Sorry! But no, I don't feel sorry for this guy!

[WIP]

Factory farming and industrial meat production is bad enough in my view, and I don't hunt...although no hunter is legally allowed to conduct themselves in this sort of manner: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/22/julio-aparicio-gored-in-t_n_585941.html this is a particularly gory series of pictures and video clips making the rounds about a Spanish matador who was gored through the throat by a bull yesterday, and after two emergency operations, is listed in critical condition...the bull was killed by the other matadors.

Should I be concerned over the life of a man who makes his living by torturing and killing animals? Julio Aparicio had a choice about going into the bullfighting ring, the bull did not! All he probably wanted to do was eat some grass and hump some cows...though probably not in that order; but instead he's put in a crate and pluncked into the bullfighting ring to deal with some douche with a red cape that sticks spears in his back before killing him. So the matador's luck ran out this time...c'est la vie.

[Guest American Woman]

I went to a bullfight in Spain on a college trip when I was 19 years old. About a third of the group refused to go, and I did have to give it a lot of thought, but finally decided that this is their custom, and as such, I should respect that this is their culture and attend to fully experience their culture. There were no bulls killed, but of course sticking swords/knives/whatever they are into the animal to enrage it (and at the same time, subdue/slow it down, I would think) can't feel good. On second thought, the last fight might have included a kill and I may have repressed that memory.

I would never attend one today. I realize now that we don't have to accept something just because it's another nations culture; I don't think the definition of tolerance includes having to accept what goes against our principles. I'm actually surprised that in this day and age bull fighting still goes on; that it hasn't been banned. It's in the same category as dog fights, etc., which I believe have been banned.

[kimmy]

I certainly don't feel sorry for him, or for others who willingly accept the risks of dangerous sports. Whether it be stock-car drivers who die in wrecks, skiers who loose control at 120km/h, or all those moron "extreme snowmobilers" who got avalanched this year.

I kind of agree with the OP: if your recreation involves torturing animals, you're kind of a douche. And if in the course of torturing animals you yourself get hurt, you have only yourself to blame.

Or, as the saying goes: "mess with the bull, you get the horns."

Personally, if I somehow ended up at one of these things, I'd be cheering for the bulls.

It's in the same category as dog fights, etc., which I believe have been banned.

Michael Vick says yes, it's against the law now.

-k

[Topaz]

I feel for the animals and its just like the Running of the Bulls also. I understand that Cheney ran with the bulls when he was younger, poor bulls!

[Guest TrueMetis]

I feel sorry for the guy, but at the same time this type of thing is going to happen. I feel really sorry for the bull though cause it's probably as good as dead to and it went through a lot of pain.

[Guest American Woman]

American Woman, on 23 May 2010 - 04:51 AM, said: It's in the same category as dog fights, etc., which I believe have been banned.

Michael Vick says yes, it's against the law now.

I know it's illegal in the States, but I meant in Spain, where bull fights are legal; I think dogfights are illegal in Spain.

[bloodyminded]

I do feel sorry for the guy.

But yes, I agree it's an ugly and disgusting sport.

[Oleg Bach]

I feel for the animals and its just like the Running of the Bulls also. I understand that Cheney ran with the bulls when he was younger, poor bulls!

Cheney will do anything to upsurp the maleness of a bull and to steal it's eccense. JOKE...The kid showed me a video of a bull fighter getting a horn through the bottom of his chin and coming out of his mouth - Good for the bull..tormenting a powerful captive creature is cowardice - a lot like some weasil beating a good and strong man tied to a chair.