Animals/Fish = food

[Vampire cat]

I'm from west Norway, and fishing is pretty much IT around here. Most of my family fish, some professionally, and there was a lot of fishing in my childhood. And boats. Hauling up, cutting the head off and gutting a fish is no problem for me. I do, however, have a real problem when asked to do anything similar to a land creature. I don't know a single soul that feels it's morally wrong to kill and eat fish, not anyone from any country that I've talked with.

My cousin lives in-land in the northern part of Norway. Her part of the family enjoy hunting. She sees no problem in shooting an animal, and has no problem with assisting in the skinning and cleaning of them. Whenever she is in my part of the country and we go fishing, she wont touch the fish, won't even think about beheading it, and goes far away when it's time to clean and gut them. The killing and eating of animals is and has been a hot topic for a long time, and a huge load of people oppose it.

Is it the cuteness factor alone that decides a chicken is more worthy of life than a cod?

Why is it that something that in essence is quite similar, seems so gross? I just cannot get myself to even look at a rabbit or a deer being prepared, and conversely my cousin is near throwing up when the topic of handling fish comes up.

 

[Gigatoast]

Well, fish aren't NEARLY as advanced as land animals or aquatic mammals, there's reason to believe they don't even feel pain. (citation needed)

 

[Flailing Escapist]

The tasteness factor decides whether the chicken is more worthy of residing in my tummy than a cod. XD

Tho I guess its all a matter of how you were raised too. I grew up on a farm where we hunted, fished, skinned, filleted, etc. all the time. I guess I'm used to skinned deer hanging in the barn and fish guts in the sink? I'm not sure

 

[Romidude]

Cultural differences, grow up around gutting deer and you're alright with it, but the moment you gut fish, you're into new territory.

 

[RaNDM G]

Well, fish aren't NEARLY as advanced as land animals or aquatic mammals, there's reason to believe they don't even feel pain. (citation needed)

Don't be so sure.

On topic, I believe this comes from the traditional belief that a scaled fish is a clean animal to eat, and therefore more appetizing than shellfish or cartilaginous fish like shark or sword. In other words, scaled fish are kosher.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Well, fish aren't NEARLY as advanced as land animals or aquatic mammals, there's reason to believe they don't even feel pain. (citation needed)

fish are really slimy though. I hate touching fish that are still alive. I disliked fishing as a kid...It took a long time before I would even touch a bait worm, let alone a fish. I didn't even kill/ eat the fish: my family (Dad) would take me out to fish, catch and, release.

I see what you mean though. There aren't as many innards and guts and whatnot to deal with when you deal with fish, as you said. With cows, chickens, sheep, etc...you have way more meat to deal with...and blood...and intestines.