Anybody seen this documentary on Netflix? 
 
It's called Blackfish. About the Orca whales at sea world and other so called marine mammal shows...
 
I've not been to one of those shows in a very long time....I was a child when I was taken to the last one... BUT.... after watching this documentary, I will never attend one for the rest of my life.
 
Many of you know I'm not a "tree hugger environmentalist" in the least bit, but how they treat those whales is just sad.

Yes. 
 
And it had the same effect on me, not that I'm a tree hugger either.

I'm not a tree hugger either and I've not even seen the documentary, but they should definitely free willy. This forum software needs fixing....

FREE SHAMU!!!!
(With every copy of SampleTank 3.)

Where I live you can pay to go out, or if you have a boat you drive out, to where Orcas typically hang out. I've done this and was saddened by it. Dozens of boats, all keeping there legally mandated distance, so people can view the whales. It really is kind of bizarre.
 
We also have Bald Eagles, and you can drive to see them en masse...Personally I prefer the happenstance approach where, about once a year or so, I'll look out my windows and see a Bald Eagle. It's magic! Similarly once I was on a hike on the local shoreline and a pod of Orcas cruised by...I'll never forget it.
 
What is the best balance? I don't know. But one thing I am certain of is keeping those whales in pens is just wrong.
 
Regards,

I'm totally a tree hugger. It broke my heart.

I'll admit to being a tree hugger, but I was brown liquor drunk, confused and lonely. It only happened once. There...I said it.
 
Randy

It's a great documentary that, though depressing, makes you think about humans' place in the world. Around these parts, the Orca is revered by native Americans and once you've seen them in the wild you can't help but think they're something special.
 
The top of the ocean food chain, they're the only creature in the sea that a great white shark runs away from. Intelligent and social, and seriously bad-ass predators that hunt in coordinated packs and guard their young with ferocity. Very un-fishlike.

We were on a cruise to Alaska a few years back and took the wildlife/whale spotting trip in one of the towns on the cruise.  We had the pleasure of seeing a pod of Orca in the wild traveling to wherever they were headed.  About 4 or 5 in the group. The guide told us to see Orca that time of year was a bit unusual.
 
 

I haven't watched Blackfish and don't really intend to.  I'm not a tree hugger either, but I am not unsympathetic to animal cruelty or immoral acts toward animals or humans.
 
however, there are always two sides to every story.  here's a blog with a Sea World trainer interview which counters the Blackfish documentary.
 
http://seaworldtruth.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/truth-about-blackfish/