"If you like being around this stuff, I guess that’s cool. But depending on your reasons why, maybe I’m not the one with a problem."

Why did you undercut the thrust of your argument with that first sentence I quoted above? Obviously, you don't think it's cool. You accuse your readers who may "like being around this stuff" of having a "problem" in your very next sentence.

I think you got the subtitle of the article wrong. It should read "Jenni Moore's Got a Problem with Taxidermy".

Easy now TS! The author made it very clear that SHE has a problem with taxidermy, and took a very fair swing at exploring the many sides of this subject and why some people are into it.

In case you haven't had a normal conversation in 25 years, I'll remind you that when someone says "I guess that's cool" it is not meant as a general approval but more acknowledging that a person is entitled to their own opinion. And her wrap-up sentence is absolutely not an "accusation", but an invitation for the reader to explore their own ideas about taxidermy.

Finally, while she does come off as a little defensive of her position (nobody I hang out with would see her fear or disgust at taxidermy as a "problem" that she needed to "get over"), I think its fair to say that people whose heritage includes slavery and living in constant fear of being murdered by a white man with a gun who sees living things as nothing more than objects to be possessed and hung on the wall have every right in the world to be creeped out when they see a dead animal's head glorified as a trophy.

"I guess that's cool" it is not meant as a general approval...."

Of course not. It's a statement of judgement from someone saying they judge you for what they don't like about you.

"living in constant fear of being murdered...." Could you fucking imagine what this person must be like? I mean, I hope their on meds for their schizophrenia because paranoid delusions like this are not healthy.

Weird to bring race into it. One of the nicest pieces of taxidermy in town is the beautiful bison head at minority owned Bison Coffee on Cully Blvd. I love seeing it every time I go in. Your phobia seems real but also rare. You should probably seek treatment for it the same way that someone with Agoraphobia would so they could go outside, rather than expecting that no restaurant would ever have outdoor seating.

Hi, I'm Black and I collect bones and taxidermy. I find bones on hikes and only purchase vintage taxidermy pieces, as I don't wish to contribute to trophy hunting. I'm not really sure why you felt the need to generalize collectors as you did, but we come from many different walks of life, and yes some of us are Black.

This begs the question, why hasn't someone filled the niche for vegan taxidermy? Imagine stuffed and mounted heads of cauliflower adorning the walls of your favorite plant based business. Potatoes skinned and filled with sawdust (recycled, natch) in daring poses that capture the look of wild potatoes. Someone needs to do this STAT. I won't even all for recognition or derivatives.