Comments on: A Day At The Cockfights http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/ Where every man is king. Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:06:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: tb test http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-82955 tb test Thu, 03 May 2007 12:17:10 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-82955 <strong>tb test</strong> A Day At The Cockfights tb test

A Day At The Cockfights

]]> By: Alex http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-34328 Alex Sun, 11 Mar 2007 15:59:57 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-34328 Open debate here is something that we encourage, and everybody is entitled to their opinion; Steve's is perfectly valid and appreciated. Open debate here is something that we encourage, and everybody is entitled to their opinion; Steve’s is perfectly valid and appreciated.

]]> By: Will http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-34107 Will Sun, 11 Mar 2007 04:16:35 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-34107 Steve, you have obviously never even seen a single cockfight. And you commented on it. That makes you a fool. "No one can say these birds WANT to fight each other." I can. They do. Did you know that if you dont separate them before they are 6 months old (sometimes younger) they will kill each other when you are not there? No. You didnt. You couldnt, because you dont have chickens. If you did, you wouldnt make such a silly remark. If you dont like it, dont raise gamebirds. Just mind your business. And I would advise you, next time you find two dogs fighting to the death in a back alley, you better break them up, take them home and feed them, bandage their cuts, and train them to love one another. Otherwise you will be a hypocrite on top of being a fool. G'day. Steve,
you have obviously never even seen a single cockfight. And you commented on it. That makes you a fool. “No one can say these birds WANT to fight each other.”
I can. They do. Did you know that if you dont separate them before they are 6 months old (sometimes younger) they will kill each other when you are not there? No. You didnt. You couldnt, because you dont have chickens. If you did, you wouldnt make such a silly remark. If you dont like it, dont raise gamebirds. Just mind your business. And I would advise you, next time you find two dogs fighting to the death in a back alley, you better break them up, take them home and feed them, bandage their cuts, and train them to love one another. Otherwise you will be a hypocrite on top of being a fool.
G’day.

]]> By: Steve http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29572 Steve Fri, 02 Mar 2007 23:08:18 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29572 Xtine, I understand that the birds might naturally "hate" and fight each other in nature, but cockfighting is NOT natural. No one can say these birds WANT to fight each other. That bit about shoving a rubber chicken in their faces to get them pissed was even more nauseating. Two dogs might meet in an alley and fight to the death, yeah, but does that make it right to forcefully take two dogs and encourage them to fight each other in an enclosed pit? I'm sorry, no argument could ever show that cockfighting is humane in any way, in my opinion. Xtine, I understand that the birds might naturally “hate” and fight each other in nature, but cockfighting is NOT natural. No one can say these birds WANT to fight each other. That bit about shoving a rubber chicken in their faces to get them pissed was even more nauseating.

Two dogs might meet in an alley and fight to the death, yeah, but does that make it right to forcefully take two dogs and encourage them to fight each other in an enclosed pit?

I’m sorry, no argument could ever show that cockfighting is humane in any way, in my opinion.

]]> By: Micah http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29561 Micah Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:07:15 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29561 F'ing awesome. And great comments also... I constantly want to stab my eyes out with a rusty spork for reading horribly pointless, meandering squabbles between ego-maniacs on other sites so it's refreshing to have actual discussion happening here. My wife is from PR so I'm definitely going to cockfight it up when I next visit, her brother once had a rooster that would always chase her and anyone else that was fearful of it and would enter the backyard, sometimes it would just force her into the pool and pace around it/her until Jean came back to calm the rooster down... F’ing awesome. And great comments also… I constantly want to stab my eyes out with a rusty spork for reading horribly pointless, meandering squabbles between ego-maniacs on other sites so it’s refreshing to have actual discussion happening here. My wife is from PR so I’m definitely going to cockfight it up when I next visit, her brother once had a rooster that would always chase her and anyone else that was fearful of it and would enter the backyard, sometimes it would just force her into the pool and pace around it/her until Jean came back to calm the rooster down…

]]> By: Xtine http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29470 Xtine Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:02:13 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29470 I'm the wife in question, who went to the cockfights with Alex. I'm also a vegetarian and supporter of animal rights. Was I really excited to go to the cockfight? No. I went mostly because I love my husband, and he wanted to go really bad. I didn't want him to have to go by himself in a completely unfamiliar area and culture. Also, I speak more Spanish than he does. Before going, I also had a pretty knee-jerk "cockfighting is animal cruelty" opinion, but it was a completely uneducated one. Now that I've been to the event, I'm not as opposed to it. I didn't exactly enjoy seeing the birds hurt each other, but I'm also convinced that they wanted to fight, they hated each other by instinct, and they were behaving naturally. There is a reason why there is only one rooster to a hen house. At no time did I see any human mistreating any of the birds, and I think Alex is right. These cocks are fed good food, get exercise, and are looked after well. They have a much better life than any egg-laying chicken living on an alleged "free-range" farm. I did get a little squeamish when a bird would kick another's ass to the point of bloodshed, but the same thing happens when I watch Animal Planet. I don't even like to watch Meerkat Manor because of the warring meerkat gangs. I don't like it, but the point is that sort of territorial behaviour and fighting is instinctive, and while I may not like to watch it, it's natural. The only difference in the Coliseo Gallistico is that a bunch of humans are watching and betting on the outcome. But I bet if those two birds were placed in front of each other in an empty field, they'd still fight. I’m the wife in question, who went to the cockfights with Alex. I’m also a vegetarian and supporter of animal rights. Was I really excited to go to the cockfight? No. I went mostly because I love my husband, and he wanted to go really bad. I didn’t want him to have to go by himself in a completely unfamiliar area and culture. Also, I speak more Spanish than he does. Before going, I also had a pretty knee-jerk “cockfighting is animal cruelty” opinion, but it was a completely uneducated one. Now that I’ve been to the event, I’m not as opposed to it. I didn’t exactly enjoy seeing the birds hurt each other, but I’m also convinced that they wanted to fight, they hated each other by instinct, and they were behaving naturally. There is a reason why there is only one rooster to a hen house.
At no time did I see any human mistreating any of the birds, and I think Alex is right. These cocks are fed good food, get exercise, and are looked after well. They have a much better life than any egg-laying chicken living on an alleged “free-range” farm.
I did get a little squeamish when a bird would kick another’s ass to the point of bloodshed, but the same thing happens when I watch Animal Planet. I don’t even like to watch Meerkat Manor because of the warring meerkat gangs. I don’t like it, but the point is that sort of territorial behaviour and fighting is instinctive, and while I may not like to watch it, it’s natural. The only difference in the Coliseo Gallistico is that a bunch of humans are watching and betting on the outcome. But I bet if those two birds were placed in front of each other in an empty field, they’d still fight.

]]> By: bridgitte http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29462 bridgitte Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:18:00 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29462 I'm a big animal rights advocate. Like big. And while it may seem skewed, Alex does have a very valid point. The conditions on factory farms are deplorable and far more cruel than putting 2 birds in a ring to kick each other's asses. I don't condone either, mind you, and I think that in a round-a-bout way Alex's story provides a good jumping off point for people to start educating themselves about animal cruelty in all its forms. I’m a big animal rights advocate. Like big. And while it may seem skewed, Alex does have a very valid point. The conditions on factory farms are deplorable and far more cruel than putting 2 birds in a ring to kick each other’s asses. I don’t condone either, mind you, and I think that in a round-a-bout way Alex’s story provides a good jumping off point for people to start educating themselves about animal cruelty in all its forms.

]]> By: joflow http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29448 joflow Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:08:07 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29448 Good times...I may have to make sure my next vacation is somewhere where I can experience one of these. Nice work on finding this and documenting it so well. Good times…I may have to make sure my next vacation is somewhere where I can experience one of these. Nice work on finding this and documenting it so well.

]]> By: Alex http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29446 Alex Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:53:09 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29446 I would never post an article about dogfighting. I love dogs too much. And I can't ever write an article on carrotfighting because it doesn't exist. Cockfighting is my happy medium; they can fight, and they're arguably about as smart as carrots. Cut off a dog's head and it dies. Cut off a chicken's head, though... No, seriously, you "love to eat chicken", and surely you've heard about the rotten conditions that poultry for eatin' are raised in, yes? Cramped boxes where they are force fed, beakless, covered in the shit of the bird in the box above it as well as the bird above it, etc. I call those conditions pretty fucking cruel and inhumane (inasmuch as I still obviously eat and love chicken myself). Puerto Rican gamecocks, on the other hand, are raised like little princes. Their lives are pretty fucking stellar compared to Frank Purdue's chickens. Champion gamecocks go into retirement and the stud market, fetching tens of thousands of dollars for thier siring services. Sounds okay to me. Yes, their territorial instincts are dramatically reinforced via training, and many of them do die in the pit in a gruesome and bloody fight. And I accept that; it's a big part of why we go - the innate bloodlust behind the sport. re. the matter of the cockspurs... I actually think they make it *more* humane than a 'natural' fight that might occur in nature. The sharpened cockspur expediated the death blow; with their own natural spur being a bit dull, the same strike would be less effective and arguably more painful than a quick, deep cut. I'm not entirely unsympathetic to the cruel and inhumane argument - it is a forced situation - but the fighting instinct is something that already exists within them. While the very notion of blood sports is fundamentally barbaric, it's also something that Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln took part in, and in all honesty, it's fucking fun, just like boxing and ultimate fighting matches. We long for mano-a-mano competition, but how often do we get to eat the losers? I would never post an article about dogfighting. I love dogs too much. And I can’t ever write an article on carrotfighting because it doesn’t exist. Cockfighting is my happy medium; they can fight, and they’re arguably about as smart as carrots. Cut off a dog’s head and it dies. Cut off a chicken’s head, though…

No, seriously, you “love to eat chicken”, and surely you’ve heard about the rotten conditions that poultry for eatin’ are raised in, yes? Cramped boxes where they are force fed, beakless, covered in the shit of the bird in the box above it as well as the bird above it, etc. I call those conditions pretty fucking cruel and inhumane (inasmuch as I still obviously eat and love chicken myself).

Puerto Rican gamecocks, on the other hand, are raised like little princes. Their lives are pretty fucking stellar compared to Frank Purdue’s chickens. Champion gamecocks go into retirement and the stud market, fetching tens of thousands of dollars for thier siring services. Sounds okay to me. Yes, their territorial instincts are dramatically reinforced via training, and many of them do die in the pit in a gruesome and bloody fight. And I accept that; it’s a big part of why we go – the innate bloodlust behind the sport.

re. the matter of the cockspurs… I actually think they make it *more* humane than a ‘natural’ fight that might occur in nature. The sharpened cockspur expediated the death blow; with their own natural spur being a bit dull, the same strike would be less effective and arguably more painful than a quick, deep cut.

I’m not entirely unsympathetic to the cruel and inhumane argument – it is a forced situation – but the fighting instinct is something that already exists within them. While the very notion of blood sports is fundamentally barbaric, it’s also something that Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln took part in, and in all honesty, it’s fucking fun, just like boxing and ultimate fighting matches. We long for mano-a-mano competition, but how often do we get to eat the losers?

]]> By: eddie http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29432 eddie Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:19:05 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29432 Brilliant Alex, well done investigative journalism and clever usage of the word 'cock.' Brilliant Alex, well done investigative journalism and clever usage of the word ‘cock.’

]]> By: webonics http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29420 webonics Fri, 02 Mar 2007 15:45:52 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29420 I have to agree with Steve. I despise birds and love to eat chicken but cockfights are just cruel and inhumane (i.e. attached cockspurs, etc). I was hoping this article would be more of an undercover investigation rather than a promotion for entertainment based on animal cruelty. I hope we don't read about dogfights on here next. I have to agree with Steve. I despise birds and love to eat chicken but cockfights are just cruel and inhumane (i.e. attached cockspurs, etc). I was hoping this article would be more of an undercover investigation rather than a promotion for entertainment based on animal cruelty. I hope we don’t read about dogfights on here next.

]]> By: Vic http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29410 Vic Fri, 02 Mar 2007 15:23:04 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29410 I'd say cool, but... no wait, it really is cool. I’d say cool, but… no wait, it really is cool.

]]> By: bridgitte http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29404 bridgitte Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:37:04 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29404 I think you're right, Lee... I think you’re right, Lee…

]]> By: Lee http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29398 Lee Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:07:29 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29398 I don't think you actually went to a cockfight, you were just looking for an excuse to write lines like, "some were carrying their cocks in such bags, and just as many cradling their cocks in their arms," and "The area was clogged with men holding food, drink, and cocks" and "Two young men strode around the ring, each one bearing a cock." on a non-porn website. Seriously it was a good article though. I don’t think you actually went to a cockfight, you were just looking for an excuse to write lines like, “some were carrying their cocks in such bags, and just as many cradling their cocks in their arms,” and “The area was clogged with men holding food, drink, and cocks” and “Two young men strode around the ring, each one bearing a cock.” on a non-porn website.

Seriously it was a good article though.

]]> By: Al http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29288 Al Fri, 02 Mar 2007 06:37:47 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29288 that's by far the best short story on cock fighting I've ever read. :) that’s by far the best short story on cock fighting I’ve ever read. :)

]]> By: Steve http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/comment-page-1/#comment-29286 Steve Fri, 02 Mar 2007 06:30:14 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/01/a-day-at-the-cockfights/#comment-29286 I'd say cool but ...... no. Cockfighting is cruelty against animals I’d say cool but …… no.

Cockfighting is cruelty against animals

]]>