Bear boxing in China....

[smudge]

The things some people go to for entertainment & the owners to earn money. They can't be right in the head!

What do you think of this story, regarding bears being forced to box each other, complete with boxing gloves & muzzles?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=468654&in_p age_id=1811

This cruelty to animals must stop!

[China Doll]

I'm not sure either Boobs to be honest with ya.

I obviously don't condone it and do believe somethign should be done but it's just not a story that sets me off on my high horse if you know what I mean? (Not suggesting that you're on your high horse by the way Smudge, just not too sure how to phrase that^^^).

This isn't the first time I've come across this type of story about bear boxing in China and as much as I think something should be done about it I just don't have as much of an opinion on it as I probably should.

[vehelpfulguy]

We tend to get outraged when other countries do things like this, but it was not that long ago that we were doing it.

We have been a so-called civilised society for a long time, yet Bear Baiting was going on in this country up to 1835.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear-baiting

Not all countries have the same level of society as us, it will take them many years to cacth up.

Anyway we still get people arrested in this country for breeding fighting dogs, and then putting them in fights.

These were from earlier this year

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlan ds/6576057.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/62 35213.stm

[B00]

No, gotta be honest with you Gromit I really can't bring myself to care about 900+ deaths to humans caused by boxing. They had the choice to do this 'sport', they knew the risks and did it regardless.

[smudge]

I have to say, growing up with my Dad & four brothers, I have watched many boxing matches over the years & was quite a fan of Henry Cooper & Cassius Clay-Ali at one time.

They had a choice in life & chose boxing - animals don't.

[V2 Schneider]

Funny old bunch, the Chinese when it comes to animals.

Predominantly a Buddhist culture which teaches love of all species etc. Very odd.

Very cruel smudgers. I hope the doomed bears will one day turn on the tormentors and rip a few heads off. That'll teach 'em, pesky lot!!!

[smudge]

We keep crossing posts BOO. ;o}

Firstly - yes you did phrase that wrong China Doll - I haven't got a high horse to climp up on.

I was merely bringing this type of thing to attention & as it's the first time you've come across something like this - then you've learnt something new today, so it was worth it!

[Gromit]

Why watch bears when you could watch the two British Heavy-weights who were on the bill after Amir Khan on saturday night?

Expect you weren't a fan of the 'Animal Olympics' then...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=407693&in_page_i d=1770

[NJOK]

They certainly are a funny old bunch.

I'm sure they think we're a funny old bunch too. In the UK, children are abused, old people are living in poverty, thousands of dying of cancer, and yet every year we donate around �14m to the Donkey Sanctuary. In donations, it receives more than Age Concern, Mencap and the Samaritans.

I think that's what China and Jake are saying. Cruelty to animals is bad, but it's just quite far down their list of priorities, which is fair enough.

[smudge]

V2 - You've hit the nail on the head!

Besides other cruel animal sports, I'm also against bull fighting & don't know how anyone can find that entertaining.

I feel so sorry for the bulls & certainly not the injured matadors or toreadors! It's their fault if they get gored to death, not the bulls.

[Gromit]

Smudge

"I was merely bringing this type of thing to attention & as it's the first time you've come across something like this"

You're obviously not an avid Daily Mail reader. Here is a recent selection of News(?) stories...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=29575&in_page_id =1770

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=445004&in_p age_id=1811

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=468775&in_p age_id=1811

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=432608&in_p age_id=1811

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=407693&in_page_i d=1770

[Gromit]

Nice little campaign they've got going there. Beats reading about boring stuff like Iraq and Afghanistan and all those other places where people are being killed in their thousands.

[B00]

NJOK- why do we need to prioritise cruelty? In an ideal world I'd abolish cruelty of any kind, be it to animals or children, the elderly etc.

You're technically saying then that because there's so much cruelty in the world we should ignore this one? Afterall there's so much of it going on...what's the point?

Gromit- I'd respond to you as well, but it's like banging your head against a brick wall talking to you isn't it, are you sure you haven't done a spot of boxing yourself???

[Gromit]

NJOK,

I believe the expression is 'you're throwing in the towel'.

[NJOK]

I've never said we should ignore it, merely that I can understand why some people get less het up about it than others. We all have priorities.

[smudge]

Why do assume that because someone posts a 'caring' thread about cruely to animals & others that agree with the sentiments in it, doesn't give a stuff about anything else that goes on in the world? You really are very, very, shallow minded.

I give to various charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children & many others, which I don't need to disclose to you or anyone else for that matter - so don't patronise me or anyone else on here, by insinuating that we only care about animals.

Also, I've no need to open all those links Gromit as I am an avid reader of the Daily Mail - that's my choice!

[B00]

Agree with smudge- who says we get "het" up more when it's cruelty to animals? I also get "het" up when I hear/read about child cruelty.

Don't assume on our behalf- thank you.

[jake-the-peg]

My point was unrelated to boxing - as you say people have a choice in that.

But there are many starving people in the world who have no choice, no food, no water and if they do manage to escape from a war zone are met with a riot of "illeagal alien abuse"

We live in a country where the RSPB and the PDSA have a higher income than help the aged.

So what's the priority? Fighting bears in China or Pensioners in London?

[B00]

I'm sure fighting pensioners in London is also illegal, mind you, we might get away with it 'ere in Lancs.

What do you reckon? Think it'll take off? "at the count of 10, set your pacemakers...and the're off!!!"

[smudge]

I agree BOO - I feel a bit like Pauline Collins in the film 'Shirley Valentine' when she 'talks to the wall'.

Why do 'they' keep trying to remind us about what else is going on in the world?

H-E-L-L-O - we do know!

[NJOK]

"Why do assume that because someone posts a 'caring' thread about cruely to animals & others that agree with the sentiments in it, doesn't give a stuff about anything else that goes on in the world?"

I didn't.

"which I don't need to disclose to you or anyone else for that matter"

I didn't ask you to.

"so don't patronise me or anyone else on here, by insinuating that we only care about animals."

I didn't.

"who says we get "het" up more when it's cruelty to animals?"

I didn't.