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Original poster

To think it’s not ok to kill jellyfish and crabs…

82 replies

CockledEel · 29/08/2024 22:05

So yesterday I was at the beach and a large group of children were bringing jellyfish up the beach and thinking it hilarious when the jellyfish broke up into bits and were flinging the bits around the beach. There were about 4 mums there with them, and didn’t try and stop them.
Today, a different group of kids were killing crabs/pulling the legs off. To which my mum (in her late 70’s) told them to stop. Another group of mums with the kids, had a go at my mum - saying it’s only a crab, and it’s dead already. However I’d heard her kids shouting “let’s kill it”.
Has the world gone mad?? This was the mindset of approx 20 kids in total over the two days, and 8 mums???

OP posts:
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Alaimo · 01/09/2024 17:52

TotHappy · 31/08/2024 22:16

I let my toddlers chase pigeons. I really don't think it's the same and would genuinely like those who are so against it to explain. The pigeons just fly up and resettle. They are not harmed. Yes, they have expended energy they needn't have but they are not on the breadline- they are fat, regularly fed pigeons in the town square. I do not and would not let the toddlers kick or hurt the pigeons in any way, to be clear. So what's the harm?

They have also learned to run at seagulls who get too close when eating outside. I didn't teach them to do this but they've learned by watching me and their dad shooing them off.

Would you let them chase a cat? Because that's the same in my view. Chasing a cat doesn't harm it, house cats are well fed, etc.

I had a friend who let her kid chase their cat around the house. When they came to my house the kid also chased the cat. I said I didn't appreciate that kind of behaviour, but the moment saw no harm in it. I don't invite them around any longer.

Headingtowardsdivorce · 01/09/2024 17:18

I think it’s about respecting wildlife, recognising their beauty and that they have the right to be treated with kindness.

But not wasps?

Wasps also deserve to be treated with respect imo.

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-do-wasps-do.html

What do wasps do?

Wasps and humans may have a rocky relationship. But should these insects be revered rather than feared?

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-do-wasps-do.html

kikisparks · 01/09/2024 16:46

CockledEel · 01/09/2024 07:30

@kikisparks

I think the difference is that the killing has a purpose. It’s so we can eat. And I’d hope there are sufficient controls in place to ensure the killing is humane.

The purpose of this killing/dismemberment was for fun. And I’m sure the crab/some of the crabs were still alive. It’s the fun in killing I object to.

Unfortunately there’s not much that can make taking the life of a sentient being who doesn’t want to die be humane.

And who knows if some people in slaughterhouses enjoy the killing and dismemberment? And if they don’t, what horrors are we forcing upon them that we wouldn’t want to do ourselves:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-50986683.amp

BobbyBiscuits · 01/09/2024 16:24

That is horrible. I do understand kids having a lot of interest in these creatures, but they need to be taught they are living animals not to be touched. Also they can sting you! I hope they learn better as they get older.

Righttoo · 01/09/2024 16:22

This reminds me of a group of kids who were collecting crabs and stabbing them through the middle with sticks. I saw one of them shout to his dad “dad watch this one” to show him and the dad saying “ yeah that’s a good one”

we Were really shocked.

jellyfish I don’t like it when people chuck them about either but I think maybe they don’t have brains? Not sure they can feel pain/emotion? Still though, I wouldn’t encourage it.

EmpressaurusDeiGatti · 01/09/2024 16:18

I hope those kids get severe stings next time they play with jellyfish.

And any child who chases pigeons deserves to get shat on.

Original poster
CockledEel · 01/09/2024 16:13

@Stressfordays

I think starfish can grow back their legs…

OP posts:
Stressfordays · 01/09/2024 07:38

Picture of said starfish. It may already of been dead (it was missing a leg) but still! It's not something we should play with.

To think it’s not ok to kill jellyfish and crabs…
Original poster
CockledEel · 01/09/2024 07:30

@kikisparks

I think the difference is that the killing has a purpose. It’s so we can eat. And I’d hope there are sufficient controls in place to ensure the killing is humane.

The purpose of this killing/dismemberment was for fun. And I’m sure the crab/some of the crabs were still alive. It’s the fun in killing I object to.

OP posts:
Stressfordays · 01/09/2024 07:30

Eugh, I'm currently away with another parent and our combined brood and I would be fuming if they behaved that way. My daughter accidentally caught a starfish whilst collecting water from the sea, she brought it straight to us in her bucket of water, we had a look and took some photos then put it back where she found it. It's not ok to hurt animals!

Original poster
CockledEel · 01/09/2024 07:21

@StolenChanel

I would say your typical school Mum is thoughtful and caring. I’d say the way they’d otherwise planned their day out was this.

OP posts:
kikisparks · 01/09/2024 07:19

And honestly animals are dismembered in the slaughterhouse. It’s unpleasant but we pay people to do that. Anyone who thinks it’s disrespectful to tear a dead body apart, what do you think happens to cows, chickens, pigs etc. And they are killed first, not just found dead on the beach.

Andtheworldwentwhite · 01/09/2024 07:15

I was on the beach a month ago. With two families next to me. Kids ranged from about 9-13 all the kids were vaping , adults handing them bottles of vodka and chucking rubbish around. I’m not at all surprised u saw this.

kikisparks · 01/09/2024 07:15

Well we’re vegan so teaching DD to respect all creatures but we also stop to look at animal skulls or a crab leg we found once, as we are honest about what happens in nature. If the animals were alive I think what the children did was wrong (obviously, given that as vegans we think unnecessary harm to sentient beings is wrong) but if they were already dead it doesn’t seem a big issue to me.

Mrsphilmiller · 01/09/2024 07:10

Whether they were dead or not, the kids were cruel.

StolenChanel · 01/09/2024 07:05

CockledEel · 31/08/2024 08:28

They just looked like typical school run type Mum’s though! It was all a planned day out with parasols, paddle boards etc.

I can’t understand the joy in killing a life, and pulling it apart.

I’m trying to compare to mosquitos or wasps : but they are pests??

These were just innocent creatures - set upon by screaming kids.

I will make a point of challenging any stone throwing/pigeon chasing. I wish I could go back in time and backed my Mum up a bit more. I’m proud that she challenged it.

They just looked like typical school run type Mum’s though!

As opposed to what exactly?

Original poster
CockledEel · 01/09/2024 07:01

I agree with @LunaNorth

@TotHappy I don’t think it teaches kindness. It teaches a child that it’s ok to bother wildlife for their own amusement.

I agree it’s not the same as hurting or kicking, but I think it’s disrespectful to the pigeon : that’s it’s feeling aren’t important so we can chase it, or get amusement from bothering the bird. If it was reversed and a bird/or considering size difference - something like a big, unknown dog continually chased a toddler, would the toddler enjoy it - or potentially be scared?
Pigeons also have this stereotypical image of being stupid or diseased : when in fact they are intelligent and don’t carry things like bird flu…
I think it’s about respecting wildlife, recognising their beauty and that they have the right to be treated with kindness. It’s not “just a pigeon”.
There are groups in London who go round untangling human hair from pigeons feet, helping them when they’ve been hurt etc.

OP posts:
LunaNorth · 31/08/2024 22:46

TotHappy · 31/08/2024 22:16

I let my toddlers chase pigeons. I really don't think it's the same and would genuinely like those who are so against it to explain. The pigeons just fly up and resettle. They are not harmed. Yes, they have expended energy they needn't have but they are not on the breadline- they are fat, regularly fed pigeons in the town square. I do not and would not let the toddlers kick or hurt the pigeons in any way, to be clear. So what's the harm?

They have also learned to run at seagulls who get too close when eating outside. I didn't teach them to do this but they've learned by watching me and their dad shooing them off.

I don’t like to see this because it’s an unnecessary stress to the birds, and because it teaches young children that it’s okay to amuse themselves by treating other living beings with no respect.

LunaNorth · 31/08/2024 22:43

Isn’t cruelty to animals in childhood one of the MacDonald triad for diagnosing psychopathy?

Genevieva · 31/08/2024 22:32

ineedtogwtoutbeforeitatoohot · 31/08/2024 22:16

You are missing the point completely here

Show quote history

It was not missing the point to point out that you can’t cause pain to a dead animal. The premise of the criticism was torture - the infliction of pain. In fact, though their language was a bit Lord of the Flies, dead animals don’t feel pain.

Cocothecoconut · 31/08/2024 22:20

so what if the jelly fish or crab were already dead
theres just no need to treat them like that
little gits 🤬

TotHappy · 31/08/2024 22:16

I let my toddlers chase pigeons. I really don't think it's the same and would genuinely like those who are so against it to explain. The pigeons just fly up and resettle. They are not harmed. Yes, they have expended energy they needn't have but they are not on the breadline- they are fat, regularly fed pigeons in the town square. I do not and would not let the toddlers kick or hurt the pigeons in any way, to be clear. So what's the harm?

They have also learned to run at seagulls who get too close when eating outside. I didn't teach them to do this but they've learned by watching me and their dad shooing them off.

ineedtogwtoutbeforeitatoohot · 31/08/2024 22:16

Genevieva · 29/08/2024 22:13

By the time a jellyfish is deposited on the beach it is usually dead and has had its tentacles ripped off on the rocks and by the waves. They should take care not to be stung though.

Live crabs are a different matter. They deserve to be observed, maybe carefully picked up and gently inspected, then returned to a rock pool. Dead crabs are seagull food. If they want to dismember it then do be it. Their way of talking about it sounds quite Lord of the Flies, but I suspect it was already dead. Again, like jellyfish, crabs very rarely land in a beach alive.

You are missing the point completely here

gaininginsight · 31/08/2024 21:55

What would matter to me the most, as a parent, is even if the crab/jellyfish were dead, I wouldn't be keen to see my DC rip it apart 'for fun'. There's something quite savage and disregarding/disrespectful of nature about this behaviour. I would expect them to look and examine it. Without sounding smug I know my DC would never do this - they are hugely sensitive and caring of any animals, whether they see them dead or alive and also, they know I would be absolutely livid!

PrincessHoneysuckle · 31/08/2024 12:11

Awful.Thats how serial killers start.