What goes on in the mind of an octopus?

[Deleted member 87865]

Food for thought, or maybe not? You decide.

A good soul sent me the link to this article. How does it affect your relationship to pulpo/polbo?

Millions of people eat octopus- here's why we shouldn't | World Economic Forum

Admittedly the article touches on different issues, not least the (intensive?) farming of octopi to satisfy international demand. We farm other animals, so why not this one? Does the idea of the octopus being especially intelligent as a marine species worry you as a carnivore, or not?

Not trying to make a stormy sea of the tranquil waters that are the camino forum, but I am curious as to people's reactions. My friend has decided she can live without further rations of delicious octopus meat, in light of the article's message. I suspect I will carry on ordering pulpo when I am in Galicia, but perhaps only there, so relatively speaking not all that often.

What might you do?

Buen camino a todos,

Philippum

 

[VNwalking]

What goes on in the mind of an octopus? Quite a lot.
I eat pimentos de padron instead.
(To be truthful, I would make that choice even if octopus weren't sentient. I just like the peppers a whole lot better.)

 

[Turga]

Pigs are also thought to be quite intelligent, but that never had significant impact on the number of pork chops being consumed; but maby it should!

 

[Tincatinker]

In all little meson in Castrojeriz one evening I shared a table and “grace” with a group walking with their Pastor. When the Estofado Conejo was served one of them proclaimed “rabbit, I can’t eat rabbit. “All Gods gifts...” was the Pastor’s response.

 

[JabbaPapa]

I've never seen any convincing evidence to suggest that any other living species than our own could be realistically described as "sentient" in the sense usually attributed to the word.

Which basically amounts to not accepting Chomsky's theories on the question.

As far as I can tell, it's our capacity for meta-language that's unique to our species, though I'm sure that several extinct human species had that capacity too.

Having said all of that, if my diet isn't meat-based, I'll get ill, fairly seriously -- so I've little choice in the matter, though as a matter of course I do also have to avoid sea-food. But that certainly doesn't mean I'll be avoiding Galician or Portuguese pulpo when I'll finally reach there this go 'round.

 

[Pelegrin]

In Galicia (and Spain) more than 90 % of octopus comes from Mauritania and Morocco (Saharian fish bank). It is an important source of income and work for those countries.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

When the Estofado Conejo was served

When the Carthaginians came around 300 b.c. they called the country Ispania (from Sphan, "rabbit"), which means "land of the rabbits." The Romans arrived a century later and adopted the Carthaginian name of the country, calling it Hispania. Later, this became the present day Spanish name for the country, España.

 

[Tincatinker]

Thanks @falcon269. Now, does anyone know why it’s Estofado Conejo and not Estofado Espana?

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Thanks @falcon269. Now, does anyone know why it’s Estofado Conejo and not Estofado Espana?

I think Estofado Espana might be Cortes' nickname (silent, upon a peak in Darien)?

 

[t2andreo]

I STILL don;' like pulpo. I knew about the relative 'intelligence' of the octopus, at least insofar as learning and choice making go.

While I am not a vegetarian, I respect their choice. Personally, I avoid anything with 'puppy dog eyes.' Usually, I only seek meat occasionally. I enjoy it, but not if it came from an animal who can learn.

Also, I am one who actually looks forward to a time when technology can provide meat-like protein sources that pass for the identical, meat source item. Specifically, I mean sliced ham, so can continue to enjoy my beloved jamon y queso boccadillos... and chorizo...

Pulpo, I can do without...other fishes don't qualify for my exemption as they lack the intelligence generally, and do not have the curte eyes.

 

[NorthernLight]

Cute eyes ... interesting determinant.

For myself, I looked at the ingrediants of the plant based, 'beyond meat' offerings at the local fast food places. 14 ingrediants were used to make the patties. Some of the ingrediants were unpronounceable. In an era when we are being told highly processed foods are not good for our bodies, we are about to be bombarded with a new one.

We are not so highly developed animals, onmivores. Eat a bit of everything and walk.

 

[DebR]

Food for thought, or maybe not? You decide.

A good soul sent me the link to this article. How does it affect your relationship to pulpo/polbo?

Millions of people eat octopus- here's why we shouldn't | World Economic Forum

Admittedly the article touches on different issues, not least the (intensive?) farming of octopi to satisfy international demand. We farm other animals, so why not this one? Does the idea of the octopus being especially intelligent as a marine species worry you as a carnivore, or not?

Not trying to make a stormy sea of the tranquil waters that are the camino forum, but I am curious as to people's reactions. My friend has decided she can live without further rations of delicious octopus meat, in light of the article's message. I suspect I will carry on ordering pulpo when I am in Galicia, but perhaps only there, so relatively speaking not all that often.

What might you do?

Buen camino a todos,

Philippum

For myself, I can’t eat it. Partly because I’ve deen film showing how smart they are, and partly because when they rise up and become our overlords I hope they will remember which side I was on...

 

[John Crawford Howell]

The home of the Giant Pacific Octopus is here, in the Salish Sea of Washington State. A New york Times Bestseller, The Soul of an Octopus, by Sy Montgomery, may cause one to pause before biting into that delicious paprika-dusted Pulpo morsel accompanied by a cool glass of white wine, and a Platillo of Pimientas de Padron, or not...

 

[Elle Bieling]

When I learned of the octopi intelligence, I stopped eating them. To me they are cuter than pigs. However, I'm still thinking about pigs...

 

[Deleted member 73892]

For myself, I can’t eat it. Partly because I’ve deen film showing how smart they are, and partly because when they rise up and become our overlords I hope they will remember which side I was on...

Good point DebR... remember Hitchcock's 'The Birds'?... maybe 'The Octupi' is overdue! Or 'The Octopuses' or 'The Octopodes', depending upon the plural a film director may choose. They do attack, have been recorded attacking, are mighty strong and I wouldn't want a wrestling match with one. I don't like to eat them - they are sentient! And I hate the way I see dogs treated along the Caminos. Lets not get on about Bulls in this post!

 

[Pelegrin]

Good point DebR... remember Hitchcock's 'The Birds'?... maybe 'The Octupi' is overdue! Or 'The Octopuses' or 'The Octopodes', depending upon the plural a film director may choose. They do attack, have been recorded attacking, are mighty strong and I wouldn't want a wrestling match with one. I don't like to eat them - they are sentient! And I hate the way I see dogs treated along the Caminos. Lets not get on about Bulls in this post!

I like pulpo in the versions "á feira" and "ä galega" (with potatoes) but only eat it in special occasions and when I visit Galicia in feiras (mercadillos).
In relation to dogs, I think you referred in your post to rural dogs because urban dogs in Spain have the same treatment as in any other place in the first world.
I am from rural Galicia and I am thinking now about the working dogs of my family. They helped us with the cows and lived outside the house loose all day. I can´t imagine them living inside a house, probably castrated, waiting for the owner to go out and living the family issues as their only fun.

 

[Deleted member 73892]

I like pulpo in the versions "á feira" and "ä galega" (with potatoes) but only eat it in special occasions and when I visit Galicia in feiras (mercadillos).
In relation to dogs, I think you referred in your post to rural dogs because urban dogs in Spain have the same treatment as in any other place in the first world.
I am from rural Galicia and I am thinking now about the working dogs of my family. They helped us with the cows and lived outside the house loose all day. I can´t imagine them living inside a house, probably castrated, waiting for the owner to go out and living the family issues as their only fun.

Yes, my fathers family are-were farmers, and dogs had a place of work and can also be a part of the family. They can and are entitled to a good life - I'm from the UK, so I know how important dogs are to sheep farmers at least. Problem is, I've almost been attacked three times my viscous dogs, have seen too many undernourished, chained-up and-or in bad condition along the rural routes. The city dogs do look pampered. I am a dog lover, obviously, from farming stock that love horses too.
Back to the main theme of this thread: what are octopi thinking? What would they think of us? Recently, with all the advances in DNA technology, it is now known that they have a unique DNA, unknown in our world until now, and it is even (seriously) suggested that they are an alien race, perhaps transported billions of years ago on solar/galactic winds or meteors from another planetary source. Really! DNA does not lie, they are unique. Would you eat an alien, let alone an octopus? We don't know enough about our world but are happy to destroy it without much thought to the future. What we do in the present forms our future. Like DebR wrote - I don't want to be around when the Galactic Octopi Forces arrive in their Mother Ship seeking to rescue their long lost cousins! Octopi are probably thinking... 'Just you wait till the forces of Planet Octi arrive, Earthlings!'
Keith

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Would you eat an alien, let alone an octopus?

Better them, than me. Do you remember that Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Mankind"? Apparently we are the main ingredient in that cookbook.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Pigs are also thought to be quite intelligent, but that never had significant impact on the number of pork chops being consumed; but maby it should!

Definately some "food" for thought.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Better them, than me. Do you remember that Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Mankind"? Apparently we are the main ingredient in that cookbook.

View attachment 59684

Dave, you have definately been stepping up your humor these past months!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Better them, than me. Do you remember that Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Mankind"? Apparently we are the main ingredient in that cookbook.

View attachment 59684

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Definately some "food" for thought.

If humans want to survive this intergalactic Octopus threat, it is imperative that an all out effort be made to eat more pulpo. I don't want to become some alien octopus's snacky-doodle.

 

[henrythedog]

The plural of octopus is octopuses (in English) or octopodes (in Greek, if unlike me you’ve had the benefit of a classical education.

Much as they are very tasty, I try not to eat anything smarter than members of my family. On a bad day, that can rule out lettuce.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

The plural of octopus is octopuses (in English) or octopodes (in Greek, if unlike me you’ve had the benefit of a classical education.

Much as they are very tasty, I try not to eat anything smarter than members of my family. On a bad day, that can rule out lettuce.

Correction made

 

[Beeks]

Probably thinking this. I enjoy pulpo and will continue to do so.

 

[NorthernLight]

Remember the Star Trek movie, Long Voyage Home? Whales were extinct and no longer sending messages to their home world, so the death log was on it's way to investigate and destroy Earth. Kirk & friends had to time travel to kidnap a couple whales to bring back to the future.

My point being, eating all the Octopuses might have an unintended consequence.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Remember the Star Trek movie, Long Voyage Home? Whales were extinct and no longer sending messages to their home world, so the death log was on it's way to investigate and destroy Earth. Kirk & friends had to time travel to kidnap a couple whales to bring back to the future.

My point being, eating all the Octopuses might have an unintended consequence.

Noooooo!!!!! Don't let these foreign alien invaders from the Andromeda Galaxy fool you!!!!!

 

[JabbaPapa]

We are not so highly developed animals, onmivores. Eat a bit of everything and walk.

Not really -- anatomically we're essentially carnivorous, although we are descended from herbivorous forbears, and so we retain some ability to eat plant foods, fruits especially. The second stomach which is always functional in herbivores (and specialises in the digestion of plant fibres) has in our species shrunk in size to become the useless appendix, very similar in relative size to what you see in the belly of a wolf or cat.

This ability seems to vary however from one individual to another -- my own ability to eat plants is severely limited for example, and virtually all of them consumed in anything more than tiny moderation will make me directly ill ; conversely, in some people it can be very strong, such as those that have no problems thriving on vegetarian diets.

 

[NorthernLight]

Not really -- anatomically we're essentially carnivorous, although we are descended from herbivorous forbears, and so we retain some ability to eat plant foods, fruits especially. The second stomach which is always functional in herbivores (and specialises in the digestion of plant fibres) has in our species shrunk in size to become the useless appendix, very similar in relative size to what you see in the belly of a wolf or cat.

This ability seems to vary however from one individual to another -- my own ability to eat plants is severely limited for example, and virtually all of them consumed in anything more than tiny moderation will make me directly ill ; conversely, in some people it can be very strong, such as those that have no problems thriving on vegetarian diets.

I did not know most of this. Thank you.

Does eating reptilian creatures count as meat?

 

[Deleted member 73892]

The plural of octopus is octopuses (in English) or octopodes (in Greek, if unlike me you’ve had the benefit of a classical education.

Much as they are very tasty, I try not to eat anything smarter than members of my family. On a bad day, that can rule out lettuce.

I beg to differ, Sir ! There are three pluralisisis for Qctuposuseses. I'm surely sure. But does it matter? We knows good or bad englishes when we seeses it, and what is intentionalised.
Keith
PS henrythedog - I hope you don't mind me asking... but do you have a species/identity crisis? Anything you'd like to share here with us?

 

[Deleted member 73892]

This is a fascinating topic - its relevant to my very poor, almost non-existant Spanish when I'm on Camino. I often don't have to say anything, just use body language and facial expressions and the other, non-english speaking person more often than not gets what I'm thinking and need!
This brings me to the 'Silence of the Octopus' (great film in there somewhere... ) Has there ever been research or any attempt to communicate through psychic telepathy with Octopuseses? Or even research into their body language?They've been working on Dolphins, Whales and Seals for years, and now regard these mamals (that can probably spel beter than me), as sentient beings (yes, I know, we're still killing them for what ever reasons - 'research', food). Would it be dangerous to attempt psychic telepathy communication with Octopusis, find out what they're finking? Has anyone ever attempted to interpret the Octopuses body language, for eyample, when they smell paprika? Interesting: PhD study there for the interested and brave, someone who can swim and is vegan.
Keith

 

[JabbaPapa]

I beg to differ, Sir !

The plural of octopus is octopuses. Just as the plural of referendum is referendums.

You can always differ, as English is a collective language of dialects without a central authority to say this is right & that is wrong, but in general, foreign words used in the language retain their foreign plurals only from some languages but not others -- else, in these cases, use the standard regular English -s/-es.

The Grammar here is actually pretty complicated, and even the very well-educated will make mistakes.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Keith, as far as I know, dolphins and arguably a couple of their close evolutionary relatives are alone among animals to have demonstrated any material signs of possibly being capable of thought, i.e. they have shown behaviour that might well be speech.

There's a very suspect political element to the whole octopus thing, that I'll only mention in passing, as forum rules are as such.

But I have never seen any useful & workable non-problematic definition of "intelligence" -- such basic ones as "the ability to learn" or "problem-solving" tend to break down in analysis.

Even a worker ant can learn and solve a problem -- these are not defining criteria.

 

[NorthernLight]

But I have never seen any useful & workable non-problematic definition of "intelligence" -- such basic ones as "the ability to learn" or "problem-solving" tend to break down in analysis.

Even a worker ant can learn and solve a problem -- these are not defining criteria.

By those same criteria, a huge portion of the genus homosapiens would be disqualified ... urban planners, politicians, some Phd candidates, those heading to a pub on a work night....

 

[Kathar1na]

Recently, with all the advances in DNA technology, it is now known that they have a unique DNA, unknown in our world until now, and it is even (seriously) suggested that they are an alien race, perhaps transported billions of years ago on solar/galactic winds or meteors from another planetary source. Really! DNA does not lie

This calls for a virtual trip to snopes.com!

 

[JabbaPapa]

By those same criteria, a huge portion of the genus homosapiens would be disqualified ... urban planners, politicians, some Phd candidates, those heading to a pub on a work night....

Yes well quite a few egregious intellectual snobs have suggested such things since the 17th Century onwards, except that there is quite basically nobody on Earth who could be defined as simply being some sort of abstract function and nothing else nor more.

But well, you're quite right to add some more reasons why those "easy" definitions are so deeply flawed.

 

[NorthernLight]

This calls for a virtual trip to snopes.com!

Try evolutionnews. The use of the word 'alien' wasn't intended to mean extra-terrestial. But it's a lot more fun that way.

 

[Deleted member 73892]

Great evidence here. watch the vid. Disclaimer: Nothing political intended, no hiden agendas.
Amazing. Theres a good second vid. too. There are insights into what Octupuses think
Keith

 

[Deleted member 73892]

They have octopus-like heads!

 

[alhartman]

So long and thanks for all the fish

 

[Tincatinker]

So long and thanks for all the fish

Reportedly said by a representative of the Dolphins as they left planet Earth shortly before it was destroyed by the Vogon Destructor Fleet. [Douglas Adams: The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy]

 

[henrythedog]

Good evening Keith,

It matters not a jot. Communication surely must be effective if the recipient has understood that which has been said, or written.

I am confident in my personal species - but as for my family members, they do seem to get through a lot of salad dressing sometimes.

Better to not assume grammar, it’s fun and easy to engage with. Mine is still abysmal, but the topic interests me. If I ever get ser/estar, por/para and the subjunctive nailed in Spanish I’ll be a happy dog.

David (or Henry, maybe)

 

[DebR]

Better them, than me. Do you remember that Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Mankind"? Apparently we are the main ingredient in that cookbook.

View attachment 59684

This is my point. I want them to know I never willingly ate their kin

 

[Marcus-UK]

Pigs are also thought to be quite intelligent, but that never had significant impact on the number of pork chops being consumed; but maby it should!

My young children made me feel bad (for a few seconds) when I ordered suckling pig from a master assador in Spain. However they did help me eat it and have since ordered a raccion or two of the same since they grew up.

 

[Deleted member 87865]

Thanks for the correction. Octopi is perhaps

The plural of octopus is octopuses (in English) or octopodes (in Greek, if unlike me you’ve had the benefit of a classical education.

Much as they are very tasty, I try not to eat anything smarter than members of my family. On a bad day, that can rule out lettuce.

Maybe octopi is the hungry spelling? (Must look for an octopie recipe.)

 

[malingerer]

In all little meson in Castrojeriz one evening I shared a table and “grace” with a group walking with their Pastor. When the Estofado Conejo was served one of them proclaimed “rabbit, I can’t eat rabbit. “All Gods gifts...” was the Pastor’s response.

I wonder about the Pastor's response to a cannibal? !!!

Samarkand

 

[Moorwalker]

I'm an omnivore, but I am uncomfortable with eating octopus because they clearly have a fair level of intelligence and possibly (difficult to prove) self awareness.

 

[JabbaPapa]

I'm an omnivore, but I am uncomfortable with eating octopus because they clearly have a fair level of intelligence and possibly (difficult to prove) self awareness.

All large animals have self-awareness (your pet cat has a great deal of it) -- as for intelligence as such, it's rather hard to define.

The current, tentative, criterion is that it requires thought, therefore verbalisation, therefrom language -- which has never been demonstrated to exist in any other species than our own.

---

But it's an open question.

 

[Theatregal]

Interesting seeing the revival of this thread this morning after recently watching the the beautiful documentary "My Octopus Teacher".

 

[Tincatinker]

I wonder about the Pastor's response to a cannibal? !!!

Samarkand

I’ve always thought that the concept of human progress from “take your protein where you find it” to “let’s open a Walmart and get our meat in a polystyrene tray” is an oversimplification of evolution.

 

[RJM]

I love pulpo. I have had many a serving of it in Galicia. I am also aware of the level of intelligence octopus (and squid and cuttlefish, also delicious) seem to exhibit. Many species we humans consume exhibit intelligence beyond what we think they have. I cannot say it deters me from eating them. I am quite accepting of the canine teeth I was born with and my ancestry from hunter/gatherer's. Having been raised in a rural environment I have killed animals for consumption. I realize that is not for everyone, but I can say one thing for sure doing it brings about an appreciation for the amount of labor that is required to feed oneself in that manner. The work required to prepare it, and also to not take for granted an animal gave its life to feed you. I recommend everyone who is a carnivore/omnivore do it, if just a chicken or a rabbit.
As far as farming octopus? These days there is a lot of farming of fish, shrimp etc. Needed because the demand outweighs natural populations. The demand will never go away...never, so might as well compromise by farming.
I have no doubt we humans will wear out the planet eventually. Just too many of us and we live waaay too long now, lol.

 

[JabbaPapa]

I love pulpo -- but proper octopus IMO is the Balearic kind, stronger in taste and more rubbery in texture. And more tasty and rubbery it is, the fresher too, and preferably you eat it with great speed after the catch.

But cripes it's chewy.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Interesting seeing the revival of this thread this morning after recently watching the the beautiful documentary "My Octopus Teacher".

Thanks for mentioning this documentary. It sounds fascinating and I can't wait to see it!

 

[Tincatinker]

I am quite accepting of the canine teeth I was born with and my ancestry from hunter/gatherer's. Having been raised in a rural environment I have killed animals for consumption. I realize that is not for everyone, but I can say one thing for sure doing it brings about an appreciation for the amount of labor that is required to feed oneself in that manner. The work required to prepare it, and also to not take for granted an animal gave its life to feed you.
I have no doubt we humans will wear out the planet eventually. Just too many of us and we live waaay too long now, lol.

'sfunny innit. In the culture I grew up in Pigeons were "pies", Pheasants were "thank youse" (as in thank you your Lordship for filling your estate with these particularly stupid wood-chickens). Rabbits were a mainstay of our economy because we could get paid to ferret out a warren, and even get paid for the rabbits we caught & couldn't eat if the local butcher had a reasonable sense of humour. Half-a-crown (12.5 pence) for 8 if memory serves. Most of our diet was veg, grown, foraged or borrowed; bread & beans but "all God's gifts" were what kept us well and growing.
All of which is a departure but not to far from the OP. My first encounter with Pulpo went well: Gran's reminder to "eat what your give & be thankful" still echo's. Though, for some reason, those anonymous patties in a sesame bun still repel me. If i'm eating a beast I like to have looked it in the eye and explained whenever possible.

 

[Albertagirl]

Thanks to whomever resurrected this thread. I missed it the first time through and it is the funniest thing I have read in a long time. I needed this.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

'sfunny innit. In the culture I grew up in Pigeons were "pies", Pheasants were "thank youse" (as in thank you your Lordship for filling your estate with these particularly stupid wood-chickens). Rabbits were a mainstay of our economy because we could get paid to ferret out a warren, and even get paid for the rabbits we caught & couldn't eat if the local butcher had a reasonable sense of humour. Half-a-crown (12.5 pence) for 8 if memory serves. Most of our diet was veg, grown, foraged or borrowed; bread & beans but "all God's gifts" were what kept us well and growing.
All of which is a departure but not to far from the OP. My first encounter with Pulpo went well: Gran's reminder to "eat what your give & be thankful" still echo's. Though, for some reason, those anonymous patties in a sesame bun still repel me. If i'm eating a beast I like to have looked it in the eye and explained whenever possible.

You amuse me, @Tincatinker.

 

[Tincatinker]

Can I use that in Court next time?

 

[henrythedog]

'sfunny innit. In the culture I grew up in Pigeons were "pies", Pheasants were "thank youse" (as in thank you your Lordship for filling your estate with these particularly stupid wood-chickens). Rabbits were a mainstay of our economy because we could get paid to ferret out a warren, and even get paid for the rabbits we caught & couldn't eat if the local butcher had a reasonable sense of humour. Half-a-crown (12.5 pence) for 8 if memory serves. Most of our diet was veg, grown, foraged or borrowed; bread & beans but "all God's gifts" were what kept us well and growing.
All of which is a departure but not to far from the OP. My first encounter with Pulpo went well: Gran's reminder to "eat what your give & be thankful" still echo's. Though, for some reason, those anonymous patties in a sesame bun still repel me. If i'm eating a beast I like to have looked it in the eye and explained whenever possible.

It’s a funny old world. With a few friends I have a small shoot in Cumbria - pheasant, duck and deer mainly. Occasionally I’ve been challenged whilst out shooting and had some interesting, respectful and honest exchanges of view with veggies and vegans. For every one of those I’ve had 20 ill-tempered discussions with meat-eaters who basically want to contract their killing out, have the meat delivered pre-packed and portioned and don't want to confront the reality of free-range organic meat being killed.

I’ve always drawn the line at woodcock and hares for reasons I find difficult to explain. Neither are ever killed on my shoot.

Lately, after many years of hunting and shooting I rarely pick up a gun. I‘m becoming more veggie each year. People change.

 

[Tincatinker]

I’ll still take what the world offers but only to my needs. I grow most and I can buy the rice. I know what you mean about Hares. There’s something to Old, to Deep.

 

[RJM]

A few years ago whilst on the Frances I stayed at a private albergue and part of the stay was a homemade paella dinner that night, communal style with wine, bread and dessert. That afternoon while the paella was being prepared I was chatting with the hospitalero about the paella, discussing types of paellas and ingredients. He told me one of the traditional meats in the paella is rabbit, but a couple years earlier during the dinner when asked what type of meat it was he said rabbit, much to the dismay of some of the pilgrims eating it as they thought it was chicken. He said those pilgrims could eat no more as they were turned off that much at the prospect of eating rabbit, yet they had been wolfing it down just moments earlier, lol. He told me since then he uses only chicken meat and that seems to appease all the cultures.
I can say the paella (with chicken) was quite nice at dinner that evening. Went quite well with the wine, salad and bread. If it had been rabbit I would have happily consumed any leftover due to non-rabbit eating pilgrims. We all know how ravenous one can get after a long day walking.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

This is slightly off topic, but still related to both the camino and hares...
On the Primitivo I stayed at a small hotel with my son and a camino aquaintence, and we opted for the restaurant meal offered. A lovely rabbit stew swimming in gravy was brought to the table in a large pot. I was excited to try rabbit, never having had it before and was offered to take the first serving with a ladle. Come to find out I had three rabbit heads on my plate...most repulsive and disappointing were all the tiny white teeth.

 

[RJM]

It’s a funny old world. With a few friends I have a small shoot in Cumbria - pheasant, duck and deer mainly. Occasionally I’ve been challenged whilst out shooting and had some interesting, respectful and honest exchanges of view with veggies and vegans. For every one of those I’ve had 20 ill-tempered discussions with meat-eaters who basically want to contract their killing out, have the meat delivered pre-packed and portioned and don't want to confront the reality of free-range organic meat being killed.

I’ve always drawn the line at woodcock and hares for reasons I find difficult to explain. Neither are ever killed on my shoot.

Lately, after many years of hunting and shooting I rarely pick up a gun. I‘m becoming more veggie each year. People change.

I understand.
When I was much younger I could not get enough of going in the woods, hunting with my father. Spending the whole day out there. Sometimes camping. I lived for it at times, especially before I discovered girls lol.
Now, not so much. Especially since dad can no longer do it. Has just gotten too old. That has taken some of the edge off of my blade so to speak. Just not the same.

 

[RJM]

This is slightly off topic, but still related to both the camino and hares...
On the Primitivo I stayed at a small hotel with my son and a camino aquaintence, and we opted for the restaurant meal offered. A lovely rabbit stew swimming in gravy was brought to the table in a large pot. I was excited to try rabbit, never having had it before and was offered to take the first serving with a ladle. Come to find out I had three rabbit heads on my plate...most repulsive and disappointing were all the tiny white teeth.

Reminds me of trips to SE Asia and eating local. Finding chicken feet in my soup, lol.
Eat everything but the feathers and the cluck.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Since the thread was created I have learned that octopuses have something that some call brains in each arm. Scientific American tells us more (written for the general public).

The Mind of an Octopus

Eight smart limbs plus a big brain add up to a weird and wondrous kind of intelligence

www.scientificamerican.com

Scientic American Mind
Neuroscience
The Mind of an Octopus

Eight smart limbs plus a big brain add up to a weird and wondrous kind of intelligence

By Peter Godfrey-Smith on January 1, 2017

Adapted from Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea and the Deep Origins of Consciousness, by Peter Godfrey-Smith. Copyright © 2016 by Peter Godfrey-Smith. Published by arrangement with Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC (U.S.), HarperCollins (U.K.)

This article was originally published with the title "The Mind of an Octopus" in SA Mind 28, 1, 62-69 (January 2017)

doi:10.1038/scientificamericanmind0117-62

 

[Theatregal]

Thanks for mentioning this documentary. It sounds fascinating and I can't wait to see it!

Yes, it is fascinating - astonishing really. Beautiful to watch.

Since the thread was created I have learned that octopuses have something that some call brains in each arm. Scientific American tells us more (written for the general public).

Wonderfully explained and demonstrated as well in "My Octopus Teacher".

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Yes, my fathers family are-were farmers, and dogs had a place .....

The city dogs do look pampered. I am a dog lover, obviously, from farming stock that love horses too.
.....

Are you perhaps also from Vietnam? I have heard that the dog curries there are superb.

I am less keen on horse myself.

 

[VNwalking]

There’s something to Old, to Deep.

Don't know about hares, but I don't want to eat someone who is smarter and with a massively longer family lineage than me.

Octopus are something else. If you want to keep eating pulpo, don't read this book

The Soul of an Octopus

In pursuit of the wild, solitary, predatory octopus, popular naturalist Sy Montgomery has practiced true immersion journalism. From New E...

www.goodreads.com

 

[William Garza]

Would not the critter eat you if the environs were reversed? And eaten without a micro milliseconds thought for the intelligence or sentience?
Pure instict would have said time to eat..ohh loook..food...
Lemme give yer a nice hug.

I can only get the savage wee beasties in tin cans shaped suspiciously like sardine reliquaries....
If there is any alien invasion. They will come as koala-Plural???? Kittens and puppies..the bigger the eyes and fluffier the better to enslave man...

 

[Pelegrin]

In Galicia it is not tradition eating mushrooms and snails despite there are lots of them in the fields.
I can't understand why in periods of poor diet ,like after the Civil War for example, the government or even the church didn't do anything to make the people use that source of proteins.
Same in other countries with rabbits and octopus.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Are you perhaps also from Vietnam? I have heard that the dog curries there are superb.

I am less keen on horse myself.

I had it once, in Belgium, reminded me of venison but as it was served au poivre the actual flavour of the meat was lost somewhat.

As children my daughters were bemused by the "boucherie chevaline" in Royan market near our holiday home. It had a large, red, illuminated horse's head as a sign and they thought it was a shop selling food for horses.

 

[wayfarer]

I’ll still take what the world offers but only to my needs. I grow most and I can buy the rice. I know what you mean about Hares. There’s something to Old, to Deep.

Funnily enough we were not allowed to shoot hare in my household either, it was taboo, something about being changelings.
We hunted for the table when I was growing up, I was allowed to hunt solo with a shotgun at the age of 12, a tradition that if I had passed down to my children or grandchildren would have seen me in prison. As times changed and I no longer needed to kill for the table I took to killing clay pigeon and the only thing I shoot nowadays is with a Nikon and a telephoto lens.

 

[RJM]

Would not the critter eat you if the environs were reversed? And eaten without a micro milliseconds thought for the intelligence or sentience?
Pure instict would have said time to eat..ohh loook..food...
Lemme give yer a nice hug.

I can only get the savage wee beasties in tin cans shaped suspiciously like sardine reliquaries....
If there is any alien invasion. They will come as koala-Plural???? Kittens and puppies..the bigger the eyes and fluffier the better to enslave man...

Yes, even the common everyday domestic cat (especially if it had been living feral) would consume us in a nano second if they suddenly became our size now, and vice versa. The dear sweet kitty would be upon you quickly, claws dug deep in your flesh and a quick bite to the back of your neck and it snuffs your mortal coil. You simply become a source of protein. We had one when I was growing up that was a superb hunter of young rabbits. He was a large tom, probably about 5 kilos, and quite often deposited a dead, small rabbit on the back porch for us to find in the morning. Unfortunately it would be in a state of non consumption at that point, and we would praise him, thank him and dispose of the carcass.
For a lot of us and our current cultures, we can condemn or turn our nose up at certain foods, meats etc simply because we can afford to. Pick and choose our protein source. Something our ancestors did not have the luxury to do.