Digg founder posts raccoon-tossing YouTube video
In an attempt to protect his dog, Kevin Rose throws a raccoon from the steps of his home. Then he posts a security-camera video of the mayhem. Was Rose's poodle-defense maneuver heroic? Or should one not toss raccoons?
I know that in certain parts of the world they enjoy throwing short people in bars. As sport, you understand.
But until Saturday, I had never seen anyone tossing a raccoon. Especially for a good cause.
However, Kevin Rose -- the man who founded Digg and is currently, I imagine, very happy -- posted a video of himself picking up a raccoon and throwing it from the staircase of his home.
This, I should add, was not for sport, but to protect his Toaster.
Toaster is his dog -- or, perhaps, his dogg.
In the video, Rose explains this all happened at one in the morning and that the raccoon was attacking his dog. He added that he doesn't encourage animal violence.
However, if your Toaster is being attacked by a bandit-faced wild creature, you take the matter into your own hands. (And many posters on Reddit seem to be on Rose's side.)
My own experience with raccoons is that they are as brazen as they are entirely in love with knocking garbage cans over to rummage inside. They leave a mess. And they'll glance at you with an "oh, piss off" look as they're doing it.
They seem to be the downscale Wall Streeters of the animal world.
When they're rabid, they can be awfully dangerous and entirely without scruples. Again, like Wall Streeters.
So Rose's technique in grabbing the raccoon by its sides and quickly tossing it like a hurt lover tosses a vase in a black-and-white movie seems admirable.
Not that I would encourage animal violence, you understand.
It must be hard for the animal-friendly to decide between two animals when the animals are fighting. It seems clear, though, that the raccoon was the aggressor here.
Indeed, what's interesting is that Toaster doesn't try and join in the fight, or chase the raccoon off. No, Toaster retreats toward the house.
The more technical will, quite naturally, be fascinated by the various angles of the footage. Clearly, Rose's home is very well protected technologically.
The more churlish will wonder what Toaster was doing outside at one in the morning.
For myself, I am not sure I would have been as brave as to pick up this ill-intentioned animal. (Though earlier this week I did enjoy seeing a man high-five a bee.)
I am, however, a competent golfer.