I've talked about my thoughts on the ethics of fur farming, let's move on to the next topic I've seen talked about recently: fake oddities.
I'm specifically referring to things made from different forms of plastic. I'm also mostly referring to fake bones, since that seems to be what people are apt to discuss rather than things like fake taxidermy mounts or wet specimens or other such oddities. But in that vein, when you consider faux taxidermy if we're not including gaffs or using one animal to make another (eg. dying a mountain lion to look like a leopard) they're also plastic in the form of faux fur.
What interests me from a social standpoint is seeing people discuss this now as if it's a new phenomenon. But if most people sit down and think about it, they'll probably realize they've encountered fake bones before.
I know this isn't what people are referring to when they're talking about fake oddities but at the end of the day it's a similar enough concept.
What's catching people's attention now though is the accessibility and quality. 3D printing has caught on and is affordable enough for people to do at home if they want to build up the skills. I remember years ago I had someone come in and scan a variety of my skulls from my personal collection so they could make 3D models with them to print for jewelry. It's pretty neat!
But is it 'ethical?'
On one hand you have plastic waste. Especially with the vast availability of these items. They can be rather mass produced and have the same issues that come with every other plastic item mankind has created whether it's 3D printed or resin poured. Every plastic item that mankind has ever created is still here, and all of it started as oil.
So we're losing on the eco-friendly aspect. Right?
Well...that depends on how you wanna look at it.
These pieces won't break down for a very, very, very long time. And that does suck from a sustainability aspect when you compare it to a real bone, which will break down as nature intended if left out to the elements so long as nothing prevents it. Most people aren't doing anything to bones to prevent them from breaking down.
But the great thing about these replica pieces is you can have any species you can create. No need to support things like bat oddities that are directly leading to a decline in populations, or worry about how endangered an African wild dog is, or how you'll be able to add a lion skull to your collection when they're not legally allowed to cross state lines. Fantasy creature? No problem! It can exist.
Another nice thing about a fake skull or other oddity versus the real thing is they tend to be a lot more durable. This can be useful if the specimen is to be handled a lot, or handled by people who aren't careful. Like I use my collection to teach children about animals, and the more I do it the more I want to get plastic replicas instead of bringing the real deal.
They're also 'vegan' which can align more with some people's beliefs.
Recently I also saw a replica diaphonized skull. This is a very neat concept 'cause diaphonization isn't very beginner-friendly, it requires potentially dangerous chemicals, and many people don't know proper disposal techniques. So this can make different types of specimens more accessible to people.
This all sounds great! But, again, the waste is a very real consideration.
Instead of having these faux specimens, what if we just...didn't have any at all?
What if instead of plastic we used other materials, like clay?
Maybe we should just focus on species that the trade is harming, are illegal or very difficult to obtain, or fantasy animals?
Or maybe we should reserve this kind of stuff for certain uses, like education, and try to discourage other people from collecting them to not add to the waste?
The older I get the more intolerant I get about how MUCH exists in the world. It's hard to justify creating more when we're already choking out the planet. Especially with plastic, which will outlive us. How can we justify the environmental destruction caused by drilling for oil and later the plastic that will inevitably either through its creation or from us tiring of the oddity we sought out becomes garbage?
I like faux specimens for my public education uses. But the more I think about it, the more I realize it's just as bad as that Dollar Store Halloween skull I turn my nose up at.
