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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think fox hunting is not a big deal at all?

189 replies

chandellina · 16/04/2010 22:27

and should never have been the subject of national debate, since it affects about 100 people? (ok, maybe more, but not many)

I was a vegetarian when it was banned, btw. I just think it's such a non-issue, and can't believe it is still being trotted out as a reason not to vote Tory.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 16/04/2010 22:30

It's quite a bidg deal for the fox

onebatmother · 16/04/2010 22:30

I think it's the honking vigour with which they resisted the ban - even though, as you say, ita ffected about 100 of them - which is trotted out, quite rightly, as a reason not to vote Tory.

scurryfunge · 16/04/2010 22:30

big deal

dooit · 16/04/2010 22:31

Fox hunting (or the lack of) definitely affects very many more than 100 people.

waitingforbedtime · 16/04/2010 22:31

YABU I think it affects much more than 100 people and much more than 100 foxes...

southeastastra · 16/04/2010 22:32

im confused are you for or against?

poshwellies · 16/04/2010 22:32

Think you find it effects more than 100,1000 more like if I can recall.

It's a big deal for those for it and those against.

dooit · 16/04/2010 22:33

It's equally a big deal for foxes that are caught in traps, shot badly and left to die from their wounds or left to die lingering deaths due to disease etc.

Original poster
chandellina · 16/04/2010 22:35

My question is - why did it become the topic of a national debate, worthy of a legislative ban? And why do people say it is a reason not to vote Tory, because they might allow it again? (not that it seems to have really gone away anyway.) Don't we have more important things to vote on?

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 16/04/2010 22:39

It became a national debate worthy of a legislative ban because lots of people didn't want to live in a society that looked on a bloodsport as acceptable 'amusement'.

It has made me think twice about voting Tory, even though I want to get Labour out big time. Repealing the ban would be like saying it's OK for animals to be ripped to pieces by a pack of dogs, with a crowd of people looking on and enjoying it (?).

No thanks.

ShadeofViolet · 16/04/2010 22:42

YABU - its barbaric and nasty. I dont want to live in a country that sees bloodsport like this as fun.

winnybella · 16/04/2010 22:44

Frankly I don't see that much difference between fox hunting and intensive farming.
Fox gets to have a nice life, then he gets chased and ripped to shreds, ok, but that last bit is pretty instantenous.

Widely accepted animal farming means there are thousands of animals being kept in horrible conditions all their life and often killed in not the most humane way, either.

Not an issue, imo.

Original poster
chandellina · 16/04/2010 22:45

i agree. I'd rather eat a wild animal that has been hunted to its death than an intensively bred chicken.

OP posts:
winnybella · 16/04/2010 22:46

And doesn't it help to keep the fox population in check? As opposed to shooting them and then leaving them to die slowly in pain.

dooit · 16/04/2010 22:47

AZZ the very large majority of folk that join the hunt will NEVER see a fox, let alone "enjoying" seeing one being "ripped to pieces". A farmer friend of mine hunted for 30 odd years and never once saw a kill. He did however thoroughly enjoy riding his horses across country in company whilst helping to reduce the numbers of his and his fellow farmers' stock that would be "ripped to pieces" by foxes.

southeastastra · 16/04/2010 22:48

how many chickens are hunted to their death? am i missing something here

donkeyderby · 16/04/2010 22:48

I can think of so many more reasons not to vote Tory than foxhunting.

Personally, I agree with you that it is a minor, barely significant issue, based largely on class war. Animals rip each other apart all the time - it is nature at work.

In terms of animal welfare, factory farming is a much bigger issue, producing meat on a scale that is unhealthy for humans and involving vast numbers of animals, kept alive in appalling conditions that makes their death a welcome relief, I imagine.

southeastastra · 16/04/2010 22:49

hunting is barbaric, you have to be some sort of upper class twat not to see that.

BexJ78 · 16/04/2010 22:51

It caused a lot of debate as many 'country people' saw the proposed ban as an infringement on their liberties and the 'country way of life'. My dad has never been part of a hunt but he went down to London and marched with the countryside alliance in protest. And he is not the protesting type! I do not agree with hunting or shooting etc; i think it is unpleasant and unneccessary (a bit like boxing...)

Original poster
chandellina · 16/04/2010 22:51

the class war thing is what annoys me, I think. I think the "lower classes," with their love of £2 chickens have a lot more to answer for than a few "toffs" hunting foxes.

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 16/04/2010 22:52

What Sea said....

jurisfictionoperative · 16/04/2010 22:52

I totally agree with winnybella. It's fine to abuse farm animals, not foxes! People need to get perspective. Is it okay to let a chicken suffer, so people get a cheap dinner?
Also, have just found out, from a reliable source, our local sabs get paid £70 a time to make themselves a nuisance! Mmm! Ethical!

southeastastra · 16/04/2010 22:52

ha the lower classes don't breed £2 chickens do they?

AgentZigzag · 16/04/2010 22:52

Lol South, cut to the chase (so to speak) why don't you??

winnybella · 16/04/2010 22:52

southeastra, the chickens are not hunted to their death,. They are kept in abysmal conditions for the whole duration of their life and then killed in ways that are painful or often do not assure instant death.

Frankly it seems to be more of a backlash against 'upper class twats' then anything else.