Bullfights

[Penya]

There's a terrible controversy here in Spain about bullfights, that have just been banned in Catalonia.
All those who defend the bullfights say that it's a nice tradition and brings a good amount of money to Spain.
On the other hand, people against animal torture, supported by those who think that is degrading for the bulls and an unnecessary recreation.

I'd like to see what y'all think about bullfights with no further information. Do you recognise Spain due to the bullfights?

(Excuse me if there's some grammar failure or something like that)

[Soul_Patch]

I dont really have a dog in the fight (so to speak), but i think its a pretty unnecessary practice. I went to a bull fight in Barcelona back in 1998 and didnt find it overly entertaining....was pretty boring to me actually. I wouldnt go to one again, and wouldnt see how it really produced any money for Spain....

Now, with that said, who am i (or we) to say that you shouldnt do it. It is a tradition in Spain and Mexico, if the respective countries feel that they have out grown it, great, if not...

[nkdlunch]

I have nothing against making the bull run with the little red cape and the goty outfit. Not even against sticking the little skewer thingies in him.

But when the bullfighter takes the sword out and sticks it in the bull. Or even worse, when the horsed men gangbang the bull with their swords. That is way too much. Why do they have to do that???

[DarkReign]

Dont care. Slaughter houses kill animals far more inhumanely. Moreover, at least the bull has a sporting chance in the ring, whereas in meat production, they do not.

[CavsSuperFan]

I think what is wrong with your bullfights is that you kill the bull when he gores the matador…Why is that? If the bull wins or jumps in the stands & gores a bunch of people he should go free…

Ever see The Bo Bo with Peter Sellers? About a Matador who is afraid of bulls…Must have DVD…

http://www.wonderfulworldofmovies.co...0/Bobo_Xlg.jpg

[DarkReign]

I think what is wrong with your bullfights is that you kill the bull when he gores the matador…Why is that? If the bull wins or jumps in the stands & gores a bunch of people he should go free…

Ever see The Bo Bo with Peter Sellers? About a Matador who is afraid of bulls…Must have DVD…

http://www.wonderfulworldofmovies.co...0/Bobo_Xlg.jpg

I actually like the way you think. When the bull wins, he should win his freedom, as well.

[howbouthemspurs]

I saw a couple of bull fights in Alicante, I thought they were pretty interesting. I was amazed to see that so many people are so passionate at these events! The Matadors are like big Celebrities there and the women go insane. After they kill the bull they take the body to the slaughter room and chop it to pieces selling all the parts to the towns people for profit. That is one expensive steak!

[mrsmaalox]

As others have said previously, as a cultural tradition it's up to the people of Spain to decide if they want to continue it or not. I don't think any more or less of Spain because of it.

I grew up in El Paso and a typical Sunday afternoon in my childhood included a trip to Juarez' Plaza Monumental with my parents, aunts & uncles, grandparents and lots of cousins. It was a very festive atmosphere with lots of concessions and music, and we always had fun. And even for a pretty squeamish, animal-loving little kid, there was such an emphasis on the whole ceremony and art of it that it just didn't feel brutal.

Before the fight, they'd ceremoniously introduce the owner of the ranch the bull was from and have a representative from the orphanage/charity that would be receiving the butchered bull afterward. I always think of that now at Spurs games when they present the Pizza Hut ball kid.

I never witnessed any "gangbanging" of the bull by the horsemen and the only person who ever had a sword was the matador. I even saw some bulls actually "win" the fight and be spared, supposedly to be retired as a champion.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

As others have said previously, as a cultural tradition it's up to the people of Spain to decide if they want to continue it or not. I don't think any more or less of Spain because of it.

I grew up in El Paso and a typical Sunday afternoon in my childhood included a trip to Juarez' Plaza Monumental with my parents, aunts & uncles, grandparents and lots of cousins. It was a very festive atmosphere with lots of concessions and music, and we always had fun. And even for a pretty squeamish, animal-loving little kid, there was such an emphasis on the whole ceremony and art of it that it just didn't feel brutal.

Before the fight, they'd ceremoniously introduce the owner of the ranch the bull was from and have a representative from the orphanage/charity that would be receiving the butchered bull afterward. I always think of that now at Spurs games when they present the Pizza Hut ball kid.

I never witnessed any "gangbanging" of the bull by the horsemen and the only person who ever had a sword was the matador. I even saw some bulls actually "win" the fight and be spared, supposedly to be retired as a champion.

If anyone is interested in bullfighting they ought to read Hemmingway's Death in the Afternoon, an up close account of the sport back in the '20s. I'm sure he mentions that bullfighting is practised differently all over the world, and that in Spain it is different from that in Mexico in that the Mexican version generally did not involve the picadores spearing the bull repeatedly... or something like that. Long time since I read the book.

I reckon that as a contest of man with sword versus angry bull it is worthy - the bull has a chance to win, and in the culture can be declared the winner and saved by the crowd before the final act - but once you bring in guys on horseback with spears (the picadores), then it just becomes blood porn.

Actually, never having been to a bullfight, I'm not sure what I really think about them. Every culture has its quirks, and while I can see the animal cruelty angle, I can also see the cultural angle. I'm gonna take this one under advisement until the day I see one in person, if that ever arrives...

[me15lo]

does lakaluva's sig have something to do with it? luva is that even real?

[Penya]

but once you bring in guys on horseback with spears (the picadores), then it just becomes blood porn.

^This is pretty sad.
They also throw up very often.

[tlongII]

Personally I think it's unnecessary. I'm all for killing tasty animals, but there is no need to make it a sport. Michael Vick got 2 years in the big house for essentially the same thing.

[redzero]

does lakaluva's sig have something to do with it? luva is that even real?

[ALVAREZ6]

I used to sort of be against things such as bullfighting, but now I have no problem that they have this tradition. The bulls they use for the bullfights actually live a great life compared to their slaughterhouse counterparts. At least in bullfighting, even if killing the bull is the goal, at least the animal gets a fighting chance. Sure the bullfighters outsmart the bull all the time, but the bull still gets a chance at the human, and sometimes as we see every once in a while on youtube they people up, people who are in the bull ring on their own accord. In addition, the bulls get fed very well to make them big, they live a good amount of years, and they get to bang as many lady-bulls as they can to produce more. Although it seems cruel at first glance, it's much better than where most cattle are.

[Michael Vick]

Personally I think it's unnecessary. I'm all for killing tasty animals, but there is no need to make it a sport. Michael Vick got 2 years in the big house for essentially the same thing.

You'd hit it!

[in2deep]

this is nothing compared to what they do to the burger you just ate.

watch Food Inc.

[JoeChalupa]

I watched a bull fight over in Spain years ago but I went because it was a tourist thing to do although I did not do the running of the bulls.

[boutons_deux]

If the bullfighters got killed 50% of the time, it would be a fair match. But it's really faux bravado when the bulls lose 99% of the time.

Do Spanish ladies and gays really believe those padded socks down the bullfighters' thighs are real s?

[resistanze]

Michael Vick could've used this support.

[AmericanWoman]

If the bullfighters got killed 50% of the time, it would be a fair match. But it's really faux bravado when the bulls lose 99% of the time.

Do Spanish ladies and gays really believe those padded socks down the bullfighters' thighs are real s?

Does that go the same for the deer and other animals that are hunted down each year? I'd say 99% of the time they lose too.

[boutons_deux]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mKvf...layer_embedded