AIO for crying and begging my parents not to buy more and treat birds as pets
(A little warning, my English isn't exactly the best. I'm not from a native English speaking country)
I (19F) don't plan on getting pets. I don't have a job and is solely focusing on college right now. I currently live in a boarding house near my university and could only visit my parents during weekends or holidays if I decided to that is. One day, I went home only to find they had bought three birds: two lovebirds and one orange-headed thrush. They put them in a small living space, a long cage with a round top. I was heartbroken, beg them to buy another cage for them but got denied the first week. My dad even said that birds don't have common sense and intellect. They can't take revenge on us.
Flash forward, the second week where I came back home. I had mentioned it to my mom about how they needed a bigger cage. She somewhat laughs, at least from what I interpret. She brought my suggestion to my dad but neither of them seemed to treat it seriously, even as I offer to save up my money to buy their cage. I frowned the whole car ride and they only tell me to smile. After I told them what had made me irritated, they told me I'm overreacting. Called my way of thinking "scary" (since Western views are often considered bad in my country) and that I sound like one of those vegans. They hammered it in by calling me "not normal." My dad brought the "birds are dumb" arguements again and said I couldn't possibly understand what birds feel. They told me I have a negative view on people and too idealistic. I can't handle it, so I cried. Not knowing how to express my opinion.
Third week, my dad had bought a larger cage for the lovebirds. I was thrilled. However that excitement dies shortly after he mentioned buying another lovebirds, maybe four or more. I'm not well versed on bird care but I don't think buying more inside of one cage would be the greatest idea. I also plan to let them roam in my room after I bird proof everything I could, researching safe materials for them. More birds wouldn't be ideal. I assumed that was it, that he was only joking. He asked me if I could help him went out to buy crickets for the orange-headed thrush. I agreed. We went there and the place was awful, honestly, I had brace myself because most bird stores are like this. The owner smoked inside despite the birds probably having sensitive breathing. I had thought we're only buying crickets but he came back with another bird.
Why? Because to him, it's fun. It's fun buying without thinking about their cages, their well beings. To them, buying foods and drinks are enough. I had horrible experience with our pets mistreated in the past, I felt awful for these birds. I went and cried again. Not responding to his words. Am I overreacting? I kept seeing more people buying pets without care. For their "entertainment". Especially little creatures. I'm not even sure how to convince them, they're stubborn.