NAACP and Michael Vick

[Ddrak]

Personally I think people in general are hypocrites when it comes to "animal cruelty". The cuter the animal or the more functions in can serve in society the more "rights" it has. No one complains when millions of cows and chikens are slaughtered every year.....but a few dogs get killed fighting and people are up in arms.

Apples and oranges.

I don't think dogs should fight to the death for entertainment. I feel the same of chickens, and certainly disapprove of bullfighting. Hell, I don't even think boxing is a particularly laudable sport, and the people involved there can make an informed decision on the risks.

Now, killing dogs, cats, chickens, cows, dolphins, whales, whatever for food is a totally different thing and I really don't give a toss about any of those, as long as it's not done with cruelty or wanton disregard for the animal's welfare while it's still alive. Killing endangered species is pretty stupid too.

Dd

[Kulaf]

What's your stance on testing chemicals and drugs on animals?

[Ddrak]

What's your stance on testing chemicals and drugs on animals?

I'm fine with it, provided you do what you can to minimize the discomfort to the animals. Again, very different to having animals kill each other for your pleasure.

Animals dying because they are tasty = ok.
Animals dying so people don't have to = ok.
Animals dying so people can be entertained = not ok.
Animals treated with cruelty and made to suffer prior to dying = not ok.

I think tests that need to study the progression of a disease are very ethically challenging. I understand the necessity for it, and think it's ok provided you really work hard to minimize the need.

Dd

[Arathena]

Vick got sentenced today. 23 Months. If he serves the whole thing ( highly unlikely), the earliest he'll be eligible for reinstatement into the league is 2010. Realistically, we can expect him to be paroled at ~10 months, and a minimum suspension of one more year. So, 2010 either way, assuming he's permitted to play at all.

He may get a few offers of ~1-2 million for a single year if he's permitted to play. No team is going to be willing to take a big cap risk on goods that damaged. I don't know if he'll be humble enough to accept those contracts. I doubt it. I think he's going to wind up a running back in the CFL.

[Finglefinn]

I vote for RB in the CFL. He probably won't get out too much earlier than 18 months. That time, especially if he does not have access to any weights (which is very likely) will be a killer on his training and athletic ability. Even if he had a modest weight room, it is still going to be a long, long road back. That's not even considering the fact that he misses training camps and spring workouts, etc. He better hope that some gang banger from somewhere you don't want to know doesn't take a run at him just to prove that he is "better" than Michael Vick.

[Beestyall]

Not long enough.

[Kulaf]

No access to weights? Have you seen some of the cons coming out of prisons lately?

[Finglefinn]

I heard on the radio yesterday that two of the newer Federal prisons in the Virginia area, more importantly, ones that Vick may end up at, do not have weight rooms.