to wonder why it's acceptable to flaunt a leopard-skin coat?

[RockinSockBunnies]

So, an acquaintance of mine has been wearing what I'd assumed to be a fake fur coat these past few days. Happened to be sitting next to her today and coat was hanging over the back of her chair which I brushed against as I went past. Realised it felt totally real, rather than fake.

So, I asked her if it was indeed real which she confirmed it was (she's very rich, wears very expensive designer stuff etc).

Now, I should state that I'm a vegetarian and love animals...BUT, still, for most people, isn't there a line to be drawn at wearing fur? Especially since we don't actually live in Siberia but the UK (in my case, London).

She raised an eyebrow at me when I queried if it was real and asked if I was going to throw my drink over it. As tempting as that sounded, I doubt it would miraculously bring the leopard back to life so I ignored her comment.

But AIBU to think that there really is no place for fur to be worn?

i just think starting an argument with a friend over a coat that is LONG dead is extremely pointless.
If it's a brand new one i'd feel a bit uneasy, dont know why!

i saw an awful video a couple of years ago of skinning alive. yes, this is horrible and awful, obviously we need properly sourced fur. it's better now than it was when fur coats were the norm!

lobster, you boil it alive... whats the take on that?

wearing fur isnt 'promoting' it is it really? you tend to have a stance on fur whoever you are. if you're not okay with it, you're not going to wear it, doesnt make a difference if someone else does?

ive always thought it interesting, people who are vegetarian because they loves animals but wear leather...?

"Mink is farmed, and a nasty rat-like creature" Nowt wrong with rats i have and breed them. Inflicting such pain on any creature is unacceptable 'nasty' or not .

crowandalice Very true. No animal should be skinned for purely fashion purposes. (Especially not ratties)

Totally unacceptable. Fur belongs on animals, unless you live in the stone age. Leopards are endangered and by buying it she is encouraging illegal trade.

Absolutely disgusting. I could never associate with someone who is prepared to wear real fur, unless it was vintage.

And why do we skin sheep and cows?

Honeydew - presumably you associate with meat-eaters. What's the difference between that and fur?

how about if you object to leather being used as a fashion item?
i refuse to believe that throughout history, there hasnt been one single case of someone using the hide and not the meat or vice versa.
kaloki: exactly

Are you sure it was leopard, not rabbit dyed to look like leopard? That would be much more likely (though perhaps not much more acceptable ).

YANBU.

Had I been you I wouldn't have waited to be asked if I was going to throw my drink over her coat.

Naturally I would throw my drink over the nasty object's woman's coat as I would need to damp the flames down somehow.

I am a vegetarian and I do not find it unacceptable for people to wear fur.

Obviously it is wrong to wear the hide of an endangered animal, but I can't see why wearing is fur is worse than eating meat, or why killing a wild animal that is not endangered is worse than killing a farmed animal.

I am sure that there is misery in the farming of rabbits for fur; I am not convinced it is any worse than the horror of angora production.

If it is leopard, its old. If its new its not leopard.

I do find it hypocritical for someone in their leather shoes and belt, a belly full of meat and so on to state categorically that fur is just plain wrong. Its all an ethical spectrum and you can draw your own lines where you will, but its a bit much to pick your point and start shouting this side fine, that side wrong and evil.

why shouldn't i wear, eg my gandmothers fur coat - the animals are 60 years dead?

on the other hand i wouldn't buy a new fur, or fur-trimmed item. that is supporting a nasty industry.

Milly speaks good sense - why is fur worse than leather? I know someone who farms rabbits for fur (mmm, delicious rabbits) - I don't know if he's representative or not, but he clearly shows it can be done without cruelty to the animal.

YAB a tiny but U, you eat the insides you can wear the outsides or if you've killed it to protect your livestock then I have no problem with wearing it's pelt. But for vanity and no other reason then, no, I don't think you should wear fur.

ComplicatedTiggaxx

Leopard skin sounds really tacky like something Marlene on 'only fools and horses' would wear.
But I think its up to people to determine their own moral standards.i wouldn't personally wear fur but its not up to me to impose my views on others

WHAT?

jeez, think there must have been some kind of alien abduction...

what?

okay, so the basic thing here is:

wearing [real] fur promotes cruelty to animals.

because animals are killed for their fur.
because you love animals and this is wrong.
we kill animals for their meat.
we kill for their hide.

is this as wrong as wearing fur?

and not all fur is from being skinned alive, just like all chicken isnt from battery farmed hens.

wearing fur doesnt promote. i dont even notice people wearing fur because there's so much fake and good fake about you dont really notice just by looking at it if its a real one! and if you hate the idea, you dont wear it. noones mind is going to be changed by a model or a fashionable friend wearing fur.