Sea Monkeys Are People Too!

"Brine shrimp have existed in the wild for ages, but they haven't always been sold as pets. In fact, they weren't popular in the household until 1960, when they were "invented" by a scientist named Harold von Braunhut. Von Braunhut did not actually create the species; he discovered that the eggs have a long shelf life out of water. He gave these brine shrimp the name "sea monkeys" and began selling packets of their eggs through the mail, along with powdered food. The marketing, which was targeted primarily to children by advertising in comic books, suggested that these were exotic, almost anthropomorphic creatures, and promised that they came to life almost instantly when placed in water." 

~ from "Are Sea Monkeys Real Animals?"

 (http://animals.pawnation.com/sea-monkeys-real-animals-1469.html)

"...Sea Monkeys are not evil. Sea Monkeys are not demons. However...they do have trouble reaching maturity because of the evil things people do to them, such as drinking, eating, or ignoring them. We neglect our Sea Monkeys when we go on holiday, leaving them all alone without additional food or oxygen. We treat them poorly, flushing them down toilets when we get bored with them, or when our brothers want to exact a little sibling revenge. We are cruel to Sea Monkeys, so can you blame them for possibly harboring some kind of malicious feelings towards a race of humans upon whom they depend but who constantly let them down? To be honest, I wouldn't be all that surprised if they did rise up and take over the world just to teach us a lesson...making us live without oxygen or food or interesting toys to play with. They could bang on our tanks and yell "Look at the little humans!" or drink us for fun...But I digress....

CONCLUSION: The idea of Sea Monkeys being part of a demonic plot to take over the world is false. But the fact that an idea like this might not reach fruition because we take care of them poorly is a possibility."

~ from "Sea Monkey Urban Legends" 

(http://www.seamonkeyworship.com/urbanlegends.html)

We had sea monkeys when I was a kid. They lived on the windowsill. They smelled funny. But I never truly realized what a strange and messed up Consumerist set-up it all was. I mean, you buy the whole set for 10 dollars, with a colourful plastic tank with a slide in background that gives the illusion of some exotic ocean environment, food, and instructions. You just add water, and BAM! Sea Monkeys.

Does anybody else think this is crazy? Why were Sea Monkeys so popular? Was it marketing - oh, they're so cute, they look like little humans - or a way to give children the illusion of having a pet, and if they ignore them and forget to feed them or cook them in a sunny window frame, it's okay? Just because they have primitive brain structure doesn't mean that poor treatment of them is allowable!

And at the same time, I am confused why people would eat or drink Sea Monkeys. True, they are brine shrimp, and are part of an ocean ecosystem, but really? And are they alive when you eat them?

Sea Monkeys should be free, because keeping them in tiny tanks and forgetting about them is ridiculous. Unless you are scientifically studying them for purposes of preventing global warming or something, this consumer-driven plot must end! And as we are the consumers, it's up to us to free this mistreated and misunderstood species!

Thank you. I will be petitioning the government about this issue shortly, and would appreciate your signatures.

Thanks for the photo, Pinterest!