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Fish are not particularly cuddly animals: they lack warmth, fur, scratchy tongues, and personalities. They don't seem to show much interest in cuddling with humans, playing with catnip, or generally engaging in fun, photogenic activities.The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recently came to the conclusion that this lack of cuddliness is the reason that so many people eat fish. Consequently, they have begun a campaign to rename the aquatic beasts "sea kittens." As campaign coordinator Ashley Byrne notes, "Most parents would never dream of spending a weekend torturing kittens for fun with their families, but hooking a sea kitten through the mouth and dragging her through the water is the same as hooking a kitten through the mouth and dragging her behind your car."
This argument, admittedly, brings to mind about a million rebuttals, but I am inclined to let the differences between fish and kittens speak for themselves. It seens necessary to point out, however, that cats are friendlier than fish and that fish (aka "tofu of the sea") are far stupider than cats. Moreover, while fish taste like fish, my experience has shown that cats actually taste like sesame chicken.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-14-2009 @ 9:21AM
ronzo said...
These people do not live in the reality that the rest of us live in. They have created their own, evidently.
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1-14-2009 @ 11:18AM
Matt said...
gotta love PETA... this sounds more like an April fools joke.
I don't think even that would stop me from ordering Sea Kitten Sashimi
or a Spicy Sea Kitten roll
or poached Sea Kitten
or blackened Sea Kitten
or Sea Kitten and Chips
yummy.
a rose by any other name...
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1-14-2009 @ 11:55AM
Harlan said...
There's a big difference between fish and cats. Cats are mammals, and thus evolutionarily much closer to people than fish are. If vegetarianism is based on the idea that we shouldn't eat things that are similar to ourselves (like, say, our neighbors, or chimpanzees), then fish should be more tolerable than cats. Besides, the only reason people don't eat cats is that they don't taste good, being carnivorous predators. Fish are more like "sea chickens" than "sea kittens".
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1-14-2009 @ 2:25PM
Monika said...
I'm someone who befriends fish at aquariums. I even got some huge sucker of a fish to shun the rest of the patrons once and huddle in the corner near me. So, they can be lovable.
Now, saying that: They're still darned tasty, and I'm not giving them up.
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1-15-2009 @ 12:05AM
ZenKimchi said...
Then I bet it's not near their radar that the Korean word for "fish" directly translates as "water meat."
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1-15-2009 @ 2:31PM
Krystyna said...
"It seens necessary to point out, however, that cats are friendlier than fish and that fish (aka "tofu of the sea") are far stupider than cats."
So according to that argument, to measure whether or not we should torture something we should look at its intelligence and 'friendliness' first? How about a mentally handicapped and all around grouchy person? Ok to deprive them of air while sticking hooks in them? Forget that they are capable of suffering despite their low intelligence and all around unpleasantness? Should we treat a smart friendly (actual not fish) kitty well but microwave the dumb one that just sort of minds its own business and doesn't want to play with humans?
Now so I don't come off as the total vegan nut that I am(please dont throw stuff at me), I can understand the disconnect that most of us feel when we see a dead fish vs. seeing a dead cat. It's harder to relate to fish than it is to cats, and fish can't be vocal about their pain like cats. It's easy to assume then that they don't feel anything. However studies have shown that they do infact feel pain and if released into the water after being hooked, can remember the experience and avoid searching for food for a while. As for PETA calling fish sea kittens, I think they're just trying to remind people that fish aren't just inanimate objects. By US law fish aren't considered animals so there are no welfare laws to ensure a more humane slaughter. So we can hook em, beat em, suffocate em, and freeze em.
And in response to a previous comment, for the most part vegetarians aren't vegetarian to avoid eating things that are 'evolutionarily closer to people'. Of course there are several different reasons that one might choose to become vegetarian, but vegetarians typically avoid eating anything with a central nervous system that is capable of suffering. Those who avoid all meats aside from fish are called pescatarians. Perhaps its actually this group of people whose attention PETA is trying to get with this. :)
Ok thats all please dont hurt me *hides*
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1-15-2009 @ 2:49PM
Bruce Watson said...
Actually, Krystyna, you're preaching to the wrong person, as I've often wondered what stupid people taste like.
All kidding aside, maybe the question comes down to a simple argument over how highly we value our own existence. I, personally, have absolutely no problem saying that I believe that I have a greater right to exist than a pig, a rabbit, a cow, or a turkey.
While I ration my meat consumption for health and economic reasons, I don't feel the slightest guilt about eating meat. This feeling is only exascerbated when it comes to fish, which not only are themselves carnivores, but lack even the basic warmth of the aforementioned farm animals. Frankly, I don't think a salmon or tuna, much less a bluefish or swordfish, would hesitate before eating me. Don't let "Finding Nemo" fool you: fish are cold, unsympathetic creatures.
Regarding your other point, having been scratched by more than my fair share of feral cats (I used to volunteer for an animal rescue organization), I can categorically state that, minus their playful friendliness, there is really nothing about a cat that fosters emotional connection.
With that in mind, the idea of a bobcat fritter or an ocelot stew doesn't sound that unappealing. Then again, I used to live in Appalachia.
Your choice, like mine, is based on certain beliefs, philosophies, and perspectives. While I don't agree with your decision, I certainly respect your right to make it. My problem with PETA is that they refuse to respect the choices of meat eaters and, in fact, resort to highly misleading, dishonest, and divisive methods to pursue their agenda. While this can occasionally be amusing to watch, the humor is more often than not tinged with a sense of utter disgust.
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1-15-2009 @ 7:02PM
Krystyna said...
Bruce I do agree with you about some of PETA's tactics, often I find that their campaigns will probably do more to offend and turn people off of the animal protection movement than get them on their side. (greyhound slaughter ad comes to mind)
As for your argument about valuing our existence over the existence of other animals - no animal protection organization is claiming that we ought to slaughter humans for meat instead. I think you can value your own existance higher than another animals and yet not kill those animals. But anyway I'm not trying to preach just present what the other side is as its often taken the wrong way maybe due in part to peta's antics.
As for nothing about cats fostering an emotional connection,I can't tell you that isn't true for yourself but it certainly isn't for me and probably other pet owners as well. I'm not surprised that a rescued cat would take to scratching as it's probably frightened/previously abused etc, but can see how enough scratches might make you feel as though they're just a bunch of assholes hehe. As for me, I was scratched by one of my cats when I was 3 but have had other more pleasant experiences since.
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1-15-2009 @ 7:06PM
Bruce Watson said...
Krystyna-
Fair points all. Admittedly, I overstated about cats a bit. I am, actually, a cat owner, and have definitely bonded with a few felines during my lifetime. Even in the best cases, though, I'd have to argue that ours was an alliance, not a real friendship. Dogs are totally devoted, whereas cats make it pretty clear that your relationship is based on the exigencies of the moment. I always got the feeling that, under the proper circumstances, most of my cats would probably have eaten me.
That having been said, we were still close!
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1-20-2009 @ 10:05PM
jim said...
Everybody keeps saying that fish have feelings why not pick up the dead after spawing
and what about Soylent Green remember and not to mention that poor little worm that squrims when you put the hook through it body. peta get a life
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