Is eating Cthulhu ethical?

[Eudaimonist]

This is a dish called Odori-Don. It has a dead squid (yes, it's fully dead) on top that “dances” when Soy Sauce is poured on it, activating its neurons.

Is it ethical to eat something that appears alive, even if it is not? Should one devour the god of Cthulhu cultists, which is clearly blasphemous?

And this isn't the worst of it. I understand that some Japanese even eat live squid, pouring lemon juice on it first. Comments on that?


Iä! Iä!

Mark

 

[Archer93]

Thanks for that. I used to like squid.

Erm. In terms of ethics, it's about the same as running an electric current through frog's legs to make them twitch. Not actively unethical, I think, but I don't think I'd eat it. I find it personally disturbing (to be precise, it give me the screaming heebie-jeebies).

I see your squid with lemon juice, and raise you octopus-on-a-stick
Video -- Eating Live Octopus -- National Geographic
and apparently live snakes as well. I don't know if live monkey's brains is for real or a myth.*
Eating animals that actually are alive, rather than just appearing alive? I'm gong to say 'not ethical' for that, because it causes suffering for no reason other than vanity- 'Look how hardcore I am!'
I feel that if you're going to kill something, it should be done as quickly and cleanly and painlessly as possible.

*Monkey's brains, while popular in Cantonese cuisine, are not often to be found in Washington D.C. Or London.

 

[yasic]

Creepy but not-unethical.

To add: I would not even mind eating something that is alive (assuming the health issues are accounted for).

 

[DaisyDay]

This is a dish called Odori-Don. It has a dead squid (yes, it's fully dead) on top that “dances” when Soy Sauce is poured on it, activating its neurons.

Is it ethical to eat something that appears alive, even if it is not? Should one devour the god of Cthulhu cultists, which is clearly blasphemous?

Is it blasphemous? Many Christians eat the body of Christ as part of their worship.

And this isn't the worst of it. I understand that some Japanese even eat live squid, pouring lemon juice on it first. Comments on that?

I'm not sure that it is ethical to eat squid, octopus or cuttlefish at all, but certainly it is immoral to eat live sentient beings.

 

[yasic]

Is it blasphemous? Many Christians eat the body of Christ as part of their worship.

I'm not sure that it is ethical to eat squid, octopus or cuttlefish at all, but certainly it is immoral to eat live sentient beings.

emphasis mine

Why is it immoral to eat live sentient beings?

Is it any less immoral than killing the exact same being and eating it an hour later?

 

[Amber the Duskbringer]

That is the most heinous thing I have ever seen. I will never eat squid now

 

[StThomasMore]

Dead Squid Is Dancing - YouTube

Dancing Zombie Squid! - YouTube

It got a little too excited there and almost danced outta the bowl, lol

Frog legs dancing - YouTube

froggy legs dancing, lol

Headless chicken chasing me - YouTube

 

[jayem]

I'm not a big fan of calamari no matter how it's served. Eating it raw is a non-starter for me. But this isn't any more unethical than eating sushi.

Speaking of which, here's a video of a skilled fugu chef preparing pufferfish. It's fascinating, but--warning to the squeamish--this fish is still alive as it's being carved up. A few Japanese do die every year from tetrodotoxin poisoning if the fugu is handled exactly right. So in a way, the fish does get it's revenge.


Cutting of Blowfish (Fugu) in Japan - YouTube


Morally, I do have a problem with shark's fin soup. It's bad enough that live sharks have their fins amputated, and are then thrown back
to die. But even worse is that the practice is depleting shark populations. California just banned importation of shark fins. Which is good.

 

[Archer93]

emphasis mine

Why is it immoral to eat live sentient beings?

Is it any less immoral than killing the exact same being and eating it an hour later?

For me, it comes down to speed of death and the pain levels involved. Which probably means I should re-think some of my seafood eating habits... :-(

 

[DaisyDay]

Why is it immoral to eat live sentient beings?

Because of the terror and pain involved.

Is it any less immoral than killing the exact same being and eating it an hour later?

No, it's more immoral - providing the slaughter was done humanely.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

I imagine that there might be prolonged pain the the squid so I think it is unethical. Do squid feel pain? I am not sure we know with large epistemic volume, but I think it's better to stay on the safe side.

 

[Amber the Duskbringer]

That chicken vid is horrifying.

 

[JadeTigress]

I have a problem with eating live things. If you want to make a dead thing dance around and look like it's alive, that's fine. Atleast it's still dead.

I know people and animals are different, and who knows how much pain the squid or octopus or whatever feels, but think about it: If someone was going to eat you, would you rather them just kill you first, or would you rather be alive to watch them bite on you and then you get to feel it the entire time until you die?

 

[Mling]

I'm not certain about the ethics of eating squid--it isn't clear quite what their cognitive abilities are, but evidence suggests they're pretty high.

Eating anything alive which can feel pain is wrong. Eating something that was killed humanely, but making it look alive is morally fine, to me, but is not to my taste.

 

[yasic]

Because of the terror and pain involved.

No, it's more immoral - providing the slaughter was done humanely.

But for say standard food, eating a live squid would be more moral than eating a McDonald's Hamburger, right?

 

[Eudaimonist]

Is it blasphemous? Many Christians eat the body of Christ as part of their worship.

Thank you for addressing the key moral issue. Yes, it is blasphemous, because in Cthulhu cultism, Cthulhu eats you!

Iä! Iä!

Mark

 

[Eudaimonist]

But for say standard food, eating a live squid would be more moral than eating a McDonald's Hamburger, right?

Why would that be? Are you suggesting that cows are treated less humanely than a squid being eaten alive?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Texan40]

Why would that be? Are you suggesting that cows are treated less humanely than a squid being eaten alive?

I know a few people who are so anti-McD's that they may think it more humane to their own digestive tracts to eat live squid. On a not so tongue-in-cheek note I don't think it is "moral" to kill anything but for nutrition and survival it can be necessary.

 

[Amber the Duskbringer]

To the whole being eaten alive bit. Well not saying it's right but in animal nature it's common. Then again they eat to eat not for taste etc.

 

[yasic]

Why would that be? Are you suggesting that cows are treated less humanely than a squid being eaten alive?


eudaimonia,

Mark

Um... yes, much worse.