Fur.

[BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter]

"Inspired" by the culling of mink on fur farm in Denmark - AIBU to wonder why on earth, in this day and age, people are still purchasing fur?

There are enough videos and photos from fur farms that show how fur is acquired. I will not go into this as it is very, very disturbing.

If you are a fur wearer, can I ask why you choose to wear it, considering the torture the animal has no doubt endured to provide the fur?

For clarity I am not a PETA member/animal rights activist looking for an argument (although I do have strong views on animal cruelty, like the majority of people do).

I am genuinely interested in other people's views on this.

The meat/dairy industry is equally as cruel.
Are you vegan?
And that’s before you even consider how bad fake fur and synthetic fast fashion is for the environment.

*I've never liked fur farming

I don't think it's very common to see people wearing fur in the UK, but if you go to very cold countries with long harsh winters such as Russia, it's much more common. We are not their marketplace really.

I was surprised to hear about the mink farms in Denmark

Mistressiggi so was I. Do animal rights activists protest against them? If not I’m surprised as that sort of factory farming is so unpleasant.
But then as far as I know they don’t make a fuss about salmon farming which is vile and I humane.
I’m happy to be corrected.

Because it's snuggly, warm, cosy, perfect for putting over evening wear and I look bloody good in it- get told so, too. I buy new and vintage.

Denmark gets pretty cold I think so it makes sense to wear fur there. As others have said, not sure it's any more egregious than down coats and duvets, meat, dairy or clothes with an iffy employment supply chain or that use materials that don't break down easily when discarded. It's just easier to emote about it and PETA have made it into a flashpoint.

Also not sure why there's such outrage about these particular mink being culled - their days were numbered anyway.

@WitchesSpelleas

Is it any worse than eating meat?

I'm not entirely against fur, like leather, as a byproduct of the meat industry but really, fur serves no good purpose like meat does. We could argue that meat also has alternatives but that's a very different thing. I think the reason fur is so abhorrent is the farming methods. Restricted movement so no damage can be caused to the pelts, mass production because it takes a hell of a lot of minks to create a coat and probably the worst one is in some countries, the animals having their soft fur ripped out or off whilst alive.

If it was fur that is a byproduct of food then I wouldn't have an issue. I eat meat. Animals die for me to eat. I just don't need them to die only for my fashion.

@MrsToothyBitch but does the pain and suffering of the animal not affect you? Do you not feel awful for contributing towards a very brutal form of animal cruelty? It is utterly barbaric how fur is acquired.

Again, I am not trying to cause an argument, I am open to all views and find people's different attitudes very interesting. But as someone who wears fur, do you not realise what the animal goes through or do you decide to ignore it?

And as others have pointed out, it does seem a little hypocritical for meat eaters to look down on fur wearers. I eat meat but refuse to wear fur (not that I could afford it!) So maybe I should re-evaluate my views/attitudes on eating meat.

Whilst I would never buy new fur, I do have a vintage 1950s fur jacket that a lady I used to look after have me as a gift.
I've worn it about twice as I feel really conspicuous in it. DD actually wore it to a costume party at New Year.
I tend to think, well, it's 70ish years old, there's not much u can do about that era now and I would hate to bin it as the lady had since passed away and I was close to her and still miss her.
Likewise, my DGran was an owner of crocodile and snake skin shoes, furs and all sorts but back when they were bought for her, these were a status symbol he bought for her with no clue of why it was wrong. They came from a hard upbringing with very little and he liked to spoil her when he started to do well.
It's all in storage now and we've no clue what to do with it.

Don't see it as much different to leather.

Well, this post is very different to the woman who posted upset that a seller on Etsy was using rabbit fur!

Personally I have no strong feelings towards or against fur. I eat meat and wear leather and have feather pillows. I’m not sure I like the idea of small animals being bred purely for coats, so long as it’s done humanely and due to a need (people living in Siberia probably need it). It doesn’t seem that’s the case however.

@DreadingSeason2020sFinale "If it was fur that is a byproduct of food then I wouldn't have an issue. I eat meat. Animals die for me to eat. I just don't need them to die only for my fashion."

I very much agree with you on this. Leather and wool are byproducts and the animal is killed for meat. However an animal that is skinned alive then its writhing body discarded onto a pile...that's what I have an issue with.

Posted too soon.

I wasn’t actually aware that monks are still farmed, let alone to be 10% of Denmark’s exports.

@MillieVanilla there are charities out there where you can donate fur coats to orphaned baby animals. The young animal will snuggle into the fur as a "replica" of its mother. That may be an idea of what you could do with your old furs

@GenevaL I can only assume you are vegan from your post?

@MustardMitt

Posted too soon.

I wasn’t actually aware that monks are still farmed, let alone to be 10% of Denmark’s exports.

Yikes

Monk farming is a terrible problem.

"However an animal that is skinned alive then its writhing body discarded onto a pile...that's what I have an issue with."

They skin them while they are still ALIVE??? Fucking hell, that is horrific.

Fur is no worse than eating meat - arguably it's actually better as a coat will keep you warm and be worn for years unlike your dinner. Plus it's much better for the environment - the mink in Denmark are fed on waste from other food industries which would otherwise not be used. No it's not a pleasant industry but no worse than industrial pig farming at scale which is where all your Danish bacon comes from. I think if you condemn fur but eat cheap meat and wear leather you're a massive hypocrite.

I've been vegetarian for over 20 years but I do wear fur. My last coat was stunning and lasted me for over 15 years, I bought it vintage. Chinese fur I would steer clear of as that's where live skinning etc happens, but the fur farms in Europe have better standards.

BadlyDrawn what if your post were to read

But as someone who wears fur cheap clothes, do you not realise what the animal human being toiling in a sweatshop for pennies goes through or do you decide to ignore it?

Hypocritical much? Or do you only wear the finest garments handmade in Europe?

@Baaaahhhhh

I don't own a fur coat, and wouldn't buy one, I refused my DM's offer of inheriting hers, we gave them to charity. However, I am conflicted in that animal fur is a natural and environmentally friendly method of keeping you warm. I agree, the fur industry is abhorrent and cruel, but ultimately, if we could farm fur animals in an acceptable and humane way, it would be way better for the planet than continuing to rely on by products of the oil industry.

Fur is nothing but environmentally friendly. The farming is very damging for the environment and that's nothing compared to the amount of chemicals used in the preparation of the fur itself

I have sheepskin rugs. A leather jacket. Logically, does it make any difference that they are a byproduct of the food industry? They would go to waste otherwise.

I suppose I wouldn't wear something that had been bred purely for its skin. Not that I've ever had the money or lived anywhere cold enough to need it.

Sometimes, real fur is cheaper than synthetic fur. Not sure that applies to mink. My daughter bought a furry bag on holiday in France, it is suspiciously soft. I assumed it was synthetic but once we got it back to the hotel I started to have my doubts. I haven't mentioned them to her as she would be horrified.

Ugh.

I cannot understand people choosing to buy fur personally, even fake fur. Not my thing.

Leaving the argument of the ethical rights of wearing fur; the Danish mink were kept in appalling conditions, tiny little cages.

For some reason (probably that mink are rapacious little shits) people seem to think this is OK. Any other animal and the animal rights activists would be jumping up and down in fits of rage.

Mink shouldnt have to be nice eg cuddly, doe eyed furbags just to get a fair press.

Getting back to the ethics of wearing fur; c'mon, you have so many other options (and it only takes one dumb.....remember that advert?)

[quote Dillo10]@GenevaL I can only assume you are vegan from your post?[/quote]
You assumed correctly.