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AIBU?

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Original poster

... to feel disgusted at fox-chasing toff-twits!

732 replies

counterpoint · 13/01/2018 21:44

On my way to a local town for lunch today, we had to slow down and stop as a horse came galloping up towards us in the middle of the road. On his back sat a dandified twit who was looking for his hounds. In the nearby field some 100 (I kid you not) other starched twits sat on brainwashed horses with hungry hounds running amok. Traffic swayed and stopped as these twits had clearly lost the little sense they had and were dispersing all over the highway, horses looking dazed at being led among cars at great speed on slippery tarmac. Hounds confusedly sniffing all over the road and verges. How much had these twit-toffs drunk? It was not yet noon!

My friends in our car tried to calm me down saying it must be a drag when all of a sudden a poor defenseless fox jumped on the dry-stone wall looking wild-eyed as it tried to determine whether he was safer making a run for it across a busy road or turn back into a field of crazed, uncontrolled hounds and drunken (British?) twits. The fox froze and the driver of my car sped on as I screamed with panic for the predictable fate of the fox.

Why the f*ck is a supposedly civilized country allowing this kind of savagery to continue?

OP posts:
HappyPsychopath · 14/01/2018 22:21

As I’ve stated before Rebecca it would be an exercise in futility. You don’t want the facts. You enjoy imagining your own version of the truth regarding fox hunting.

It always descends into “you’re so evil and cruel and enjoy watching cute, defenceless animals being torn limb from limb”

So I’ll just let you believe that you’re right and that I’m only in it for the blood soaked kills.. 🤪

BertrandRussell · 14/01/2018 22:24

“As I’ve stated before Rebecca it would be an exercise in futility. You don’t want the facts. You enjoy imagining your own version of the truth regarding fox hunting.“

I know the facts. And i’m a country woman born and bred.. And I think foxes need to be controlled. And I think foxes are beautiful but very far from cute. Still opposed to fox hunting though.

Rebeccaslicker · 14/01/2018 22:27

How convenient, happy. It's almost like you have no points to make, isn't it?!

Oh and don't try and patronise me. I grew up in the countryside, riding from the age of 6, with my own horse at one point. There were two main hunts in the area. So yeah, I know plenty about it. And not one person, either for or against it, has ever been able to come up with any reason other than, "I like it", or "the fox is disposable so long as I've had a fun day out."

LouiseBrooks · 14/01/2018 22:30

i notice no response to the incident at CHAT?

You won't get one either because it's indefensible. As I asked before, what idiot lays a trail anywhere near a cat sanctuary?

HappyPsychopath · 14/01/2018 22:32

I can say the same Bertrand. All except for the opposed to hunting bit.

I get that some people don’t like it, but I have zero sympathy for their argument when that argument is usually nothing more than a whinge about the poor fox and it’s feelings and a hatred for anyone they consider to be a ‘toff’.

I’ve seen people stabbing horses with sharpened sticks in an effort to make them throw their riders, spraying hounds faces with citronella and trying to lead them onto busy roads....animal welfare my arse.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 14/01/2018 22:33

I never quite understand this thing about "I'm not going to tell you anything because you've already made your mind up"

Okay, some folk might not even begin to listen, but what about the rest of us who'd genuinely like to learn something? We might want to question what we're told and we might not necessarily agree with everything, but isn't that all part and parcel of learning?

It just seems a wasted opportunity somehow Sad

corythatwas · 14/01/2018 22:34

Watching this rather from the sidelines as I am not a country woman, at least not from this country.

Would it be possible for the hunt supporters on this thread to come back and explain:

a) why they seem to want to insist that everybody against fox hunting must be a townie when it is clear from this thread, and from statistics elsewhere, that this is not the case?

b) why they seem to be skirting the question of why something illegal (hunting a live animal with hounds) suddenly becomes acceptable if embraced by real country people- would they feel the same about an illegal pursuit that happened to be popular among the inhabitants of e.g. poorer urban areas?

c) why, again, they seem to be unwilling to address the question of trespassing and damage to property? it seems clear this is happening-so why is it not a problem?

d) why the (possibly nefarious) acts of some hunt saboteurs are relevant to meeting the above concerns raised by non-hunt-saboteurs?

BertrandRussell · 14/01/2018 22:44

What would you like to know, Puzzledandpissedoff ? Happy to answer any questions.

VivaLeBeaver · 14/01/2018 22:50

“As I’ve stated before Rebecca it would be an exercise in futility. You don’t want the facts. You enjoy imagining your own version of the truth regarding fox hunting.“

And as I said before I used to live on a hunting yard, my boyfriend who I lived with hunted, his mother was joint hunt master, I’ve been to many meets. I live in the country and frequently see the local hunt complete with terrier men.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 14/01/2018 23:01

Thank you, Bertrand ... I suppose the main thing I wonder is what the advantage is of hunting over and above what the participants would get from a great ride which didn't involve something being killed?

I get the social thing of course, but surely just the meeting with other riders could provide that? Ditto the point about controlling foxes, since hunting doesn't seem the only way of doing this?

I realise, too, that there are exemptions to the current Act which can be exploited to carry on with something many believe to now be illegal; in fact a PP referred to one where I believe hounds can still flush out a fox if it's for the purpose of hunting by a bird of prey, and there are reports of this being abused in order to continue foxhunting

Again, though - why couldn't a ride be just as enjoyable without this?

BertrandRussell · 14/01/2018 23:09

A drag hunt is just not as exciting as a “proper”one- it feels a step removed. And there is also sometimes a problem I pwith landowners not wanting drag hunts over the land-all the disruption and not even the advantage of possibly getting rid of a fox. And of course there is tradition- many hunt supporters will deny it, but the “blood” aspects of blood sports (that’s what they used to be called) is a strong link to the past in a very atavistic way.

BertrandRussell · 14/01/2018 23:11

And yes, the law is more honored in the breech than the observance.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 14/01/2018 23:26

Thanks again, Bertrand, and I do see what you mean about the traditions and a different sort of hunting feeling "a step removed"; it's just that it worries me when folk clearly feel entitled to find a way round what's been democratically decided. It almost feels like they're saying "stuff you, I'll do what I want" which surely isn't helpful to anyone

I confess it's harder to see the point about landowner complaints, though; I'd have thought the objections to nuisance, trespass, damage or whatever else would be the same whether a fox was being chased or not, but I'm willing to be corrected

Am off to bed now though, so please don't think me rude if I don't post further tonight ...

Goodasgoldilox · 15/01/2018 00:26

The hunt in my area managed to kill a total of '0' foxes in a year before the fox-hunting ban.

I've never been keen on the idea of hunting myself - but it does seem to me that there are probably animal-rights matters which could have greater impact.

(The welfare of our 'cheap' chickens is one )

Onlyoldontheoutside · 15/01/2018 01:16

Karma is when you are late for work on a Sunday having been held up by the hunt ant the masses of 4×4s ,hounds everywhere,horses are n the road with riders having a nice chat all oblivious if any traffic.
Later in the afternoon we had an obnoxious man complaining that he had had to wait for his broken ankle to be fixed,when I apologized and said everyone was waiting due to the hunt he blustered a bit but we both knew that that was the hunt he had been on before falling off his horse.
The only time I have lost it with the hunt is when a fox got into our garden,luckily we had a high walk and a padlock on the back gate.I had to call the police to remove very abusive hunters and their followers, from our drive,horses all unnerved as next doors neighbours dogs barked nonstop,hounds all over the place

VivaLeBeaver · 15/01/2018 07:19

Teresa May will never provide time for a vote to legalise hunting. She knows 99% of the public don't like hunting. Cameron even bottled it after promising a vote

Rebeccaslicker · 15/01/2018 07:22

I see none of the "hunting is marvellous" posters have been able to put forward any arguments or any answers to cory's excellent questions.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/01/2018 07:29

Why are some people hell bent on putting others down. I think your description is very good and witty. Although I think you should change the I to an A to make "Twats"

mustbemad17 · 15/01/2018 08:59

If somebody could give us a genuine reason for hunting then i'd be willing to consider it. Currently the usual reasons have been trotted out & frankly they suck as decent arguments;

  • it's tradition
  • it controls the fox population
  • it's fun
  • we're allowed
  • it's a country thing

Probably missed a few but these are the usual ones trotted out. None of them work

Rebeccaslicker · 15/01/2018 09:08

Also, the poster saying there was no point because we wouldn't listen showed absolutely zero interest in any of the anti arguments other than to yawn. Then accused those who dislike hunting of being unwilling to learn.

You'd have to lol if it weren't so arrogant and dickish!

Middleoftheroad · 15/01/2018 09:10

So I’ll just let you believe that you’re right and that I’m only in it for the blood soaked kills.. 🤪

So what are you in it for Happy? I'm talking about 'real' fox hunting, chasing the animal with hounds to kill, just to clarify, putting drag/trail hunting aside.

What is the buzz for those of us who are clearly too sentimental to comprehend?

BertrandRussell · 15/01/2018 09:15

“* it's tradition

  • it controls the fox population
  • it's fun
  • we're allowed
  • it's a country thing

Probably missed a few but these are the usual ones trotted out. None of them work”

Actually, i think that just about sums it up. Makes perfect sense to me. What are you expecting them to say?

rocketgirl22 · 15/01/2018 09:15

I am a country girl and it sickens me that hunting is allowed to continue, the saddest part is all the young children that are go. Not only is it very dangerous but it is awful to allow your child to witness such barbaric cruelty.

It serves no purpose whatsoever beyond (sick) entertainment

rocketgirl22 · 15/01/2018 09:15

that are allowed to go

whiskyowl · 15/01/2018 09:17

I think it's an absolutely disgusting thing to do, and I'd like to see those involved jailed for a good long time for breaking the law.

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