AnonymousJanuary 27, 2018 at 9:09 PM
I just read the blog post about the staff writer and his taking some punitive jab at he way the bear cubs are housed. I see this lack of accounting for awareness by disparate writers sometimes and have written a few emails to these writers with no response. I imagine they get quite a few but I am glad that you detailed the plight of these bears and the entirety of the situation to the writer who was just making an assumption on initial responses. There are too many people that, to quote Nietzsche "take what they want and despoil the rest." I am forever seeing comments from ignorant people who see zoos as places that are ruining the wild spirit of animals. They don't seem to acknowledge that the wild places are disappearing thanks to their not understanding and that, under some circumstances, these animals can't be returned to the wild. Its purely their opinion and not a very good one at that because there is a lot they aren't accounting for, just like the staff writer.
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@Anonymous- Thank you for your comment. ... The plight of the Bears were the catalyst for the response to this, because I think his words could hurt future rescues and he needed to now the severity of that action. ... Regarding what you have read, its more of that self-entitled mentality. Zoos ruining the spirit of wild Animals, what about Human responsibility for not only ruining , but taking the lives of wild Animals? It all makes me so sick. ... Thank you for also taking action in calling out writers. I've contacted tv shows, writers, and actors, about bad writing that sends the wrong message and never heard back. This guy at least wrote back (see below).
I agree with you 100%. The writer did not need to add that jab into the story line at all. Our precious black bears at the SF Zoo are comfy and happy. They have a pool and a meadow. I am so thankful that SF Zoo spoke up and took them in. Your video of them speaks volumes about how happy they are. It's absolutely adorable.
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@Andie - Thank you for your comment. ... Those are two of my points, it was unnecessary and uneducated. There are things to gripe about the SFZoo, and this is not one of them! So, thankful they are here. SFZoo gets it right sometimes :) ... Glad you liked the video. I love those babies!
Totally agree with this blog post. I have read Rubenstein for years and sometimes he just gets a little too clever for his britches. The movement all over the country to save to save the lives of these bears who have been encroached upon by humans, (no NOT the other way around) is a wonderful thing and should be totally supported. Zoos as rescue centers are going to become more common out of necessity and will be a good transformation of the purpose of zoos.
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@Anonymous - Thank you for your comment. ... Good to know this is his "style", repeat offender of bad writing. ... Indeed, whatever facility can save the life of any Animal in need, should be praised, and not faulted. ... I agree 100% and your last sentence. I may have written something about that in recent times, as I know I have talked about it alot. In respect to the SFZoo, I would like to see them not participate in as many captive breeding programs and focus on giving home to more Rescues.
Hello Chronicle Writer and Editor,
I was very upset by words written about the San Francisco Zoo in this article. I wrote an email that turned into a blog post. Please take a read, as the words written were very Irresponsible and Unnecessary to the story.
An excerpt:
So, Rubenstein, you slam the San Francisco Zoo for the size and placement of its Black Bear enclosure. Your flippant remarks that echo you obviously having a desperate need to be a novelist, shows a lack of understanding of what has happened at the SFZoo. So, let me educate you.
In short, there were Orphaned Bear Cubs in need of a home. San Francisco Zoo had an available home. Their Lives were Saved.
Steve Rubenstein, you should be ashamed.
Here is the link to my blog post for the full text.
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/01/san-francisco-chronicle-writer-steve.html
Give it a read, you might learn something.
Kim
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Dear Kim
Thanks for writing. I’ve no need to be a novelist, desperate or otherwise.
If I made a factual error, please point it out and I’ll do my best to get it corrected.
All best
Steve (fellow bear admirer)
------------ My response
Its not a factual error, its irresponsible writing that could affect saving future lives. Maybe you should do a story about Orphaned Bears in general. A piece that would educate people about Bear Awareness and how to prevent these babies from becoming Orphaned and noting that there is limited space and unless Human interaction as well as hunting, is downsized, more Bears will lose their lives.
------------- No further response.
I was disappointed by Rubenstein's reply, but actually surprised he even responded. I felt he could care less about the issue I had and the point I made, which to me, doesn't support his "bear admirer" position. Instead he hid behind his safety cushion of reporting facts, regardless of any thing else.
