"Consider The Lobster" Blog Post

In "Consider the Lobster" it's interesting how the author, David Wallace, confronts the ethical question of boiling lobsters alive for the enjoyment of the human species. Often you can hear the chimes of animal rights activists who are entirely against the consumption, or at least the farming methods on which we acquire meat, of mammals. In my experience fish and crustaceans tend to be left out of that conversation completely; so it's surely odd to have an entire food review article written up in defense of lobsters. But the content is horrifying. I think most people will object to the treatment of animals such as cows for milk and pigs for bacon; that treatment tends to be cruel, extremely cruel, but we selfishly overlook it for economical reasons and, for the larger part, the joy we receive from consuming food that rattles our taste buds.

I've often objected to eating meat since the steps to get that meat disturb me, but I always concede to the idea that me not eating meat won't change the industry so what's the point of me stopping? Maybe I'm not morally driven enough. This article, however, hits a note that troubles me. The idea that due to the lack of an endorphin releasing nervous system could cause a lobster to experience pain tenfold compared to what it's already be like to be boiled alive is messed up to say the least. But on the other hand I don't feel like lobsters have the mental capacity to process pain beyond understanding that pain equals death so they freak out when exposed to hot water since their instincts tell them something is wrong. So they may be experiencing pain, but whatever that pain is might not be as intense as what we experience when we're hurt. I'm talking out of my ass saying that but maybe it's true; I haven't the slightest clue.

To say the least I'm conflicted.