*There’s a big difference between dying painfully and dying painlessly.
Why is it so hard for tlw and owlofcreamcheese to see that?*
Perhaps it’s because they know that lobsters (and all arthropods) don’t feel pain. Their nervous systems are much more primitive than those of vertebrates; pain and feelings are simply not there.
I can’t speak for the lobsters.
But, I hope that someone cares enough about me to booze me up before they boil me alive.
Now that’s an intelligent response! Thank you!
Hmmm, I remember Alton Brown of Good Eats liking lobsters more to a cockroach. I was looking for a link, but couldn’t find one in a quick search.
In other words, cite?
From here: http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:eKUm8uRhAPwC:www.mainelobsterpromo.com/images/dbase/choice.pdf+arthropods+nervous+system+pain&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 (or here: www.mainelobsterpromo.com/images/dbase/choice.doc )
“It is unlikely that the nervous system is sophisticated enough to sense pain as we know it. Like all arthropods, the nervous system of a lobster is very primitive, and contains far fewer nerve cells than our nervous systems. The nerve cells are grouped in clusters called ganglia. Further, a lobster has no cerebral cortex, the area of the human brain that gives the perception of pain.”
This really has no place in GQ, but I’ll relate it anyway and take a verbal thrashing if neccesary.
A few years ago I was at a family reunion at my grandma’s. An uncle had sent 10 lobsters from Boston and we we’re getting ready to make and eat them. Grandma couldn’t stand the thought of watching the lobsters or hearing the “scream”, so she went to bed. After we finished eating, my mom (I can’t believe she did this to her own mom!) and her sisters took the heads and placed them strategically around the kitchen, in places like the fridge, pantry, and inside the coffee pot for grandma to find.
I awoke early the next morning to several screams…
The link I posted above (Crustacean Nation II, for the terminally lazy) is a complete transcript of that very show. He does liken the lobster to a cockroach, although he goes on to say that their brains are really more like a grasshopper’s. A snip from the relevant segment:
whatami, if you want to discuss humane treatment of grandmothers, you should really start a new thread. 
By the way, I think that’s a great joke. I’d do it to my mom.
Well, after about 10 minutes of Googling I can’t seem to find an unbiased opinion on the issue of lobsters and pain. It seems the animal rights folks are of the opinion lobsters do feel pain, and those who make money from the sale of lobsters say they don’t. Can anyone find factual information on this subject from a credible source?
I was going to post a PETA factsheet, but you’re right x-ray, that’s biased as hell. And I say that as a loving member of PETA.
Best I can could find was this.
Go here for the entire source. It’s rather good–it’s from Texas State University, and has diagrams and biological breakdowns.
I especially like the chart on that site:
Lobster - cockroach - small worms - telemarketers
I remember an episode of Martha Stewart in which she said to add a cup of Vodka to the boiling water before putting the lobster in. She claimed it would cough relax the lobster so it wouldn’t curl up on itself and “If you were being boiled alive, you’d probably want a drink first too!” I couldn’t believe she actually said that and was laughing for days about it.
I guarantee that if the lobster hung out and read some posts on these boards, he’d feel pain.
I vote for straight boiling, knowing the chances of Mr Lobster feeling pain as we know it are slim and none. This, along with the knowledge that he would die a long slow and painful death in the ocean are all the information you need.
Wasn’t there some big hoo-ha a couple of years ago about a chef on a US network morning “news” show cutting up a lobster while it was still alive?
Golly…I’ve learned a great deal. No excuse to be ignorant about lobsters with all you helpful people around!
Zenster , that recipie sounds divine. I will have to give it a try. Thanks!
Max Torque , thank you for the link. Alton Brown is such a hoot. I should have known he’d have plenty to say about cooking lobsters.
whatami , your family sounds like a riot, albiet a bit twisted and depraved…LOL. Poor grandma!!!
QueerGeekGirl , thanks for the link. Highly educational!
Gary T , I would like to think that lobsters have a primitive nervous system and don’t feel pain as we do. In fact, I am really going to try to believe that because Zenster’s recipie sounds so darn good.
voguevixen, I think I will give the lobster some vodka and maybe a little splash for myself. Ah, you’ve gotta love that Martha.
I hope I haven’t unduly disturbed any vegetarians/animal rights activists with this thread. Honestly, if I do muster up the courage you can be be assured that I will try to cook the lobster as quickly (and with as little stress/pain upon his person) as humanly possible…Don’t hate me because I like lobster!! (Shana scurries away in shame.)
Ack, the guilt!
I’d be wary of making a decision on whether or not a certain animal can “feel pain”… I’m not acusing anyone here of anything but I have heard the same arguments coming from people who don’t mind mishandling or even abusing farm animals, dogs, cats, and so on - it can turn into a slippery slope fairly easily. Truth is we don’t know, and the research that has been done doesn’t really give any answers, just surface clues - like looking through the windows of a house across the street to determine if a husband wants to cheat on his wife. Discecting creatures and judging nerve cell sophistication can only give you a theory. That same theory would say that an octopus is very dumb, as it doesn’t even have a brain. They’ve actually proved to be remarkably intelligent though depsite not being wired like us… though my pet salamander (much more evolved) has got to be the stupidest creature I’ve ever dealt with.
Come to think about it, a few years ago me and my cousin were in a restuarant where he used to work years before. To my shock the owner came up from behind him with a fresh pot of coffee still steaming at the top and pushed it against his bare shoulder. Cousin just looked around, then with a big smile on his face grabbed the glass sides with both hands and held it for about 8-10 seconds. I tried this a few weeks later and couldn’t help but yank my hand away in pain after about 1 second. So it appears as though my cousin doesn’t feel pain like I do either.
OK enough of that… I’m not sure about lobsters but I do know that crabs can effectivley close off their gills from the outside water and keep the bad stuff out for extended periods; one reason why it is very hard to anethesetize them with chemicals. At univeristy we had to inject them with the stuff, and even then it didn’t work often, so chilling them was and AFAIK still is the most effective way to deaden their senses. I’m not sure if lobsters share the same traits, but getting them “drunk” may not actually work - it doesn’t for crabs.
Now despite my earlier rant, I wouldn’t feel bad about boiling a lobster live - I’m no touchy-feely kinda guy. If I don’t feel bad about doing something that some might consider cruel, I just go ahead and do it, but never try to rationalize it as not being so if there’s no direct evidence. I’d dunk the spiney little bastard and just shrug if someone complained. The world’s not always very nice, so just leave it at that rather than trying to convince others (or yourself) that it is.
You can always let the sensitive guests eat bread rolls instead of your lobster. Ha ha, reminds me of that Simpson’s episode where the kids were trapped on an island and Lisa wouldn’t eat the boar they killed, and ended up licking the slime off of rocks for nourishment while everyone else ate well :D.
Steamed one once.
Placed a live, but as I recall not overly fiesty one between two metal colunders. Then placed the colunders on top of a pot of boiling water.
He got pretty damn fiesty pretty damn quick.
My bet is he felt something.
And the screaming may only be pressure escapign the carapace, but it was plenty unsettling.
Tried the steaming upon someone else’s recomendation for the benefit of lobster loving guests.
Personally I’m not much of a lobster fan to begin with, so no great sacrifice, but that episode has put me off them for good.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Crafter_Man *
Throw it in the damn boiling water and fergetaboutit. :rolleyes: …
[QUOTE]
Which is what I said in a slightly more polite way.
The only thing to add is it must be a Maine lobster. All others are pale imitations of the real thing.
No snappery claws? No lobstery goodness.
A lobster weighs in…