John Hargrove, a former SeaWorld trainer, published a book entitled \u201cBeneath the Surface.\u201d In his book, Hargrove provides readers with a firsthand look into what happens behind the scenes at both SeaWorld San Antonio and SeaWorld San Diego. He criticizes SeaWorld and \u201cportrays the animals as bored and stressed out.\u201d Hargrove claims that trainers were sometimes instructed to hold back food, yet SeaWorld denies this statement. He also argues about other issues raised in the 2013 documentary \u201cBlackfish,\u201d such as SeaWorld being an unsafe environment for its killer whales.<\/p>\n
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In response to Hargrove\u2019s book, SeaWorld sent an \u201calmost 5-year-old video of Hargrove drinking and repeatedly using a racial epithet\u201d to reporters. SeaWorld also said that John Hargrove quit his job “after being disciplined for a severe safety violation involving the park’s killer whales,\u201d resulting in his transfer from orca stadium. <\/span><\/p>\n Hargrove disputed SeaWorld\u2019s comments about him and stated that he believes SeaWorld is \u201cconducting a smear campaign against him.\u201d Instead of addressing the actual issues about the killer whales, SeaWorld is using anything they can to discredit Hargrove and make him look like an awful person. <\/span><\/p>\n SeaWorld spokesman, Fred Jacobs, says in an email: \u201cWe are offended by John’s behavior and language. The video is particularly reprehensible since John Hargrove is wearing a SeaWorld shirt. SeaWorld would have terminated Hargrove’s employment immediately had we known he engaged in this kind of behavior.\u201d Hargrove claims to not remember the incident, but regardless, he states that this is a pathetic attempt on SeaWorld\u2019s behalf to slander his name. In addition to releasing the video, it was also discovered that SeaWorld helped fund a website called RealJohnHargrove which \u201cattacks\u201d and \u201cmocks\u201d the ex-SeaWorld trainer.<\/span><\/p>\n Although SeaWorld is correct that this video showed John Hargrove to be irresponsibly drinking and his use of the \u201cn\u201d word to be highly inappropriate, I do not think SeaWorld should have personally attacked Hargrove because Hargrove\u2019s use of a racial slur and his decision to drink does not affect or correlate with his opinions about SeaWorld being an unsafe environment for killer whales. This article is a perfect example of the ad hominem fallacy. Instead of using research or facts to refute the criticism in Hargrove\u2019s book, SeaWorld decided to retaliate by releasing a video of Hargrove after having had too much to drink. To make matters worse, SeaWorld also funded a hate website entitled the RealJohnHargrove. On this site, people post articles and dig up dirt about Hargrove in order to mock the previous SeaWorld trainer.<\/span><\/p>\n These two responses that SeaWorld used are completely illogical and do not come close to addressing the arguments against SeaWorld\u2019s mistreatment of its animals. These personal attacks do not have any correlation with the points SeaWorld should be addressing about it being an unsafe environment for killer whales. SeaWorld\u2019s release of Hargrove\u2019s drunken video is definitely in attempt to discredit him, making this an ad hominem fallacy.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Pedicini, Sandra. “SeaWorld Steps up Offense against Former Trainer John Hargrove.” OrlandoSentinel.com. Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2015. Web. 12 Aug. 2015. http:\/\/www.orlandosentinel.com\/business\/tourism\/os-seaworld-trainer-video-john-hargrove-20150331-story.html John Hargrove, a former SeaWorld trainer, published a book entitled \u201cBeneath the Surface.\u201d In his book, Hargrove provides … Continue reading