[joeysteele]

I understand tradition but a boxer has a choice to get in the ring or get out of it, a Bull does not though.

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Zippy

no but I was making the point that animals are generally treated appallingly by humans on a major scale and this is just a very small part of that. It's high profile but really it's a drop in the ocean.

I agree, and I would say that bullfighting, as a skilfull art of cultural significance, is more easily justified than battery farming is, the only reason for that is to try and save a few pennies on your chicken..

[Kerry]

Animals are indeed treat appallingly but I'm addressing bullfighting. Bulls with daggers in their neck and spears in their hide. Let me guess, they won't feel it? Of course not. Thats why they try to maul their attackers. For nothing.

I'm just as against battery hens. I'm just as against disgusting conditions on such farms. Cock fighting, dog fighting and all the rest. But, rightly so, such fighting is illegal here. Why it's right to literally torture these bulls to death, to pay to watch or to be paid to actually ride - well if you lose your nuts or rupture your liver - FECKING TOUGH!

[michael21]

This thread sound like a load of bull to me (now that funney)

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

... well if you lose your nuts or rupture your liver - FECKING TOUGH!

and nobodies disagreeing with this. But your point highlights the fact that there is at least a chance for the bull to get some kind of revenge on his antagonist. Not saying its a fair fight but the human is at some risk of being seriously injured.

and Im not in favour of bullfighting myself but just think that on the grand scale of animal cruelty it only affects a tiny amount of animals. And its part in culture and national identity is actually a big deal to certain countries.

[MTVN]

Actually the bull is apparently sold as meat once it has been killed, which has made me consider it even harder to get judgemental about it.

It might be hard for us to understand but the people who support bullfighting are very passionate about it, they dont consider it cruelty as such because they think of it as such an artistic ritual. They think of the bull as a worthy opponent and if the bull puts up a good fight it's carcass is paraded around the ring to applause from the crowd. This thread has made me read a bit more about it and it's actually pretty interesting

[Beastie]

I reckon Kerry is like a bull in a china shop

Well it just all seems very dangerous. The person/people have what's coming to them if the bull flips out.

Also the audience best be careful. I wouldn't take a front row seat. But can be dangerous wherever you sit too.

It's mankind to blame for this sick activity. Who just watch it for the thrill and hope that something tragic happens. What goes around comes around.

[patsylimerick]

Don't feel strongly about bullfighting one way or another. It certainly wouldn't do anything for me, but I tend to get more angered by the abuse of children; be that as child soldiers or sex workers. However, I will say this, bulls are dangerous bastards. Know of quite a few cases of them turning on and killing their owners. I'm talking about dairy farms where there is one bull and a herd of cows. These bulls are impeccably well cared for for the most part - and definitely in the cases I'm thinking of. Yet they can turn because of a hard shower of rain. Dangerous bastards. They should inseminate all herds by AI and get rid of the buggers altogether.