rainbow bridge - an anti post - please don't read if that'll upset you

heretolearn_2

If you believe in rainbow bridge, please leave the thread now, as warned. I'm not here to upset anyone who's recently lost a pet.

But everyone else - come on now, PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this garbage is ridiculous for grown adults to go on about!

I've lost pets. It's very sad. I've genuinely grieved for them. I don't make up imaginary my little pony-esque care bear yellow brick road weirdness to deal with it. I assume it's some peculiar American thing we've caught in the last few years.

Do you think people really believe in this?

If they do - HOW can they?
If they don't - why go on about it? It's just WEIRD!:eek:

All the posts on here from people who have lost their pets... and always posts made by others about the rainbow bridge. I could possibly understand if you were talking to toddlers about a lost pet. But otherwise...it baffles me. Really baffles me. If I'd just lost my pet I wouldn't want anyone talking to me like I was suddenly a nutcase.

heretolearn_2

ha, people reading it but not commenting.

Come on, 'fess up, I can't be the only one who *snorts* when they read a rainbow bridge post...

cleggie

Yes, i agree with you...i mean, for 5 year olds, i canimagine its very sweet, but for grown ups??

Hmmm...something a bit too stepford wife about it!

Fridaycat

I think you're being rather heartless. Anything that can soothe a grieving owner is fine by me. It is not harming anyone in the slightest, so what's the problem? Even though most people probably don't actually believe in it as an actual place, the metaphor is what counts. Have you ever read the poem that it originates from?

Sally_A

A very brave post heretolearn. Hope you have your flak jacket on!

Whilst I agree, the Rainbow Bridge is a bit "twee"; it gives me hope that my dogs that were loved by my parents (both passed on), will see a familiar happy face in "heaven". It's continuity, and I know after my next dog goes (aged 16 and a bit fragile), there will be no more links between my pets and my human family.

If you read up on reincarnation, there are too many stories to make it BS, that your nearest and dearest come to help you into the next world.

If you don't believe in an afterlife, then the dream of pets that have passed on meeting up with those that care, will be worthless. Unfortunately there are some right ba$tard$ that don't give a toss about animal wellbeing as you can see from really sad news reports.

There is nothing more I could wish for on the day I die, for all my previous dogs to come and greet me.

Judy, Tasha, Jumbo, Poppy - I remember you with love, fun and good times.

Artytarty

I dont believe it for one second in my rational mind but I have still drawn comfort from it when people have posted it for me in times of grief. I often dont read it on a thread , it always makes me cry.
but I am still glad of the kindness behind the post.
I think I read it and wish " if only" but I very much hope that some people can fully believe in it .

heretolearn_2

flak jacket on. I know I sound like a cow, I just don't get it. I get how much pets mean to people. I get grieving for them. I totally understand how they are part of the family.

I don't believe in an afterlife for us humans either, so this is really pushing things for me. But as far as I'm aware non of the major religions say animals go to heaven either, so whether you are a believer or not in that, you still don't have any basis for meadows full of pets.

I'm now wondering if the theory allows for the meadow next door to be full of the animals we've eaten, waiting for us with baseball bats. Seems a bit unfair if they not only get short changed in life but don't get to come to heaven either...

zaksmum

If it helps with the grieving for a lost pet...where's the harm?

rising_from_the_ashes

Why is it odd for people to have something to think of to help them cope with their grief?

Does it exist .... who knows

Does heaven exist .... who knows, but people don't get ridiculed for believing that humans go there - so why should it be any different for their pets?

However if you don't believe in heaven / the afterlife for humans, then I'm not surprised you don't "get it"

jenhug

I lost my darling darling boy on 25th Jan. I got so many "another one gone to the bridge posts". To be honest the whole idea just smacks of American bull dung. I hope though that if there is a Heaven my boy is waiting there.

I haven't told my friends that sent the rainbow bridge messages that I don't believe, as the thought was there.

elsien

I have to be honest it doesn't do it for me either, as I find it overly sentimental.
If it comforts others fair enough, each to their own, but as mutt is getting closer to passing on to better things, I was pondering the other day if I do post on here when she goes would I offend people if I added a "no rainbow bridge comments" sentence to the post.
Then I decided I'd probably just upset people who were genuinely being sympathetic (albeit in a way foreign to my way of thinking) and trying to help so I might be better off keeping my big gob shut. Or not posting in the first place.