I may be wrong but i thought it was now against the law to give goldfish as prizes at fetes fairs etc due to the large amount that were dead before they even got them home we saw a few today at ecclesfield fete being carried around by kids with only a small amount of water doomed or what?

Very doomed..

As far as I know it's not yet law, but it's worth reporting the fair to the RSPCA in advance just to make sure..

I agree.

Goldfish are God's creatures and therefore should not be pawned and displayed in plastic bags in this appalling fashion.

They have just as much right (as we Homo Sapiens) and should therefore be given the vote. I would suggest, however, that a Goldfish would only be able to vote after its second Birthday as they only become mature around this age.

Sadly, I once had the deep misfortune of earning my monthly income as a goldfish inspector, and observed how sullen and down-trodden the species was becoming.

I decided to dedicate some time to observing this fascinating, cuddly creature. I wasn't disappointed.

I have managed to impress on 'Slippy' and 'Slimey' that Tony Blair is a maggot and they are going to eat him before the next General Election.

I don't see why you feel the need to mock, Sam_miguel. Just because goldfish are relatively simple creatures doesn't mean we have the right to inflict cruelty and suffering upon them for the sake of a few jollies at the fair. Animals of any variety should not be treated in this way.

Originally posted by t020
I don't see why you feel the need to mock, Sam_miguel. Just because goldfish are relatively simple creatures doesn't mean we have the right to inflict cruelty and suffering upon them for the sake of a few jollies at the fair. Animals of any variety should not be treated in this way.

Hear hear.

ANd it's also generally true (afaik) that goldies that don't get sold by the end of the fair get flushed. :(

I heard it is soon to be made illegal to give goldfish as prizes.... in my opinion the sooner the better! I think most people now realise that fish are quite capable of suffering and feeling pain, even though some people still find it convenient to deny it!

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
I agree.

Goldfish are God's creatures and therefore should not be pawned and displayed in plastic bags in this appalling fashion.

They have just as much right (as we Homo Sapiens) and should therefore be given the vote. I would suggest, however, that a Goldfish would only be able to vote after its second Birthday as they only become mature around this age.

Sadly, I once had the deep misfortune of earning my monthly income as a goldfish inspector, and observed how sullen and down-trodden the species was becoming.

I decided to dedicate some time to observing this fascinating, cuddly creature. I wasn't disappointed.

I have managed to impress on 'Slippy' and 'Slimey' that Tony Blair is a maggot and they are going to eat him before the next General Election.
It's a serious enough thread, don't use it as a vehicle take the mick, mick:nono:
On the side, I really like your weekly article on the forum, you have a journalistic talent:thumbsup:
But some of your threads/posts...

Originally posted by draggletail
It's a serious enough thread, don't use it as a vehicle take the mick, mick:nono:
On the side, I really like your weekly article on the forum, you have a journalistic talent:thumbsup:
But some of your threads/posts...

...are simply buttock-clenchingly trite and embarrassing. But we've been here many times before...

Point taken. I feel that the downing of several Stellas prior to the post in quetion may have affected the outcome of the material.

Honestly, I really did mean to make a valid point but something went badly wrong somewhee along the line.

Incidentally, I really do feel that it is cruel to pass goldfish off in this manner and the sooner it is stopped the better.

I admire your outspokenness, Mojo. it's good to say what you feel.

Actually, I feel that you should lighten up a little and cease posting such boringly verbose trash.

Try to smile.

Not totally doomed.

I have one that we won 4 years ago and it's the size of a carp now.

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
Point taken. I feel that the downing of several Stellas prior to the post in quetion may have affected the outcome of the material.

Honestly, I really did mean to make a valid point but something went badly wrong somewhee along the line.

Incidentally, I really do feel that it is cruel to pass goldfish off in this manner and the sooner it is stopped the better.

I admire your outspokenness, Mojo. it's good to say what you feel.

Actually, I feel that you should lighten up a little and cease posting such boringly verbose trash.

Try to smile.

No offence was meant, but you do rather invite these responses (eg your cringe-inducing eulogy to a hamster).

"boringly verbose trash"? Are you sure you're not confusing me with Phan?

(only kidding Phanny mate) :)

I once won a Pelican in a raffle.

I was very disappointed to learn that "Stickers" the pelican would not live at home with me, but would be staying at London Zoo and I could go and visit him if I wanted.

I went once, but it was impossible to tell which one he was, so we rather lost touch.

As for goldfish, yeah its a pretty needless practice to give live animals away as prizes, although I have seen a few, like bonny's that have outgrown their tank and lived for 12 years.

The whole trade in live fish has some pretty questionable angles, not least the habit of selling them to travelling fairs by the gallon; so that their tiny little sparks of existence may be thoughtlessly snuffed out in the name of not very entertaining entertainment.

No one would imbue goldfish with any greater sense of cohesive thinking or abstract reasoning, but they have a qualia just like any other living organism.

Although to be honest if you eat meat, why are you worrying about goldfish? ( I eat meat, and I don't worry about goldfish too much).

Verbose? moi?

Are goldfish in bags cruel? I don't know but I won one when I was a little girl and it had a very nice life thank you very much :D


I hated cleaning it's water. Incidently, why do goldfish have their poo hanging from them in long strands yuk ?

I don't suppose that they are all doomed when they are taken home.

Following on from the goldfish debate, who thinks that angling is cruel?

Originally posted by Mo
Following on from the goldfish debate, who thinks that angling is cruel?

I think angling is cruel, as is any other "sport" that consists of inflicting pain and suffering on another creature for no reason other than pleasure or sadism.

Originally posted by nikita
I may be wrong but i thought it was now against the law to give goldfish as prizes at fetes fairs etc due to the large amount that were dead before they even got them home we saw a few today at ecclesfield fete being carried around by kids with only a small amount of water doomed or what?

On the day after 300 children are killed by extremists who are trying to rid the world as we know, you worry about goldfish.

:loopy: does starting a thread about goldfish mean that you think 300 children killed was okay???

Originally posted by MobileB
On the day after 300 children are killed by extremists who are trying to rid the world as we know, you worry about goldfish.

Well, speaking for myself, I have the ability to multitask to the extent that I can be concerned with more than one thing at a time.

I used to think that this was the preserve of all human beings.

I guess it something to do with having the ability to juggle abstract concepts simultaneously, unlike goldfish or terrorists; or you, it seems.

Originally posted by MobileB
On the day after 300 children are killed by extremists who are trying to rid the world as we know,

To coin a phrase - huh??? Is it just me or does this sentence (ok part of sentence!) make no sense???

Originally posted by MobileB
On the day after 300 children are killed by extremists who are trying to rid the world as we know, you worry about goldfish. What an idiotic thing to say of course i care about those children and parents I sent my own off to school with tears in my eyes thinking about those poor children i cant do a thing about it though CAN I but i can protest about kids throwing goldfish into streams which is what i saw on sunday.

Too true nikita, i also saw kids wondering around with their goldfish prizes on sunday, fun for them but not much fun for the poor goldfish, I heard one stallholder tell a boy to take his straight home before it died from the heat, charming!!

Originally posted by MobileB
On the day after 300 children are killed by extremists who are trying to rid the world as we know, you worry about goldfish.

What a moronic statement! I think most people are capable of being upset about more than one thing. The fact that some evil extremists have committed an appalling act doesn't mean that we have to stop worrying about other acts of cruelty happening around us.

Originally posted by mojoworking
No offence was meant, but you do rather invite these responses (eg your cringe-inducing eulogy to a hamster).

"boringly verbose trash"? Are you sure you're not confusing me with Phan?

(only kidding Phanny mate) :)

No offence meant? Come on now! I find your very public, snide remarks extremely offensive and would think that a fair proportion of other forum users do, too.

'Eulogy to a hamster'? Many other forum users have commended me ( and joined in with) this ongoing saga. It is you who is has a problem, not me!

I would appreciate it in future if you kept your opinions of me and my posting away from this forum and address me in the proper manner through the PM or e mail system ( I see you have disabled your PMability!) if you have anything to say about me.

I have been over the years, and still am, a respected member of many forums and this is the first time I have ever, ever had anything directed at me in such a way and felt the need to post back in anger.

Mick