🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <53277@mimsy.umd.edu>, nulspace@cs.umd.edu (Michael Chang) writes:

> Everything on this planet evolved in an open environment.  Roaming is not a
> preferential activity, it is merely the result of being hatched in the middle
> of a field.  In addition, chickens are completely domesticated.  Millions of
                                                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~
> years ago, ancient Babylonians (I'm not a student of history, so I might be
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> a little wrong here), in anticipation of styrofoam (and sauces in little
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> plastic containers), decided to breed and domesticate chickens.  It's a
little
> absurd to label chickens as wild animals.

To say the least! Or perhaps there was a "chicken age" that preceded the
development of civilization, but it has been kept a secret.

>
> [...]
> >waiting for yuou at Giant. Also, it is apparent that you
> >give no regard to the feeling of chickens.. thats something
>
> If you are so stressed over the feelings of chickens, what about the feelings
> of broccoli?  They are living creatures as well, and who are you to say that
> they don't have feelings as well?  To arbitrarily say that vegetables don't
> have feelings is the same as saying that chickens don't have feelings.

This reduction to absurdity of a point which some have argued has already been
reduced to absurdity seems pretty weak to me. Though the original posting
seemed extreme to me, I thought there were some subsequent postings that
raised some valid points about questionable practices going on at Purdue that,
if true, are a reasonable concern for many people. As for the industry in
general, there is certainly room for improvement. For instance, just compare
the bacteria levels of chicken sold in the U.S to that of chicken sold in many
European countries (e.g. Sweden). I suggest that there might exist a middle
ground here between the free-the-chickens movement and those who consider any
questioning of the industry a personal attack on their lifestyle.

>
> [various gripes about Frank Purdue's Industrial Activities deleted]
>
> If you don't like Mr. Purdue that much, go buy Holly Farms Chicken.  That is
> how consumers can directly affect the producers in the market.
Unfortunately,
> I've heard disturbing rumors about Dinah Shore.

That is one way to effect change. Another way is to exercise free speech. Both
approaches seem acceptable to me in our society. As for those rumors, I haven't
heard any since Colonel Sanders died.

Ed Seiler
seiler@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov