Australia wants to cull great whites

lesserspottedchloe · 18-07-2012 9:05pm

'Culling' seems to be popular in Oz, they did the same thing to Crocodiles a few years back due to a few attacks in Cairns, the same with feral Cat populations and with Kangaroos. There are a lot more crocs than there are Great White Sharks....

It's a lazy and ignorant solution to this problem-we should be protecting this species. There needs to be more respect and awareness of these animals-moniter the beaches, install shark proof nets and declare areas near seal populations as 'unsafe' for bathing. Stay the **** out of the shark infested water!(especially at dawn and dusk) A lot of things can kill you in that country..you don't see people sticking their hands into snake pits and calling for a cull though!

steddyeddy · 18-07-2012 9:13pm

laylah wrote: »

'Culling' seems to be a popular in Oz, they did the same thing to Crocodiles a few years back due to a few attacks in Cairns, the same with feral Cat populations and with Kangaroos. There are a lot more crocs than there are Great White Sharks....

It's a lazy and ignorant solution to this problem-we should be protecting this species.There needs to be more respect and awareness of these animals-moniter the beaches, install shark proof nets and declare areas near seal populations 'unsafe' for bathing. Stay the **** out of the shark infested water!(especially at dawn and dusk) A lot of thing can kill you in that country..you don't see people sticking there hands into snake pits and calling for a cull though!

It relates to a view that humans are the only significant species and its called anthropocentricisim. It seems particilarly common in Ireland. A good example would be cull all great whites because humans like swimming.

Mickeroo · 18-07-2012 9:18pm

It's no surprise some scientists are saying we've triggered a whole new epoch called the Anthropocene.

a recent and informal geologic chronological term that serves to mark the evidence and extent of human activities that have had a significant global impact on the Earth's ecosystems.

Basically human activity is now the main driving force behind ecological change on the planet.

m0ynihan · 18-07-2012 9:21pm

This is a joke, the chances of getting killed by a shark are probably as slim as getting suffocated by a tea cosy...

And we don't cull tea cosies...

Mickeroo · 18-07-2012 9:36pm

m0ynihan wrote: »

This is a joke, the chances of getting killed by a shark are probably as slim as getting suffocated by a tea cosy...

And we don't cull tea cosies...

The thread title is misleading, culling has been sugggested but the authorities have not said its going to happen. A diver was killed in April too and they ruled out a culling on that occasion: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-01/calls-to-cull-sharks-after-attack/3925356

This incident with the surfer has increased the pressure, but there's a lot of local people against the culling too.

pontia · 18-07-2012 9:53pm

they tried this before with the tasmanian tiger,huge success,btw sharks couldent survive in a lake,would suffocate

mackeminexile · 18-07-2012 9:57pm

pontia wrote: »

btw sharks couldent survive in a lake,would suffocate

Bull Sharks have been found 200kms up the Amazon and are regularly found inland in The US and Australia in waterways that lead to the sea. They are also one of the more aggressive species. That however doesn't mean they should be killed for doing what comes naturally to them

the_monkey · 18-07-2012 10:00pm

Also seems that 1000 times more people are killed in Australia by car accidents then Shark attacks ... there is a campaign going to start culling the drivers .. :rolleyes:

pontia · 18-07-2012 10:06pm

yes,correct,a lake is enclosed though,no way back to sea

mackeminexile · 18-07-2012 10:10pm

pontia wrote: »

yes,correct,a lake is enclosed though,no way back to sea

that is obviously correct, I was meaning to refute the idea that sharks can't survive in fresh water

pontia · 18-07-2012 10:18pm

jaws was based on the true story of bull shark killing people in river on east coast of usa

Capt'n Midnight · 18-07-2012 10:23pm

You could cull them by getting rid of their food source.

dodderangler · 18-07-2012 10:55pm

mackeminexile wrote: »

pontia wrote: »

yes,correct,a lake is enclosed though,no way back to sea

that is obviously correct, I was meaning to refute the idea that sharks can't survive in fresh water

No your right bill sharks are in lakes
Lakes are not always enclosed and every year people go sport fishin in lake eerie and lake Michigan for them and the largest caught in lake was larger than any caught in sea by rod and line

Mickeroo · 19-07-2012 12:31am

dodderangler wrote: »

No your right bill sharks are in lakes
Lakes are not always enclosed and every year people go sport fishin in lake eerie and lake Michigan for them and the largest caught in lake was larger than any caught in sea by rod and line

There's plenty of stories about sharks in the great lakes, thats all though I'm afraid.

1ZRed · 19-07-2012 12:43am

Mickeroo wrote: »

dodderangler wrote: »

No your right bill sharks are in lakes
Lakes are not always enclosed and every year people go sport fishin in lake eerie and lake Michigan for them and the largest caught in lake was larger than any caught in sea by rod and line

There's plenty of stories about sharks in the great lakes, thats all though I'm afraid.

That's actually pure bull****.

Only bullsharks can live in fresh water and seawater. And guess what? Bullsharks are found in Australia!

Those crazy galahs are gonna have a field day!

Mickeroo · 19-07-2012 12:56am

1ZRed wrote: »

That's actually pure bull****.

Only bullsharks can live in fresh water and seawater. And guess what? Bullsharks are found in Australia!

Those crazy galahs are gonna have a field day!

Though it is indeed not true that there's bull sharks(or any sharks afaik) in the great lakes they are found in US waters. They've even been known to head up the Mississipi and Hudson rivers.

Riddle101 · 19-07-2012 12:56am

1ZRed wrote: »

That's actually pure bull****.

Only bullsharks can live in fresh water and seawater. And guess what? Bullsharks are found in Australia!

Those crazy galahs are gonna have a field day!

Well they're also found around both the western and eastern coast of USA. South Africa, South America and Nicaragua.

Also from Wikipedia

They have even been known to travel as far up as Indiana in the Ohio River.

1ZRed · 19-07-2012 1:14am

Riddle101 wrote: »

Well they're also found around both the western and eastern coast of USA. South Africa, South America and Nicaragua.

Also from Wikipedia

Yeah I said they are found in Australia, not exclusive to it!

Like rats are found here but aren't solely found here.

Dug myself out of that one nicely.. O_0

jmayo · 19-07-2012 10:17am

laylah wrote: »

'Culling' seems to be popular in Oz, they did the same thing to Crocodiles a few years back due to a few attacks in Cairns, the same with feral Cat populations and with Kangaroos. There are a lot more crocs than there are Great White Sharks....

Crocs have been protected since 1972 when hunting was banned.
Their populations have rebounded and they no longer seem afraid of humans which causes problems.
The freshwater croc population is in good shape and the salties aren't doing too bad either.
Of course salties in other countries like Indonesia and New Guinea aren't doing as well.
AFAIK they usually move the crocs around Cairns to croc farms out of the way of humans, much like they do with Polar bears up in Churchill in Canada.

BTW all feral cats in Australia should be culled since they are not native and are killing all the little native animals such as Bandicoot and Brush-tailed Bettong.
In fact one Aussie politican has suggest all cats should be removed from the continent.
(I don't think he will get many women voters)

Story is same with deer and possums in NZ.
In NZ they reckon there are 30 million possums after they were intially introduced in 1830s for their fur.
These have wreaked havoc on the environment and are not native to the country.
Likwise Grey squirrels and mink should be culled in Ireland.

So please use a bit of cop on before sounding off about culling animals.
Sometimes it is done to restore the natural balance and to protect other species.

laylah wrote: »

A lot of things can kill you in that country..you don't see people sticking their hands into snake pits and calling for a cull though!

Actually some people do stick their hands into snake pits.
More dangerous can be spiders who hide in your boots.

BTW what animal kills most Australians ?

Ehhh that would be man.

Mickeroo · 19-07-2012 12:44pm

jmayo wrote: »

BTW all feral cats in Australia should be culled since they are not native and are killing all the little native animals such as Bandicoot and Brush-tailed Bettong.
In fact one Aussie politican has suggest all cats should be removed from the continent.
(I don't think he will get many women voters)

Because a lot of people keep cats as pets (along with them being cute and cuddley) they tend to empathise with them too much imo. THey're no different to any invasive species when given free reign in the wild. In the case of mink and possums most would accept a cull is the way to go, not even a cull but actually wiping the species out in areas they don't belong, which is dead right. Yet with cats whats considered best practice is to neuter them and release them into the wild again. Its always seemed strange to me.

dodderangler · 19-07-2012 1:09pm

Well there was a cull and still is for invasive species in Australia like rabbits for example
so they are right to take out the cats aswell
I think same should apply over here for feral cats and mink especially
Problem is that people think their so cute and want them here without realising the damage that mink do to our own wildlife

So cullin great whites is total crap to be honest
I don't think it's right to cull them they've been here since dinosaur era

lesserspottedchloe · 19-07-2012 4:20pm

jmayo wrote: »

Crocs have been protected since 1972 when hunting was banned.
Their populations have rebounded and they no longer seem afraid of humans which causes problems.
The freshwater croc population is in good shape and the salties aren't doing too bad either.
Of course salties in other countries like Indonesia and New Guinea aren't doing as well.
AFAIK they usually move the crocs around Cairns to croc farms out of the way of humans, much like they do with Polar bears up in Churchill in Canada.

BTW all feral cats in Australia should be culled since they are not native and are killing all the little native animals such as Bandicoot and Brush-tailed Bettong.
In fact one Aussie politican has suggest all cats should be removed from the continent.
(I don't think he will get many women voters)

Story is same with deer and possums in NZ.
In NZ they reckon there are 30 million possums after they were intially introduced in 1830s for their fur.
These have wreaked havoc on the environment and are not native to the country.
Likwise Grey squirrels and mink should be culled in Ireland.

So please use a bit of cop on before sounding off about culling animals.
Sometimes it is done to restore the natural balance and to protect other species.

Actually some people do stick their hands into snake pits.
More dangerous can be spiders who hide in your boots.

Eh thanks for that? While I'm sure you must be far smarter and more knowledgable than me you seem to have missed my point. I basically don't agree with a culling in the Great White Shark situation and feel the Australian government are far too quick to jump to this as a solution like they have in the past with other Animals.

You have provided some prime examples of how they have mismanaged in the past, Possums for fur not being controlled, Deer in NZ for example-disasters.(though it is an entirely different country.) They really need to be careful about this issue and explore the effects fully before jumping the gun.

If you take for example the attempt to control the native Cane Beetle population by introducing the Cane Toad from South America. Since their release, the toads have rapidly multiplied in population and now number over 200 million and have been known to spread diseases affecting local biodiversity. The introduction of the toads has not only caused large environmental detriment, but there is also no evidence that they have had an impact on the cane beetles they were introduced to predate.

Also what you're talking about are Introduced Species the Great White Shark is Native to those waters. A bit of cop on is indeed required when dealing with these matters.

Personally I like to think of people that stick their hands in snake pits to get their jollies as 'Natural Selection'

BTW what animal kills most Australians ? Ehhh that would be man.
I'm not sure we're talking about the same things here.

Bad Panda · 19-07-2012 4:23pm

syndeyfife wrote: »

Great whites are fantastic creatures. I've studied them for years in my spare time.

It's long since proven that most attacks by them are accidental. From below, surfers look like penguins with their arms outstretched on the board, hence the attacks. I don't know how I feel about them being culled.

We share a fascination.

My life long dream is to get in a cage and have one of those mutha's come at me!!

Cull a few surfers and make the rest ride the wave of employment! :pac:

Mr Benevolent · 19-07-2012 4:25pm

Australia has a long history of culling, even culling humans when it was convenient. It's not fair to kill sharks just because they're hungry.

smash · 19-07-2012 5:26pm

I thought most beaches over there had shark nets these days? And also thought that bull sharks were worse offenders for attacks?

Mickeroo · 19-07-2012 5:29pm

smash wrote: »

I thought most beaches over there had shark nets these days? And also thought that bull sharks were worse offenders for attacks?

I think you only get the nets at popular crowded beaches. I think this beach might have been a quieter one, which would attract surfers.

gobnaitolunacy · 19-07-2012 5:31pm

Only the most intensively used beaches near big population centres, there's thousands of miles of beach. Can't net them all.

smash · 19-07-2012 5:39pm

They're the greatest apex predator on the planet and I have to say I'm fascinated by them. Cutting their numbers would be so wrong in my opinion. Surfers can always go somewhere else!

Either that, or get some of that shark repellent that batman had in the old black and white movie

jmayo · 19-07-2012 6:20pm

laylah wrote: »

Eh thanks for that? While I'm sure you must be far smarter and more knowledgable than me you seem to have missed my point. I basically don't agree with a culling in the Great White Shark situation and feel the Australian government are far too quick to jump to this as a solution like they have in the past with other Animals.

Now now no need to be condescending for being called up for making 2+2=5 just because in the past someone did the same.

And you don't get my point.
There was/is nothign wrong with culling feral cats.
It is a valid solution.
What would you have them do ?

laylah wrote: »

You have provided some prime examples of how they have mismanaged in the past, Possums for fur not being controlled, Deer in NZ for example-disasters.(though it is an entirely different country.) They really need to be careful about this issue and explore the effects fully before jumping the gun.

Yes they are prime examples of what happens when non native animals are introduced for one particular reasons only for them to escape into the wild where they have no natural predator.
But years down the road the introduction of culls for these animals are one of the best solutions.
We have the same problems with grey squirrels here and AFAIK culls have been discussed.

You seem to think that because generations ago people and authorities made mistakes in the introduction of animals, that now means that all other successive and current solutions are also going to be wrong.

laylah wrote: »

If you take for example the attempt to control the native Cane Beetle population by introducing the Cane Toad from South America. Since their release, the toads have rapidly multiplied in population and now number over 200 million and have been known to spread diseases affecting local biodiversity. The introduction of the toads has not only caused large environmental detriment, but there is also no evidence that they have had an impact on the cane beetles they were introduced to predate.

And your point is ??
Yes they fooked up back in the 30s, but that mean that if they found a way of now exterminating them that they would also be wrong ?

Have you ever been to Australia or New Zealand ?
If you have then you surely must have noticed how anal they are about the importation of animal and plant matter ?
Hell I have even seen the dirt on one guys golf shoes being examined.
I have even come across sign on Victoria, NSW border about carrying fruit that might have fruit flies in it.

laylah wrote: »

Also what you're talking about are Introduced Species the Great White Shark is Native to those waters. A bit of cop on is indeed required when dealing with these matters.

Ehhh you were the one that dragged the culling of non native species into this with your comments about feral cats.

Have I anywhere said I agree with culling sharks ?
No I haven't.
I have just taken exception to your point about the Aussies always getting it wrong.

laylah wrote: »

Personally I like to think of people that stick their hands in snake pits to get their jollies as 'Natural Selection'

BTW what animal kills most Australians ? Ehhh that would be man.
I'm not sure we're talking about the same things here.

Think latterly, then horizontally and then vertically.
You'll eventually get there or else dizzy.

smash · 19-07-2012 7:15pm

Did someone compare culling feral cats with culling great whites? Because you can't do that. Feral cats are vermin. Great whites aren't.

lesserspottedchloe · 19-07-2012 8:08pm

jmayo wrote: »

Now now no need to be condescending for being called up for making 2+2=5 just because in the past someone did the same.

And you don't get my point.
There was/is nothign wrong with culling feral cats.
It is a valid solution.
What would you have them do ?

Yes they are prime examples of what happens when non native animals are introduced for one particular reasons only for them to escape into the wild where they have no natural predator.
But years down the road the introduction of culls for these animals are one of the best solutions.
We have the same problems with grey squirrels here and AFAIK culls have been discussed.

You seem to think that because generations ago people and authorities made mistakes in the introduction of animals, that now means that all other successive and current solutions are also going to be wrong.

And your point is ??
Yes they fooked up back in the 30s, but that mean that if they found a way of now exterminating them that they would also be wrong ?

Have you ever been to Australia or New Zealand ?
If you have then you surely must have noticed how anal they are about the importation of animal and plant matter ?
Hell I have even seen the dirt on one guys golf shoes being examined.
I have even come across sign on Victoria, NSW border about carrying fruit that might have fruit flies in it.

Ehhh you were the one that dragged the culling of non native species into this with your comments about feral cats.

Have I anywhere said I agree with culling sharks ?
No I haven't.
I have just taken exception to your point about the Aussies always getting it wrong.

Think latterly, then horizontally and then vertically.
You'll eventually get there or else dizzy.

Take a deep breath, go back and actually read what I have said. Stop implying that I'm saying something that I'm not so that you can have an argument on the internet. You are the one who is adding 2+2 and getting 5

I have my opinion-you have yours, I won't be replying to you again.

Riddle101 · 20-07-2012 3:36am

Off topic but...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVRE3UvTC4Y

old hippy · 20-07-2012 10:56am

dodderangler wrote: »

I don't care if it's offensive
Your like that bloke from south park Ageing liberal hippy douche
And yes I made a mistake it was in china not Japan sure their just as bad for killin off animals

Referring to the Japanese as "Japs" is ignorant and offensive and the fact that you cannot distinguish between Japanese people and Chinese people hilights your poor education.

If you want to educate yourself, try reading up on Internment of Japanese Americans during WW2 or Gil Asakawa's book or John Okada.

dodderangler · 20-07-2012 6:01pm

G

old hippy wrote: »

dodderangler wrote: »

I don't care if it's offensive
Your like that bloke from south park Ageing liberal hippy douche
And yes I made a mistake it was in china not Japan sure their just as bad for killin off animals

Referring to the Japanese as "Japs" is ignorant and offensive and the fact that you cannot distinguish between Japanese people and Chinese people hilights your poor education.

If you want to educate yourself, try reading up on Internment of Japanese Americans during WW2 or Gil Asakawa's book or John Okada.

And you claimin I have poor education isn't ignorant and offensive??
Walked into that there ageing hippy liberal douche

old hippy · 20-07-2012 6:03pm

dodderangler wrote: »

G
And you claimin I have poor education isn't ignorant and offensive??
Walked into that there ageing hippy liberal douche

Well, when you realise that using the word "Japs" is a racial epithet and that the Yangtze River is in China I shall revise my opinion of you.

The name calling and ageism is another give away, I'm afraid.

christmas2012 · 20-07-2012 6:42pm

we can agree on one thing either of you cant take the higher moral ground and cant take the upper hand on this one as youre both insulting each other

old hippy · 20-07-2012 6:50pm

christmas2012 wrote: »

we can agree on one thing either of you cant take the higher moral ground and cant take the upper hand on this one as youre both insulting each other

I didn't use any racial slurs, I pulled him or her up on that and the fact that they were unable to differentiate between Japan and China. That and the resort to name calling on their part indicates to me someone lacking in education.

Whereas my age should have no bearing on matters.

dodderangler · 21-07-2012 11:17am

old hippy wrote: »

christmas2012 wrote: »

we can agree on one thing either of you cant take the higher moral ground and cant take the upper hand on this one as youre both insulting each other

I didn't use any racial slurs, I pulled him or her up on that and the fact that they were unable to differentiate between Japan and China. That and the resort to name calling on their part indicates to me someone lacking in education.

Whereas my age should have no bearing on matters.

So name callin shows lack of education?
I know your name is old hippy but how bout stone age hippy?
By the way this is after hours
If you can't take the abuse then GTFO

old hippy · 21-07-2012 12:34pm

dodderangler wrote: »

So name callin shows lack of education?
I know your name is old hippy but how bout stone age hippy?
By the way this is after hours
If you can't take the abuse then GTFO

I can take the abuse but it's quite low and cowardly of you to use a racism as a form of debate.

Are you able to discuss the actual topic?

dodderangler · 21-07-2012 2:47pm

old hippy wrote: »

dodderangler wrote: »

So name callin shows lack of education?
I know your name is old hippy but how bout stone age hippy?
By the way this is after hours
If you can't take the abuse then GTFO

I can take the abuse but it's quite low and cowardly of you to use a racism as a form of debate.

Are you able to discuss the actual topic?

How is it racist by shortening Japanese to japs?
Have you nothing better to do than shout racist?
People like you make me sick big time!!!!
As for the original topic.! The one I started??!!!! yea I can keep on topic your the one who went topic by starting racism **** ya fool so if ya don't mind piss off my thread and get a life!!!!!!

old hippy · 21-07-2012 3:33pm

dodderangler wrote: »

How is it racist by shortening Japanese to japs?
Have you nothing better to do than shout racist?
People like you make me sick big time!!!!
As for the original topic.! The one I started??!!!! yea I can keep on topic your the one who went topic by starting racism **** ya fool so if ya don't mind piss off my thread and get a life!!!!!!

I think we both know you don't need lil old me to make you sick. The illness, which manifests itself in racist remarks and playing dumb when you've been told the very fact of it.

Now, I can just about plain forgive you for confusing Japanese with Chinese, why I guess to you - they're all the same. Don't be embarrassed about it, son. I've spent my whole life having to educate and explain to the sorry, the sad, the curious and downright ignorant about racism and treating people with respect. I'm used to it, see? I've seen it here and plenty of other places.

But it's just bad manners to continue using that kind of language. The word "Japs" is an offensive racial slur, all you have to do is ask your Japanese friends, colleagues or family members. Now, if unlike me, you don't have any close Japanese ties or interest in harmony... well, you might just find it more fruitful to learn up about WW2 and where that not so charming term orginated from. And how it was used to beat down and demonise and discriminate against a people. You wouldn't use the N word or the P word or anything else against people who don't come from your backyard, now would you?

'Course, you can shriek and shake your fist that it's your thread and it's AH... but that don't give you license to bandy about bigotry. That's why I tackled you. Thought I'd give you the benefit of the doubt.

I'm sure you can see that. Hiding behind AH to cough up some dumb racial slur and then plead ignorance. Yet I still give you the benefit. But now, you're just riling me up.

Sigh.

Since you brought up my age and all, I'll put your schoolyard posturing down to youthful indescretion and we'll rub along just fine in future but you might care to think twice before dissing our East Asian friends.

Happy fishing.

steddyeddy · 21-07-2012 3:40pm

Back on topic whatever about racial slurs what ever culture practices this bs scientific research whale culling is a backward culture.

old hippy · 21-07-2012 3:47pm

steddyeddy wrote: »

Back on topic whatever about racial slurs whayt ever culture practices this bs scientific research whale culling is a backward culture.

Plenty of peoples around the world kill whales. Don't agree with it, think it's wrong. Just the same as killing sharks, esp for shark fin soup. But saying a country is backward because they operate a policy you don't like... I disagree. Back in Ireland there's hunting, badger baiting, dog fights and paramilitary activity both sides of the border. There's cronysism, corrupt politicians and people who allow clerical abuse to be brushed under the carpet. All of us, every country had it's low points - sure.

dodderangler · 21-07-2012 3:52pm

So I'm a racist towards the Asians am I? Ya wanna clarify that there mate?
Considering I'm am with a Filipino past 4 years and have a 2 year old child with her so sayin I am racist towards Asians is a bit off topic
I think the Japanese or japs are decent people
The Chinese however I find are the most ignorant people in the world and I can back that up havin spent time in china
So if your sayin our friends from the east involve the Chinese I'm afraid I am not part of that category as I hate them so I guess you could say I am racist towards the Chinese
Also when I put into google Japanese river dolphin it came up Yangtze river dolphin therefore I assumed it was in Japan as it says about the Japanese capturing the dolphin
Don't believe me then put it in yourself

steddyeddy · 21-07-2012 4:11pm

old hippy wrote: »

Plenty of peoples around the world kill whales. Don't agree with it, think it's wrong. Just the same as killing sharks, esp for shark fin soup. But saying a country is backward because they operate a policy you don't like... I disagree. Back in Ireland there's hunting, badger baiting, dog fights and paramilitary activity both sides of the border. There's cronysism, corrupt politicians and people who allow clerical abuse to be brushed under the carpet. All of us, every country had it's low points - sure.

You can judge a civilisation by how they treat their animals. In relation to animal welfare they are a backward culture. In relation to us as far as animal welfare we have been called backward as a nation and I would agree with that.

old hippy · 21-07-2012 6:59pm

dodderangler wrote: »

So I'm a racist towards the Asians am I? Ya wanna clarify that there mate?
Considering I'm am with a Filipino past 4 years and have a 2 year old child with her so sayin I am racist towards Asians is a bit off topic
I think the Japanese or japs are decent people
The Chinese however I find are the most ignorant people in the world and I can back that up havin spent time in china
So if your sayin our friends from the east involve the Chinese I'm afraid I am not part of that category as I hate them so I guess you could say I am racist towards the Chinese
Also when I put into google Japanese river dolphin it came up Yangtze river dolphin therefore I assumed it was in Japan as it says about the Japanese capturing the dolphin
Don't believe me then put it in yourself

Without wishing to turn it into a competition, I've spent time in East Asia and my wife is Japanese. I can assure you that the term "Jap" is an offensive one and is much more than just flippancy. If you feel the need to use the term again, that's your path to chose. I just hope you never use it in front of a Japanese person.

I'm sorry you feel hatred towards the Chinese. Is that all Chinese or just Han Chinese? It's a vast country with many different peoples and ethnicities. A country that size is impossible to classify under one generic umbrella.

Not all Japanese are into whaling. In fact, these days it's a minority. Whale was very much a staple part of the Japanese diet, post WW2 when times were tough - the younger crowd are not interested in whale or dolphin and I have no truck with those who are. Having said that, I have eaten whale (in Norway). Also, there are entire communities in parts of Japan who rely on whaling for their livelyhood - not condoning it - but that's the way it is at present.

I can't dismiss entire nations for certain things that are repugnant to me. Otherwise I'd be very much an insular person with no desire to see and meet people in this world of ours. Apologies if you feel I invaded your thread but I've had to put up with various unpleasant dealings out there because of my wife's nationality and it gets to be a bit of a drag - so yeah, when it comes to loved one's - one tends to bristle when one hears certain things being said.

Ignorance is a global thing, I find if we tend to treat people as individuals it goes someway towards understanding (but not necessarily appreciating every aspect) their culture.

That's me off my soapbox now.

Peace.

steddyeddy · 21-07-2012 7:18pm

old hippy wrote: »

Without wishing to turn it into a competition, I've spent time in East Asia and my wife is Japanese. I can assure you that the term "Jap" is an offensive one and is much more than just flippancy. If you feel the need to use the term again, that's your path to chose. I just hope you never use it in front of a Japanese person.

I'm sorry you feel hatred towards the Chinese. Is that all Chinese or just Han Chinese? It's a vast country with many different peoples and ethnicities. A country that size is impossible to classify under one generic umbrella.

Not all Japanese are into whaling. In fact, these days it's a minority. Whale was very much a staple part of the Japanese diet, post WW2 when times were tough - the younger crowd are not interested in whale or dolphin and I have no truck with those who are. Having said that, I have eaten whale (in Norway). Also, there are entire communities in parts of Japan who rely on whaling for their livelyhood - not condoning it - but that's the way it is at present.

I can't dismiss entire nations for certain things that are repugnant to me. Otherwise I'd be very much an insular person with no desire to see and meet people in this world of ours. Apologies if you feel I invaded your thread but I've had to put up with various unpleasant dealings out there because of my wife's nationality and it gets to be a bit of a drag - so yeah, when it comes to loved one's - one tends to bristle when one hears certain things being said.

Ignorance is a global thing, I find if we tend to treat people as individuals it goes someway towards understanding (but not necessarily appreciating every aspect) their culture.

That's me off my soapbox now.

Peace.

The way it is at present is not excuse whatsoever for the barbarisim thats practiced by some cultures.

old hippy · 22-07-2012 9:48am

steddyeddy wrote: »

The way it is at present is not excuse whatsoever for the barbarisim thats practiced by some cultures.

I agree. Ireland is in some ways a barbaric country, as well. Hunting, baiting, coursing and all that.

There's no excuse for that, either.

But neither country should be defined by their wrong doing.

OpenYourEyes · 22-07-2012 4:47pm

old hippy wrote: »

I agree. Ireland is in some ways a barbaric country, as well. Hunting, baiting, coursing and all that.

There's no excuse for that, either.

But neither country should be defined by their wrong doing.

They shouldn't be defined by their wrong doing, but its still very important to both condemn it and highlight it where possible, or there's unlikely to evver be change!

Australia wants to cull great whites

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