Comments on: Plaices of Death http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 16:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: TJIC http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642048 TJIC Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642048 I saw this a few days ago and am still trying to get the horrible site of an animal being tortured out of my mind. For the record, I'm not a vegetarian. I even own a hunting license. ...but where's the humor, or amusement, in watching an animal suffer horribly? I've heard that they beat dogs to death in Korea with baseball bats to make them more tender. Maybe you could have a video of that? Or I've read some utterly horrific stories of children being "punished" with boiling water. A video of that would be a delightful addition to the front page. Seriously - what's wrong with you that you think that displaying horrible degrees of suffering like this is acceptable in a palce that's billed as " A Directory of Wonderful Things" ? I saw this a few days ago and am still trying to get the horrible site of an animal being tortured out of my mind.

For the record, I’m not a vegetarian. I even own a hunting license.

…but where’s the humor, or amusement, in watching an animal suffer horribly?

I’ve heard that they beat dogs to death in Korea with baseball bats to make them more tender. Maybe you could have a video of that?

Or I’ve read some utterly horrific stories of children being “punished” with boiling water. A video of that would be a delightful addition to the front page.

Seriously – what’s wrong with you that you think that displaying horrible degrees of suffering like this is acceptable in a palce that’s billed as ” A Directory of Wonderful Things” ?

]]> By: Rob Beschizza http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642304 Rob Beschizza Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642304 That is almost pythonian. I can just imagine John Cleese doing that. That is almost pythonian. I can just imagine John Cleese doing that.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642050 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642050 That's the middle kingdom between Heaven and Earth, keepin' it classy. That’s the middle kingdom between Heaven and Earth, keepin’ it classy.

]]> By: the r kelly http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642306 the r kelly Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642306 Put MOAR horrific pictures of half-fried live animals on the front pg plz. Can we get some disfigured humans too? Maybe a graphic still from that Russian bludgeoning murder that's been going around. Fascinating stuff! Put MOAR horrific pictures of half-fried live animals on the front pg plz.

Can we get some disfigured humans too? Maybe a graphic still from that Russian bludgeoning murder that’s been going around. Fascinating stuff!

]]> By: TJIC http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642053 TJIC Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642053 @JulianR > I refuse to click the play button. I've read about this video, and I don't want to see the poor fish suffer. This is more than just animal cruelty, it's completely and utterly evil. Well said. @JulianR

> I refuse to click the play button. I’ve read about this video, and I don’t want to see the poor fish suffer. This is more than just animal cruelty, it’s completely and utterly evil.

Well said.

]]> By: frowelishnu http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642054 frowelishnu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642054 Can we have some context? Practical joke or horrendous event? Without further explanation or sources, what is the point of this? Side note: Nothing against kanji, posting in English on a Japanese language blog would be as bewildering. Can we have some context? Practical joke or horrendous event?

Without further explanation or sources, what is the point of this?

Side note: Nothing against kanji, posting in English on a Japanese language blog would be as bewildering.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642056 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642056 Hideous. Thanks for warning me. Hideous. Thanks for warning me.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-643081 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-643081 The fish is Alive. It is prepred by losley wrapping its head and gills in a very wet towel to allow it to breathe whilst its body is quickly cooked over a hot Grill. I'm sure its nerve endings would be quickly burned out but I doubt the heat would be allowed to penetrate deep enough to stop the heart and organs from functioning. So yes this fish is alive. No its not a reflex action and yes I find this video is truely vile. I cannot understand why BB would post it without some context The fish is Alive. It is prepred by losley wrapping its head and gills in a very wet towel to allow it to breathe whilst its body is quickly cooked over a hot Grill. I’m sure its nerve endings would be quickly burned out but I doubt the heat would be allowed to penetrate deep enough to stop the heart and organs from functioning. So yes this fish is alive. No its not a reflex action and yes I find this video is truely vile. I cannot understand why BB would post it without some context

]]> By: shanealeslie http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642826 shanealeslie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642826 I have read nearly a hundred entries from people proclaiming that the dish is cruel. I agree, that style of preparation is for all intents and purposes 'Playing With You Food', very much like a cat does with a mouse. However... I'm curious to know how many of you (non-vegetarians) would eat at a restaurant where you are presented with small live animals; Chicken, Duck, Fish, Piglet, Goat, and Baby Cow for the purposes of this hypothetical place. You get to select your animal, and then the dinner guests are led through the killing, butchering, and cooking process, the evening culminating in a meal killed, butchered, and cooked by the guests. Would anyone else be interested in experiencing the process of taking food from living to eaten? It is an experience that few get to have in the modern age; and I for one would pay to have it. I have read nearly a hundred entries from people proclaiming that the dish is cruel. I agree, that style of preparation is for all intents and purposes ‘Playing With You Food’, very much like a cat does with a mouse.

However…

I’m curious to know how many of you (non-vegetarians) would eat at a restaurant where you are presented with small live animals; Chicken, Duck, Fish, Piglet, Goat, and Baby Cow for the purposes of this hypothetical place. You get to select your animal, and then the dinner guests are led through the killing, butchering, and cooking process, the evening culminating in a meal killed, butchered, and cooked by the guests.

Would anyone else be interested in experiencing the process of taking food from living to eaten? It is an experience that few get to have in the modern age; and I for one would pay to have it.

]]> By: BLAST 420 http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642060 BLAST 420 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642060 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikizukuri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikizukuri

]]> By: sum.zero http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642063 sum.zero Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642063 the beating of the animals has nothing to do with tenderizing and everything to do with the superstitious notion that animals that are afraid are more tasty and tender due to "fear juices". it's a sad and horrific and a typical example of human hubris towards the rest of the planet. the beating of the animals has nothing to do with tenderizing and everything to do with the superstitious notion that animals that are afraid are more tasty and tender due to “fear juices”.

it’s a sad and horrific and a typical example of human hubris towards the rest of the planet.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642065 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642065 Could there at least be a warning about the content of the video, the title isn't descriptive enough if someone hasn't heard about this before. This is the sort of thing you wish you could wipe off your eyes after you've seen it - I don't think people should be unwittingly exposed to it. Could there at least be a warning about the content of the video, the title isn’t descriptive enough if someone hasn’t heard about this before. This is the sort of thing you wish you could wipe off your eyes after you’ve seen it – I don’t think people should be unwittingly exposed to it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642321 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642321 I hunt, fish, and am not vegetarian.... this act is an example of unnecessary suffering caused by people who are moral and intellectual twits. I hunt, fish, and am not vegetarian…. this act is an example of unnecessary suffering caused by people who are moral and intellectual twits.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642835 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642835 I was visiting a friend in Korea & there was talk about "cruel food" and the various dishes involved. Didn't hear of this one though. He told me a lot of people there will not eat seafood unless they see it swimming in the tank first. From what he was told it was more a matter of people not trusting the delivery of fish meat, so it's more a matter of not getting sick. I did eat eel that was writhing skinless under a glass dome on a grill for a short time, but this is a whole different level. I was visiting a friend in Korea & there was talk about “cruel food” and the various dishes involved. Didn’t hear of this one though. He told me a lot of people there will not eat seafood unless they see it swimming in the tank first. From what he was told it was more a matter of people not trusting the delivery of fish meat, so it’s more a matter of not getting sick.

I did eat eel that was writhing skinless under a glass dome on a grill for a short time, but this is a whole different level.

]]> By: Sorcerer Mickey http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642068 Sorcerer Mickey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642068 "UNICORN CHASER! STAT!" “UNICORN CHASER! STAT!”

]]> By: apoxia http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642325 apoxia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642325 I don't believe this fish has a consciousness, neither do I believe that my cat does. But this is not about consciousness, it is about pain and suffering and it sickens me. I won't watch the video. I don’t believe this fish has a consciousness, neither do I believe that my cat does. But this is not about consciousness, it is about pain and suffering and it sickens me. I won’t watch the video.

]]> By: robnit http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642327 robnit Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642327 yeah, no thanks. Would rather watch this vicious attack of cuteness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNS6SUe-kGc&NR=1 yeah, no thanks. Would rather watch this vicious attack of cuteness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNS6SUe-kGc&NR=1

]]> By: frowelishnu http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642072 frowelishnu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642072 Thanks, BLAST 420. Take note, Rob Beschizza, you too can add context to your posts with a simple wiki link. Posting this without information was a jerk move. Thanks, BLAST 420.

Take note, Rob Beschizza, you too can add context to your posts with a simple wiki link.

Posting this without information was a jerk move.

]]> By: Jane Kansas http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642073 Jane Kansas Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642073 I hate my species. I hate my species.

]]> By: Rob Beschizza http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642589 Rob Beschizza Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642589 "You left the readers to do all the heavy lifting. It's lazy blogging and your carelessness is drawing you some ire. Deal with the criticism and do better next time. That's all I'm asking." Most who have contributed to this thread understood the context perfectly well, and didn't require any help from me. They know implicitly what they feel about what they've seen, and don't need their ethical or emotional hands held to be able to express something interesting or salient about it. Whenever something is ambiguously presented or stripped of context, there are always those who want to see it as laziness, or banality, or whatever form of moral disinterest they think ails the presenter. While all around them others are making hay, such folks always seem more interested in counting entitlements. You believe it leaves others to do the "heavy lifting" but another person complained that it's a "heavy handed moral lesson." At least he credits the notion that this had a point, and that you don't need to have it spelled out to you to find value in it. “You left the readers to do all the heavy lifting. It’s lazy blogging and your carelessness is drawing you some ire. Deal with the criticism and do better next time. That’s all I’m asking.”

Most who have contributed to this thread understood the context perfectly well, and didn’t require any help from me. They know implicitly what they feel about what they’ve seen, and don’t need their ethical or emotional hands held to be able to express something interesting or salient about it.

Whenever something is ambiguously presented or stripped of context, there are always those who want to see it as laziness, or banality, or whatever form of moral disinterest they think ails the presenter. While all around them others are making hay, such folks always seem more interested in counting entitlements.

You believe it leaves others to do the “heavy lifting” but another person complained that it’s a “heavy handed moral lesson.” At least he credits the notion that this had a point, and that you don’t need to have it spelled out to you to find value in it.

]]> By: mechko http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-644893 mechko Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-644893 Yes I do. Prove to me that it is wrong, and I will go and assassinate the people who perpetrate these injustices. Unfortunately, I don't think you can without a subjective normative judgment or a lot of work. The best you can do is implement strong mobility to allow people to leave these places. I am not supporting or condoning female infanticide, bride burning, the stoning of rape victims, etc. But you have to be able to prove that the presumptions that lead to these actions are inferior to a set that does not lead to these actions, or that these results are logically inaccurate. Yes I do. Prove to me that it is wrong, and I will go and assassinate the people who perpetrate these injustices. Unfortunately, I don’t think you can without a subjective normative judgment or a lot of work. The best you can do is implement strong mobility to allow people to leave these places. I am not supporting or condoning female infanticide, bride burning, the stoning of rape victims, etc. But you have to be able to prove that the presumptions that lead to these actions are inferior to a set that does not lead to these actions, or that these results are logically inaccurate.

]]> By: jaytkay http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642078 jaytkay Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642078 The stockyards used to be a must-see Chicago tourist destination, watching terrified pigs get picked up by one hind leg and killed, or cows getting a sledge hammer to the head. Today I think a lot of new vegetarians would emerge at the end of the tour. Maybe that's the point of this post? The stockyards used to be a must-see Chicago tourist destination, watching terrified pigs get picked up by one hind leg and killed, or cows getting a sledge hammer to the head.

Today I think a lot of new vegetarians would emerge at the end of the tour. Maybe that’s the point of this post?

]]> By: jdixon http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642334 jdixon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642334 An example of food fetishization, in which novelty of the consumed item is the prime motivator. Most, if not all cultures pursue this to some end. It is unfortunate. My personal sensitivity is to food consumption contests. No less deplorable than this example in their way. How many raw oyster eaters know their food is alive? An example of food fetishization, in which novelty of the consumed item is the prime motivator. Most, if not all cultures pursue this to some end. It is unfortunate.

My personal sensitivity is to food consumption contests. No less deplorable than this example in their way.

How many raw oyster eaters know their food is alive?

]]> By: Boba Fett Diop http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642079 Boba Fett Diop Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642079 Wow, I will eat pretty much anything (I had some nice horse tartare this weekend), but that is seriously fucked up. Even the animals that we eat should be allowed some manner of dignity and mercy. If you eat meat, eat free-range and local. Wow, I will eat pretty much anything (I had some nice horse tartare this weekend), but that is seriously fucked up. Even the animals that we eat should be allowed some manner of dignity and mercy. If you eat meat, eat free-range and local.

]]> By: Apreche http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642080 Apreche Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642080 I highly suspect hte fish is actually dead, and it just twitching or whatever. The same way that corpses will sit up in the morgue, or whatever. I highly suspect hte fish is actually dead, and it just twitching or whatever. The same way that corpses will sit up in the morgue, or whatever.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642336 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642336 <i>it should be at least a little chilling that the entire US staff and readership of BoingBoing could be put in prison for this.</i> They'll go for HuffPo before they go for us. it should be at least a little chilling that the entire US staff and readership of BoingBoing could be put in prison for this.

They’ll go for HuffPo before they go for us.

]]> By: retrojoe http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642083 retrojoe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642083 Not in any way a "Wonderful Thing". Not in any way a “Wonderful Thing”.

]]> By: Witteveen http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642851 Witteveen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642851 Thanks Rob. It's a door opened - with a content behind it that people would like to pretend does not exist. Interesting to see the argument being about neccesity (of it being shown, or the dish being prepared as such) when there is no option to blame the perpetrator of our disgust (the fish in this case - remember the research showing that the harder a torture victim screams, the more guilty the accomplis percieves the victim). Next step taken therefore is to either blame the messenger or to resolve our cognitive dissonance by trivializing the event as part of 'normal' provision of sustenance. Fact is, we can live without eating animals. Our disgust shows a way out. Maybe not directly (Although i will certainly cut down my consumption of fish far more now too) but by not rationalizing away our dissonance we might get more real. p.s. if anybody wants to take a closer look at the philosophical confusion around animal ethics I highly recommend A. Campora's Corporal Compassion http://www.amazon.com/Corporal-Compassion-Animal-Ethics-Philosophy/dp/0822942852 I feel wretched, but can't find anyone to blame. Thanks Rob. It’s a door opened – with a content behind it that people would like to pretend does not exist.

Interesting to see the argument being about neccesity (of it being shown, or the dish being prepared as such) when there is no option to blame the perpetrator of our disgust (the fish in this case – remember the research showing that the harder a torture victim screams, the more guilty the accomplis percieves the victim). Next step taken therefore is to either blame the messenger or to resolve our cognitive dissonance by trivializing the event as part of ‘normal’ provision of sustenance.

Fact is, we can live without eating animals. Our disgust shows a way out. Maybe not directly (Although i will certainly cut down my consumption of fish far more now too) but by not rationalizing away our dissonance we might get more real.

p.s. if anybody wants to take a closer look at the philosophical confusion around animal ethics I highly recommend A. Campora’s Corporal Compassion http://www.amazon.com/Corporal-Compassion-Animal-Ethics-Philosophy/dp/0822942852

I feel wretched, but can’t find anyone to blame.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642084 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642084 This really needs a WARNING. Simply put, it grossed me out. I dig sushi. I kill things and eat them. I don't torture and laugh at animals as they die. This is completely INAPPROPRIATE and even on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikizukuri) mentions its controversial practice. I think a WARNING as per its controversy and graphic nature is in order. I appreciate the look at another culture and its eating habits, but its a little irresponsible to post something with no description or warning that depicts the prolonged death of an animal. This really needs a WARNING. Simply put, it grossed me out. I dig sushi. I kill things and eat them. I don’t torture and laugh at animals as they die. This is completely INAPPROPRIATE and even on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikizukuri) mentions its controversial practice. I think a WARNING as per its controversy and graphic nature is in order.
I appreciate the look at another culture and its eating habits, but its a little irresponsible to post something with no description or warning that depicts the prolonged death of an animal.

]]> By: godisafiction http://boingboing.net/2009/11/19/plaices-of-death.html#comment-642597 godisafiction Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-642597 I second the okay-ness of eating live oysters. Somehow, the knowledge that I'm slurping down dismembered organisms in the throes of death doesn't affect the enjoyment I extract from the experience. The immediacy of it all makes them taste better to me in the same way eating a fish I've caught/speared and prepared myself does. Maybe that feeling is what this restaurant is trying and <b>spectacularly failing</b> to resurrect with this Piscine Torture Fetish Plate. I second the okay-ness of eating live oysters.

Somehow, the knowledge that I’m slurping down dismembered organisms in the throes of death doesn’t affect the enjoyment I extract from the experience. The immediacy of it all makes them taste better to me in the same way eating a fish I’ve caught/speared and prepared myself does.

Maybe that feeling is what this restaurant is trying and spectacularly failing to resurrect with this Piscine Torture Fetish Plate.

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