Today in class we talked about the mixed community. The part about interest in animals is merely a childish activity that we should eventually grow out of because of maturity really caught my interests. I think this is not true because there are examples in real life today that disprove this. Many people spend their adult lives helping and caring for animals and while doing so form emotional bonds with them and understand how they are feeling most of the time. For example, there are veterinarians, animal rescue groups, trainers, groomers, pet spa workers, etc. These people devote their lives to animals and would therefore be criticized by those who think that interests in animals are childish. I believe that everyone should keep some childish characteristics with them even in adulthood. This will allow us to have a better connection with ourselves as well as with animals. Then, maybe everyone would give animals more meaning and not consider them as much of machines as they do now.

I also thought the reference to the tall fence was a good example of how interests in animals changes over time. The book said at the bottom of the fence has many holes but the top has very few holes. The bottom of the fence represents childhood and the top is adulthood. So as you go up the fence there becomes fewer and fewer holes through which you can cross over the species barrier and have interests in and understand the emotions of animals. Midgley notes that the way to cross through these holes is through play. Critics may say that adults do not play, but this is incorrect because adults have found ways to make play acceptable. For example, adult sports like basketball, golf, cards, marathons, etc. allow adults to play and are not criticized. So I interpret that adults who participate in these adult play activities are the ones that are more able to find the few wholes that exist at the top of the fence.