Recommended by Ricochet Members Created with Sketch. An Open Letter to Giant Pandas

 
Warning: Do Not Hug Panda

Dear Giant Pandas: What the heck?!

Okay. Okay, I’m calm. Sorry. That’s not a good start. It’s just –What the heck?!

Ahem. Sorry, let me start again. Listen, I get it. Your species evolved to be charismatic enough that people just want to hug you and squeeze you and love you and keep you and call you George. Evidence: My daughter has two beloved panda plush toys that she occasionally needs to rescue from my son. I get it. You’re cute and fluffy and the black and white markings just make it. You’re so dadgum cute that everyone wants to hug and cuddle the giant panda and take care of him and make sure nothing ever ever ever ever hurts him.

I’m just saying that you have to do your part. Like sex. Wait, no! Not with people! With each other. For the sake of motherly love create mother pandas! You can evolve to be so cute we want to take care of you, but if you don’t pass on those genes a fat lot of good that’ll do you. I grew up hearing how hard it was to get pandas to mate in captivity. What I didn’t know was that it’s just about as hard to get you to mate in the wild. Most male animals smell a female in estrus and gallop off to spread your genes. Not you. Half the time you can’t be bothered.

“Sure I could find a mate, but this is a comfy rock.”

It’s a problem. It’s a big problem that human beings are pouring billions of dollars in trying to solve and are coming up with less satisfying results for the money than a California bullet train. If you’re going to be cute and adorable, don’t be a jerk about it. Like your neighbors the Red Pandas. They aren’t jerks.

Pictured: Not a jerk.

Eventually, all the money the world is not going to help if you don’t life a finger … paw … claw … whatever to help yourselves. Seriously. Get busy pandas.

“Llllllladies …”

Sincerely,

A Guy Who Totally Knows Pandas Don’t Read

There are 51 comments.

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  1. RightAngles Member

    You crack me up.

    • #1
    • January 19, 2018, at 7:43 AM PST
    • 5 likes
  2. Misthiocracy got drunk and Member
    Misthiocracy got drunk andJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    C. U. Douglas: It’s a big problem that human beings are pouring billions of dollars in trying to solve…

    [citation needed]

    • #2
    • January 19, 2018, at 7:43 AM PST
    • 3 likes
  3. Arahant Member

    C. U. Douglas: A Guy Who Totally Knows Pandas Don’t Read

    This alone made it worth reading through until the end.


    This conversation is part of our Group Writing Series under the January theme of “An Open Letter…” In February, our theme is “We Need a Little Summer.” If you have stories of warm, summer days, why not help melt the ice of winter by signing up and sharing your stories in February?

    • #3
    • January 19, 2018, at 7:57 AM PST
    • 8 likes
  4. OldDanRhody's speakeasy Member

    Arahant (View Comment):

    C. U. Douglas: A Guy Who Totally Knows Pandas Don’t Read

    This alone made it worth reading through until the end.

    Right. CUD completely made his point with his opening statement:

    C. U. Douglas:

    Dear Giant Pandas:

    WHAT THE HECK?!

    • #4
    • January 19, 2018, at 8:05 AM PST
    • 4 likes
  5. SkipSul Coolidge
    SkipSulJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    • #5
    • January 19, 2018, at 8:32 AM PST
    • 12 likes
  6. SkipSul Coolidge
    SkipSulJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Pandas: the idiot sibling of the bear family.

    • #6
    • January 19, 2018, at 8:33 AM PST
    • 13 likes
  7. Arahant Member

    SkipSul (View Comment):

    Think we could get them to ignore the pandas altogether and just hunt Furries?

    • #7
    • January 19, 2018, at 8:36 AM PST
    • 10 likes
  8. Stina Member

    I love this. To top it off, Giant Pandas only have one oestrus cycle per year, giving only 24-72 hours in which to conceive.

    If there was ever an animal deserving of extinction, it was this one. But sooooo cute!

    • #8
    • January 19, 2018, at 8:36 AM PST
    • 8 likes
  9. RightAngles Member

    Stina (View Comment):
    I love this. To top it off, Giant Pandas only have one oestrus cycle per year, giving only 24-72 hours in which to conceive.

    If there was ever an animal deserving of extinction, it was this one. But sooooo cute!

    Almost seems like God’s plan.

    • #9
    • January 19, 2018, at 9:03 AM PST
    • 7 likes
  10. MarciN Member

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):
    I love this. To top it off, Giant Pandas only have one oestrus cycle per year, giving only 24-72 hours in which to conceive.

    If there was ever an animal deserving of extinction, it was this one. But sooooo cute!

    Almost seems like God’s plan.

    My husband has been saying this about whales for years. “Good grief, they consume thousands of pounds of fish every day. Maybe they were supposed be extinct by now!” :)

    • #10
    • January 19, 2018, at 10:31 AM PST
    • 1 like
  11. Chris Oler Coolidge
    Chris OlerJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Pandas have attacked humans, by the way. Be careful what you wish for, @cudouglas. An aroused panda population might come knocking on your door.

    • #11
    • January 19, 2018, at 10:34 AM PST
    • 5 likes
  12. C. U. Douglas Thatcher
    C. U. DouglasJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Good safety tip.

    • #12
    • January 19, 2018, at 10:35 AM PST
    • 1 like
  13. La Tapada Member

    Are male pandas really that disinterested? I had no idea.

    I took this photo of my son and granddaughter out on a snowy walk. She reminded me of a panda.

    Edited: Actually, maybe more like a koala.

    • #13
    • January 19, 2018, at 10:46 AM PST
    • 12 likes
  14. JimGoneWild Coolidge

    C. U. Douglas: A Guy Who Totally Knows Pandas Don’t Read

    Totally.

    • #14
    • January 19, 2018, at 10:55 AM PST
    • 2 likes
  15. Judge Mental Member

    Let’em die.

    • #15
    • January 19, 2018, at 12:04 PM PST
    • 2 likes
  16. Valiuth Member
    ValiuthJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    The Pandas have evolved the ultimate evolutionary trait, which is to be found cute by humans. We will no move Heaven and Earth to guarantee their survival. If they do not eat we will feed them, if they do not breed we will artificially inseminate them. From now until the end of time the fact that when you look at them your mind goes “awww isn’t it cute?” means we put our own survival at risk for them. We truly are the best species because we are the only species capable and willing to care for other species.

    They are just so darn cute…how can you say no to a face like that. I pity the ugly animals.

    • #16
    • January 19, 2018, at 12:54 PM PST
    • 11 likes
  17. C. U. Douglas Thatcher
    C. U. DouglasJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Valiuth (View Comment):

    They are just so darn cute…how can you say no to a face like that. I pity the ugly animals.

    “Why have you forsaken me?”
    • #17
    • January 19, 2018, at 12:56 PM PST
    • 10 likes
  18. Misthiocracy got drunk and Member
    Misthiocracy got drunk andJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    La Tapada (View Comment):
    I took this photo of my son and granddaughter out on a snowy walk. She reminded me of a panda.

    She refuses to eat anything but plants that her body is incapable of digesting?

    • #18
    • January 19, 2018, at 1:20 PM PST
    • 3 likes
  19. Misthiocracy got drunk and Member
    Misthiocracy got drunk andJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    What’s all this “we” business? Pandas are China’s problem.

    • #19
    • January 19, 2018, at 1:21 PM PST
    • 6 likes
  20. Judge Mental Member

    Misthiocracy, Joke Pending (View Comment):

    La Tapada (View Comment):
    I took this photo of my son and granddaughter out on a snowy walk. She reminded me of a panda.

    She refuses to eat anything but plants that her body is incapable of digesting?

    Like kids and chicken fingers, or mac ‘n’ cheese?

    • #20
    • January 19, 2018, at 1:22 PM PST
    • 1 like
  21. Stina Member

    C. U. Douglas (View Comment):

    Valiuth (View Comment):

    They are just so darn cute…how can you say no to a face like that. I pity the ugly animals.

    “Why have you forsaken me?”

    They stink, too…

    • #21
    • January 19, 2018, at 1:23 PM PST
    • 2 likes
  22. thelonious Member

    How do we know Pandas can’t read. Have they ever been tested? Maybe some Panda erotica would get them in the mood to procreate. Just sayin..

    • #22
    • January 19, 2018, at 1:35 PM PST
    • 3 likes
  23. Arahant Member

    thelonious (View Comment):
    How do we know Pandas can’t read. Have they ever been tested? Maybe some Panda erotica would get them in the mood to procreate. Just sayin..

    He didn’t say they can’t read. He said they don’t. And there was one very famous panda who did procreate.

    • #23
    • January 19, 2018, at 1:41 PM PST
    • Like
  24. Judge Mental Member

    thelonious (View Comment):
    How do we know Pandas can’t read. Have they ever been tested? Maybe some Panda erotica would get them in the mood to procreate. Just sayin..

    They do that now (no kidding). But it’s film, not print.

    • #24
    • January 19, 2018, at 1:42 PM PST
    • 1 like
  25. C. U. Douglas Thatcher
    C. U. DouglasJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    thelonious (View Comment):
    How do we know Pandas can’t read. Have they ever been tested? Maybe some Panda erotica would get them in the mood to procreate. Just sayin..

    We’ve tried stuff like that for pandas …

    • #25
    • January 19, 2018, at 1:45 PM PST
    • Like
  26. Arahant Member

    Need more Pan Pan.

    • #26
    • January 19, 2018, at 1:53 PM PST
    • Like
  27. Judge Mental Member

    Arahant (View Comment):
    Need more Pan Pan.

    Actually, I think they need more snu snu.

    • #27
    • January 19, 2018, at 1:56 PM PST
    • 1 like
  28. Arahant Member

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):
    Need more Pan Pan.

    Actually, I think they need more snu snu.

    But not death by snu snu.

    • #28
    • January 19, 2018, at 1:59 PM PST
    • 2 likes
  29. thelonious Member

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    thelonious (View Comment):
    How do we know Pandas can’t read. Have they ever been tested? Maybe some Panda erotica would get them in the mood to procreate. Just sayin..

    They do that now (no kidding). But it’s film, not print.

    From my understanding the genre of erotica is written. Maybe pandas need their porn in a more abstract written form to get them in the mood.

    With that. My commentary has reached a new low.

    • #29
    • January 19, 2018, at 2:22 PM PST
    • 7 likes
  30. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra FractusJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    thelonious (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    thelonious (View Comment):
    How do we know Pandas can’t read. Have they ever been tested? Maybe some Panda erotica would get them in the mood to procreate. Just sayin..

    They do that now (no kidding). But it’s film, not print.

    From my understanding the genre of erotica is written. Maybe pandas need their porn in a more abstract written form to get them in the mood.

    With that. My commentary has reached a new low.

    No, it’s not the medium. The difference is that in erotica the sex has a major impact on the plot, and in porn the plot has a minor impact on the sex.

    • #30
    • January 19, 2018, at 2:44 PM PST
    • 3 likes

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