The jumping bull...sympathy?

[scotpens]

. . . bullfighting is inherently an act of torture that has no purpose. It is FAR from a quick, dignified death with a purpose.

Agreed. It's also blatantly unfair. The bull is heavy, violent and agressive, with four legs and great sharp teeth, whereas the bullfighter is only a small, greasy Spaniard.

(Hey, someone had to do the Monty Python reference.)

. . . First person (paraphrasing): In some ways, they all deserved to get hurt for watching a bull being tortured.

As I pointed out upthread, in this particular type of event, the bull isn't tortured and normally isn't killed. Participants try to provoke the animal into charging at them. Maybe they insult the bull and call him dirty names.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Maybe they insult the bull and call him dirty names.

"Hey! What a gulli-BULL! What a nin-COW-poop!"

"Your mother was a wall hanging in a honky-tonk!"

"Talk about BULL-shit!"

"Your mother chews cuds in hell!"

"Get a load of this leather jacket!"

"You're STEAK, buddy!"

 

[StarryEyed]

I guess I'm weird-I don't understand why people feel sympathy towards the bull.

Not weird, unfortunately. Many people lack empathy for other living creatures.

Imagine someone stabbing a steak knife into your side. Imagine how much that would hurt. A bull feels it the same way a human does. Maybe I'm weird but I have empathy for every living thing.

Regrettably, suffering is a part of nature. Carnivorous animals have no choice but to hunt and kill. We humans have a choice. We don't need meat and we sure as hell don't need to inflict suffering for entertainment.

So let me ask you this, what do you do to fight against the injustices of such acts?

I don't eat meat, I don't patronize enterprises which abuse animals and I vote. I also make my opinion known in forums like this, if that counts for anything.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

. . . First person (paraphrasing): In some ways, they all deserved to get hurt for watching a bull being tortured.

As I pointed out upthread, in this particular type of event, the bull isn't tortured and normally isn't killed. Participants try to provoke the animal into charging at them. Maybe they insult the bull and call him dirty names.

Yeah, I saw. But I was referencing previous posts because I was dragged into a side argument.

Now I'm curious about these insults. The Spanish do have some pretty good ones (assuming Mexican Spanish is similar Castilian here).

 

[sidious618]

I'll say it again for the cheap seats: I DON'T LIKE TO SEE WOMEN GET HURT!
And guys, instead of leaning on "Why is it OK for the men to get hurt but not the women?" go for the more logical and easily defensible "Why do you want anyone to get hurt at all?"

No, your opinion is sexist which is why people aren't bothering to take it seriously.

 

[Amaris]

Agreed. I don't have a problem with people eating meat, it's the immense suffering some of these animals go through to be put on our plates. I believe it is possible to be humane and respectful of nature, and animals in particular. We should do this because we know better. We know the difference.

You have a higher opinion of our species than I do.

While that may be, I don't think I'm in the minority regarding our species' ability to stand up from the muck and dry ourselves off. We're animals, but we are intelligent enough to recognize the differences between ourselves and other animals that live on this earth with us.

 

[Eleanor_zhDarjel]

I agree with the stand up part, what I don't believe in is the intelligent part. Or maybe we just are the only species on this planet with the questionable ability to delude ourselfs when it comes to the point of recognizing other animals place in the world.

Or the rain is turning me a wee bit melancholic.

 

[SPOCKED]

I heard today that the bull was destroyed. I wonder if it was because it was injured beyond repair in this debacle. Otherwise, if it was only because it went wild in the crowd, well, that's no reason. Its an angry bull doing what any angry bull would do - it's not mad-cow crazy

Bullfighting is an old tradition and while I have no interest in attending one, its not for me to call for an end to this "sport" generally. Yes, I feel sad for bulls that are killed, and, of course, its horrible that anyone there was injured. Very sad all around.

The "running of the bulls" however (and every year we see the gory footage ) - sorry, no sympathy for anyone that gets a horn up their ass who chooses to enter that arena

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I thought I heard on the news (though I can't be 100% sure since I don't have an article right in front of me) that the bull was destroyed simply because it ran wild through the crowd.

So should we "destroy" the people who enraged it to that point????

Bullfighting should be eliminated. Just because bulls aren't "cute" like dogs, which everyone rightly gets outraged about when they're forced to fight or otherwise die for people's sick entertainment, doesn't mean they shouldn't get the same consideration. Supporting bullfighting is supporting blood sport, period, and it should be outlawed.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Yes, forcing animals to fight each other or Humans should indeed be outlawed.