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I'm assuming that you are not chinese. Cruel and barbaric are strong words to apply to an entire people. They did have a great civilization that certainly lasted far longer than any western civilization. As to their eating habits, its their business not ours.

I'm assuming you are Chinese. Yes, those are strong words, and perhaps I shouldn't apply them to all Chinese folks. But, to put, my views in context, I also find Western methods of slaughtering animals inhumane and vicious, though no where near on the levels of the Sinos.

Their eating habits aren't my concern, though of course, eating companion animals who have a loving symbiotic relationship with mankind going back thousands of years is completely disgusting. I'm talking about slaughtering cats by dipping them in boiling oil, skinning dogs alive and other such niceties of what you worshipfully call "Chinese civilization". By any objective standard, that is barbaric, cruel and completely uncivilized.

though of course, eating companion animals who have a loving symbiotic relationship with mankind going back thousands of years is completely disgusting.

By whose standards,yours? What about our relationship with sheep or cattle or pigs, it extends back thousands of years as well, but we routinely slaughter these animals for food. I've eaten rabbit, snake, pigeons and dogs and the dishes are quite delectable.

I'm talking about slaughtering cats by dipping them in boiling oil, skinning dogs alive and other such niceties of what you worshipfully call "Chinese civilization". By any objective standard, that is barbaric, cruel and completely uncivilized.

You have no clue why they do this. This is because an animal has to be in state of great excitement before it dies. That way its body will be awash with adrenaline, it makes the meat extremely tender and delicious. While it would be painful for the dogs and cats, I agree, but it makes for a superb meal. There is nothing barbaric about enhancing the flavor of food.

Historically, the cruel methods of cooking are not invented by the average Chinese person

It was invented by a few cruel Emperors, who threatened their Royal chefs with deaths by torture, if they did not come up with culminary dishes that were excellent. Under threats of death, Royal chefs were stressed out enough to come up with such bizarre and cruel methods of killing animals, ie, as one forumite here said,"to stimulate more adrenalin from the anmals to make the meat more tasty"

On the other hand, the average CHinese person was struggling to survive and could not have been able to come up with all these methods of cookings

So, the moral is, just because of a few black sheep, don't condemn the whole lot of Chinese people

by the way, exotic meat is very expensive in China and the average person cannot afford it