I am eating salmon for lunch. Rare. Not cooked rare, but it is rare that I eat salmon for lunch. Usually I just eat vegetables. Anyway, I have considered stopping eating fish, me being a vegetarian and all. But it all depends on whether fish feel pain or not. Here I go to look it up.
Okay, I looked it up. Not very smart of me to look it up WHILE EATING FISH. Totally made me lose my appetite. Anyway, there is a lot out there said on the topic. It is a big debate. Here are some excerpts from the article that other articles seemed to quote most often, caps in the original:
"PAIN IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE THAT IS SEPARATE FROM BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS TO INJURIOUS STIMULI ...REACTIONS TO INJURY ARE PRESENT IN ALL FORMS OF ANIMAL LIFE BUT THESE REACTIONS DO NOT MEAN THAT PAIN IS EXPERIENCED-IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR A NOCICEPTIVE STIMULUS TO BE CONSCIOUSLY EXPERIENCED FOR A BEHAVIORAL REACTION TO OCCUR ...IN VERTEBRATES, REACTIONS TO INJURIOUS STIMULI ARE CONTROLLED BY THE SPINAL CORD AND BRAINSTEM...HUMAN EXISTENCE IS CEREBRALLY-DOMINATED- A FISH’S EXISTENCE IS BRAINSTEM DOMINATED...FISH DO NOT HAVE THE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE OF PAIN OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF AWARENESS...THE REACTIONS OF FISH TO NOCICEPTIVE STIMULI ARE SIMILAR TO THEIR REACTIONS TO PREDATORS AND OTHER NON-NOCICEPTIVE STIMULI..." From Do Fish Feel Pain?by By Dr. James D. Rose, University of Wyoming
At the same time, having considered the issue more deeply, I find I don't like the idea of killing fish or eating it. So this research has really gotten me nowhere in my attempt at a decision whether to continue eating it or not. Jerry says I should continue eating it regardless, for health reasons. However, I feel I can easily get the nutrition that fish has, from other sources. Weigh in here please.
4 comments:
I really like that video. Good find. I HIGHLY recommend that you still eat fish. You really need the protein. It is hard to get the sufficient amount from other sources. You could always drink protein shakes and eat imitation meats. You could sprinkle protein powder on cereal. Eat more beans and nuts. They have protein in them. Whatever you feel is best for you though.
Do fish feel pain? Well as a fisherman I get the you shouldn't fish because the hook hurts the fish. Well again like your article state's fish don't have the brain development to feel pain. Or do they? A new study was done recently about this subject. See the link.
http://www.slate.com/id/221927
I think what it comes down to is it right to harvest fish in tank or pull them from the ocean so we can put them in a frying pan, oven, or eat them raw for our gain? How does commercial fishing impact us and the environment? Over fishing is still a big problem around the world. Not to mention illegal fishing for whales, dolphins, and sharks I think those are the question you need to ask yourself and research.
So are you thinking about become a Vegan? Giving up on any kind of animal products at this point? If so you might want to stop by whole food or health food store and check out the Vegan section and sample of the product. As for protein you can get that through eating Soy which Vegan products are based from. Do your research about it and plan your diet you can lack certain vitamin in a vegan diet that you will need to replace with supplements.
Good luck!
Stephen, the article you linked to is no longer up. However, I had read that one while doing my research. As I recall, it was pretty funny but made good points.
I am not planning on being a vegan. I am not sold on the idea that using non-flesh animal products causes harm to the animals.
Thanks for your comment!
11!!!!
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