Surely, the Lowest Point in Human History Was....

[Florestan]

Tearing a limb from an animal is a specific example of cruelty, and the actual prohibition is against cruelty to animals in general.

Cruelty to animals is indeed reprehensible, but hunting per se does not qualify.

Consider the ratio between the human population (<1 billion) versus the extent of natural habitats and size of the wildlife populations at the time compared to the present era.

Yes, I fully agree this is a strong argument against recreational hunting, or at least for restraint in engaging in it --- today. But to say that all people who in the past practiced it were "absolutely sick" and engaged in "cruelty to animals" is a gross exaggeration. And, as Ken points out and I also did, hunting and its representation and symbolism is part and parcel of mankind´s cultural heritage in its various historical incarnations.

For the record, I have never hunted and I never will.

[Karl Henning]

I have fished, but never really took to it.

[San Antone]

Cruelty to animals is indeed reprehensible, but hunting per se does not qualify.

Killing an animal for fun does not fit your definition of cruel?

Yes, I fully agree this is a strong argument against recreational hunting, or at least for restraint in engaging in it --- today. But to say that all people who in the past practiced it were "absolutely sick" and engaged in "cruelty to animals" is a gross exaggeration. And, as Ken points out and I also did, hunting and its representation and symbolism is part and parcel of mankind´s cultural heritage in its various historical incarnations.

I do not think it matters when it occurred, hunting for recreation is morally wrong, IMO. 

[snyprrr]

Tell me this hasn't become the "It's OK for aborted baby parts to be haggled over, but cute lion killing is not OK" Thread.


When I was a child, I gleefully butchered a frog with a rake, and then immediately ran screaming, knowing I was a murderer.


I also kicked the dog a few times. I'm sorry.


Oh... I also played the magnifying glass and ants game.... that's probably the one we all relished the most... all that glorious burning death, such childish fun!! Sorry, ants,... you still kinda are a pest though, but, hey, sorry for the astanic glee in your death,... at the time,... uh....


I certainly have never lingered gleefully over a future squahed bug, though,... oh, the horrors of the creeping world,... brrrrrr.....





carry on,

[Moonfish]

Tell me this hasn't become the "It's OK for aborted baby parts to be haggled over, but cute lion killing is not OK" Thread.


When I was a child, I gleefully butchered a frog with a rake, and then immediately ran screaming, knowing I was a murderer.


I also kicked the dog a few times. I'm sorry.


Oh... I also played the magnifying glass and ants game.... that's probably the one we all relished the most... all that glorious burning death, such childish fun!! Sorry, ants,... you still kinda are a pest though, but, hey, sorry for the astanic glee in your death,... at the time,... uh....


I certainly have never lingered gleefully over a future squahed bug, though,... oh, the horrors of the creeping world,... brrrrrr.....





carry on,

[kishnevi]

Perspective is important.  Although for accuracy, the first line should not have limited itself to  Christian.

(Found on Facebook, spelling error and all)

[Mirror Image]

I think that Facebook thing is just moronic and doesn't warrant any kind of comparison with what this dentist has done. Both are horrible and equally immoral, but what I'm opposed to is hunting for sport. If it makes you feel like a man to blow Bambi's head off, then knock yourself out. There's a special place in hell for you. The same theory applies to this lion. This lion wasn't hurting anyone and it was minding it's own business, but here comes along 'Mr. Bow and Arrow" to shoot an arrow into the lion to slow it down and then finally finish killing it off so he can cut it's head off and skin it from top to bottom all so he can hang it on his wall as if killing this animal was some daunting task and a matter of survival. This dentist makes great money, but apparently this isn't good enough and heaven forbid he get some kind of real hobby like skiing, swimming, or scuba diving. If the lion was coming at him and about to maul him and he acted out of self-defense that's a whole other issue, but what this guy has done is just plain sickening. Call me an animal rights nut, call me what you will, but it's just not right and goes against what I personally believe in, which is if something isn't bothering or going to harm you, then you have no right to bother or harm it.

[ibanezmonster]

I wonder what lion meat tastes like, though.

[Mirror Image]

I wonder what lion meat tastes like, though.

Why don't you go to Africa and let us know?

[Moonfish]

Perspective: There are 7.2 billion humans in the world, but only about 30,000 African lions.....
(That is 7,200,000,000 vs 30,000)

" Nearly a century ago, there were as many as 200,000 lions living in the wild in Africa.  Today, the most recent surveys estimate that there are fewer than 30,000 lions living in the wild in Africa today." [Panthera.org]

http://www.panthera.org/species/lion

[Mirror Image]

Beautifully said, Peter. Now that's what I call some perspective. This deserves a round of...

[The new erato]

Nothing wrong with hunting (as in for food or for management purposes), but hunting purely for sport is totally reprehensible.

[Wendell_E]

Tell me this hasn't become the "It's OK for [the charge for clinical operations to recover the costs for providing tissue from] aborted baby fetus parts to be haggled over, but cute lion killing is not OK" Thread.

Are the parts from the aborted fetuses being mounted as trophies?  Was the lion legally killed, and his parts used legally for medical research?

[Wendell_E]

Are the parts from the aborted fetuses being mounted as trophies?  Was the lion legally killed, and his parts used legally for medical research?

As for real hunting, some animal populations need to be controlled, and sometimes people need to eat.  No reason not to enjoy it, if it's gotta be done.  The processes used to raise and  kill the meat we buy in supermarkets are arguably even worse. 

[Jaakko Keskinen]

I would say the lowest points in human history are Hitler and Stalin. 'Nuff said.

What about Mao? At least around 30-45 million ended up dead not only because of his ruthlessness but also because of his incompetence.

[Florestan]

Are the parts from the aborted fetuses being mounted as trophies?  Was the lion legally killed, and his parts used legally for medical research?

Thank you for acknowledging that abortion is legal killing.

[Ken B]

Nothing wrong with hunting (as in for food or for management purposes), but hunting purely for sport is totally reprehensible.

Well, much sport hunting is done as part of herd management. So where does that fall?

[Florestan]

And while righteous indignation over Cecil becoming a wall trophy rages on, today in abortion clinics all across America, living human babies will be viciously yanked from the womb and discarded like pieces of garbage.

[Moonfish]

But...

[Todd]

But...

So many delicious birds.  I assume that's your point.