I have mixed feelings about PETA, this is my reasoning:
PETA is very much a "our way or the highway" organization. Which is fine, but that militant style is often seen as aggressive. People DON'T like being sold ANYTHING, even though the "product" PETA is "selling" is only an idea (for free!) people meet aggression with aggression which turns into resistance. As many people have pointed out, their advertising campaigns are seen by the MASSES. This means, although they are creating awareness, they are creating a stereotype about what all vegans/vegetarians "are".
I do support PETA, I like their campaigns, just recently, I purchased an "I am not a nugget" plushie backpack from PETA2 and am awaiting it's arrival... But I don't really bring them up in conversation as they aren't really taken seriously by many omni's. As soon as you bring up PETA, it doesn't matter what you say - They've assumed they've "won", mostly due to the stereotypes I brought up earlier.
How do you guys feel about the Gary Yourofsky quote
"PETA and HSUS are a hindrance to the animal liberation movement. Their endless compromises, persistent shenanigans and myopic tactics do NOT bring animals closer to freedom. I am tired of being silent about it. As long as PETA and HSUS exist, animals will remain enslaved by the billion. Ingrid Newkirk, a serial cat killer, goes out of her way to trap homeless, healthy cats in the Norfolk, Virginia, area and then kills them in a shed located on the grounds of PETA's Norfolk headquarters."
Is there any proof of this apart from anecdotal evidence? If so, is there any defense for these actions? Like... Is she trapping/killing healthy cats due to the reports about the 9 million or so animals who die slowly and painfully on the streets each year so she is protecting them from that, orrr.... What's the go?
Oh also, have you guys read Ingrid Newirk's will? (She's the leader at PETA) It's... innovative, to say the least:
http://www.peta.org/features/Ingrid-Newkirks-Unique-Will.aspx 
