# About the legalities of Sea Shepherds and the whaling industry. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 26, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031 "2009-06-26T02:44:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/41 "2009-06-26T19:02:44Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Octopuses. Or octopoda. > > Octopi is a made-up word from people pretending to sound erudite and trying to form the plural the latin way. But “octopus” is from Greek roots. I don’t speak Greek, so I’m pretty sure Octopus is also an English word now.Octopi is in my dictionary as well as a plural for Octopus, so It’s an English word too. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/42 "2009-06-26T19:42:17Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I don’t speak Greek, so I’m pretty sure Octopus is also an English word now. Sure… which is why I said “has Greek roots” and not “is a Greek word.” > [@](#): > > Octopi is in my dictionary as well as a plural for Octopus, so It’s an English word too. Sadly, yes. Which means that the first idiot got it wrong, and that didn’t dissuade the second idiot from getting it wrong, nor the third idiot, and eventually the idiots won. Thus does language evolve. There’s no earthly reason for octopi to be a plural of octopus except mistaken usage, coupled with enough of it that the dictionary writers accept it. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/43 "2009-06-26T21:35:04Z")
> [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](#): > > I am opposed to Whaling, but the SS simply isn’t helping anything. I guess they’re getting the word out, but by watching the show, they seem like a bunch of helpless idiots. Like when their ship has absolutely no ice qualification and they try to go straight through an ice shelf. Stupid. This sums up my position on the whole thing. If I owned the whaling fleet or Greenpeace, I would pay to have this show shown on every country with a ticker on the bottom: “If you give money to SS, this is how they waste it like idiots, find someone else to fight your battle” ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/44 "2009-06-26T21:35:13Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Sure… which is why I said “has Greek roots” and not “is a Greek word.” > > Sadly, yes. Which means that the first idiot got it wrong, and that didn’t dissuade the second idiot from getting it wrong, nor the third idiot, and eventually the idiots won. Thus does language evolve. There’s no earthly reason for octopi to be a plural of octopus except mistaken usage, coupled with enough of it that the dictionary writers accept it. You should be hanged for even caring about the normalcy of such words. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/45 "2009-06-26T21:40:28Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > You should be hanged for even caring about the normalcy of such words. It is worda, not words. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/46 "2009-06-26T21:52:07Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > It is worda, not words. That’s not even a word. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/47 "2009-06-26T21:58:59Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > That’s not even a word. It will be if I get enough people to say it. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/48 "2009-06-26T22:22:17Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > You should be hanged for even caring about the normalcy of such words. I see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/49 "2009-06-26T22:24:39Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I see what you did there. Good, I was going for maximum cromulence. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bobthebuilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobthebuilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobthebuilder)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/50 "2009-06-27T03:45:58Z")
I dont understand. Whats wrong with whaling? It is not like they are killing humans, its an animal. Why not kill and eat it? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/51 "2009-06-27T04:22:13Z")
> [@bobthebuilder](#): > > I dont understand. > Whats wrong with whaling? > It is not like they are killing humans, its an animal. Why not kill and eat it? Because they have been hunted to near extinction for one thing. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/52 "2009-06-27T04:28:23Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Because they have been hunted to near extinction for one thing. I think people are talking about hunting the non-endangered ones. Like was mentioned, the Japanese hunt Minke and Fin whales and are considering hunting Hunpbacks, and while Fin whales are endangered, Minke and Hunpbacks aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/53 "2009-06-27T04:32:46Z")
Also, 99% of the species that have ever existed are now extinct. Also, if foxes hunt a certain type of rodent to extinction, I bet you don’t get upset about it, and humans are people too, just like foxes (or whatever, you know). ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/54 "2009-06-27T04:37:16Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I think people are talking about hunting the non-endangered ones. Like was mentioned, the Japanese hunt Minke and Fin whales and are considering hunting Hunpbacks, and while Fin whales are endangered, Minke and Hunpbacks aren’t. For now, just wait til they’ve been hunting them for a few years. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/55 "2009-06-27T05:12:24Z")
I approve of what the Sea Shepherds do. I think if you really believe in something you should take action. In this case I am not too sympathetic for their target so I have some fondness for them. I think more people should engage in direct action regarding their passions. So **Rand Rover** if you ever get your armed pleasure yacht and go after them I’ll gladly watch your show and cheer them on when you’re hanged for piracy. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/56 "2009-06-27T05:52:11Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > The whale meat obtained from the hunting isn’t even edible. It’s so contaminated by pollutants that there are severe limits on the amount of whale meat permitted to be eaten by each individual over a set period of time. They’re killing whales for no reason except prestige and bloodlust. Actually, Peters claims that a fair amount of the Bluefin Tuna being sold is from marine mammals. And as cckerberos sez, whale meat is still sold as whale meat, openly. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/57 "2009-06-27T15:38:37Z")
I don’t have much of an opinion about whaling either way, but I do value human life more than I do the life of whales. The crew of the Sea Shepard has allowed volunteers to recklessly board whaling boats at great risk, to get lost at sea on a raft for an incredibly stupid amount of time, and the First Mate basically said during the season opener, “I don’t give a shit about your safety, I don’t want you to complain about safety, we are stopping whalers.” I can’t get behind that. I can’t get behind the fact that most of the people on the Sea Shepard are volunteers who have no idea what they are really getting into. When someone on the boat dies, I really hope Animal Planet will reconsider airing the show. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/58 "2009-06-27T18:02:16Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > For now, just wait til they’ve been hunting them for a few years. Like everything, it would depend on how many whales were taken. There’d need to be quotas for sustainable culling. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/59 "2009-06-27T18:08:27Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Like everything, it would depend on how many whales were taken. There’d need to be quotas for sustainable culling. And yet the Japanese are contemptuous of any attempts to restrict their intake. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031/60 "2009-06-27T18:09:28Z")
> [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > I don’t have much of an opinion about whaling either way, but I do value human life more than I do the life of whales. The crew of the Sea Shepard has allowed volunteers to recklessly board whaling boats at great risk, to get lost at sea on a raft for an incredibly stupid amount of time, and the First Mate basically said during the season opener, “I don’t give a shit about your safety, I don’t want you to complain about safety, we are stopping whalers.” I can’t get behind that. > > I can’t get behind the fact that most of the people on the Sea Shepard are volunteers who have no idea what they are really getting into. When someone on the boat dies, I really hope Animal Planet will reconsider airing the show. > > SSG Schwartz Everyone who volunteers for the Sea Shepherd knows exactly what they are getting into. They are not little lost lambs. Please. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-legalities-of-sea-shepherds-and-the-whaling-industry/501031.md?page=4)