Episode 97: A Hunting Trip! (Not Really)

   I love animals, especially pets. Anyone who has seen me around a dog or a cat can attest to that. I even feel bad killing a spider, and even though I'm afraid of mice, I can't deny that they're kind of cute. Grasshoppers are probably my favorite bug, and I'd much rather trap a beetle or a cricket with a cup and paper and take it outside than kill it. I don't think a creature deserves death just for existing in my home. 

   Some people might think my love for animals must equate to being a vegetarian/vegan. But, I'm not. I love cheeseburgers, chicken tendies, popcorn shrimp, what have you. I consume meat and dairy every day. It's entirely possible to love animals but still eat their products. I'm not hurting an animal myself, and it's simply nature for creatures to consume other creatures. Plus, there's a reason Genesis says that God gave mankind authority over animals.

   Like I said, I'm not hurting the animals myself. Which turns the conversation to the main meat (pun intended) of this blog, hunting. Now, I have some friends who enjoy hunting, and I'd never confront them about it, even though I really don't see the point and am not a fan of the practice. I've never gone hunting, and I don't want to.

   If you're hunting for food that you're actually going to eat, I can see how maybe that's okay. Fishing and actually eating the fish or safely releasing it is okay. But I don't get these "game hunters" who treat murdering wildlife as a sport. Some people get dressed in their camo and bring rifles along just to shoot some deer/elk/bears/whatever, just to pose with their "bounty", an innocent animal whose life they just ended because they thought doing so was fun. I'm sorry, but if you find pleasure in taking the life of a living thing, I'm kinda concerned for you. It's sad. Imagine if you were just chilling and someone came up and shot you then posted pictures on social media posing with your corpse.

   And yes, I know, "but Mr. Hardy! You just said God gave mankind authority over animals!" Yes, I did say that. But that doesn't mean I have to like hunting or think it's okay.

   I used to play some of those hunting video games and some games where you hunt dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, but now I have no desire to play those games. Okay, maybe those prehistoric ones, but that's mostly just fueled by nostalgia. Yet, I still play shooter games. It may seem odd that I'm okay with playing games where one kills other people, but not where one kills animals. Maybe that's a discussion for another day. I just wanted to explain some stuff about why I like meat but love animals and don't really get hunting.

Anyway, see you next week!