Folo-up: Dolphin activitsts arrested for cutting nets in Taiji, Japan.

November 19, 2003 1:45 AM

Dolphin activitsts arrested for cutting nets in Taiji, Japan Prominent on the news tonight in Japan, the Sea Shepherd activists discussed here are at it again. Is killing dolphins worse than killing pigs or other animals we eat?
posted by planetkyoto (24 comments total)

Yes, well, they are so cute, you see?
posted by cx at 2:01 AM on November 19, 2003

You never saw Arnold Ziffel?
posted by planetkyoto at 2:06 AM on November 19, 2003

I think if the world is viewed as more like people and less like people, killing dolphins is almost like killing people.

I think if the world is views as people and not people, killing dolphins is like killing pigs.
posted by rudyfink at 2:15 AM on November 19, 2003

you don't eat dolphins, you know.
posted by Eirixon at 2:46 AM on November 19, 2003

you don't eat dolphins, you know.
So let's start.
posted by PenDevil at 2:49 AM on November 19, 2003

Dolphin activitsts arrested for cutting nets

Prehensile fins?
posted by biffa at 2:55 AM on November 19, 2003

We don't eat the dolphins.
posted by Space Coyote at 3:39 AM on November 19, 2003

Yes. Yes, it is.
posted by Eloquence at 4:06 AM on November 19, 2003

We can kill them because they are not us, we can't kill them because they are unlike us and they are automatons and not conscious beings. Human morals say yes, trans-species morals say no.

Are 'we' humans or are 'we' life on the planet?

That is your question.
posted by boneybaloney at 4:37 AM on November 19, 2003

dolphin steaks. for when the veal just doesn't appeal.
posted by quonsar at 4:55 AM on November 19, 2003

Japan takes out 3 billion lbs out of the sea: returns 0. With the last incident when the fishermen attacked the activist the police still arrested the activist. The problem is not eating dolphins, Japan's major food source is harvesting the sea which is a result of imperialism & less land.
posted by thomcatspike at 6:07 AM on November 19, 2003

Japan takes out 3 billion lbs out of the sea: returns 0.

::: adjusts invasion plans :::

Syria
Iran
Japan
posted by rushmc at 6:33 AM on November 19, 2003

rushmc, can I be "civilian administrator" of Sony? Pleeeeease?
posted by signal at 6:39 AM on November 19, 2003

3 billion lbs.
This was from memory. If someone can find an exact # thanks. The main point was the do not replenish the ocean nor feel they have too.
posted by thomcatspike at 6:40 AM on November 19, 2003

"Is killing dolphins worse than killing pigs or other animals we eat?"

Dunno. Is cannibalism worse than eating dolphins?
posted by insomnia_lj at 6:42 AM on November 19, 2003

What about cannibalism without killing? If we start growing human steaks in factories, genetically selected to be healthy and nutritious, does there remain a moral problem with their consumption?
posted by rushmc at 7:04 AM on November 19, 2003

Eloquence: Is it just me or does it look like the dolphin brain has 3 hemispheres (?) while us humans only have the more conventional 2?
posted by spazzm at 7:10 AM on November 19, 2003

Speaking of dolphin brains, I just have to love the new-age crankness that is Dolphin Brain Overlay.
posted by spazzm at 7:48 AM on November 19, 2003

Japan takes out 3 billion lbs out of the sea: returns 0.

Just what is it you want them to return?

3 hemispheres

I want you all to know how hard I'm working to control my inner pedant right now.
posted by biffa at 8:54 AM on November 19, 2003

biffa, to be counterpedantic, it isn't difficult to visualize an object that has three or more hemispherical surfaces -- it just wouldn't be a spherical object.

Dunno. Is cannibalism worse than eating dolphins?

Hey, why choose?
posted by George_Spiggott at 9:37 AM on November 19, 2003

Is killing dolphins worse than killing pigs or other animals we eat?

It's all about the framing, ain't it? For me the relevant question is phrased:

Does our tradition of killing pigs or other animals to eat them give us any license or rationale to kill additional, different types of animals?
posted by soyjoy at 11:42 AM on November 19, 2003

In my life I've eaten rabbit, deer, cow, pig, tuna, shark, buffalo, zebra, goat, ostrich, rattlesnake and hundreds of other animals of varied cuteness and intelligence. Why shouldn't I eat dolphin?

Sure they're cute, but for all I know, they may also be delicious when seared and served with a sesame ginger sauce.
posted by mosch at 11:45 AM on November 19, 2003

Pigs not endangered. Some species of dolphins endangered.

Dolphins not killed for food; dolphins civilian casualties. Point of killing not food?

Dolphin not wanted for food. Make dolphin food? But dolphin endangered!

Tarzan eat dolphin if dolphin served, but Tarzan remember eat whale in World War II. Whale disgusting.

This message has been brought to you by Tarzan. Tarzan say question not complicated.

Tarzan say anyone who think ostrich cute has never raised ostrich. This go for emu too. Tarzan say guinea pig make good eating.
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:30 PM on November 19, 2003

Those nets are condoned as long as they don't snag dolphins, right? I dunno, sounds a bit hypocratical to me. The endangered argument just doesn't convince me that one life form should be placed at a different level. Hell, humans aren't endangered...
posted by LouReedsSon at 5:21 AM on November 23, 2003