<p>Two sports stars, Clinton Portis (RB for the Washington Redskins) and Stephon Marbury (PG for the New York Knicks), have publicly defended Michael Vick and dogfighting. Obviously, any activity that pits two living things in mortal combat against each other is reprehensible, but why would these people feel the way they do?</p>
<p>I think it's an expression of frustration at cultural prejudice. Dogfighting tends to be popular in the rural South and in the ghetto hip hop community (or so I've read), which are two places that are largely forgotten and looked down upon by mainstream America. Therefore, since dogfighting is endemic to those distant cultures, mainstream America finds it very easy to demonize the participants, whereas rapists and wife-beaters often get second chances because mainstream America can "relate" to those heinous criminals. I don't know, but I find it ridiculous how Michael Vick is being made into Satan incarnate, when there are athletes out there who have **murdered people<a href="former%20basketball%20player%20Jayson%20Williams">/b</a> who don't receive as much negative press. And what about other sports which affect animals negatively? Obviously, hunting comes to mind, but despite some protests by PETA, it is seen as a relatively harmless little activity devoid of the kind of immorality inherent in dogfighting. I also think horse racing is a cruel sport since it puts horses in a lot of unnecessary danger (since broken limbs = death). Of course, these two activities enjoy the benefit of being associated with traditional Anglo-Saxon culture, thus is spared the kind of scorn reserved for the cultures of poor White trash and ghetto Blacks.</p>
<p>I'm glad that Michael Vick is paying for his inhumanity, but I'm becoming increasingly reminded of a story a friend once told me: a bunch of people were feeding bread crumbs of flocks of pigeons in a park, while a homeless man lay starving nearby.</p>
<p>It's definitely a cultural thing; I was surprised at how many of my black friends defended the practice of dogfighting (not Vick, but the practice itself). </p>
<p>These are all very intelligent, articulate individuals, many of them raised in the middle or upper class, not urban or rural poor. </p>
<p>And yet, they honestly don't see a difference between dogfighting and recreational hunting. </p>
<p>I've utterly exhausted myself arguing with them, (a few of them came around) but I do agree on one point; as repulsive and sadistic as electrocuting, hanging, and beating a dog's head against the ground until it's dead is, it's certainly not on the same caliber as murder, rape, or even armed robbery, and as such, isn't deserving of this mania. </p>
<p>Then again, green and animal political activism is insane in this country, so it's to be expected.</p>
<p>even though i believe that killing the dogs and having the dogfights is bad. think about human rights before animal rights and i hate humanitarian groups because they should be taking care of the people in our nation before going international. like seriously there are so many people in need of help here. like seriously peta is a joke.</p>
<p>You don't mess with Dogs in this country. If you don't know that, well wake up. Dog owners and pet owners in general are a pretty strong force. They are probably in the top ten in regards to the most powerful groups, along with AARP and NRA. </p>
<p>I do feel he is being made an example of, but I don't really care too much about him. Not because he is black, but because he is an idiot.</p>
<p>I was actually surprised at how cogent, intelligent the replies in this thread were. That's very rare at CC, especially for a hot-button topic like this one. </p>
<p>Reassuringly, we have Mr Payne to break the chain.</p>
<p>Yes...Horse racing forces horses to kill each other...</p>
<p>Look at recreational hunting at this way. They're forced to get permits, correct?<br>
Well the number of the permit is determined by the population of deer, etc. And to prevent over population they issue permits based on it. (We humans have taken out the natural predators :( ) </p>
<p>It isn't a racial issue.
Why must we play the race card every time a popular African sports figure gets in trouble for something? </p>
<p>Just simply he's cruel to animals. It's like clubbing baby seals. It's wrong and it stirs the public.</p>
<p>Look up what "ad hominem" actually means. An example would be if I questioned your sexual orientation, sanity, general mental competence, or human heritage. </p>
<p>You're trolling, and trying to sound cool and sarcastic in the process. Trouble is, you don't even know what the fancy words you're using mean. </p>
<p>Try to grow up, little child. </p>
<p>There is nothing funny about suggesting dogfighting should spread as a sport. It's silly and immature; showing you as the infantile little mind that you truly are.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Look up what "ad hominem" actually means. An example would be if I questioned your sexual orientation, sanity, general mental competence, or human heritage.
[/quote]
Yeah, I was reaching.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You're trolling, and trying to sound cool and sarcastic in the process.
[/quote]
Good analysis, sleuth.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Trouble is, you don't even know what the fancy words you're using mean.
[/quote]
"A fallacy that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute."</p>
<p>
[quote]
Try to grow up, little child.
[/quote]
Ad hominem.</p>
<p>
[quote]
There is nothing funny about suggesting dogfighting should spread as a sport.
[/quote]
Why? Combat sports are great entertainment.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It's silly and immature; showing you as the infantile little mind that you truly are.
<p>Dogfighting is not morally equivilant to hunting. As tritium said, hunting licenses are based on deer population levels and are used as population control. Also, deer are not forced to fight each other and are killed in a relatively humane manner, as compared to Vick's drowning and bludgeoning.</p>
<p>Payne, give it up. This is your idea of comedy or making fun of someone? Mildly sarcastic, unfunny, line-by-line mumblings? Christ dude, I just feel sorry for you. </p>
<p>I live in SoCal now too, but haven't spent 1300+ posts trying to look cool and edgy on CollegeConfidential, of all places. </p>
<p>You're unhappy with real life. That's fine. But work on fixing it, not escaping reality to be the cool guy on the Internet you fail so miserably at in reality. </p>
<p>Specifically, you're painfully unfunny, and hilariously immature. Your posts basically scream desperation and loneliness.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Payne, give it up. This is your idea of comedy or making fun of someone? Mildly sarcastic, unfunny, line-by-line mumblings? Christ dude, I just feel sorry for you.</p>
<p>I live in SoCal now too, but haven't spent 1300+ posts trying to look cool and edgy on CollegeConfidential, of all places.</p>
<p>You're unhappy with real life. That's fine. But work on fixing it, not escaping reality to be the cool guy on the Internet you fail so miserably at in reality.</p>
<p>Specifically, you're painfully unfunny, and hilariously immature. Your posts basically scream desperation and loneliness.
[/quote]
I never claimed to be a comedian - so being funny was never a guarantee.</p>
<p>The rest of your psychoanalysis was quite humorous though. You try to find meaning where there is none. I'm simply messing around and you view it as assault on all things good and holy. It's the internet - deal with it.</p>
<p>It's sad that the story with the most coverage in the past few weeks is the nation upset about a few dieing dogs. Who cares? America has a lot of bigger problems. No wonder we're 8 trillion in debt.</p>
<p>A few things. I think dog fighting may be a regional cultural thing and not just a cultural thing. I am African American and dog-fighting has never been a thing that I have seen people enjoy or support...So maybe it is more common for blacks in the South.</p>
<p>Secondly,
Michael Vick is not African. He is African American, which is a pretty big difference.</p>
<p>The pain and suffering that goes into dogfighting is really nothing compared to the pain and suffering that goes into raising animals for food (and you can argue that raising animals for food is unnecessary - even detrimental - to humans - seeing that animals take up so much space and resources - not only through their direct impact, but also through the massive amounts of food crop that they demand).</p>
<p>
[quote]
Dogfighting is not morally equivilant to hunting. As tritium said, hunting licenses are based on deer population levels and are used as population control. Also, deer are not forced to fight each other and are killed in a relatively humane manner, as compared to Vick's drowning and bludgeoning.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So if there were an overpopulation of dogs, then dogfighting would become more acceptable? </p>
<p>Also, hunters usually avoid shots to the head (the most direct kill) because it ruins their trophies. Instead, they usually go for other vital organs that cause a much slower and more painful death. If I had the choice of being shot in the liver, or drowning, I'd take drowning.</p>