Bullfighting: Cruel barbarism or valid sport?

[Squatch]

Post your opinions here:



:hide:

[progmom]

1. i can't vote for valid sport

[Nevernose]

2. Why can't it be both?

[Squatch]

4. Changed the options

[Nevernose]

6. On second thought: Why I Think it's Cruel

If it were just a matador out there stabbing away at a bull with a fencing sword, that would be more fair, and perhaps even somewhat sporting.

The fact that they spend an hour beforehand riding around the bull on horseback and spearing it so that as it bleeds it weakens is the deciding check in the "cruelty" column.

[wtmusic]

9. Exactly

It was much more difficult 100 years ago when a far higher percentage of matadors lost their lives. Now it's falling into the bear-baiting realm.

[CBGLuthier]

3. It IS Both

[Squatch]

5. I changed it.

Sheesh!

[RebelOne]

7. How can it be considered a sport when the bull does not even

know that there is a game going on, plus he is not equally armed? I have seen a bull fight in Mexico City. When the bull gored the matador, believe me, I cheered for the bull.

[ET Awful]

10. I think they should stick a few barbs in the matador before the fight

to even up the odds a bit.

[wtmusic]

12. Or juice him up with Valium?

Would make things a little more interesting.

[smbolisnch]

26. Couldn't agree more.

eom

[tnlefty]

16. Isn't it fairly early on that the ligament or tendon in the bull's

shoulder is severed so that he can't fully hold his head up to even get a good, "sporting" shot at the matador?

[arwalden]

21. I Saw A Bullfight In Mexico City Too...

... our guide explained that when the bulls are taken out of the arena, they are immediately slaughtered and the fresh meat is given to those in need (or sold at below-market prices) I can't remember which... but it was definitely to benefit the disadvantaged.

Little consolation for the bull... but it's not like the bull carcasses are just tossed in the dumpster to be hauled away to the landfill.

[FLSurfer]

25. I've been to a few Bullfights in Spain and

one in Portugal.
The same applied in Spain, the Bull was slaughtered and the meat distributed to the "poor".
In Portugal the bull wasn't killed. Not sure if thats always the case,
but it was a more humane version of the "sport".

[hfojvt]

8. all contact sports are pretty barbaric

but most rodeo events and boxing do not have death as the object, so I do not see "valid sport" it is down there with bear baiting, dog fighting, and cock fighting.

[Texasgal]

Extremely Cruel

Why someone would want to kill an animal for sport in front of thousands, boggle the mind.

It is CRUEL.

[tnlefty]

11. Cruel barbarism n/t

n/t

[Shell Beau]

13. It hurts me to see it. I don't like it at all.

[Gildor Inglorion]

14. I would never attend a bullfight, but...

at least a use has been found for bovines, so they probably won't go extinct. More and more animal species are disappearing forever, so I guess the fortunate one are those which are of use or amusement to human beings (chickens, cats, horses, etc.) I wouldn't attend a boxing match, either. Disgusting brutality (in my opinion) can never be considered a legitimate sport.

[GCP]

28. Uhh - haven't we already found a use for bovines??

I.E. eating them?

It's a cruel barbaric vicious spectacle which gives yet more ammunition to my case that mankind is a despicable species.

[Gildor Inglorion]

30. Of course! But it's a cultural thing -

devout Hindus would never dream of eating beef, while Americans wouldn't eat horse or dog, though other cultures find them quite tasty.

[Kraklen]

15. Both.

But maybe more of a cultural ritual than a sport.

[El Fuego]

17. Barbarism.

If it's a sport, it's a barbaric one.

[trebizond]

18. cruel, sick barbarism.

[Orsino]

27. Ayup. n/t

[BreweryYardRat]

19. Barbarism.

Nothing but.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

20. I've seen one broadcasted in Spanish TV. They act as if it's tennis.

The narrator commented, quite matter-of-factly and unemotionally, how the matador's technique was less than perfect because the bull was taking too long to die. It was vomiting blood for about two minutes before it fell on the ground. Not to mention all the abuse it gets BEFORE receiving that sword in the neck.

This, live, on broadcast TV, around 4:00 pm. :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

You can guess what my choice is.

[Zomby Woof]

22. It's not a sport

It's an art, akin to opera; and not a sport, akin to soccer.

I think most American unease is cultural conditioning (and I admit I am conditioned enough to be repulsed after attending one, but wary of passing harsh judgment). The Catalonians have the same revulsion as most North Americans, because they are culturally separate from the Castilians, who are the biggest purveyors. Mileage varies across the Iberian landscape, as it does with the Latin American inheritors of the tradition.

It's an art, no matter what other value labels others place upon it.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

23. As artistic as a finely crafted medieval instrument of torture. (nt)

[hyphenate]

24. Savage and barbaric

to me. The bull never survives, even if he manages to win in the ring. If it were up to me, the matadors should die to equal out the sacrifice of the bull. Torturing the poor animal is horrific and totally without honor.

[Guaranteed]

29. It's pretty messed up.

I think it's pretty clearly a cruel thing to do.

There's no need for it.

Yes, it's oh-so entertaining...but it appeals to the sickest part of our psyche.