Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Which side is more insulting to the other: pro-whalers or anti-whalers?

Poll Feb. 02, 2009 - 03:00AM JST ( 36 )

Order by Time Order by Popularity

36 Comments

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cleoFeb. 02, 2009 - 10:08AM JST

I voted 'anti-whalers'. The pro-whalers can do no better than fluster and bumble ineffectually about 'eco-terrorism' and 'piracy', while those of us on the side of the whales have so much more material to work with and get our teeth into.

I will continue to insult the pro-whalers, and of course the unspeakable whalers themselves, until Japan comes to its senses and the barbarity ceases.
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supercubFeb. 02, 2009 - 02:33PM JST

What?
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cleoFeb. 02, 2009 - 02:35PM JST

The whalers virtually beg to be insulted.
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wuzzademcratFeb. 02, 2009 - 02:40PM JST

They are both about the same.

If only we could arrange for both groups to continue the 'debate' somewhere far out at sea.
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MarteeFeb. 02, 2009 - 03:31PM JST

I am in favour of sustainable whaling, after all a whale is nothing more than a big fish.
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smithinjapanFeb. 02, 2009 - 09:18PM JST

What a bizarre question. I mean, it seems to me SeaShepherd does a better job of hurling insults, but the existence of the whalers is far more insulting to anyone. I think it needs to be phrased better.
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borschtFeb. 02, 2009 - 10:29PM JST

Actually I believe a whale is nothing more than a big mammal, like an elephant with fins. The whalers insult everyone by claiming to be doing research, by claiming Japan has a long history of whaling (they do, within eye-shot of Japan), and by being part of a nation that has overfished its own sea into unproductivity. So I voted Both because the other side is pretty good at tossing insults, too.
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usaexpatFeb. 03, 2009 - 12:35AM JST

The poll should have read: "which side's arguments are more insulting to your intelligence?" Whatever neither side makes a convincing case and I just try to block it out. There are certainly more important issues facing the world than whaling.
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OssanAmericaFeb. 03, 2009 - 09:34AM JST

smith

There are those who believe that Whales are nothing more than cows in the water. Then there are those who believe that whales are holy creatures with the same degree of everything as humans. Nothing exists to definitively resolve this question one way or the other. When one imposes their own set of beliefs upon others to the extent of villifying them and wishing them harm, well I say there is a moral vacuum. Is that what we were taught as children? Sorry smith but you're are out in society's left field supporting criminal behavior.
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OssanAmericaFeb. 03, 2009 - 01:03PM JST

will continue to insult the pro-whalers, and of course the unspeakable >whalers themselves, until Japan comes to its senses and the barbarity >ceases.

When one imposes their own set of beliefs upon others to the extent of villifying them and wishing them harm, well I say there is a moral vacuum. Is that what we were taught as children?
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cleoFeb. 03, 2009 - 01:10PM JST

wishing them harm

I don't wish the whalers harm. I just want them to go home, stop all this 'scientific research' and 'traditional culture' nonsense, and get proper jobs.
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cleoFeb. 03, 2009 - 01:12PM JST

Is that what we were taught as children?

As a child I was taught that deliberately inflicting pain and suffering on a living creature was where the moral vacuum lay.
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ZurgFeb. 03, 2009 - 04:35PM JST

Weather the whales have feelings or not, Japan eats fish. This is their life and tradition.

It is not for us to interfere into THEIR (Japanese) affairs.

Who is it to say that whales are off limits? Japanese have rights too!
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KanadjinFeb. 03, 2009 - 09:09PM JST

If the Japanese were whaling within their own waters that would be a Japanese affair, but the fact that they are not in Japanese waters and also are a part of the treaty protecting the whales makes this a global issue. Also the fact that they are part of the treaty meant to protect the whales makes it very hypocritical on their part. For being known as such a "green" and "sustainable" culture, it is strange that the Japanese seem so bent on harvesting endangered species.
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MolenirFeb. 04, 2009 - 02:20AM JST

No you see, they're avoiding harvesting endangered species, but instead using a managed approach...

Ah who cares, I won't convince you, you won't convince me. Since I'm right and you're wrong, does it even matter. :)
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OssanAmericaFeb. 04, 2009 - 02:21AM JST

cleo

I don't wish the whalers harm. I just want them to go home, stop all >this 'scientific research' and 'traditional culture' nonsense, and get >proper jobs.

I'm glad to hear that. So then can I take it that you are against the physical harassment and provocation activities of Sea Sheperd? After all, Greenpeace and other groups are also against whaling as well without resorting to blatant criminal activity.

As a child I was taught that deliberately inflicting pain and suffering >on a living creature was where the moral vacuum lay.

I believe that Whalers are human beings and they are living creatures.
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cleoFeb. 04, 2009 - 10:03AM JST

can I take it that you are against the physical harassment and provocation activities of Sea Sheperd?

Provocation is fine. The whalers are provoking the rest of the civilised world with their blatant lies and antics. If the whalers feel provoked when people object to their bloody occupation, all well and good. May it give them pause to think about what they're doing. As for 'physical harassment' - you mean like turning high-pressure water cannon on people in flimsy inflatable dinghies, with the very strong possibility of knocking someone into the icy water? Firing long range acoustical devices designed to disorient and incapacitate? (a very dangerous thing to do considering the harsh environment) Flinging solid metal balls at cameramen? Poking boathooks in the faces of young actresses? Yes, I'm against all of those things.

Trailing behind the death ships so that they keep moving and have not time to catch whales? Fine. It's the whalers who are deciding they don't want their activities witnessed. A bit of smelly stuff on the decks, making the butchering of 'research material' a little more unpleasant than it already is? Nah. The whalers didn't choose their 'profession' for its pleasant aromas.

I believe that Whalers are human beings

So do I, and I believe they should go home, get proper jobs like responsible human beings, and live lives in which they can hold their heads up high and wash the blood and blubber off their hands and hearts.
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timorborderFeb. 04, 2009 - 12:56PM JST

Of course, both sides are as pedantic as each other. The thing that worries me, however, is the total disregard that both sides show with regard to safety.
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OssanAmericaFeb. 05, 2009 - 02:51AM JST

Provocation is fine. The whalers are provoking the rest of the civilised >world with their blatant lies and antics.

No they aren't "provoking" anybody, they're just doing their job.

If the whalers feel provoked when people object to their bloody >occupation, all well and good.

No they feel provoked when eco-terrorists throw things at them, ie; interfereing without provocation a lawful activity. And we both know it's not illegal, just ask the Australians.

May it give them pause to think about what they're doing. As >for 'physical harassment' - you mean like turning high-pressure water >cannon on people in flimsy inflatable dinghies, with the very strong >possibility of knocking someone into the icy water?

The eco-terrorists are engaging in acts of piracy, harassing by throwing objects, boarding wthout permission etc. Defending themselves with water canons is the very least they can do. If the ship were American we'd be firing live rounds. And if one of the criminal eco-terrorists falls into the water while harassing a whaling ship, so what? He was engaging in piracy.

Firing long range acoustical devices designed to disorient and >incapacitate? (a very dangerous thing to do considering the harsh >environment) Flinging solid metal balls at cameramen? Poking boathooks >in the faces of young actresses? Yes, I'm against all of those things.

Wow you buy Watson's BS hook line and sinker huh? The eco-terrorists have no business being there. Vigilantism is illegal anywhere.

Trailing behind the death ships so that they keep moving and have not >time to catch whales? Fine. It's the whalers who are deciding they don't >want their activities witnessed. A bit of smelly stuff on the decks, >making the butchering of 'research material' a little more unpleasant >than it already is? Nah. The whalers didn't choose their 'profession' >for its pleasant aromas.
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BadseyFeb. 05, 2009 - 07:38AM JST

Both of these groups could turn their Eco-Terrorism into Eco-Tourism. Their "scientific" barberism has me deeply insulted.

Everyone of the infidels should have their picture, address, email published so they can be harrassed to no end. -The Whale God commands it.
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bushloverFeb. 05, 2009 - 07:54AM JST

Why do people harp on this with their heart on their sleeve? Oh my God!! A few Whales are dying. Oh crap. Stop using emotion to get your way. Anti-Whalers are nothing more than emotional blackmailing terrorists and have called many a pro-whaler idiots when it's clear they are for not having any more argument than whales are poor poor animals in the ocean being harassed by humans. Bloody hypocrites all of em.
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888naffFeb. 08, 2009 - 10:19PM JST

insulting? mmm i think the pro whalers havent being insulting, if only a little. I think they could be alot more insulting if they wanted to. They barely pick any holes in the anti whalers let alone be insulting.. which they could do both easily if they tried.
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cleoFeb. 08, 2009 - 11:20PM JST

888 -

But we don't even need to try to insult the whalers. They just lay it all out on a plate for us. It's so easy....
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ForeignKiriFeb. 27, 2009 - 09:16AM JST

I love whales and therefore I am biased for the beilef that Pro whalers are insulting. My only logical explination dispite my biased opinion is due to the fact that the Japnese whaling companies DO tread farther than they need to in terms of capturing these species.... And besides, I think anyone who has interest to stand up and preserve water life such as this deserves to be acknowledged! Go anti whalers! I admit although im an anti-whaler I'm not foregoing some of the semantics and off the wall stunts that most animal protectors go through. If its in Japanese history to eat a whale... I understand but just don't let me see it...