Never heard the expression Bear Baiting before so I looked it up. "Barbaric" is the word that
comes to mind.
Here are the 3 references I found....Bear-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of bears.
Source Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear-baiti ... in_EnglandHistorical:
Bear-baiting was popular in England until the nineteenth century. From the sixteenth century, many herds of bears were maintained for baiting. In its best-known form, arenas for this purpose were called bear-gardens, consisting of a circular high fenced area, the "pit", and raised seating for spectators. A post would be set in the ground towards the edge of the pit and the bear chained to it, either by the leg or neck. A number of well-trained hunting dogs would then be set on it, being replaced as they tired or were wounded or killed. In some cases the bear was let loose, allowing it to chase after animals or people. For a long time, the main bear-garden in London was the Paris Garden at Southwark.
Source Page: http://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/391_bear_baiting.cfmToday ref. # 1:
Bear baiting is possibly the world‘s most savage blood sport. Teeth and claws removed, bears are tied to a post and set-upon by trained fighting dogs. All in the name of entertainment.We need your help to stop this cruelty. Please call or email Pakistan's Amabassador to the United States.
What is bear baiting?
Usually held at local fairs in Pakistan, this cruel practice pits dogs against bears that have had their claws and teeth removed. The extraction of teeth and claws in itself is a cruel and agonizing practice. Before the fight, the bears are tied to a post which renders them defenseless to the dogs‘ frenzied attack.
Where does it take place?
Only in Pakistan.
Is it illegal?
Yes, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1890 and under the Pakistan Wildlife Act. It is also illegal under Islamic Law to bait animals.
What type of injuries occur?
Bears sustain more injuries than dogs and usually suffer ripped noses and mouths. Most bears are permanently scarred, but the killing of either animal is avoided, as they are too valuable.
How many animals are involved?
Up to 300 bears, and around 1,000 dogs were involved when WSPA first undertook investigations. Today the number of fighting bears has been reduced to around 50.
How many people attend?
Most fights attract a crowd of up to 2,000 spectators.
How much money is made?
Admission costs the equivalent of 50 cents. A bear owner receives up to $150 per event and a fully trained bear or dog can be worth more than $2,000.
What is the long term chance of stopping this practice?
With the full commitment of the Pakistani government, the chances of ending bear baiting is very high. WSPA is pleased to report increased efforts by the Pakistani Government and wildlife officials, but more action is still needed.
WSPA is seeking to form a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure that all leads are followed and acted upon, confiscations are made and that any confiscated bear is released into the WSPA-built Kund Park sanctuary.
WSPA‘s work has helped to reduce the number of bear baiting events held; opposition to the fights is increasing, but there is still much work to be done.
Source Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear-baiting#Other_usesToday ref. # 2:
The term "bear baiting" may be also used for the hunting practice of luring a bear with bait to an arranged killing spot. The hunter places an amount of food, such as raw meat or sweets, every day at a given spot until the hunter notices the food is being taken each day, accompanied by bear tracks. He then chooses a day to await the bear, killing it when it arrives to feed. Such bear baiting is legal in many states in the United States, with the Humane Society reporting that "Bear baiting is banned in 18 of the 27 states that allow bear hunting. It persists . . . in Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. For instance, in Wisconsin in 2002, hunters killed 2,415 bears; those using bait accounted for 1,720 of the kills. In Maine, hunters killed 3,903 bears in 2001, and baiters took 3,173 of the animals.
Because the practice is time consuming and disrupts a person's daily schedule, the term "bear baiting" is sometimes used in Alaska to mean "screwing off," for example if a person is late for work or misses an appointment.
Don't see exactly how these definitions fit this situation even metaphorically but that's not important really and besides the point. Possible "flame-like" communication is something, I think, we all have a good idea about since it's been around since before the WWW existed when all there was were EBBs.
From what I could see the off track "tangent" taken,(however you wanna assess it) was dead for days by the time it was judged to be "bear bait" and a good example of what was unacceptable public dialogue subject to pillory. My point of reference in all this is Martin Buber, for what it's worth, and it's very basic: I-It dialogue is offensive and I-Thou is respectful. An example of I-It dialog, in this context, is demagoguery.. which is always intended to incite and justify the irrational in one form or another.
The subsequent handling wherein admin disagree on what measures to take precisely is a discussion that may have been better served in a IM, email or an IRC purview - that is between admin-wrp folks. But that's just MHO...
Usually, intelligent folks can resolve an uncivil exchange and at the very least agree to disagree without any further disagreeable and unseemly conduct. None us are perfect beings and "tone" misunderstandings are especially common in attempts to invoke types of humor without benefit of body language or vocal inflections in this purely text medium
In the end, to be constructive, the suggestions of making a separate proper conduct thread (expanding perhaps on what is already articulated when you join the forum) as a sticky seems reasonable as well carrying forward any discussion on the issues raised in the OT-Lounge bb.
In any case, I hope I have given no offense in any thing I have just said because that is the last thing I would want to happen.
Regards, whipper.
