Ooooof, that poor betta! :( I’m sorry that happened. Honestly though, I almost definitely would’ve had the same reaction. I’m WAY better at managing interaction online with text than I am in person with speech. And getting something unpleasant sprung on you with no warning is never easy to deal with and it’s hard to know what to say that isn’t just outright “what the fuck is wrong with you” & upsetting the person (which, while this is a valid reaction, also doesn’t help make anyone feel better or learn anything, unfortunately). 

Nothing, really. Given their description I expected wild orca (or the illusion of wild orca) too. I was disappointed. You “swim with” them in their 3D tank space (for relatively short durations, interrupted by narrative) and it’s just not very good. It could be so much cooler...? However given how not-busy, not-highlighted, and “off to the side” the thing is, I suspect it isn’t viewed positively by many others either.

- Joy Miller

I think being “too dark” is ultimately the problem... Telling real stories of conservation and issues facing wild animals often stays in a range of depressing-to-horrifying, with the rare few true victories peppered inbetween. Not good “family vacation” material. This theme park article from a few months ago touches on that point quite well with how humans are actually the bad guys in the real-world narrative Seaworld wants to claim, but hey! The guests are also humans. Free guilt trip with every ticket purchase.

*agreement noises*

I have not. I just looked it up, and yhea, that does look interesting. I’ll put in a hold on it at the library, thank you.

Isn’t that the bit on their newer ~Park to Planet~ ad? Ugh.It’s so frustrating that people believe that stuff. If only they realized Seaworld’s literally been saying the same thing for decades (and not doing a whole lot in the meanwhile.)

- Rohan