Is this OK? I'm guessing no. :(

[digital-audiophile]

It's all about different cultures. I passed on some of the nasty stuff when I was in Japan, I just could not do it, I had been warned though...My dad went to Japan a number of times when I was a kid and he came back with horror stories about food.

Allthough not all will agree, IMO the only difference is in North America that we electrocute our "food" before we skin it and chop it up.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Yup, let's drop a bomb. I'm sure that all "these people" do this. Oh, wait, what do we think the bomb would do? Right, kill and mame millions of people and animals, wreak havoc on the environment and generally be really bad.
We also need to bomb North America, because they kill and torture animals everyday, just to produce McBurgers. I had pork tenderloin for dinner, I'm thinkin' that the pig didn't willingly give it up.
Ever watch North American chicken processing? Hmm, lets just pull their beaks off so they don't peck each other.
Now, some of "these people", as you call them, are friends of mine. They do not eat parts of live animals and agree that these types of things are pretty gross.
If you travel around the world, I'm sure you'd find we need to bomb the entire planet, because all "these people", all the world over, kill and eat animals. Sure, some ways to kill are nice, some are not so nice, but killing is killing. I agree that eating something AFTER it's dead is best, but c'mon, ever watch a pack of wolves (or other predators) eat? They disable an animal and start munching before the animal is actually dead. Guess we need to bomb wolves too. and tigers. and lions. And sharks. on and on.

Anyway, just got a craving for sushi, gotta run out for lunch.

Classic "straw man" argument! I understand what you're saying, but I'm doubting this person referred to an entire race of people. I would assume (though that could get me into trouble) that "these people" meant the ones doing the live cutting/eating/etc.

Certainly because animals are treated inhumanely in North America, does not mean it's okay for animals to be treated inhumanely in other parts of the world. This is a logical fallacy ("tu quoque" fallacy).

Anyway...didn't mean for tempers to flare on this. It just seemed a bit cruel and unnecessary. I mean, how fresh does it have to be?

[Pier Pressure]

I knew my comment was going to fire somebody up! That was just knee-jerk reaction from watching those videos. It is the method that bothers me - if something only tastes good because you torture it maybe you should just leave it alone. Killing food humanely is one thing - leaving something swimming around without having the decency to put it out of its misery is something else entirely.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Der_Iron_Chef

This is a logical fallacy ("tu quoque" fallacy).

One thing (only thing??) I learned in school, NEVER ever get into fallacy discussions with psychology students

[Pier Pressure]

And you are absolutely correct, Der Iron Chef - I of course meant the people who are able to do this, make a living at it and sleep at night besides. I was not referring to an entire race of people - though it might be hard to round up only the bad ones and bomb them. I don't care where they are from - if you make your living from the suffering of other creatures you do not deserve to be on the planet.

[EmilyB]

I'm speechless.

At least dog is off the menu for a while in Beijing........

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080711/...s_dogmeat_dc_1

[hillbillyreefer]

Good thing food comes from the big box down the street all wrapped up in nice cello packages. Must be nice not to have to get your hands dirty. If all us uncultured farmers quit growing food for you city folk, what would you guys do? The balcony on the box you live in isn't big enough for you to sustain yourself. Hmm, betcha you'd all migrate out of your nice concrete city and start destroying the beautiful countryside.

[digital-audiophile]

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

Good thing food comes from the big box down the street all wrapped up in nice cello packages. Must be nice not to have to get your hands dirty. If all us uncultured farmers quit growing food for you city folk, what would you guys do? The balcony on the box you live in isn't big enough for you to sustain yourself. Hmm, betcha you'd all migrate out of your nice concrete city and start destroying the beautiful countryside.

I actually envy you, I wish that I had the opportunity to live off the land. My dad's family homesteaded down near Lundbreck and I wish they had never sold the ranch, I would love to live a rural life.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

Good thing food comes from the big box down the street all wrapped up in nice cello packages. Must be nice not to have to get your hands dirty. If all us uncultured farmers quit growing food for you city folk, what would you guys do? The balcony on the box you live in isn't big enough for you to sustain yourself. Hmm, betcha you'd all migrate out of your nice concrete city and start destroying the beautiful countryside.

Nothing like a good dose of generalization, with a pinch of condescension. I'm sorry, but there's just so much wrong with what you just said.

[hillbillyreefer]

Yes it's pretty hard to beat living in a rural location.

No need to be sorry, I said, and I mean it.

It's amazing how many people haven't got a clue about where their food comes from. Most people who know where it comes from have no idea what is involved in the production of that food.

As for the video while I find it disturbing, it really is none of my business. It doesn't directly affect me, and I have no desire to attempt changing a culture that is thousands of years old. Maybe if we had less time on our hands to worry about what others are doing and trying to impose our will on them the world would be a better place.