As for why I commented, you spoke for everyone with something that was contrary to my experiences (so yes, in that respect I was being contrarian).

I already answered your first question:

As an aside, I saw Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass" first linked from the Bloggess as a song that made her smile, along with this one :

I think she does say something along the lines of she's joking after that bit. "nah I'm just playing"

Well, sure, I think overall there is commentary in the song about expectation and challenging the beauty standard and photo-shopped models (when we know that shit ain't real). All very positive.

"Everyone wants to be seen as attractive to the sex of their preference (as stated)"

:(

...Wow.

If they are genuinely displacing the compassion from people in their lives (who they previously loved and cared for) to their animals for no apparent reason, then yes, that is strange.

:) (or maybe I was a weird kid. I lived in the sticks, anyways, so was very outdoorsy from a young age).

I liked grass too, but I also had no problem rolling around in mud and dirt. (and shitting in the garden, for that matter).

Uh, though granted, the poo bins here are only for dog poo.

Because little kids aren't particularly discerning (or clean). I know from experience when I was a toddler I was fine with both dirt and poop as concepts (my parents, understandably, less so).

Is he though? Psychopath is actually a fairly specific disorder (and the people who are largely psychopaths tend to end up being very driven and successful due to their willingness to step on others to reach the top!)

Where I am we don't have separate dog parks, but yes, it's the same.

Agreed - but I thought they did (re requiring boarding passes for animals?) I know (as mentioned) passport for pets was created to allow pets in cabins for international flights (so they wouldn't have to deal with quarantine) so thought that would translate to a similar thing, but have no idea on domestic flights,…

Perhaps, yeah. I think trust issues can come off as misanthropy (when suspicion and defensiveness can translate as hostility or hatred) - but I definitely think they aren't the same.

No, but both should have responsible adults caring for them that can, right? :)

I'd wonder if it really is extreme misanthropy, or just not being able to trust people after previous betrayals (which is deeply sad, and not the same at all as lacking empathy, and not necessarily cultural) - because what other animals offer than humans don't (apart from very young children) is unconditional love.

True, but she said in the cabin, next to her so I extrapolated from that statement.