Goldfish Awareness

Last year, I went to the carnival with my partner. It was a lovely time.

We got matching rings and got re-married by a carny. Magical.

Many incredible things happened that day.

Including the winning of a goldfish.

I named him Steven, brought him home and have proceeded to purchase 2 more tanks as he grows. It has been a year and my goldfish still lives.

Why?

Because these fuckers live up to like 12 years!

I had no idea when I had first won him.

People always tell you goldfish are stupid, slow and die right away.

NO, you are just uneducated and potentially cold inside!

Goldfish need a tank with oxygen and plants and friends.

Humans out here putting living things in bags and giving them away as prizes for winning mostly rigged games.

A living things as a prize?? "Go stick that thing in a bowl with no bubbler, it'll be dead by tomorrow anyway"

Barbarians.

These animals are a commitment.

Any animal you bring into your house is a commitment.

How many small animals die of the pure ignorance and negligence of their owners, I wonder?

Why is a fish lesser than other creatures?

My Steven is going to grow up to a foot long. I'm going to need to build a pond one day. I recognize that and maintain the creature's life and happiness accordingly. I am prepared to sacrifice parts of my life for my loved ones and animals alike. Elsewise, why the fuck did I bring them into my home? I'm not trying be high and mighty. I'm merely passing a long what I thought was basic knowledge.

You ever see that video of that guy saying: "People put human emotions on dogs. But they don't feel things like that." He was referring to his dog he had tied up outside on a 2 foot long lead with no water on a hot day.

Thirst isn't a human emotion, first of all.

Every creature feels thirst, wtf.

Second, dogs absolutely have emotions. What are you on about, my guy?

It's wild that we are surrounded by friends and beautiful living things but they don't seem to matter.

Compared to a human?

I don't know. Animals aren't actively destroying the planet I'm trapped on. I think they're pretty chill.

I'm sorry. I don't mean to get all Animal Activist on you or whatever.

I'm really not active in any sort of causes. Not like physically.

I'm not out wrecking animal labs and throwing paint on fur coats.

I eat meat, I have a leather wallet

and sometimes I laugh at the awkward position road kill died in.

I'm just like you.

I just really love my goldfish -and you'd better spread awareness about the plague of goldfish getting thrown into the garbage because a 6 year old couldn't throw a ball into a bottle.

Fish boiling in the sun in plastic bags waiting for you to "test your luck"?

They're going to die.

They could have lived for 12+ years in a big pond surrounded by other carp and lovely plants. Maybe a waterfall?

Treat your fish like a king, dude.

Other cultures on your planet once gave them as gifts.

They're considered lucky.

But everyone here hates everything and each other for no reason.

This is getting a little too preachy now.

Look, the bottom line is: If you or someone you love wins a goldfish at the carnival this summer- understand your fish is a creature meant to grow to an enormous size and live for a huge chunk of your life. Please take care of your goldfish. Research them and give them the environment they need.

Honestly, this should go for all animals. Do not own an animal without understanding what it is and why it does what it does.

Do not scream at your dogs because they do not understand. They just see anger in you and feel fear- but aren't learning.

Break the cycle of bad animal care, my friends.

It's one of the first steps toward your own elightenment.

You want good karma?

Be fucking nice to animals.

Give them all the care you'd hope someone would give to you

if you were trapped in the body of a goldfish

That's all.

Rant over.

-Liir