'I pledge not to eat shark's fin.'

[JR8]

"I Pledge Not to Eat Shark Fin Soup" Campaign Video - English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQK75f_6a7A
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Anyone who knows me knows how offensive I find eating shark's fin.

a) it destroys ecosystems (the shark is the apex marine predator)
b) it contains ZERO nutrition or flavour (they have to give the soup a flavour, usually with pork-bone stock). It's like cutting off your hair and eating it. Yum.
c) it is just so low-class. It's like trying to wave a wad of bank-notes in my face like I'll be impressed AND at the same time also showing me how completely ignorant you are.
d) It's as dumb as believing eating tiger's dick or rhino's horn is going to give you a hard-on.

[sensei_]

just curious why are you so offended by shark's fin? the asians dont go telling the world what they should be eating, so why should the westerners try telling the asians to not eat certain foods (japs and their "scientific research" on whales, chinese and their shark's fin)

[JR8]

Because it's dumb and low-class.

Which gaudy show food, or in fact - any food - is eaten in the west that threatens entire ecosystems? None.

We're one world now, so it invites my opinion.

Well, 'here it is!!'

[JR8]

So you enjoy flavourless collagen do you?

Chew your nails oso ah?

Seriously though, if you eat sharkfin soup please explain why as (evidently) I find it a little hard to understand.

[sensei_]

So you enjoy flavourless collagen do you?

Chew your nails oso ah?

Seriously though, if you eat sharkfin soup please explain why as (evidently) I find it a little hard to understand.

without having to resort to insults such as dumb and low class. i have enjoyed a bowl of shark's fin soup from time to time, cost is not a factor for me, its about my enjoyment, and its not the taste, but the texture.

no one goes into a restaurant and go.... "hey look at me, i just ordered a bowl of soup!", it would be similar to someone going into a nightclub and saying how big his cock is to every girl.

[sundaymorningstaple]

BS!

Sorry, I've got to weigh-in with JR8 on this one. Gaudy display's of wealth for something that is basically inedible without heaps of processing and in the process, throws the nutritious part of the whole away is just obscene.

Having said that, I will admit that I'm not quite that extreme. If I'm invited to a dinner, I will not insult the host if I am served Shark Fin Soup, and I will eat it e.g., a chinese banquet dinner as is common here, as I cannot stop that which has already been cooked/processed and to throw it out is a bigger sin. However, I WILL NOT order Shark Fin of my own accord, where I have a choice in the menu.

Actually, I do not have any problem with eating Shark Fin at all. What I have a problem with is the way it is collected. If the whole shark were brought to shore and sold it wouldn't be any different that salmon, tuna, cod or other large pelagic species. But to destroy an animal for what is basically an inedible part of the fish only because it has a auspicious sounding name or some such stupidity only serves to show the world how little regard Asians have for living things in general. Buddhists no less.

[JR8]

without having to resort to insults such as dumb and low class. i have enjoyed a bowl of shark's fin soup from time to time, cost is not a factor for me, its about my enjoyment, and its not the taste, but the texture.

no one goes into a restaurant and go.... "hey look at me, i just ordered a bowl of soup!", it would be similar to someone going into a nightclub and saying how big his cock is to every girl.

Oh dear I seem to have offended the dumb and low class.

Perhaps you can explain why you eat food that does nothing nutritionally for you, and rapes ecosystems. It's about 'look at me, I'm so rich' ah?
Like a penis-comparison thing that little boys do... 'Ooh look, mine is bigger than yours!'. Just you do it as adults.

This is why I have very few Chinese friends in SG I think. They might be rich, but they still have the philosophy of complete peasants.

[sensei_]

Actually, I do not have any problem with eating Shark Fin at all. What I have a problem with is the way it is collected. If the whole shark were brought to shore and sold it wouldn't be any different that salmon, tuna, cod or other large pelagic species. But to destroy an animal for what is basically an inedible part of the fish only because it has a auspicious sounding name or some such stupidity only serves to show the world how little regard Asians have for living things in general. Buddhists no less.

But who knows what you order amongst a closed group of friends? Or close relatives. What about those who cook at home? Shark's fin on its own isnt very expensive to begin with, its only when it is processed at restaurants who target the kiasuism attitude that it becomes a status symbol.

Since when did dining out become an penis comparison competition as to who can spend the most?

Certain people may think about showing off, but not all. And to be honest, anyone who think that dropping money at a banquet is going to gain any e-dick points definitely has to compensate for something.

Maybe if it wasnt seen as such a sin to harvest it could be done more ethically.

Perhaps you can explain why you eat food that does nothing nutritionally for you, and rapes ecosystems. It's about 'look at me, I'm so rich' ah?
Like a penis-comparison thing that little boys do... 'Ooh look, mine is bigger than yours!'. Just you do it as adults.

This is why I have very few Chinese friends in SG I think. They might be rich, but they still have the philosophy of complete peasants.

ive already mentioned that the texture of shark's fin in the soup is brings me to drink the soup in a previous post, but you were probably too ignorant to read it fully before throwing around more petty insults. it has nothing to do with costs, showing off, silly sounding names that supposedly make me rich.

This is the problem when one tries to restrict its trade. you simply push it underground. because of this poachers need to get what they want and dump it quickly. instead of farming it like a proper fish, which im sure is doable like oysters, tuna, fish, etc.

did we not learn from the banning of caviar, all it did was bring organised crime into smuggling it.

[JR8]

But who knows what you order amongst a closed group of friends?

Why is it so complicated for you?
- No I don't eat beef, [blah]
- No I don't eat meat, but thank you
- No I don't eat shark-fin, thank you

You don't get it ah?

'But who knows what you order amongst a closed group of friends?'

Yah like paedophilia. 'Our little secret'. No one knows right?

[sensei_]

complicated? im not the one who gets offended over what other people eat (ie. none of our business).

and no, unlike the catholic church, im no kiddie fiddler

[x9200]

JR8, why so aggressive? I don't think the Western culinary culture is all that on clear and spotless to mention foie gras only. The difference is purely pragmatic (if any), cruelty comparable at least with close to zero nutritional significance and I bet majority of the eaters are just like you classified them for the shark fins enthusiasts. Don't get me wrong, I think it is barbaric but perhaps it would be better just to condemn, not to buy/order it and avoid playing on the cultural differences. I like the taste (even if it comes directly from the spices) but I do what SMS mentioned: I will eat it but never order.

[excessuk]

It's good to see this topic being debated.

I don't want to interject in the conversation with my own opinions, but I just want to recommend all of you watch this movie (if you haven't already watched it). http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0856008/

Happy new year!

[sundaymorningstaple]

It's been debated on here before as well. It's been debated probably on every forum in Asia where Westerners and Asians mix. It the process of finning that causes westerners to get upset. I do as well. It's not the eating of shark fins, but the finning and throwing back into the sea the whole shark alive but left to die on the ocean floor that is so barbaric. And it's Asians who do this.

[excessuk]

Your post summarises exactly my thinking. I think there needs to be a massive cultural shift for Asians to understand that.

The West had a similar mindset of harvest and destroy until not too long ago (e.g. British Empire times).

[sensei_]

the finning and throwing back into the sea the whole shark alive but left to die on the ocean floor that is so barbaric. And it's Asians who do this.

dont you think this would be solved had we encourage farming of sharks. problem is, no one wants to put in the hard yards of fish farming, citing costs, low ROI and some other red tape nonsense (i tried to set up a fish farm in perth - price was prohibitive and lots of red tape).

if we could somehow encourage shark fin farming, maybe there wont be such an uproar? or will people still get offended?