Tim Blair

and its effects on people's relations with animals, don't ya know.

"Dear Mr. President: There are too many states nowadays. Please eliminate three. I am not a crackpot."

Unfortunately I have to agree with you. That is taking it to an extreme. Morally equivalent to shoplifting perhaps.

Is cutting the grass just as evil? I have no lawn at home, so I'm not personally at risk of moral turpitude, but some of my friends even pay others to do it and WATCH them violating the poor plants' rights.
In a world of such depravity, how can one even begin to bother worrying about whether the lunatics are taking over the asylums?

I fell down a well yesterday and became a recognised authority on ground aquifers.

Right, all fish murderers,including oneself, should be in jail.

If hunting is illegal, does that mean we need to lock up all the predatory animals?

Perhaps just extract their teeth and fangs, and feed them grass.

The guy's an academic god-botherer. 'nuff said.

What next? The pope blessing Tariq Aziz? Whoops...

Jeremy -- did you bother to read the article? --- the man is not talking about "hunting" but "fox hunting" The man is of course a crank but in your haste to denigrate please do not forget that "fox hunting" is cruel to the fox, the horses and the hounds. As a farmer I do not understand cruelty for its own sake --- merely to titilate bored human beings. The man has a valid point -- it's a pity that he wrapped it in moralistic Christian claptrap.

Ah, the Mikado!

"My morals have been declared particularly correct."

"But they're nothing at all compared to those of his daughter-in-law elect!"

"Hunting is morally equivalent to rape, child abuse and torture"

Great does this mean that rape and torture are Ok now?

Fail to see how hunting is cruel to hound and horse - they're bred for the hunt.
As for foxes, last time I checked, they're into frightening animals and ripping their flesh apart.The beast, if it were not for the hunt , rifle as well as to hound,would have no predator.

Perhaps the real objection to fox-hunting is, it incurs the wrath of socialists and other envious types. For fox-hunting has its traditions and conventions which are unpalatable to the sneering and the resentful.And requires good horseflesh, and membership of a hunt.
Bring back the hunt.

Good one "d" ---- "bring back the hunt" and also the pulling of wings off butterflies.

Good one "d" ---- "bring back the hunt" and also the pulling of wings off butterflies.

Gad, Tally Ho, you just reminded one of another boyhood delight - hear hear, bring back pulling wings off butterflies also : and decapitation of crickets.

And tying flies to chairs with bits of cotton!

Has anyone tried the following suggestion in the glory days of childhood , if not children might be encouraged this novel pleasure: extracting bogeys from frogs' nostrils . But, what gadget should be used?

How did you manage that Yobbo, I found flies too frustrating to torment ,since they're tricky little devils.