isn't smart enough to learn something then maybe they're the 'bird brain'

[silver scallops]

Nerf,
WELL, have you ever heard the expression, "you're talking but I can't understand a word you're sayin' " ??

This person seems to fall in that category.   As for dogs being smarter....what's up with that??  everybody, all animals, have their good points and their not-so-good points.  although (with the person to whom you were speaking) it may be hard to find "the good."    walk on, Nerf, walk on.   
the best,  Dana

[angela13rl]

Yes I have ran into ignorant people like that before. I usually try to explain how intelligent they are. And if a dog is so much smarter why isn't he telling me he wants corn for dinner and telling me no to anything else I offer.lol(I really love dogs too) It is really hard to keep from giving them a nice swift kick in the a**.
Angela

[NerfGunWarHero]

I tried to explain to him about all the research that has been done about parrots and how they are capable of understanding our speech. Which is truly amazing. I didn't even "bash" dogs. I love all animals, and your right they all do have there good and bad points. Has anyone seen Laura's new puppy? Just the cutest thing I have ever seen.  He went on to tell me that his father had a Macaw his whole life and it was the stupidest animal he had EVER witnessed. I'm sure he tormented it as a child and he gave him a few nasty bites and then he concluded that he must be a "bird brain". Well considering how smart parrots and most birds actually are, I would be happy to be called a bird brain any day.

[cori]

I get the looks.    I talk about Timmy all the time...what he says, does...anything and everything that we do during the course of the day.  Don't get me wrong I talk about my children too.... but they are at school.  Timmy is my constant.  And if people don't understand then so be it.

[newf]

I have run into people that say the same things.  I have three dogs, love them dearly, and I think they are pretty intelligent, but it's not the same as Luna.  Why is it that people who don't have a clue what they are talking about always have to be the ones that try and make you believe their bologna. They haven't had a bird, but they profess to know ALL there is to know about them.  I think you are right, he probably tormented that bird.

[karine]

Just kinda happened to me today!!!!!! A lady I know is "afraid" of parrots!!!!! And any kinds of birds!!!!!! What's with that??  I told her : " Did you watch too much Hitchcock???" She said...Birds? Parrots? Gross!!! What? Your parrot cuddles with you in bed? Yuck!!!!! I never got THAT reaction before!!! I said:" Are you for real?" They are so beautiful and clever....I would rather have them cuddling with me than your husband!!! ( I said that in my head )....Anyway she thought of them like bats!!!!!  REALLY WEIRD!!!!!

[NerfGunWarHero]

Gross is a really strange reaction. I got a really great reaction last night as work though. Someone asked me why I liked parrots instead of cats and dogs. I told her it wasn't that I didn't like them, all animals are great in there own way. Then I went on to say cats were independent and would except your love but never really acted as if they NEEDED it. Most dogs are happy to see anyone, even more so if they have food. But a parrot is different, you have to earn their love and trust, and it is also so easy to lose. She said she had never thought about it like that before. I was happy she listened and took the time to learn way someone would want to be crazy over a bird.

[Fluffy]

I hate to say it, but I think I might have been a bit like that before we got our grey. My boyfriend said he had birds as a kid and I could not comprehend that and told him that is awful, did they poop everywhere, I bet you couldn't interact with them etc etc (yes, I went on and on). Of course he was hurt by this and maybe a bit worried when we got the grey that I would not like it.

Well, I was also a bit worried but from the first moment I saw our little grey I fell in love and have never looked back. He amazes me every day.

I think people need first hand experience of owning a bird before they can make judgements. As you can see I was completely wrong beofre we got our bird.

[NerfGunWarHero]

Glad you did such a 180

[StephieBrandon]

Yesterday I was at the pet store that I bought my Timneh at. I was talking to the owner on how my grey bit me the other day and broke skin. (I've only had the bird 1 week) He asked me if I put my "Charli" back into his cage as soon as he bit me. I told him "no", that I put the bird in a cat carrier for time out (for 15-20 min). The pet store owner looked at me cross-eyed. The owner of a pet store had no idea that allowing my TAG to go back his cage was not punishment. My grey LOVES his cage. I read on many sites to use "The Cat Box Method" to train the greys when they are bad. The store owner and I also got into it over looking at the grey with both eyes. I had a vet told me that new greys feel they are being stared down and to look at them with one eye. All I know is that I have not gotten bit since I have been using these techniques. So they must have some truth to them....

[A.Grey]

I haven't encountered that yet but i have had a row with some people that insist on trying to convince me that animals have no personally or feel emotions which winds me up so much it makes my blood boil ...

[nevjoe]

Sorry but! I have a hard time understanding what the problem is here. Do you NEED to have someone feel as you do? Do you want stupid people about the subject of birds have an opinion about anything that concerns the life you have with a bird? I guess next time I visit my Lawyer I'll ask him why I have a pain in my side that is hurting me. We are a site like this because we have a big thing in common, BIRDS. I never get into birds with anyone, like my friends and family. Why does someone talks great about cats, and you say to yourself, " I don't even like cats". Should I say stupid things about cats, then.
REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO, BEFORE YOU GET CAUGHT UP WITH BAD OR UNCERTIN FEELINGS.

NerfGunWarHero, YOUR BETTER THEN THESE JERKS, SO HAVE FUN HERE WITH THE PEOPLE YOU ARE WITH HERE.

Joe

[NerfGunWarHero]

There isn't a problem here, I just was wondering if anyone had had the same experiences as I had had recently. Most people I am around are very interested in my love of birds and asked well thought out questions without claiming to know anything about birds. Also I don't NEED other people to feel as I do. I was just wondering. I also do go around asking random "stupid" people about what they think about my bird. This person gave his opinion to me without me asking him, and once you get some people started... gosh. I don't know where you got  the idea that I had bad or uncertain feelings. Thank you for saying I am better then the people who are "stupid" but please try to compliment me in a slightly more toned down way next time.