Why does Philip think two wrongs make a right? Rather than reduce protection for animals, perhaps the better option is to address the lack for humans?
I used to ride to hunt when I was younger (I was also a member of the Conservative party at one time......they seem to have been linked...! ). I enjoyed hunting, but it was for the social stuff, the riding, the dogs and the stirrup cup! Once I woke up to the real harm done and the cruelty involved (we are all a bit self obsessed when young - because I was enjoying myself it took a while to admit it might be wrong!) I couldn't do it any more. There is nothing about the hunt that I enjoyed that could not get from a good drag hunt, and did so after that realisation.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
philip clearly is in favour of the rich person's sport but not in favour of poorer people owning dogs as savage.
the question is whether he is part of the landed gentry or just forelock tugging to his betters.
Perhaps, more worryingly, he is tugging the forelocks of the landed gentry.......
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
There is an active "Tories Against Fox-Hunting" group so we can hope that, if ever they are dumb enough to waste parliamentary time with another vote on this abhorrent practice, it would be defeated.
If it was anything to do with the tradition and the thrill of the chase then drag hunting would have quickly become an acceptable alternative, with the hunts happy to have their activities filmed and monitored. The fact that they don't demonstrates that it is all about the blood lust of seeing a living animal torn apart.
Pro-hunters will always say "it is nature" and accuse anti-hunters of anthropomorphising animals and yet they will do exactly that to defend their blood sport. Foxes will naturally be attracted to hen coops by the scent of food. Once inside they will find themselves in a confined space with a lot of flapping chickens and their natural defences will make them strike out. To accuse them of killing for pleasure is just the hunters trying to justify their own craving for blood letting.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
mel fishing and and hunting for food is ok,fox hunting with dogs is a centrys old sport ruind by wendy woolies along with some do gooders,as people said above the fox hunting law is un-policeable so the law should be repeald asap.
Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
As far as I'm aware I have no betters.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
in what case philip.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
brian
there are many centuries old sports, henry the eighth when needing recruits to flush out his hunting targets gave them a jew to hunt down to keep them happy.
victorians used asylums as fun palaces to bait the lunatics.
there are many others.
the chicken coop issue is another red herring, proper fencing costing just a few quid will ensure that foxes can not do any damage.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Howard - foxes are evil viscous little beasts and they can and do get into chicken runs and it is not a sight you ever want to see. Typical townie reaction, yours.
Nothing wrong at all getting enjoyment from hunting and shooting and it can and is enjoyed by rich and poor - yes that includes fox hunting. Interesting to see the old myth about it being for the rich being peddled above. Banned alongside fox hunting was hare coursing, very much a sport of the 'cloth cap' types. I remember back when a child many people living up Tower Hamlets enjoyed a sport of coursing, including my dad. Nothing wrong with it at all - you enjoyed seeing the way the dogs used to run off against each other, most hares escaping.
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
Peter! I also had this thought about Phillip and Bob!
Fox hunting is a ridiculous activity. People use hilarious defenses such as 'pest control'. In which case I suppose it must be necessary to dress up in a red jacket and jodhpurs to set a mouse trap! Sledgehammer to crack a nut springs to mind.
Tradition is a defense for nothing! And if this is going to be the response for this class defined pomp, then I suggest we make them go to work on horses and ban them from using electricity.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
nice try at distraction barry using the "townie" line.
do we say to rural dwellers that have been mugged by someone for drug money when they enter an urban area " this is our townie way"?
the chicken coop issue was discredited many moons ago, it does not happen to owners/keepers that can be bothered with protecting their stock.
it has been said by others on this thread that if people like dressing up,blowing horns etc they can still do this without the carnage involved but that would take away the underlying sadism of the kill.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
As an ex hen and duck owner who had 6ft high fencing that failed to keep the urban fox out of the run during the day, Howard seems to believe the wanton destruction carried out was my fault.
The fox is not called crafty for nothing.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
So all predatory animals must be hunted on horseback?
There is clearly no other way to protect chickens!
Foxes are predators, and so are thousands of other creatures. Including Red Herrings.......
#31 was a lovely retort notwithstanding that there are times when a predator succeeds despite the odds. That is what predators do!! I have no objection to people dressing up and blowing horns, oo-er missus. But I do object to the hypocrisy - I have hunted, I know what it is for, and it isn't for tradition. BTW, it used to be a tradition to have slaves.......anyone want to see that back on the books?
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Yes indeed the chicken coop argument is a discredited..what can one say... 'townie' one. First of all chicken coops hardly exist anymore, not on any serious level, they have long since been replaced by factory installations producing eggs, even the greener ones, and way beyond the ken of foxes.
We ourselves had free range chickens in Ireland in the old days...long ago now when I was a kid, roaming around the near meadow they were. Came back in the evening for a sleep and a bit of a lay, the eggs were au naturelle...I only ever remember us having trouble once with a fox. Part of the wear and tear of rural hen rearing...but very small beer.I seem to remember hawks being more of a problem especially when you had little ones.
Neither is fox hunting a serious way of culling..thats just poppycock Im afraid.
try Eglu for some damn fine "coops", and green to boot. I am trying to persuade the Old Man it is a good idea.......
http://www.omlet.co.uk/products_services/products_services.php?cat=Eglu+CubeGuest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Ah yes they are generally for urban hen rearing but on a small scale. When my mother moved to Dublin...a Galway girl though she remained...she tried chickens in townland for a while in the rear garden. Wasnt a huge hit in comparison to the Galway enterprise carried out by her father...the neighbours, you have them in Dublin, complained about the cock growing at dawn everyday...eventually the nerves couldnt take it ! The neighbours won.
Never had any encounter with urban foxes. Although it must be said since those days the fox population in urban areas seems to have increased oodles.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Love your typo in the last post, Paul! Is that why the Irish have large families?
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
lol!! Ive just spotted that
.. of course it should be crowing but my keyboard is banjaxed, thats my story and Im sticking to it!