11/17/24
July 17, 2004
Why bullfighting sucks: "When I first came to Spain I had this idea that bull fighting was this sort of 'traditional' sport where once a year or so they would kill a bull or two and that it was okay," writes the American weblogger Russell Beattie. "But it's not like that at all."
I can't get past the sixth paragraph. This absolutely sickens me, and I can't believe that "civilized" peoples would do this.
posted by vito90 at 11:52 PM on July 17, 2004
I went back and gave it another crack. There is a comments section at the bottom worth reading. It mentions many different types of more humane events that take place in other cultures that have supplanted bullfighting. I hope that will become the standard. :( This sport makes me so sad.
posted by vito90 at 11:57 PM on July 17, 2004
I read that article. I did feel bad for the poor bull, to a point. At the risk of committing a logical fallacy of some sort, are all of you vegetarians? Because honestly, most of the animals killed for food endure quite a painful death. Indeed, when crops are harvested, and when fields are plowed, thousands of tiny rodents are massacred across the world. Most chickens die a painful death as well. How many cows in the US are slaughtered for steaks and burgers as compared to the few thousand bulls killed in Spain? I'm no vegetarian, and its mostly because I like the taste of meat, but it is also partly because I don't particularly care if animals die. Why? Because they aren't people. I have yet to see a good moral imperative for not killing animals. I'm just trying to figure out what premise these sentiments are coming from. Is it inconsistent to think abusing an animal is bad but quickly killing it is ok? I don't think it is necessarily a contradiction, which is why I am uncomfortable with isolated incidences of abuse (such as this) but seemingly ok with the mass extermination of certain mammalian life that tastes good grilled with a dash of pepper, garlic, and oregano. Indeed, this 'bullfighting' is not much of a fight or very sporting at all. But that's what we humans do, we take what advantages we can. Since we are not as strong or as fast as most animals out there, we have to team up on them and sometimes use tools. Perhaps bull-fighting is a ritualized re-enactment of how man learned to survive? Tangent: This post itself also begs a larger question. What is the definition of a sport? Where do hunting and fishing fall (as they were first used for survival, not for entertainment)? Or how about the Outdoor Games, etc?
posted by insomnyuk at 04:06 AM on July 18, 2004
The main difference between bullfighting and slaughterhouses is that one is a blood sport and one is for food. Mankind has ALWAYS been killing animals for food, and therefore it's really part of our nature to do so.* The killing of animals for sport (bullfighting, cockfights, dogfights) has no real purpose. I think that's why most people will complain about bullfighting whilest munching on a burger. For me, it's not how the animals die (since I've heard the horror stories of the slaughterhouse), but WHY the animals die. It's not really that hypocritical at all. *I am not suggesting that vegetarians aren't "natural". I was just pointing out that since mankind has been around, killing animals for food has been part of our survival process.
posted by grum@work at 09:19 AM on July 18, 2004
... I don't particularly care if animals die. Why? Because they aren't people. I have yet to see a good moral imperative for not killing animals. I don't understand how you're getting from "this thing is not a person" to "so I can kill it." I can understand killing animals because you need to eat, destroying their habitat because you need to farm, and the like, but what kind of moral code requires some kind of imperative not to kill living things for no reason?
posted by rcade at 10:23 AM on July 18, 2004
What good is life without entertainment?
posted by billsaysthis at 11:02 AM on July 18, 2004
what kind of moral code requires some kind of imperative not to kill living things for no reason? The Jesuits', if I remember correctly.
posted by yerfatma at 12:04 PM on July 18, 2004
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posted by worldcup2002 at 12:17 PM on July 18, 2004
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posted by rcade at 08:00 PM on July 18, 2004
When I was in Spain, I thought it was interesting that bullfight ticket prices are determined by whether your seat is in the shade or in the sun. Practical, eh? (Also, 6 bullfights are really boring, and they give you dirty looks if you leave early. And the arena was a deathtrap. They lock the entrance doors!)
posted by Smackfu at 11:18 PM on July 18, 2004
At the risk of committing a logical fallacy of some sort, are all of you vegetarians? I am. Indeed, when crops are harvested, and when fields are plowed, thousands of tiny rodents are massacred across the world. True, but this is a famous, but weak, arguement, many meat eaters use against vegetarians. That and the 'we were made to eat meat' arguement. Mankind has ALWAYS been killing animals for food, and therefore it's really part of our nature to do so. And your scientific proof? Biologically, compare us to the meat eaters of the animal kingdom. Just that alone will debunk this theory that we were made to eat meat.
posted by jasonspaceman at 05:22 AM on July 19, 2004
Bullfighting is what happens when they let the little boys who pulled the wings off flies to see what would happen grow up to run countries of their own. I'll go on the record and say that I've never been to one (and hope never to go to one), but I don't much like the sound of them and have yet to hear a decent argument for keeping them - like most Northern Irish people, the stance that "it's traditional - we've always done it" doesn't wash with me. On the other hand, if we didn't have bullfighting, we'd never see things like this - and I always enjoy a good goring.
posted by JJ at 06:32 AM on July 19, 2004
I think it'd be more fun if the odds were even. Something like the rodeo, where it's man against horse or bull, and you know really the man is gonna lose, and it's just how long can he stay up there. And, all the extra people are just there to help out when there's trouble, not to set things up so the main guy can show up late and deliver the coup de grace. And, yes, goring is always good.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:37 PM on July 19, 2004
All kinds of so-called civilized societies do barbaric things. Ours fucking included. And not just to animals - to fucking people. I'm so sick of this North American high horse crap. We do not treat animals any better. One could (not me) make the arguement that the bulls - like cattle - are rasied to be slaughtered, hence they are owned. Whereas here, we go buy armor piercing rounds to take out wild game so long as they're in season.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:27 PM on July 19, 2004
Hey, I didn't say anything about shooting turkey with high-powered rifles. I prefer using my trusty silent man-servant, Obono-chuk-chuk-chuk and his fearsome boomerang-cudgel whatsit. Where's my oolong and scones, Jeeves? And high horses? Are you mixing ganja in Trigger's feed? Neeiieieieieggggghhhh!
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:34 AM on July 20, 2004
*clip clop clip clop*
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:35 AM on July 20, 2004
The only thing I know about bullfighting is that lots of people get angry about bullfighting, and some macho man always references Hemingway.