Study Suggests Crabs Can Feel Pain

tritonman writes "A new scientific study suggests that crabs can feel and remember pain. From the article: '"More research is needed in this area where a potentially very large problem is being ignored," said Elwood. Legislation to protect crustaceans has been proposed but it is likely to cover only scientific research. Millions of crustacean are caught or reared in aquaculture for the food industry. There is no protection for these animals (with the possible exception of certain states in Australia) as the presumption is that they cannot experience pain.' Perhaps soon there will be a study to determine that vegetables feel pain as well, then all of the vegans will only be allowed to eat rocks."

Comments

Right.

[aussersterne]

Mr. Crab: "Cogito ergo sum!"

Most humans aren't even conscious. A good 60% of the human race is too stupid to "feel" pain.

empathizing

[r00t]

This is the problem with these animal rights nutjobs. They are empathizing with the animals.

Yup.

They assume that the rest of us also empathize with the animals. This incorrect assumption leads to the entirely reasonable (but wrong) conclusion that people who kill animals are a danger to society!

hacksawing a cow leg

[r00t]

Should researchers be able to take a hacksaw to the leg of a cow for whatever reason?

Provided that:

1. They own the cow, or have permission from the owner.

2. They aren't forcing other people to watch or listen.

Sure, why not? It's a cow.

Re:hacksawing a cow leg

[r00t]

I'm fairly certain that would even be covered under animal cruelty laws.

Probably so, which is an injustice. If a cow is my property, I should be able to do whatever I want with it. (well, not being a public health nuisance spreading disease, but hacksawing is not a problem)

It's surely a sign of mental illness if you actually enjoy hacksawing the leg off a cow. One should be indifferent to the "suffering" of an animal, neither enjoying it nor being bothered by it. Hacksawing a cow is nothing like attacking a member of your own species. A cow is not human, just like a rose bush is not human. If you think a little pruning is called for, why not?

Likewise, getting angry at an animal makes about as much sense as getting angry at a rose bush. You're nuts if you get all emotional about a non-human life form.

Well, by extension, you endorse cruel and unusual punishment. Someone could do this to another vertebrate, say a dog, cat, or even a human just because no one is being forced to watch or listen.

Yes to "dog" and "cat", no to the rest.

Humans are special to other humans. Cows care about other cows (maybe), not humans. The same goes for any random species. Humans aren't special to lions; we're just dangerous food to them. Humans should matter to other humans because we are the same species.

The "cruel and unusual punishment" comment is just strange. You seem to personify these animals, giving them human-like value, but their lives are insignificant. It's creepy that you fail to value humans in a wholly different way.

Not that I agree with the current ideas regarding cruel and unusual punishment. If a pot grower goes to prison for a decade, he looses everything. (job, employability, wife, house, best years of life, etc.) It's much less cruel to give him a few weekends of waterboarding and electric shocks. At least that way he can keep his life in order.

Re:The difference between...

[Anonymous Coward]

They reflect badly on the rest of us, as people sometimes jump to conclusions and assume all or most vegetarians are hypocrites

*They* reflect badly on you? You reflect badly on yourselves, you retarded hippie douchebags. Animals have rights? Why? Why don't vegetables? Or bacteria? Ever take an antibiotic? Then you're obviously a genocidal maniac. Please. If you're concerned so much about the animals, then do the entire planet a favor and put a fucking gun in your mouth already. Give the worms something to eat.