I do think animal cruelty is up there with some of the bad crimes. I'm sure there are too many crimes to weigh them up though. I guess that I think of bad crimes being those which seem more physical, unprovoked, involving maiming etc than tax fraud or ripping someone off.

Either this wasn't a big story in Australia or my lack of TV watching has left me completely out of the loop but I don't know anything personal about this guy. I wouldn't recognize him in a picture because I don't follow American football and his name doesn't ring a bell.

I'm not commenting on him so much as what I think of animal torture. If this guy is a role model to kids I just hope that they don't get the impression that it's cool.

Some people are just sadists too. Some people from normal families will be involved in animal torture. I guess with him we can't tell if it's his upbringing or his nature or a combination of both.

As for thinking your life is worth more than the animal's you consume - I'm not completely sure - you have me thinking. To be honest if I had to kill my own food I'd probably stick to seafood mostly.

I'm not sure why I have no problems fishing but couldn't kill a cow. Theoretically a cow is one life for a lot more food so it's almost more ethical but I'd look into those big brown eyes and not be able to do it unless the only other option was starvation. Maybe because I can see the greater intelligence of a cow and I'm not sure a fish would feel pain or loss or heartbreak to the same extent. I guess a fish seems closer to a plant to me?

I did try to go vego once but i ended up getting anaemic and fainting because my active lifestyle pretty much meant I needed meat to stay healthy.

I guess ultimately the food chain is there and it's not my invention so should I commit suicide just because I have to eat to stay alive?

I do think the way something dies is important. I think a painful death is worse. I don't think it's the same thing.