Running of the Bulls - one bull scores points

[hbarcat]

Man gored to death by bull in Pamplona run

First person to be gored to death during the running of the bulls in 14 years.


Take your pick:

Associated Press
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/wo...efs-Spain.html

UK Telegraph
http://telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...plona-run.html



In case anyone was thinking about doing this, here's a caution: it's dangerous and potentially lethal to deliberately put yourself in the front row of an angry bull parade.

[taquitos43]

I jokingly tell my coworkers that they aren't actually hunting unless they go hand to hand with their prey. I think I'd draw the line at angry bulls. For them, I would allow a stick.

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by hbarcat

In case anyone was thinking about doing this, here's a caution: it's dangerous and potentially lethal to deliberately put yourself in the front row of an angry bull parade.

Rage Against the Machine was preaching this years ago.

Mike

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Granted, I'm no thrill seeker, but I've never seen the attraction of doing that.

[hbarcat]

It's my understanding that the bulls are running along a set route that takes them to the stadium where they are pretty much doomed to be killed in the traditional bullfight.

I would like to see a rule where any bull that manages to kill someone along the way is reprieved and is then allowed to spend the rest of his natural days in a quiet pasture surrounded by a harem of cows.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by hbarcat

It's my understanding that the bulls are running along a set route that takes them to the stadium where they are pretty much doomed to be killed in the traditional bullfight.

I would like to see a rule where any bull that manages to kill someone along the way is reprieved and is then allowed to spend the rest of his natural days in a quiet pasture surrounded by a harem of cows.

Seriously. I always found it quite unfair that if the bull killed the bullfighter, they kill the bull anyway. I think if the bull manages to kill the bullfighter or wound him badly enough so that the bullfighter can no longer, well, fight, he should get to live.

Hence while Rodeos, while still decried as cruel by many people, are more fair than bullfights. The bull wins most of the time, and a very successful bull (one that's almost impossible to ride) gets to retire and "stud" for the rest of his life.

As a sidenote, we had an exchange student from Spain last year, and she hates bullfights.

[vene-nemesis]

Saint Fermin "encierros" arent bullfights... and the bulls that run the "encierros" dont get to be bullfighted, at least not during the celebrations, if the owner of the bulls decides to sell his bulls for bullfighting it has nothing to do with the SF celebrations.

Its imposible to bullfight all the bulls in a week (wich is the duration of the festivities), each day 8-10 bulls run the "encierros" but none run the encierros 2 times because each pack belongs to a diferent owner, that would make 70 bulls to be bullfighted in a week, thats totally unposible.

[L-A]

Originally Posted by Sartori

Seriously. I always found it quite unfair that if the bull killed the bullfighter, they kill the bull anyway. I think if the bull manages to kill the bullfighter or wound him badly enough so that the bullfighter can no longer, well, fight, he should get to live.

Hence while Rodeos, while still decried as cruel by many people, are more fair than bullfights. The bull wins most of the time, and a very successful bull (one that's almost impossible to ride) gets to retire and "stud" for the rest of his life.

That's a very poignant way of discerning the European way of things from the American one. It's deep inside our genes, I guess.

On one side, you're defined by what you are - On the other, by what you're worth.