Pit Bulls: What's the appeal?

They don't make signs like this for beagles or collies, though, do they.

There have been several owners here who explained why they love their pitbulls. What more do you want? What would make you understand?

Yeah, but no one keeps sharks as free-roaming pets, per se.

I used to be afraid of them until my sister got one. They really are -extremely- affectionate and follow you everywhere. They're also really playful and are great clowns. Also very, very obedient.

It's kind of hard to explain if you don't have one. You develop a strong trusting bond with these dogs - you really feel you know them, so you really don't think twice that they will attack you.

Once again -- don't misunderstand me. I'm not spearheading a movement to eliminate pit bulls, I'm just trying to fathom why a rational person would want such a dog (and for what it's worth, I remain unconvinced of their appeal). Perhaps I'm simply buying into the negative aspects of their reputation, but said reputation is steeped in some pretty grizzly fact. Also, I suspect many (read:NOT ALL) pit bull owners see them as some sort've tough guy mystique-enhancing accessory as opposed to a proper pet.

I don't know any pit bulls. I haven't had any bad experiences with them (my bad dog experiences involve Boxers, actually). I'm just puzzled by their appeal.

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And pits are just better than labs. Sorry, but I think labs are more boring.

I certainly have them to enhance my tough guy appeal.

Luna, I said SOME pit bull owners.

Maybe I AM NOT CONVINCED BY YOUR EXPLANATION, how about that?

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In her sixth true crime book (after The Embrace), Jones displays a remarkable ability to present an enormous amount of detailed information in a thrilling narrative that is neither sensationalistic nor maudlin. Still, this is a shocking tale, as Jones provides a no-holds-barred investigation into the brutal death of 33-year-old Diane Whipple after being mauled when savage dogs owned by lawyers Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel entered the "red zone," a nonscientific term used to describe dogs "in the height of attack mode... beyond human control." The incident immediately received major national news attention, and Jones elaborates on the sordid details that emerged, including that the lawyers bred killer dogs to be sold to guard illegal methamphetamine labs, a scheme run from behind bars by Paul Schnieder, an Aryan Brotherhood member whom the lawyers not only represented but later adopted as part of a planned bizarre sexual triangle. Combining investigative reporting with exclusive access to Noel as well as to members of the San Francisco Police Department and the district attorney's office, Jones explores the lawyers' self-styled gothic world, a human "red zone" involving pornography and bestiality that had existed well before the death of Diane Whipple. With its graphic descriptions, this book is not for the squeamish.

(xpost)

haha basically you ARE a cartoon character to me, and I don't think I'm alone in thinking that here