People outraged over the kill of an octupus- okay or not?
By Oneironaut
@_sketch_ (5742)
United States
November 5, 2012 2:49pm CST
So I just read this article about a diver who legally caught and killed a Giant Pacific Octopus. People heard about it and now he and his family are receiving death threats. He didn't just do it for game, but to draw it for art and for the meat. Is this act okay or did he do something wrong? He did it legally, so does that make it okay or should the law be changed?
Personally, I feel bad about the creature being killed, but since he is going to use the meat, I'm not sure I feel like he did anything wrong. I certainly don't think that people should be making death threats though. I never understood why people do that.
It seems like one of the primary reasons people are mad is because of the creature's intelligence. As mentioned in the article, these octopi have been able to solve puzzles. Does a creature's intelligence give it more right to live?
Tell me your thoughts on this. I am really interested to hear what people have to say. Here's the link:
http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/40201/divers+capture+of+a+beloved+giant+pacific+octopus+sparks+outrage/
4 responses
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
9 Nov 12
he caught it legally?
and he fed himself and his family with it?
ok so I am failing to see the problem
seriously deer hunters dont get alot of flack for what they do and half of them dont actually eat what they kill
animals were put on this earth to feed us
I get so sick of hearing about animal rights activists going overboard
no one is asking them to harm or eatan animal so they need to just go about their business and stay out of stuff like this
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
10 Nov 12
I don't know if animals were put on this earth to feed us any more than we were put on the planet to feed them. That's a pretty subjective claim.
Many of these animal rights people may be going overboard in ways, but I find it interesting the notion that if someone isn't forced to partake in an activity they find immoral they should stay out of it. You say, "..stay out of stuff like this." Care to clarify and expand on this? What kind of stuff is acceptable for them to get involved in and which is not?
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
10 Nov 12
if a person is hunting and killing wild animals for food then it should be noones business but theirs
BUT if someone is makiing a domestic animal suffer needlessly then the animal rights activivsts should get involved
@Magz1989 (271)
• Philippines
6 Nov 12
Well, the diver did it for a living and it was not for fun anyway. More over, those who threaten him were maybe animal lovers or maybe they have a different belief on that sea creature, you know paganism still exist...believing on those creatures as Gods so we cannot really fathom their belief as well. They believe that there God was killed and a doom will behead on them so, they want to kill the diver.
On the side of the diver, he did it for a living, his family needs food and he didn't know about those believes as well so, he should not be threatened as well.
So, we can really fathom what other people believe but we just respect others life...
its Gods Gift.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
10 Nov 12
Um, I don't really know what you mean about what you said about Pagans. I believe there is an Octopus deity in Paganism, but I don't believe that Pagans have any special reverence towards Octopi or anything like that.
Anyways, yes people have many different beliefs, which definitely clash sometimes. I agree that we should consider other people's feelings and beliefs, but to what extent? I'm sure that any action is bound to offend someone in the world. How can we decide when is the time to back down in respect for others and when we need to stand up for ourselves and do what we want?
@dream_ozn (1754)
• Singapore
6 Nov 12
Hi,
I think many people are standing up to such causes nowadays.
It seems like no matter what animal is killed, there will definitely be someone out there who would disagree and then the matter gets blown up.
Another case is shark where many people capture sharks for their fins. Many countries are contemplating about banning this dish because many people are against killing sharkfins.
For me, I think that every life should be treasured. Regardless of whether it is a human or not. Many people become vegans because they are for the cause that animals should not be killed for their meat. Even common meat like chicken or pig has lots of comments and many people do not want them killed.
As for your question if a creature's intelligence give it more right to live? I have never thought about this question before. But i think in this world, everybody has to fight to survive. and therefore, all the fittest survives. It might be very cold and hard, but it seems like this is how the world works
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
10 Nov 12
Yes, the fittest surviving has always been the way of nature, but has any creature been so aware of their actions as humans? I don't think that any animal before us has sat down and contemplated the morality of their actions. So given the fact that we do have this ability, does it not come with a responsibility to take action on it? This cold and hard way is how the world works, but given the opportunity to change how the world works, are we obligated to do so?
@McCreeper (777)
• United States
6 Nov 12
I think I would have to side with the killer on this. Given that there were alternative sources to food, I would have to disagree, but when it comes to living, I think it's more of the survival of the fittest type of thing instead of being compassionate about animals that have the potential to eat you instead.
