Posted on 02/09/2005 7:00:48 AM PST by LibWhacker
It is the ethical dilemma that for decades has troubled the rich and aspiring the world over: when you place a live lobster in a pot of boiling water, does it feel pain?
Norwegian scientists were asked to investigate pain, discomfort and stress in invertebrates and claim now to have discovered that the answer is no.
Their conclusion applies also to crabs and to live worms on a fish hook. None of these feel a thing. Which is good news for Norwegian fishermen at least.
Their government was considering a ban on live worms as fish bait under revisions to its animal protection laws - but only if it hurt. Wenche Farstad of the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science in Oslo now says it does not.
"It seems to be only reflex curling when put on the hook. They might sense something but it is not painful and does not compromise their well-being," said Prof Farstad, who chaired the panel that prepared the government report. "The common earthworm has a very simple nervous system. It can be cut in two and continue with its business."
The report looked at welfare implications of everything from cooking live crabs and lobsters to keeping bees. Invertebrates are animals without backbones, covering creatures from insects and spiders to mollusks and crustaceans.
Honeybees deserve special care, Prof Farstad said, because they display social behaviour and a capacity to learn and cooperate. But invertebrates do not feel pain because they have basic nervous systems and small brains.
Peter Fraser, a marine biologist at the University of Aberdeen, says crabs and lobsters have only about 100,000 neurons, compared with 100bn in people and other vertebrates. While this allows them to react to threatening stimuli, he said there is no evidence they feel pain.
Tiny perforations in leg bones allow crabs and lobsters to jettison limbs if trapped by predators. "That doesn't demonstrate whether they feel pain or not, but it does demonstrate they have very different mechanisms," Dr Fraser said. "If we tried to throw off a leg I'd imagine that would be very painful indeed."
The people who worry that perhaps fishing worms feel pain wouldn't ban abortions if the babies were screaming in agony. In fact, faced with evidence of babies born alive in abortion mills and doing just that (before being drowned or suffocated), they shrug their shoulders.
Hard to believe? Not if you're familiar with that great Princeton philosopher Peter Singer and the bioethicists who have followed his lead.
"But invertebrates do not feel pain because they have basic nervous systems and small brains."
I don't understand this. Libs don't have a backbone and have small brains, but they feel EVERYONES pain.
I would contend that 1) any pain experienced by the lobster/fish/worm during boiling/catching/killing IS necessary and 2) there is nothing to be gained by worrying about it.
While, simultaneously, there IS something to be gained by NOT worrying about it - mainly food.
Maybe the Norwegians should make sure that the Lobsters have some blankets to keep warm, as well.
NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I really used to enjoy pretending the hissing of air escaping from the shell was screams of horrendous pain....now how am I going to enjoy my lobster?
Maybe I'll just have to think of PETA as I dunk in the butter and garlic. mmmmmmm, tears of ultimate sorrow....mmmmm
By any chance were any of these people's last words before their horrible ordeal..."Hey y'all, watch this"
I live under the assumption it is not safe to put any part of her in your mouth.
So they would have passed a law to protect worms from "feeling pain" on fish hooks while ALLOWING the dismemberment and slaughter of unborn humans... Gee, that makes a lot of sense...NOT... [SARCASM]
The lobsters may feel rather crabby about being the guest of honor for dinner.
I would contend that 1) any pain experienced by the lobster/fish/worm during boiling/catching/killing IS necessary and 2) there is nothing to be gained by worrying about it.
While, simultaneously, there IS something to be gained by NOT worrying about it - mainly food.
I hope you don't hunt. Your position only gives ammo to the animal-rights extremists.
Also, you should seek help for your narcisissm.
Hey, don't demean Lobsters by comparing them to Kerry.
True true...How do you like that Marine in Iraq being crushed by the tank? His pelvis was crushed, his legs, and his guts were twisted around and he had to give back his Purple heart because it was our tank that ran him over by accident. Meanwhile Jacques Kerry gets to keep his Purple hearts for a splinter in his finger and for shooting himself in the azz. I guess when your best buddy is Ted Kennedy you get those types of perks.
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 Mars barThe jaw ache-inducing Mars bar has undergone a makeover in an attempt to make it more popular with women. Read our guide to the best websites on the chocolate chewfest Martha Holmes-Watkins Monday March 18, 2002 1. A Mars a day helps you work rest and play - well, not anymore. This week Mars is changing the most memorable chocolate jingle in TV history to, wait for it, Pleasure you can't measure. 2. The Mars bar itself will also be updated with new features such as a funkier typeface on the wrapper, and a lighter whipped nougat filling. Mars bars used to be pretty challenging to chew, but that familiar caramel-induced jaw ache will soon be forgotten, as Mar bars become even more like Milky Ways. 3. The change of image has come about because Mars bars are considered by women to be too masculine (no hope for Yorkies then). Mars bars apparently go hand in hand with marathon running, football playing and Murray Walker. The nation's favourite formula one commentator is responsible for creating that fabulous rhyming slogan uncannily similar to "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". 4. Chocolate contains three different psychoactive drugs plus sugar. This is why it can cheer you up, energise or comfort you. 5. It can also make you fat. A Mars bar has 230 calories and 12g of fat. An average person needs 2,000 calories per day - less than nine Mars bars. You should probably stop at seven. 6. The most famous Mar bar rumour is one that involved Marianne Faithfull and Mick Jagger enjoying a rather special picnic. She denies it. 7. KitKats are the nation's favourite snack (the chocolate bar, not the cat food). Apparently, what you nibble on says a lot about who you are. 8. Anthea Turner made a hideous chocolate gaffe, when she "accidentally" got photographed munching on a Cadbury's Snowflake in her very own wedding photos. Poor Anthea, she was probably just hungry, what with wedding nerves and all that. She spent her entire honeymoon traumatised by "Flakegate". 9. In Scotland they deep fry Mars bars, Snickers, and even pizza. Heart disease, anyone? 10. It is possible to create a vegan Mars bar but it takes two people two days to make a batch of 100. Beware of depressed vegans. |
ROFLOL!!! You guys are a riot! I love FR. :-)
The brain seems to have a pain overload cut off switch. There's the story of the Japanese driver whose dangling arm was whacked off by opposing traffic and didn't realize it for several miles. Drove himself to the hospital.
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