You feel pain but do they?

[Vandal]

Well some folks seem to think they do!

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[GutZ]

I was applying a wood shampoo the other day and missed, got my thumb, man did that hurt. I still have a mark.

I guess it's true what they say Fishing Hurts!

[OceanBlue]

Crimeny! Did anyone really think fish don't feel pain?!

[lost_sailor]

Perhaps the more important question is:

"WHO CARES?"

It can't be worse than the pain I feel from not catching fish.

[STGRule]

PM: You are so correct. The problem is people don't want to have fish feel pain because PETA will be into it then. What people don't realize is that while fish feel pain, they have no capacity to "suffer". That is an emotion that fish don't have. They feel pain, attempt to remove themselves from the stimulus and then move on with their lives. That is why they can bite a hook thinking it is food, and if let go, be back in a few minutes and do it all over again. They can't "remember" or "suffer".

[Silver Hilton]

I think we miss a bet when we enter this debate with PETA, et al.

I am fully prepared to admit that fish may well feel pain. They may well suffer, and I do not unnecessarily extend either such pain or such suffering.

However, we are the dominant species on the planet, currently. We're omnivores, and have evolved as partial meat eaters. It's our natural existence, just as it is a salmon's natural existence to eat other fish.

Practically everything we do causes some other creature to enjoy less than the most successful, extended life that it might. Living in a dark cell, consuming a minimal vegan diet, drinking only water, still denies some creature calories and water that might have helped it be more successful.

That is what existence is. Life is suffering. Your life causes suffering to yourself and others. All life is suffering. It is the natural condition. That is what PETA misses.

If the PETA folks are sincere and consistent in their beliefs, the only logically consistent act is to cease competing with other creatures for food, water, and air. Which would dramatically reduce their petulant whining about ending my fishing.

[OceanBlue]

STGrule - People could take a lesson from fish, eh?

Silver Hilton - So I guess what you're saying is that if PETA had it their way, they would outlaw all predatory behavior for all species on the planet. I mean really, if an animal attacks another and doesn't manage to kill it, wouldn't that cause suffering? In the process of killing that other animal, wouldn't it cause pain?

I do agree with what you're saying, wholeheartedly, about minimizing the pain caused to the fish. It's only humane. Bonk 'em and bleed 'em asap or revive and release immediately.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I came across an interesting point regarding PETA recently. The guy made the argument that: PETA thinks we shouldn't hurt or eat animals, PETA thinks we should eat grains and veggies instead, grains and veggies come from farms, animals (rabbits, mice, birds, foxes, etc.) die on farms every day from being chopped up by combines, tractors, disk-ers, etc.....

Just thought it was interesting, I hadn't puzzled it out that far myself.

[BonkBonkBonk]

Originally posted by lost_sailor:
Perhaps the more important question is:

"WHO CARES?"

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">exactly