Is it odd to be anti-fur but still eat meat/wear leather?

[ford family]

The absence of life is hardly anything to sweat.

Easy for you to say, you're alive!

ford family

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

the point is they are bred specifically to lead horrible lives and then die a horrible death just to become someone's coat ...so, yes, it would be better if they were not brought into this world for that alone.

 

[suzannen]

I'm sure I'll get flamed, but wearing fur coats is not just always just "vanity" or "for rich folks." I walk 25-30 minutes each way to the subway every day - that's 50-60 minutes of walking through snow, sleet, blizzards, you name it. I am very slender, I suffer from anemia, and I am always freezing in cold weather. I have tried every coat known to man: down, synthetic, faux fur, cashmere, wool - and sorry, none are as warm as my fur coat and that's why I have one and don't apologize for it. If I take care of this one coat, it will last me at least 20 years (as my MIL's has). Meanwhile, everyone else is eating meat every day and/or buying new leather shoes/belts/coats every year causing so many more animals to be killed than my ONE fur coat. Yet, I cannot tell you how many folks believe they have the right to say something to me and threaten me in public, without knowing anything about me. To the OP, these are all personal decisions and you just need to feel comfortable with your own decisions. I don't believe anyone has the right to question how and why you came to that decision.

 

[eclectics]

Sorry. I know there are mink in the wild but fur coats are generally made from farmed fur.
A poster said it was ok to use leather because the cattle were going to be killed anyway for their meat whereas the mink wouldn't be killed if we didn't use their fur. The point I was making was that the logic was false because if we didn't use fur we would not breed the mink in the first place. So, rather than being killed for its fur it would not be born.


ford family

Got it. But the original number of minks used to start the farm would have eventually bred anyway in the wild if they were left alone in the first place and probably would have the same number of pups, and their pups would have new pups etc. All in the wild where they would at least have a decent shot at living a normal mink life instead of all having their necks wrung or their throats slit.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Easy for you to say, you're alive!

ford family

Really?

There is a difference to something not being conceived and therefore not being born than to be born into horrible conditions.Or even so-so conditions.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'm sure I'll get flamed, but wearing fur coats is not just always just "vanity" or "for rich folks." I walk 25-30 minutes each way to the subway every day - that's 50-60 minutes of walking through snow, sleet, blizzards, you name it. I am very slender, I suffer from anemia, and I am always freezing in cold weather. I have tried every coat known to man: down, synthetic, faux fur, cashmere, wool - and sorry, none are as warm as my fur coat and that's why I have one and don't apologize for it. If I take care of this one coat, it will last me at least 20 years (as my MIL's has). Meanwhile, everyone else is eating meat every day and/or buying new leather shoes/belts/coats every year causing so many more animals to be killed than my ONE fur coat. Yet, I cannot tell you how many folks believe they have the right to say something to me and threaten me in public, without knowing anything about me. To the OP, these are all personal decisions and you just need to feel comfortable with your own decisions. I don't believe anyone has the right to question how and why you came to that decision.

And you know what, I really don't fault you for what seems like a well thought-out decision.

 

[ford family]

Got it. But the original number of minks used to start the farm would have eventually bred anyway in the wild if they were left alone in the first place and probably would have the same number of pups, and their pups would have new pups etc. All in the wild where they would at least have a decent shot at living a normal mink life instead of all having their necks wrung or their throats slit.

Not so. In the wild their numbers are restricted by a lot of different factors, predators, habitat, climate, availability of food and so on.
In a breeding farm there are none of those problems so the animals become much more prolific breeders.

ford family

 

[ford family]

the point is they are bred specifically to lead horrible lives and then die a horrible death just to become someone's coat ...so, yes, it would be better if they were not brought into this world for that alone.

So, if they had really nice pens with huge runs and lots of toys to play with and absolutely super meals and were put to sleep very gently then it would be all ok and mink coats would be permissible?

ford family

 

[Keli]

Personally I have nothing against fur. At this time I don't own a fur coat but it wouldn't surprise me if one day I do. I think they look nice and everyone says they are really warm. I also eat meat and wear leather.

 

[eclectics]

Not so. In the wild their numbers are restricted by a lot of different factors, predators, habitat, climate, availability of food and so on.
In a breeding farm there are none of those problems so the animals become much more prolific breeders.

ford family

Yes, bred for certain death.
Breeding Farm=100% death when mature
The Wild= Slightly better odds I'm sure.
I'm sure if the mink had a choice in the matter they would prefer a romp in the woods and taking their chances with a predator. If you support breeding farms for fur, that's okay. I'm not going to argue with you. I'm just saying I would personally prefer to see them in the woods and not on someones back. Others disagree. That's fine.

 

[pearlieq]

I'm sure I'll get flamed, but wearing fur coats is not just always just "vanity" or "for rich folks." I walk 25-30 minutes each way to the subway every day - that's 50-60 minutes of walking through snow, sleet, blizzards, you name it. I am very slender, I suffer from anemia, and I am always freezing in cold weather. I have tried every coat known to man: down, synthetic, faux fur, cashmere, wool - and sorry, none are as warm as my fur coat and that's why I have one and don't apologize for it. If I take care of this one coat, it will last me at least 20 years (as my MIL's has). Meanwhile, everyone else is eating meat every day and/or buying new leather shoes/belts/coats every year causing so many more animals to be killed than my ONE fur coat. Yet, I cannot tell you how many folks believe they have the right to say something to me and threaten me in public, without knowing anything about me.

Honestly, I just don't buy this. There are people who are honest and say "to hell with ethics, I want "X" (fur or whatever else) and I'm going to have it". That's preferable to trying to justify it.

You don't NEED a fur. I do Chicago winters, so I understand what you're up against. There are other options. You can take a cab. You can wear a sweater under your coat. You can suck it up and just be a little chilly for 25 minutes.

I'm certainly not going to sit here and try to convince you not to wear fur, but if you really "don't apologize for it" don't bother trying to justify it either!

 

[arminnie]

Honestly, I just don't buy this. There are people who are honest and say "to hell with ethics, I want "X" (fur or whatever else) and I'm going to have it". That's preferable to trying to justify it.

You don't NEED a fur. I do Chicago winters, so I understand what you're up against. There are other options. You can take a cab. You can wear a sweater under your coat. You can suck it up and just be a little chilly for 25 minutes.

I'm certainly not going to sit here and try to convince you not to wear fur, but if you really "don't apologize for it" don't bother trying to justify it either!

She doesn't have to justify it to you - it's okay if you don't buy it - you have the right to your opinion. But she has justified it to herself and that's all that matters. If she has come to the conclusion that she really does NEED a fur - then that's her right too. We don't all have to come to the same conclusions.

 

[Disney Doll]

I guess I am anti-fur, although I am not one of those vehement protestors who will yell things at people in fur or throw paint on them or anything. But I have no desire to ever own a fur coat.

For some reason there's a part of me that has a problem with an animal being raised solely for it's fur...seems like vanity to me. An animal that gets raised for meat...for food...is different.

 

[C.Ann]

Years ago my Dad raised mink to sell the furs.. For 8 years he was out of work after he broke his back and he had a family to feed.. The $36 a week he received from workman's comp just didn't cut it with a family of five..

There was nothing dirty and nothing inhumane about the way his animals were raised and put to death.. They were well fed, well watered, sheltered from severe weather, and eventually put to sleep with gas (which is far more humane than the chicken farmer who chops the chickens heads off and then watches them run around headless until they bleed to death)..

You might want to keep in mind that only the "horror" stories make the news - not the responsible folks who treat these animals in a humane manner..

 

[kirbsam]

i love my pork, beef, venison, veal, and any other meat out there. wear leather shoes, ever try to play basketball in nonleather??(ok, maybe my chuck taylors are still stylin). dont own any fur, but could care less about that whole issue. much more important things for me to worry about than that.

 

[Chicago526]

I'm sure I'll get flamed, but wearing fur coats is not just always just "vanity" or "for rich folks." I walk 25-30 minutes each way to the subway every day - that's 50-60 minutes of walking through snow, sleet, blizzards, you name it. I am very slender, I suffer from anemia, and I am always freezing in cold weather. I have tried every coat known to man: down, synthetic, faux fur, cashmere, wool - and sorry, none are as warm as my fur coat and that's why I have one and don't apologize for it. If I take care of this one coat, it will last me at least 20 years (as my MIL's has). Meanwhile, everyone else is eating meat every day and/or buying new leather shoes/belts/coats every year causing so many more animals to be killed than my ONE fur coat. Yet, I cannot tell you how many folks believe they have the right to say something to me and threaten me in public, without knowing anything about me. To the OP, these are all personal decisions and you just need to feel comfortable with your own decisions. I don't believe anyone has the right to question how and why you came to that decision.

Hey, no flames from me! I'm personally against fur, but I don't judge others.

 

[Chicago526]

Years ago my Dad raised mink to sell the furs.. For 8 years he was out of work after he broke his back and he had a family to feed.. The $36 a week he received from workman's comp just didn't cut it with a family of five..

There was nothing dirty and nothing inhumane about the way his animals were raised and put to death.. They were well fed, well watered, sheltered from severe weather, and eventually put to sleep with gas (which is far more humane than the chicken farmer who chops the chickens heads off and then watches them run around headless until they bleed to death)..

You might want to keep in mind that only the "horror" stories make the news - not the responsible folks who treat these animals in a humane manner..

If all men were like your father, C.Ann, I'm sure this wouldn't be nearly as large an issue. Unfortunatly, not all fur farms (or whatever they are called) are run as well as your father's seems to have been.

I didn't start the thread to bash fur wearers! That wasn't my intent and I apologize to anyone that may have been offended!

 

[crazyme5kids]

Chicago winters don't feel as cold as New York winters (I lived in Illinios too). I could deal so much better with the 13 below zero weather than I can with the 20 degrees above. I have to agree with suzannen, if I go to NYC I like to wear my fur coat, which by the way was a hand me down. It is the warmest coat to wear for NYC winters.

 

[madgomez]

I do wish someone would respond to my query.

If you had to look at the entire carcass of a cow, pig, sheep, chicken, whatever, hanging skinned from a hook, and tell the butcher what part you wanted him to cut off for you to eat, would you still be so comfortable eating that meat. It would look an awful lot like the living animal.

I still think the problem alot of folks have with fur is that it's cuddly, soft, strokable - reminds you of the living thing. I believe that's why it makes folks uncomfortable. I think if you had to see the carcass - not cuddly, but with a head, eye sockets, legs, a tail, etc., it would be so gross because it looks like a DEAD animal, most would have the same reaction as to the fur. JMHO. YMMV.

 

[Chicago526]

I do wish someone would respond to my query.

If you had to look at the entire carcass of a cow, pig, sheep, chicken, whatever, hanging skinned from a hook, and tell the butcher what part you wanted him to cut off for you to eat, would you still be so comfortable eating that meat. It would look an awful lot like the living animal.

I still think the problem alot of folks have with fur is that it's cuddly, soft, strokable - reminds you of the living thing. I believe that's why it makes folks uncomfortable. I think if you had to see the carcass - not cuddly, but with a head, eye sockets, legs, a tail, etc., it would be so gross because it looks like a DEAD animal, most would have the same reaction as to the fur. JMHO. YMMV.

I don't think I'd have a problem with it, myself. But then I can eat dinner while watching those medical documentaries on TLC too!

But I do see your point, I think there would be more vegitarians if people saw a cow instead of a steak.