i get to speak to gamekeepers, farmers etc everyday (yay) and 'the hunt' is considered vermin also... often more so than the foxes on their land
Let's add horse racing and dog tracks, not that they have the same goal but the end outcome tends to be despicable for the animal. My one point is, appealing to people to elicit an emotive response to the cruelty of the sport when they are indoctrined into it and witness it first hand might not be the way to go. Plainly the go past tolerating it and into enjoying it. If you can't conquer that response threatening and cajoling them does what? They take a more entrenched position. The arguement has two sites....maybe if both sides (present company accepted) took some time to understand the other they might find some common ground.
Do you speak to anyone from the hunt itself on the day or at another time? Do you discuss the hunt? How's that a rounded view if not?
True....let's ask the Foxes how they feel about it... I'm not dismissing the pro hunting lobby, if it is prepared to accept that their chosen pursuit is neither a sport, nor an effective and humane means by which to rid an area of a 'pest' (assuming of course, the fox in question has been recognized as such, by those personally affected) It is nothing more than a ritualistic venture for those involved, and has nothing to do with effective pest control or game management. If you remove the spurious lexicon from the lobbyist's argument it reads thus: We, the undersigned wish to retain the right to participate in our exclusive ritual, involving horses and hounds, the undisciplined application of which results in needless cruelty, suffering and death of one (or more) of our native wildlife species.
All arguments have two sides at least! Not critical thinking to your usual standard i feel! Mixing issues which are seperate hardly promotes the argument for or against. The main issues to me are related to animal welfare whether that be in farming, domestic pets, sport etc. A side issue to me is the mentality of people who gain pleasure from the killing of another sentient being, and even more worryingly those who gain pleasure from witnessing the cruel demise of the animal. The use of animals for sport where the animal will either suffer from the sport itself or factors related to its welfare and indeed breeding is questionable. Indeed the breeding of animals resulting in some of the monstrosities produced are also questionable.
Yes we do discuss it at times. The keepers are often attached to the estates, employed by, so I would say are close to it on regular occasions.
I agree that the two sides are clearly polarised, but the bottom line is, those involved are willing to inflict unecessary suffering and cruelty as a direct consequence of their participation....how can this be acceptable or justified...from any perspective?
Did any of you read the leveller article I posted about Cameron's pig? (If not, why not?) it's an excellent analysis of the 'class divide' and acceptable behaviour...
I accept the ritual, the paraphernalia and the 'thrill of the chase'...each to their own....but it's no justification for needless cruelty. There are more humane alternatives.
Agree with @vanorak, @Dicky and @Ermintrude ...looks like an empasse where the pro lobby can only dig in, the anti guys have the opportunity if they are smart. I'd like to think my views on mankind's just desserts for the treatment of animals is both decisive and unpopular.
Just got home and sifting through... I think it's important that these (fox hunt, pig fellatio, giving homeless people money to try to fire breathe for amusement etc) are all part of the formation of the establishment power networks. That troubles me, the lack of compassion for other beings seems to be instilled and reinforced throughout within these clubs and 'sports'.
Fishing other than for food is okay...it is said fish can't feel pain and go out of their way to get caught impaled on a hook, dragged out of their natural environment then thrown back in again to provide sport for someone else. Another class issue that no politician would dare to address?
Don't get me started on the ones who go out in full combat gear to shoot foxes for free to get in some target practice or to wave their willies about! ... I learned a while ago that those who really work the land (gamekeepers etc) have so much respect and compassion for their adversaries (foxes) that they spend a fortune on kit to get a clean, humane shot. One chap was clearly upset when he eventually shot the dog that had been the Bain of his life for ages.
http://theleveller.org/2015/09/british-really-laughing/....this one? sorry...this link isn't working...curiously, neither are a load of other links...
Most of them don't catch anything. I'm told that's not the point of fishing. Bloody odd lot, if you ask me.
