From The CC Vault: Where Has All The Civility Gone?

by Dr. Bob G. Smith

Originally published September 2012

According to Wikipedia, in 1955, song writer and folk hero Pete Seeger wrote the first three verses of Where have all the flowers gone? and published in Sing Out! magazine. Additional verses were added in May 1960 by Joe Hickerson who turned it into a circular song. It became one of the most famous political songs of all time.

The lyrics include lamentations for the loss of “young men” passing; young girls marrying; young soldiers dying; graveyards covered with flowers; and the final refrain of “When will they ever learn?” Hearing this song while driving home from judging at a dog show recently, it brought to my consciousness that the lyrics of this song may apply to the current attitudes of many breeders, owners, and exhibitors and prompted me to ask the question (aloud and to the many deaf stalks of soy beans rushing from the fields to the sides of the road as if begging to be freed from the black soil which has given them such a rich and abundant life. Sorry about the extensive metaphor and the digression.) “Where has all the civility gone? Long time passing?”

I do not belong to any breed specific chat room and, therefore, I am not privy to some of the vitriolic exchanges recently between fanciers who proclaim to have the best interest of their breed at the center of their existence. However, on the social media sites I often visit, I am shocked at the lack of civility displayed by some of the contributors. Many times while reading and pondering the impetus for such, in my opinion, nasty, uncivilized speech, I am amazed at the lack of respect, compassion, understanding, and concern for the feelings of others. Where has all the civility gone? I recently removed myself from a Judges group online because of the volume of negative comments about specific judges.

Merriam-Webster’s online Dictionary offers these definitions of the word “civility” a: civilized conduct; especially: courtesy, politeness b: a polite act or expression.

Who would have thought? While traveling, I questioned myself about the last time I was polite or courteous to others.  I spent a good part of the six hour trip with my mind focused on enumerating the acts of politeness and courtesy to others recently. There were long stretches of silence during the drive.

Nationally, there is a campaign for the eradication of “bullying” in our society, especially our schools. When I read many of the comments by dog show enthusiasts to others (I question if the word enthusiast is appropriate to describe their behavior), I wonder if those negative comments could really be disguised as bullying. One adult bullying another! How pathetic I think that behavior is! What terrible role models we are for our children and grandchildren when we participate in such uncivilized behavior! What do we gain by being uncivilized; by being a bully? Is our breeding program better for that kind of behavior? Do we have better champions? Do our rosettes have an aura that others do not have?

HOW DO WE POSSIBLY BENEFIT FROM SHOWING 

UNCIVILIZED BEHAVIOR TO A COMPETITOR? 

If anyone who reads this can supply me with any tangible benefit in being uncivilized, I will devote an entire column to the benefit(s) of conducting oneself without civility!

Does the lack of civilized behavior make us better breeders, better owners, better handlers? What does one gain from being uncivilized to someone else? Does the lack of civility benefit us in any way? Doesn’t this type of behavior do more harm than good? Does this abhorrent behavior give us any edge? Do we gain more ribbons because we act uncivilized? Are we so uncivil that we equate bad behavior with being awarded championship points? Breed points? More civilized than a competitor? Well, ladies and gentlemen, lack of civility is just that! Lacking Civility!

Is our lack of civility based on desire to be the BEST? Are we trying to tear down those who are equal to us, moving ahead in breed points, breeding more champions? I JUST DO NOT SEE WHAT WE GAIN BY DISPLAYING UNCIVILIZED BEHAVIOR!

Where have all the breeders gone? Long time passing? Have we driven breeders out of the sport with our uncivilized behavior? When potential breeders are struggling to find a good stud dog, or lease a bitch, or buy a puppy for breeding purposes AND they are confronted with such negative statements about a breeder or a particular dog “printed online or in a breed group” is that encouraging to them as a potential breeder? Is that type of behavior beneficial to the future of the breed? Does the lack of civility clear the way for the perpetrator to be the best breeder/handler/owner? Do the people espousing the “dirt” about another breeder expect to become better breeders by putting down the breeding efforts of another fancier? What is gained? Have we resorted to this lack of civility to reduce the amount of hard work it takes to become a top breeder? Can I be the top breeder just by tearing down the efforts of someone else? I know I would not be interested in purchasing stock from a breeder who exhibits such behavior as trying to tear down the hard work of another breeder by posting uncivil comments. What is gained? As a participant in this sport that I love, I now have to work hard to be civil to someone that I have personally witnessed trying to tear down someone else’s efforts in order to promote their own breeding program! It makes me think uncivilized thoughts!

Where have all the owners gone? Long time passing! I am sure there is not a way to quantify the numbers of owners who have ceased to own dogs because of the atmosphere of negativity surrounding breeding programs and showing dogs. It would be an interesting study to see what really has caused the decline in ownership/breeding/exhibiting! I would not be surprised if much of the decline has been due to the lack of civility among the people involved in the dog show community. I can’t verify that conclusion and don’t have any spare dollars to bet that that conclusion is verifiable.

Where have all the club members gone? Long time passing! I have been a member of all breed, specialty, and national breed clubs. I loved being a member of those groups and worked hard for their success and survival. Most of our volunteer work went unrecognized as it should have been! Like many club members, our work was not for ourselves, nor our dog(s), but for the benefit of the organization. We worked hard and long hours and spent lots of our own money because most clubs do not have extra funds to provide the extra perks to the fancy that we wanted to be remembered for. We did it for the personal satisfaction of belonging to an organization. Many people who no longer belong to dog clubs left, I believe, because of the lack of civility demonstrated by the membership regardless of the size or mission of the club. Sometimes the member(s) are confronted by the negative comments of other members, or are excluded from participation because of the agenda of another member. Sometimes the exodus from the club is prompted by the behavior of the club’s leadership. Their behavior might be prompted by competing breeding programs or the desire to become the controlling force in the club. Sometimes it is outright “harassment” of the member(s) because of the lack of civility on the part of the club leadership. Whatever is the cause, many club members fade into the background or do not renew their membership or stop going to meetings because of the lack of civil behavior on the part of a club member or leader. How could that behavior possibly benefit the club? A breed? A dog show?

I do not have enough room in this magazine to relate the topic of this article to the current political climate in this country. I’ll leave that to the candidates and the pundits who follow their every move. I will leave with this thought about the candidates: Where has all the civility gone? Long time passing!

I realize this column has fused into almost a “rant” about lack of civility. However, time has come, in my humble opinion, that a major discussion be started on the lack of civility in the sport we love so much. This is the stand I am taking: I will no longer be a part of any discussion where one comments in a derogatory manner about an owner/breeder/exhibitor’s effort in this sport that I love. If you see me walking away from a conversation, stop posting on a social network site, or removing you from a “friend list”, just remember my stand!

“When will they ever learn?” is part of the last refrain in Seeger’s timeless folk song. I do not want any of us involved in the sport of dogs to ever have that refrain on the tips of our tongues as we mourn the demise of our sport! I encourage the readers to do all that can be done in a positive attempt to further the benefits of dog shows.

Happy and civil participation in dog showing!

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