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.

@Puzzledandpissedoff yep, I agree with you about the fishing. As others have said, it seems though people don't kick up a fuss because fish "aren't cute".

I would believe anything of the Chinese, where animal (or indeed human) rights are concerned. The stuff they do in zoos in the name of "entertainment" is horrific. I am glad that I'm in a civilised country.

I expressed surprise that anyone could imagine skinning a live animal to be the standard practice when it would defy all sense. I now see that it is racism which explains that disconnect.

Hunting for food and hunting for sport are two completely different matters

Jerking a fish around on a hook, pulling it out for a bit then putting it back is hardly hunting for food.

I think coursing is equally bloody revolting but it doesn't seem to get the same attention Neither does cock fighting, dog fighting or numerous other unpleasant "sports"

Of course it is. If not then shooting and fishing would’ve been banned at the same time.

This argument makes little sense. The working class bloodsports referred to have been illegal for much longer than fox hunting precisely because they were not popular amongst Tory party members. There is less disruption of those events because they are very rare now whereas (certainly in my region) live fox hunting still occurs.

Shooting is not illegal because the animal dies instantly- it is no more cruel than any other form of animal killing.

Fishing is not illegal because they are not sapient. They have no higher brain structure and so do not 'feel' distress in the way a mammal would.

Unfortunately shot birds often don’t die instantly.
Those shooting do their best to kill off wounded birds as quickly as possible but wounded ones aren’t always found.

Nonetheless if I had to choose I’d rather be a bird or animal living in the wild and killed, than a factory farmed animal condemned to a horrible life from day one.

Fishing is not illegal because they are not sentient. They have no higher brain structure and so do not 'feel' distress in the way a mammal would
What utter, utter bollocks.

@Andante57

Hunting for food and hunting for sport are two completely different matters

Jerking a fish around on a hook, pulling it out for a bit then putting it back is hardly hunting for food.

You misunderstood me sorry- I didn't intend to class fishing as hunting or a bloodsport!

@donquixotedelamancha "Fishing is not illegal because they are not sapient. They have no higher brain structure and so do not 'feel' distress in the way a mammal would."

Are you sure about that pretty sure fish can feel pain just as much as a mammal can...

What utter, utter bollocks.

@MrsJunglelow Do you have evidence that salmon are sentient? I would be interested to read it.Do

Are you sure about that confused pretty sure fish can feel pain just as much as a mammal can...

Do you mean detect pain? So can carrots, cockroaches and most living organisms more complex than a fungus.

Or do you mean are sentient to their own suffering? If so I'd be interested to read your source.

@donquixotedelamancha every living creature can feel pain.

I'm going to stop conversing with you now - you come across as quite argumentative and my original thread was nothing about fishing whatsoever...cheerio.

I'm going to stop conversing with you now - you come across as quite argumentative and my original thread was nothing about fishing whatsoever...cheerio.

What a childish reply. Of course all animals feel pain, but not equally. That is why distinction is made between different types of suffering. I didn't brinng up fishing, I just engaged with your point that they are fished because they aren't cute- that's not the case fishing is legal because it is different from chasing a fox.

Everything has a cost. I'm not sure an animals life is a bigger cost than the planet, climate change etc.

I also don't see a difference between leather, meat, dairy or fur. All involve breeding animals for the purpose of killing them.

Ever since watching “Finding Nemo” fish have seemed to be just as “sentient” as mammals to me. I call it the Disney effect.

I've never worn it. But I eat meat and wear leather shoes.
Is it worse cos they are cute furry animals?

As the saying goes it takes 40 dumb animals to make a fur coat but only one dumb animal to wear it.

I eat meat so I suppose ethically I can have no issue with the actual act of wearing fur otherwise I would be hypocritical.

But I don't wear it as the animals are tortured.

Does anyone know why the animals are killed that way and not humanely put to death. It seems so unnecessary.

I dont want to Google PETA videos and the like as I can't unsee something later.

But an interesting thread. The more I read on the subject, the more I am seriously considering vegetarianism.

The more I read on the subject, the more I am seriously considering vegetarianism

Hurrah!

Is it any worse than eating meat?

No basically.

But people are hypocrites.

I've been following this thread with interest as I own a lot of exotic leather items which seem to be far more 'palatable' than fur but basically are the same ends. An animal is killed for its skin/meat/fur.

I think animals that are bred to produce meat/fur/skin should have a reasonable QOL which is why I don't buy a lot of items brand new or unless I can see the company uses ethical farms (see Mulberry using an ethical ostrich farm for ostrich leather)

But to be quite honest, mink being cooped up in cages is so far down my priority list as to even register. There's a whole lot of foaming about fur/meat with veganism being more and more of a trend. But there's clear evidence that the demand for 'vegan' food fads such as avocado and cashews have a devastating impact on the areas they're grown.

So while fur farming may not be pleasant- it provides employment and income to people and a sustainable source of fur/meat/skin.

[quote BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter]@DdraigGoch don't even get me started on animals being used in circuses. Absolutely vile and archaic.[/quote]
I once attended a circus in France where the use of wild animals is still common. The first act was a lion tamer. I went open minded but I never could see the point of it. I had far more fun when the clown came on.

Domesticated animals I have less of an issue with. Provided that they are treated well, I see nothing wrong with horses or dogs performing.

I do agree with the people saying how is it different to goose, duck and down feathers in lining of coats or duvets or pillows. I have feathers in cushions, I own Ugg boots (although Ugg Australia claim they are cruelty free) I have leather shoes and bags (nothing exotic like crocodile or ostrich) and I eat meat and fish so I feel hypocritical re real fur.
I don’t own a real fur and I don’t own a faux fur either but if faux fur is as good as real fur how can the people who think someone who’s wearing real fur looks terrible?! Surely you can’t tell?!

@Willyoujustbequiet

As the saying goes it takes 40 dumb animals to make a fur coat but only one dumb animal to wear it.

Would you say that applied to people wearing leather?

I eat meat so I suppose ethically I can have no issue with the actual act of wearing fur otherwise I would be hypocritical. But I don't wear it as the animals are tortured

That seems to be the key for many of us, certainly with meat and for leather/fur also for some

Personally I've no issue with farmed animals having to die for me to eat or wear them ... I just don't want them tortured so I can do it

Fur doesn't necessarily equal torture same way like only tor eating doesn't necessarily equal no torture.