DW won't allow me to take DS fishing as she says it's animal cruelty.

[MichaelJamesP]

DS knows about fishing, etc. and asked if we could go. I fished when I was his age.

DW has said absolutely not. Saying she doesn’t want to encourage him to injure animals.

Surely fish don’t feel pain?

It’s ridiculous, surely? Would you just take him when she is at work?

Maybe compromise and take him to throw stones at ducks instead?

Or chase some lambs?

Inflicting pain and distress on a creature for a laugh doesn't teach children where food comes from.

Visiting a farm perhaps or go fruit picking?

Honestly just do it, live bait and all. Teach him how to feed his family. It’s a fish that’s probably stocked anyway. Do you guy and filet your own? Or bake whole?

Why not get him a hunting knife and teach him how to snare rabbits?

I’m not joking though, I honestly think hunting to a certain extent and fishing are worthwhile skills. My daughter in law’s family hunt elk that will sustain their family all year. Close friends just home with moose that will be shared among family. My little ones all caught trout and later salmon.

Have to say, I take your side on this one. I'm as pro-animal rights as anyone, but I don't see the great harm to the universe from a bit of sport fishing.

But on no accounts do it behind her back. That's a really terrible idea and if she ever finds out, she'll be very upset.

Do you guys eat meat/fish at home? I'd be inclined to point out that if you do, then your son should know where that food comes from. I grew up on a farm, and have been to an abbatoir. It's not pleasant, but my dad always said if you're going to send an animal to the slaughter, you have a duty to know what you're doing.

Anyway, an alternative would be to take him to an aquarium.

Not many elk around these parts. I'm assuming the op is in the uk where we just don't seem to hunt as much as they do in the US/Canada.

cookie: "Have to say, I take your side on this one. I'm as pro-animal rights as anyone, but I don't see the great harm to the universe from a bit of sport fishing."

Can you see the massive problem with this statement? You're not as pro animal rights as anyone. If you think fishing is okay you're decidedly anti animal rights!

I do not object to hunting for food purposes.
I do not object to farming animals for food purposes.
I do object to deliberately causing pain and distress to another living creature, purely for the purpose of entertainment.

I think it depends on the type of fishing as everyone has said. Fishing and then eating what you catch is a positive lesson, but fishing just to catch something, rip its mouth apart then throw it back is cruel IMO.

If you intend to eat your catch then perhaps explain to your wife that you want to teach him where food comes from so you're going to catch and eat the fish together. I wouldn't go behind her back though, deceit is never a good idea however well intentioned it is.

Does your wife always have the last word?

Fishing is horrible and your DW is right Imo.

Hook a fish through the mouth, suffocate it for a bit and throw it back in?! What a “sport”.

Far better to find a hobby which encourages animal care than animal harm. And yes, fish are animals (to a child).

OneMoreTune and just in general!

Blah blah blah all this talk about different people’s perspectives on fishing...

It doesn’t matter.

You and your wife are both parents to your son. You have a difference of opinion...

The only thing to do is talk about it and come to a joint decision.

If you just go behind her back you are, as others have said, telling her that you think you are more important than her and you have no respect for her feelings or thoughts - a quick road to divorce...

An animal's life has little worth?? I just don't think like that. It. May not have worth to you but its life is its life and depending on the animal they have familial bonds and purpose. Our lives are just as meaningless surely.

I agree with her sorry. It's cruel.

Surely fish don’t feel pain?
How do you know? Even if, for argument's sake, they don't feel pain they hardly want to be dragged out of the water, suffocated for a while and handled do they! And having a hook in the mouth is going to cause and injury, the consequences of which you have no idea. That's obviously very stressful for them so why anyone would have a hobby out of treating animals badly is beyond me. I have some respect for people fishing to put food on their own plate, but absolutely not for fun/sport/hobby. That's pretty sick IMO.

Its not as cruel as you think
So it's just a bit cruel then? OK No hobby should involve animal cruelty.

Maybe compromise and take him to throw stones at ducks instead?
Or a nice afternoon of father/son bonding at a dog fight or abattoir

I'm as pro-animal rights as anyone, but I don't see the great harm to the universe from a bit of sport fishing
Erm, if you don't see a problem with fishing for sport then you most certainly are not pro animal rights! You're a cherry picker.

Surely fish don’t feel pain?......You really, honestly believe this? I despair

you despair at science? www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130808123719.htm]

Why does the mother get to overule the father here? Who is she to say she won't let him do something with his child?

More science. Hopefully with a working link, that suggests yes, they do feel pain.

www.fishpain.com/fish-and-pain-receptors.htm

Why is eating animals less cruel? Do you know how animals die before they get on your plate? It's not a case of here you go you lovely little lamb, be a good lamb and pop this little pill for me, you won't feel a thing.

Why have people convinced themselves that killing animals is ok because it's food? We can all survive without meat.

For me fishing is less cruel than the slaughter of animals for human consumption.

Animals should not be used for human pleasure full stop.

When the tables are turned and some stupid fucker falls into a lions den at a zoo and gets eaten, the lion gets put down or shot! Why?