Fish Centerpieces

PinkWillow21

I never post on here, I've only ever read the posts. I came across two recently that really made me wince.

The first, where a poster was shot down for wanting fish centerpieces. I always see them shot down here. Because they are soo cruel and inhumane. Which I mean, I guess I get. I thought about having fish centerpieces myself, but decided not to just because of prettier options. Not because of the cruel aspect.

Next, I seen someone ask what is your favorite type of fish to eat, and plenty of people had things to say about that. Why is it ok to kill fish to eat them but it's not okay to put them in a bowl for a centerpiece, and then give them to loving homes afterwards or even the bride and groom take them home? How do you know they don't have a nice aquarium set up at home to take the fish to?

I just don't see how any is crueler than the other.

Angusaur

PinkWillow21 said:

I never post on here, I've only ever read the posts. I came across two recently that really made me wince.

The first, where a poster was shot down for wanting fish centerpieces. I always see them shot down here. Because they are soo cruel and inhumane. Which I mean, I guess I get. I thought about having fish centerpieces myself, but decided not to just because of prettier options. Not because of the cruel aspect.

Next, I seen someone ask what is your favorite type of fish to eat, and plenty of people had things to say about that. Why is it ok to kill fish to eat them but it's not okay to put them in a bowl for a centerpiece, and then give them to loving homes afterwards or even the bride and groom take them home? How do you know they don't have a nice aquarium set up at home to take the fish to?

I just don't see how any is crueler than the other.

Food is a necessity for humans to survive. While some people choose to be vegetarian/vegan and that's fine, we are at the top of the food chain. If animals were not used, we would not have a lot of the food and resources that we do have, and the earth would be overpopulated with them as well. 

Food = Necessity

Pretty centerpieces = Unnecessary, cruel, and silly.

And a lot of times, the fish die during the party anyways. From sound waves, lack of food, shock to the new environment, etc. 

TKzilla

Would you use any other pet as a centerpiece?

Angusaur

LingerLonger1 said:

Angusaur said:

PinkWillow21 said:

I never post on here, I've only ever read the posts. I came across two recently that really made me wince.

The first, where a poster was shot down for wanting fish centerpieces. I always see them shot down here. Because they are soo cruel and inhumane. Which I mean, I guess I get. I thought about having fish centerpieces myself, but decided not to just because of prettier options. Not because of the cruel aspect.

Next, I seen someone ask what is your favorite type of fish to eat, and plenty of people had things to say about that. Why is it ok to kill fish to eat them but it's not okay to put them in a bowl for a centerpiece, and then give them to loving homes afterwards or even the bride and groom take them home? How do you know they don't have a nice aquarium set up at home to take the fish to?

I just don't see how any is crueler than the other.

Food is a necessity for humans to survive. While some people choose to be vegetarian/vegan and that's fine, we are at the top of the food chain. If animals were not used, we would not have a lot of the food and resources that we do have, and the earth would be overpopulated with them as well. 

Food = Necessity

Pretty centerpieces = Unnecessary, cruel, and silly.

And a lot of times, the fish die during the party anyways. From sound waves, lack of food, shock to the new environment, etc. 

Or because drunk people or little kids decide those fish look delicious and start daring each other to eat them.  Yes, I watched this happen to about half the fish centerpieces at a wedding I attended.

ETA: Come to think of it, that sounds like a cost saving measure.  Decorations and dinner in one is a win, right?

And it's double but EQUAL cruelty so it's all good.

AddieCake

southernbelle0915

OP, I think having animals as your centerpiece is totally fine. Personally, I would have chosen bonsai kittens: http://bonsaikitten.com/bkgallery.php instead of fish. Much more exotic.

Since I eat animals for food and protein I feel I have the right to use them as decorations, also. I don't care if they needlessly die and then aren't used for food, or if they are tortured by bumping music, tons of commotion, their bowl possibly tipping over, kids "playing" with them, etc.. THEY LOOK PRETTY AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS.

**sarcasm**

smalfrie19

@AddieL73 i loved your Gif soooo hard

manateehugger

Right, because needing sustenance is the same thing as forcing living creatures to serve as a wedding prop.

kmmssg

Here's a good reason why:  My son's BFF had his Graduation Open House and his mom thought the gold fish in the bowl would be a great idea.  I just happend to sit with the Biology teacher and the Chemistry teacher both boys had as we ate lunch.  They were showing me all the signs showing the fish were distressed from a lack of oxygen.  Their fins were turning colors (but the untrained eye wouldn't even notice).  Aside from that, no one wanted them and they went down the toilet.

Just don't go there.

kmbryant2413

PinkWillow21

Oh whatever, IT'S STILL DEATH!!! And there's even no guarantee the fish would die anyways.

I just think it's hypocritical. If you want to be a meat eater, fine. but then don't dictate in what other ways people use animals and say that's cruel. There are tons of other food in the world besides meat.

kmbryant2413

Okay so are you on here trying to tell us not to eat meat? Or telling us that we're hypocritical because some people (not us) use fish as centerpieces but also eat meat. Like, totally, aren't they the same things?

How do you know that we don't abstain from all types of 'animal cruelty' as you call it? I don't own or wear leathers, or furs, I do not use products tested on animals, I am an animal rescuer, and was a vegetarian for 2 years. So..... what's your point? No one dictated anyones use of fish. They just said it was cruel. Because it is. If you think meat is cruel, don't eat it.

End of discussion.

!

efmcc67

FI used to work for a winery that hosted weddings. He's tended bar for over 100 weddings, so he has some awesome stories. For example, every time the couple had live fish in the centerpieces, some idiot eats them all. Every. single. time. I have no problem with fish as pets. If you're just taking them home and giving them a loving home, fine. This is not what we're talking about. Personally, I see a gigantic difference from eating fish, either farm-raised or wild caught, and using a live animal as pretty decor only to have it end up dead at the end of the night.

manateehugger

PinkWillow21 said:

Oh whatever, IT'S STILL DEATH!!! And there's even no guarantee the fish would die anyways.

I just think it's hypocritical. If you want to be a meat eater, fine. but then don't dictate in what other ways people use animals and say that's cruel. There are tons of other food in the world besides meat.

Dude - are you for real?

southernbelle0915

PinkWillow21 said:

Oh whatever, IT'S STILL DEATH!!! And there's even no guarantee the fish would die anyways.

I just think it's hypocritical. If you want to be a meat eater, fine. but then don't dictate in what other ways people use animals and say that's cruel. There are tons of other food in the world besides meat.

I eat meat, but I don't condone bull/cock fighting as entertainment. Yes, I eat fish but I don't condone torturing them so I can use them as a decoration. 

AddieCake

PinkWillow21 said:

Oh whatever, IT'S STILL DEATH!!! And there's even no guarantee the fish would die anyways.

I just think it's hypocritical. If you want to be a meat eater, fine. but then don't dictate in what other ways people use animals and say that's cruel. There are tons of other food in the world besides meat.

QueerFemme

PinkWillow21 said:

Oh whatever, IT'S STILL DEATH!!! And there's even no guarantee the fish would die anyways.

I just think it's hypocritical. If you want to be a meat eater, fine. but then don't dictate in what other ways people use animals and say that's cruel. There are tons of other food in the world besides meat.

Honestly, I just can't believe that this is a real post/topic.  I just refuse to believe that any person can be this idiotic.

PinkWillow21

Actually I'm NOT a vegetarian. And for all the girls on here that complain about generalizing statements, way to bust out "this is why so many people hate vegetarians"

I eat meat. but I also don't get all up in arms when animals are used in other ways. It's okay to kill them for resources, and it's okay to kill them for meat, but anything else is cruelty? Sushi is raw fish. If some dude wants to eat the fish, he's still eating it which is the same as a fully cooked salmon in my opinion. I guess I just don't get it.

AddieCake

OP, have you tried masturbating today? I find it to be a great stress reliever. 

MoonlightSilver

PinkWillow21 said:

Oh whatever, IT'S STILL DEATH!!! And there's even no guarantee the fish would die anyways.

I just think it's hypocritical. If you want to be a meat eater, fine. but then don't dictate in what other ways people use animals and say that's cruel. There are tons of other food in the world besides meat.

That's kind of our point. Torturing live animals is wrong and cruel. Killing them humanely for food is not. 

ETA: And as a meat farmer, you can bet your ass I tell people when they're mistreating animals. 

kmbryant2413

Uh, it's okay to kill a cow for resources. It's okay to kill a cow for meat. It's not okay to chain a cow to a tree for your wedding so someone could take pictures with it, or dress it up, or whatever. Does that make it clear enough, the difference?

southernbelle0915

PinkWillow21 said:

Actually I'm NOT a vegetarian. And for all the girls on here that complain about generalizing statements, way to bust out "this is why so many people hate vegetarians"

I eat meat. but I also don't get all up in arms when animals are used in other ways. It's okay to kill them for resources, and it's okay to kill them for meat, but anything else is cruelty? Sushi is raw fish. If some dude wants to eat the fish, he's still eating it which is the same as a fully cooked salmon in my opinion. I guess I just don't get it.

just in case a DD is in the cards

itzMS

PinkWillow21 said:

Actually I'm NOT a vegetarian. And for all the girls on here that complain about generalizing statements, way to bust out "this is why so many people hate vegetarians"

I eat meat. but I also don't get all up in arms when animals are used in other ways. It's okay to kill them for resources, and it's okay to kill them for meat, but anything else is cruelty? Sushi is raw fish. If some dude wants to eat the fish, he's still eating it which is the same as a fully cooked salmon in my opinion. I guess I just don't get it.

I think I need to use puppies as an example. Puppies always work.

It is okay to have a puppy as a pet.

It is not okay to get a bunch of puppies from the Humane Society, and put them in cages with no food or proper care as centerpieces for your wedding and hope guests treat them nicely and/or take them home afterwards.

manateehugger

There's a difference between

PinkWillow21 said:

Actually I'm NOT a vegetarian. And for all the girls on here that complain about generalizing statements, way to bust out "this is why so many people hate vegetarians"

I eat meat. but I also don't get all up in arms when animals are used in other ways. It's okay to kill them for resources, and it's okay to kill them for meat, but anything else is cruelty? Sushi is raw fish. If some dude wants to eat the fish, he's still eating it which is the same as a fully cooked salmon in my opinion. I guess I just don't get it.

Wait, what? How did the sushi get brough into the equation? Are you saying wedding guests will eat the beta fish centerpiece?

I'm so amused and confused.

AddieCake

She's saying it's ok if someone DOES eat the fish from the centerpiece b/c it's no different than eating sushi, so how is it hurting anything. 

PinkWillow21

ItzMS that's not the same. I don't see how fish being CARED FOR and FED and left on tables a few hours is the same as leaving puppies in cages with no proper food etc. First of all dogs generally aren't ALWAYS kept in cages. Fish are always in water. And I never said the fish wouldn't be cared for or fed.

PDKH Other people mentioned stupid drunk guests eating fish centerpieces. If these are the people you know, I am seriously concerned for your social circle. I was just saying worst case scenario, the fish gets eaten. That to me is the same as you eating bass or salmon or tilapia or yes, SUSHI. I'm just going to agree to disagree. I know I posted the question and I am grateful that people responded but I still don't understand. I'm pretty open minded but guess I just can't get on board with those ideas. 

Regardless, I eat meat and I don't go out of my way to be cruel or harm animals. I just don't understand how people see the animal cruelty vs non animal cruelty bit. 

KDM323

PinkWillow21 said:

I never post on here, I've only ever read the posts. I came across two recently that really made me wince.

The first, where a poster was shot down for wanting fish centerpieces. I always see them shot down here. Because they are soo cruel and inhumane. Which I mean, I guess I get. I thought about having fish centerpieces myself, but decided not to just because of prettier options. Not because of the cruel aspect.

Next, I seen someone ask what is your favorite type of fish to eat, and plenty of people had things to say about that. Why is it ok to kill fish to eat them but it's not okay to put them in a bowl for a centerpiece, and then give them to loving homes afterwards or even the bride and groom take them home? How do you know they don't have a nice aquarium set up at home to take the fish to?

I just don't see how any is crueler than the other.

Really?

You don't see how it is cruel to subject LIVING ANIMALS to being trapped in a glass bowl/tube, etc. on a table during a wedding reception and used as a decoration? 

And you don't see how that is different than eating fish?

efmcc67

Sushi is not raw fish. Literally, sushi means "vinegared rice." It can have raw fish, cooked fish, vegetables, eggs, or any number of other things. Sashimi is raw fish. That fish was killed specifically for food. It's not alive when it goes down your gullet. See the difference? If not, reference the puppy example above. I can't illustrate it any better than that.

manateehugger

Well of course. First thing I think as a guest when I look at a beta fish centerpiece with a gorgeous blue fish floating belly up is "YUMMY!"

AddieCake

One of my friends in college ate a goldfish he won at a carnival. He did it right in front of a little boy, too. Asshat. 

wittykitty14

PinkWillow21 said:

ItzMS that's not the same. I don't see how fish being CARED FOR and FED and left on tables a few hours is the same as leaving puppies in cages with no proper food etc. First of all dogs generally aren't ALWAYS kept in cages. Fish are always in water. And I never said the fish wouldn't be cared for or fed.

PDKH Other people mentioned stupid drunk guests eating fish centerpieces. If these are the people you know, I am seriously concerned for your social circle. I was just saying worst case scenario, the fish gets eaten. That to me is the same as you eating bass or salmon or tilapia or yes, SUSHI. I'm just going to agree to disagree. I know I posted the question and I am grateful that people responded but I still don't understand. I'm pretty open minded but guess I just can't get on board with those ideas. 

Regardless, I eat meat and I don't go out of my way to be cruel or harm animals. I just don't understand how people see the animal cruelty vs non animal cruelty bit. 

There's a lot more to proper fish care than just placing it in some water