Home › Forums › Open Discussion › PETA targets Seattle tradition: Pike Place fish throwers
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June 11, 2009 at 3:10 pm #591196
WesCAddleMemberOkay, I think PETA is stretching a bit on this one, and it really makes them look bad. I am a huge meat eater, but I do support many of the projects PETA has run in the past that have helped stop suffering of animals.
This, however, is a joke….and if they really want to lose credibility with the public, campaigns like this will help.
Discuss.
June 11, 2009 at 4:39 pm #669482
JoBParticipanti too think they have gone a step too far…
June 11, 2009 at 4:46 pm #669483
KBearParticipantThe fish tossing is great theater and tourists love it. If the fish were being thrown around like toys and then not eaten, that would be disrespectful. But people do buy and eat these fish, so let them have their fun.
If PETA wanted a real reason to oppose the tossing of fish, they could point out that it bruises the flesh and ruins the texture. But then they would have to admit there’s a right way to eat animals.
I prefer to buy my fish where no one shouts at me and no one throws it around (Seattle Fish Co. in the Junction!), but I’m glad Pike Place Fish is a thriving part of the Seattle scene.
June 11, 2009 at 4:55 pm #669484
flowerpetalMemberI’m glad I went to the link. I am all for freedom of speech and the right for peaceful protest. Without reading, I thought it was a statement against the eating of meat/fish.
But the article and PETA statements really seem to be focusing on the throwing of fish. Really! The fish is dead for Gawds sake. Will PETA next be picketing because some grill cook is flipping burger patties with a flair? I have respect for PETA (even though I love meat and seafood) but I think they have chosen the wrong battle here.
June 11, 2009 at 5:30 pm #669485
GenHillOneParticipantI too am a carnivore, but respect PETA, most of the time. It’s always disappointing to me when something is taken to absurdity because it discounts other good work and gives opponants fodder. Now when working for the ethical treatment of LIVE animals, there will be some jerk who dismisses PETA as the anti-fish throwing crazies. *sigh*
June 11, 2009 at 5:40 pm #669486
mom2sorenMemberPETA doesn’t always run a smart PR campaign. That’s unfortunate, because as GenHillOne said, their name can be easily maligned by those who focus on a few of the absurd campaigns.
I get PETA mailings that turn me off. I wish they would polish up a bit on the way they present themselves to the public. I’m all for animal rights and cruelty-free products, but don’t like some of the message from this organization.
June 11, 2009 at 6:51 pm #669487
JiggersMemberRidiculous to say the least. How long have they been there throwing around dead fish? This appears to me as a way for PETA to receive some attention,knowingly, that they won’t and can’t win this case even if a desperate lawyer takes it to court. Find something else better to do PETA.
June 11, 2009 at 7:05 pm #669488
AlkiKmacParticipantOne could argue that Vets should show more respect for animals than having them thrown around at their convention.
Also, there’s an argument for showing respect for a fish that gave up its life to be a food source for us.
Just saying…..
June 11, 2009 at 8:10 pm #669489
KBearParticipantYes, the vets should have more tasteful entertainment at their convention. Perhaps a panel of West Seattleites could debate the topic of off-leash dogs and roaming cats.
June 11, 2009 at 9:43 pm #669490
timeslidParticipantYes it is a step too far. However, as AlkiKmac pointed out, “Vets should show more respect for animals than having them thrown around at their convention.” They wouldn’t throw dead kittens or puppies around. I know a fish is different socially and culinarily than a kitten, but respect is respect. Also, throwing a fish bruises its meat and does affect the final product.
June 11, 2009 at 9:52 pm #669491
flowerpetalMemberI either I am tired, demented or just plain stupid. What are we talking about Vets tossing animals?” And really, PETA does not care if throwing a fish bruises it and affects the final product. For sure, dead fish get tossed a lot less kindly on fishing boats than they do at Pike Place Market. And when a fish is thrown into a holding bin on the boat, nobody is catching it.
June 11, 2009 at 9:59 pm #669492
AlkiKmacParticipantFlowerpetal – check out http://www.pikeplacefish.com/philosophy.html
They do motivational type seminars for various groups and are doing one at the upcoming Vet convention. Yes, the Vets will be invited to throw fish. I think it’s bizarre for a Vet to want to do this.
June 11, 2009 at 11:40 pm #669493
JoBParticipantAlkiKmac..
i don’t think i understand why the vets want to do this…
but i can see where it teaches people that anything can be used as an attention getter and conversation starter… and that the more fun people have at and in a business.. the more profitable the business is likely to become.
June 11, 2009 at 11:53 pm #669494
LexMemberI’m so embarrased for PETA I will no longer be donating funds annually. There are so many other causes they can go after. whats next? the buffalo sauce on the wings at bars is too hot for the dead chickens? this issues as put us on the map once again as overly sensative idiots in the northwest.
This is going to back fire on PETA and definately increase sales for the fish mongers.
June 12, 2009 at 12:03 am #669495
alki_2008Participantthe buffalo sauce on the wings at bars is too hot for the dead chickens?
One of the greatest comments ever! :-D
What strikes me is that PETA is cricizing veterinarians for participating in something that plenty of Seattle visitors would like to do. There have been celebrities in town that threw fish at the market because it’s a “Seattle attraction” type of thing. If the veterinarians were throwing fish in Denver, then I could see how PETA would say “why throw fish”…but come on, they’re visiting Seattle.
As for veterinarians having a professional duty to not participate because it’s somehow cruel or disrespectful…I don’t agree with that argument either. Let them throw dead fish, which are going to be packed and sold/shipped anyway. It’s not like they’re out in the street playing keep-away with the dead fish.
Sorry PETA, you’re losing some followers with this protest.
June 12, 2009 at 5:17 am #669496
ellenaterMemberI like PETA in theory. They are often doing crap like this. Sooooooo dumb. Takes away from the real issues. We need a better, grounded, more viable version of PETA.
June 12, 2009 at 7:43 am #669497
TraciMemberI have a hard time faulting any animal rights organization, no matter how outlandish they get. However, it does little good if their actions are so far-fetched that they become a joke. When that happens the real message gets clouded.
Pasado’s is advocating animal rights the BEST WAY in my opinion…Love, love, love them.
June 12, 2009 at 7:32 pm #669498
JiggersMemberPETA..in New York they are going to round up some 2,000 geese soon and kill them simply because they live and flock near airports. Go get em’ PETA.
June 12, 2009 at 8:24 pm #669499
Sky2625MemberI can’t think of a better analogy than Lex’s “too hot for the chicken” comment.
Aside from the over-the-top stuff, PETA does actually have some very good campaigns…i.e. their opposition to Lowe’s sale of glue traps. The video is appalling.
June 12, 2009 at 8:37 pm #669500
EmmyJaneParticipantIf PETA hadn’t taken this “crazy” stance on this issue, we wouldn’t be discussing it right now. That’s the point- they do attention grabbing stunts to get people talking. In my opinion, if it gets one person thinking about respecting an animal that’s given its life as a food source for the human population that could easily survive without the sacrifice, its worth it.
I heart Pasados too… I just got an email update from them that the scum bag POS who tied up the Rottweiler, shot it and left it to die admitted to it.
June 12, 2009 at 9:37 pm #669501
flowerpetalMemberMaybe PETA has gone to the Paris Hilton School of Public Relations where the motto is “Any publicity is good publicity” Or, “What is worse than being talked about? NOT being talked about!”
June 12, 2009 at 10:01 pm #669502
SusanMemberIt’s frustrating to see fellow animal lovers causing Pike Place Fish Market to get free publicity that will cause some people to have sympathy for it. This business deserves criticism for something more important than fish-throwing.
Pike Place Fish Market sells Chilean Seabass, Blue Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, and other depleted species. The disrespect it shows by throwing around the animals that nourish us seems related to the lack of care it shows about the sustainability of the species it sells. As a Seattle tourist attraction, this business should be considered an embarrassment to a city that prides itself on being environmentally friendly.
Seattle has responsible retailers (like PCC) that sell only responsibly harvested seafood. http://www.seafoodwatch.org has good information about choosing seafood.
June 12, 2009 at 10:13 pm #669503
flowerpetalMemberI’m with you part of the way Susan. But who gets to say that tossing a fish from one fish monger to the other is disrespectful? I don’t get that. Are there “Disrespect Police” now? The whole idea of respect and disrespect is value laden and PETA or others may wish to say that such an act is disrespectful to themselves as viewers of this activity. But many others see no disrespect, myself included.
June 12, 2009 at 10:59 pm #669504
SusanMemberFlowerpetal, I agree that finding the fish-tossing disrespectful is a subjective judgement. I was just expressing my own opinion about it. I don’t know where you get “Disrespect Police” out of that.
My point was to express regret that PETA’s silliness might cause sympathy for a business that does something that is, in my opinion, worse than fish-throwing.
June 12, 2009 at 11:05 pm #669505
EmmyJaneParticipantI have come to the conclusion that people just have different values on animal life. Lets compare throwing around a dead fish to throwing around a dead human. “Group 1” thinks that animals are inferior to humans and this group would likely conclude that this comparison of dead fish to dead humans is ridiculous because the two life forms are not equal.
A second group of people values most, if not all, life as equal, or at least believes that animals are sentient and are entitled to some sort of moral rights. To this group, throwing around a dead fish is throwing around a life, which would be disrespectful in the same sense that throwing around a dead human is disrespectful.
The two groups will never agree, its just a different philosophy on animal life and rights.
There are certainly more “groups” out there that have varying degrees of these opinions.
Maybe those on this thread who don’t find throwing around dead fish disrespectful could elaborate on why if I’m way off base??
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