# Is there any real moral difference between killing & eating a pig & a dolphin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 7, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976 "2005-11-07T23:11:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/21 "2005-11-08T02:08:11Z")
Huh. I always figured it was just because they’re endangered. If that’s not the case, I’ll down with a fricasse of Flipper. I’d also eat dog or cat, just so long as its not _my_ dog or cat. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/22 "2005-11-08T02:50:18Z")
I guess the only rational response to this dilemma is to throw them both in the pot together, toss in some potatoes, and make a tasty stew. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/23 "2005-11-08T03:37:07Z")
I dunno. What’s dolphin taste like? ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/24 "2005-11-08T03:38:54Z")
> [@Kansas Beekeeper](#): > > That’s absolute nonsens, by the way. [Do Pigs Eat People?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=246529) ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/25 "2005-11-08T06:03:28Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > Sustainable? The Whale, Dolphin, and most fish populations are dropping or have dropped at an alarming rate. Some whale and dolphin populations are dropping, many are increasing. Those that are increasing are clearly indicating that the curent harvest is sustainable. That is what sustainable means. > [@](#): > > Cetaceans and Apes are the most intelligent creatures on this planet except for the Human. Other great apes are certainly the next in the line for intelligence. However to say that cetaceans as a group are intelligent is utter bollocks. Some are about as intelligent as a cow, which is understandable givent he similarity of lifestyle. Even the smartest dolphgins seem to be about as intelligent as a dog… or a pig. > [@](#): > > This is a little different from a Pig, a reasonably smart animal but from what I can see less so then Otters and Monkeys. What is that based on? > [@](#): > > It is a moral issue. If you are okay with eating dolphins, you might as well be okay with eating humans. Sorry, but the only approrpiate response to that statemnt is: :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > Maybe you haven’t noticed that they are actually sapient creatures. Can we please have a reputable efernce to suport that extraordinary claim? Dolphins have “great wisdom and discernment” do they? Please provide evidence that dolphins have any more wisdom and discernment than a pig or an insect. Intelligence, possibly. Wisdom and discernment, no. > [@](#): > > I am not a Vegan or PETA member, but I really do draw the line at the slaughter of endangered sapient creatures. Particularly the friendly ones. Let’s see. Endangered? No, not for the most part. There are some endangered dolphin species, but then there are some endangered pig species too. So let’s compare apples with apples. Sapient? Nope, not unless you have some extraordinary evidence for that extraordinary claim. Freindly? Not by along shot. Dolphins are able to be trained to perform for food, as are most species. But in terms of freindliness they are about on par with pigs. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/26 "2005-11-08T06:07:51Z")
> [@bizzwire](#): > > TIt’s simple, really. Pigs are literally born to be eaten. You do realise that there is amasive wild pig market thorughout the world. That includes the US. > [@](#): > > It’s also much cheaper and easier to raise a pig (which will turn just about anything you feed it into pork) on land than to catch dolphins in the wild. Reference please? I could go out right now and shoot couple of dolphins. All it would require is a small boat ($5000) and a rifle ($200). In order to rasie a pig I must first purchase the pig ($50) then feed it for ayear ($300). I also need to own or rent land upon which to keep the pig ($1000). It certainly seem like, for me, it would be much cheaper and easier to catch wild dolphins than to raise pigs. > [@](#): > > No argument here at all. I’m arguing. ---
**Author:** ![AFAIKnow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a6a055/32.png) [@AFAIKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AFAIKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/27 "2005-11-08T06:30:52Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Is there any real moral difference between killing & eating a pig & a dolphin? Does God get an opinion? > [@](#): > > Deuteronomy > > 14:8 And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it [is] unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. > > 14:9 These ye shall eat of all that [are] in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: > > 14:10 And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it [is] unclean unto you. Seems to Him they are both dirty bastards. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/28 "2005-11-08T06:53:17Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > You do realise that there is amasive wild pig market thorughout the world. That includes the US. You’re absolutely right; I totally retract my assertion that peple eat domesticated pigs. Please define “massive” (or “amasive”) in relation to the relatively puny trade in _S domesticus_. Dare I even ask “cite?” > [@](#): > > Reference please? I could go out right now and shoot couple of dolphins. All it would require is a small boat ($5000) and a rifle ($200). In order to rasie a pig I must first purchase the pig ($50) then feed it for ayear ($300). I also need to own or rent land upon which to keep the pig ($1000). > > It certainly seem like, for me, it would be much cheaper and easier to catch wild dolphins than to raise pigs. You have me bang to rights. I have no cite. I pulled those numbers…I mean, opinions out of my ass and was discussing _raising_ pigs. I won’t even bother asking you the source of your numbers, because I can go your scenario one better; I just slip over to my (hypothetical) neighbor’s farm, entice his pig to approach with a morsel of food and WHAM!!; I give him the old ‘what for’ with a mallet. Cost? Nothing > [@](#): > > I’m arguing. I noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/29 "2005-11-08T09:26:47Z")
Well, us humans being top of the food chain; any animal that we anthropomorphize; that act alone, gives the animal more signifigance than others. I think that’s the thing about being supreme rulers of the planet. We don’t have to have any ryme or reason. Nor do we have to explain ourselve to lesser beings. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/30 "2005-11-08T11:23:02Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > Of course it’s arbitrary. That’s the whole point. Never mind cats, in your suburb there are probably some people holding their pet rabbit or pet pig, while simultaneously others are chowing down on rabbit and pig meat. People choose pets for numerous reasons, and they choose food for numerous reasons. Neither one precludes the other. Worse; in your suburb, some people will keep animals such as rabbits, chickens and ducks as pets and those same people will quite happily eat other rabbits, chickens and ducks as food - as you say; neither one precludes the other. ---
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/31 "2005-11-08T11:54:49Z")
I wonder what dolphin tastes like? I guess it is for sentimental/ cultural reasons is why we don’t eat the intelligent cute furry ones. You know, every time someone brings up the question, “Why should dogs/cats/dolphins not be eaten while livestock animals can?”, the reply, “why not eat humans” come up. How do you rebutt that? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/32 "2005-11-08T12:17:31Z")
> [@BluePitbull](#): > > I wonder what dolphin tastes like? I’ve heard that whale meat (the lean parts) looks like the best beef you can buy, but tastes oily and fishy. An important factor in what meat tastes like is the diet (and to a lesser extent the habitat) of the animal; even though dolphins are (obviously) not fish, they eat almost nothing but fish, so I would imagine dolphin will taste quite fishy. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/33 "2005-11-08T12:52:59Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > An important factor in what meat tastes like is the diet (and to a lesser extent the habitat) of the animal; even though dolphins are (obviously) not fish, they eat almost nothing but fish, so I would imagine dolphin will taste quite fishy. Grouper eat mainly (if not exclusively) fish; they don’t taste “fishy”, although they do taste like fish. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/34 "2005-11-08T13:15:52Z")
The short answer is that it tastes like chicken. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/35 "2005-11-08T13:19:15Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The short answer is that it tastes like chicken. Ah, that’s what the judges were looking for. Well played! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/36 "2005-11-08T13:29:26Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > Some whale and dolphin populations are dropping, many are increasing. Those that are increasing are clearly indicating that the curent harvest is sustainable. That is what sustainable means. > > Other great apes are certainly the next in the line for intelligence. However to say that cetaceans as a group are intelligent is utter bollocks. Some are about as intelligent as a cow, which is understandable givent he similarity of lifestyle. Even the smartest dolphgins seem to be about as intelligent as a dog… or a pig. > > What is that based on? > > Sorry, but the only approrpiate response to that statemnt is: :rolleyes: > > Can we please have a reputable efernce to suport that extraordinary claim? > > Dolphins have “great wisdom and discernment” do they? Please provide evidence that dolphins have any more wisdom and discernment than a pig or an insect. Intelligence, possibly. Wisdom and discernment, no. > > Let’s see. > > Endangered? No, not for the most part. There are some endangered dolphin species, but then there are some endangered pig species too. So let’s compare apples with apples. > > Sapient? Nope, not unless you have some extraordinary evidence for that extraordinary claim. > > Freindly? Not by along shot. Dolphins are able to be trained to perform for food, as are most species. But in terms of freindliness they are about on par with pigs. Tell you what, you cite the fact that Dolphin populations are safe and I’ll start supplying cites. Personally this thread angers me more than any thread I have seen on this board. You claim their intelligence is low. Where’s the cite for that. Within **Anne Neville** cite are points about their intelligence and uncertain population levels. You can go out a shoot a Dolphin because they have learned to trust humans again. Most rational humans appreciate them and enjoy seeing them. Jim :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/37 "2005-11-08T13:41:25Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > …Personally this thread angers me more than any thread I have seen on this board… > …Most rational humans… One of these things is not like the other. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/38 "2005-11-08T13:45:50Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > One of these things is not like the other. Agreed, this is a big issue for me, I fought for the whaling bans and safe tuna nets. I am not being completely rational in my response. However Blake is making claims without support and then demanded cites from me. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/39 "2005-11-08T13:49:24Z")
Far be it from me to stand in the way of your asking for cites; it just surprised me to hear you describe _the whole thread_ as angering you. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976/40 "2005-11-08T13:59:40Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Far be it from me to stand in the way of your asking for cites; it just surprised me to hear you describe _the whole thread_ as angering you. Again you are correct, I spoke rashly, and it is only a few posts that have me upset. I apologize to everyone else. I thought Cetacean intelligence was well accepted at this point. I wouldn’t think a cite was even needed. Here’s one that might surprise him even more and I guess I will look for a few cites, but Octopi are believe to be smarter than most land animals. I don’t believe in eating them also and there is definitely no cuteness factor with them. Jim [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-moral-difference-between-killing-eating-a-pig-a-dolphin/329976.md?page=3)