Risks at Running of the bulls.. worth it?
Jul 12th, 2011, 11:36 AM
#22
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Adu
I think you are a long way from the British sense of humour....and I don't think I said that I wanted any regulation of San Fermin.
"And it is good that this was not on the lounge, since the entire discussion would have shifted to the treatment of bulls"
It is always interesting that some value the rights of bulls over the rights of innocent human beings in Guantanamo. Thye banned fox hunting here, good luck with bull fighting/running.
I think you are a long way from the British sense of humour....and I don't think I said that I wanted any regulation of San Fermin.
"And it is good that this was not on the lounge, since the entire discussion would have shifted to the treatment of bulls"
It is always interesting that some value the rights of bulls over the rights of innocent human beings in Guantanamo. Thye banned fox hunting here, good luck with bull fighting/running.
Jul 12th, 2011, 11:40 AM
#23
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Sometimes I wonder how these events can take place when every single year inevitably someone dies, becomes a paraplegic or is seriously injured.>
To me the worst abuse is to the bulls themselves - not only do they later get maimed and die a druel death in the ring but their frenzied run thru the street is sheer animal abuse as well.
And anyone who supports this either by attending, watching, etc is also guilty of supporting horrible animal abuse.
Yes when will this bloody thing end - I feel more sorry for the bulls than the stupid humans running with them - at least they had a choice to do so - culling of the herd so to speak IMO of the human casualties.
To me the worst abuse is to the bulls themselves - not only do they later get maimed and die a druel death in the ring but their frenzied run thru the street is sheer animal abuse as well.
And anyone who supports this either by attending, watching, etc is also guilty of supporting horrible animal abuse.
Yes when will this bloody thing end - I feel more sorry for the bulls than the stupid humans running with them - at least they had a choice to do so - culling of the herd so to speak IMO of the human casualties.
Jul 12th, 2011, 12:14 PM
#24
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When I was in the Basque country 2 years ago someone was killed during San Fermin and it was played over and over on tv for days. If a death or paralysis occurs during a festival I can't imagine what could be worse. Those things can really kill a party. Is it worth it? Absolutely not. I would agree that foreigners doing it seem like a-holes, making it more dangerous for the locals for whom it's part of their culture, and who grow up being taught the "safe" ways of doing it.
Jul 12th, 2011, 01:04 PM
#25
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Modern day people seem to get disturbed by an archaic presence of death or danger.
The assumed cruelty against a dozen bulls in Northern Spain is an issue to get morally aroused, while a good billion people on both sides of the pond enjoy millions of pounds of sanitized, sterile, packaged slices of beef or pork, before they get into their sedans or SUVs to kill more people in one month than all bulls in the last centuries.
The assumed cruelty against a dozen bulls in Northern Spain is an issue to get morally aroused, while a good billion people on both sides of the pond enjoy millions of pounds of sanitized, sterile, packaged slices of beef or pork, before they get into their sedans or SUVs to kill more people in one month than all bulls in the last centuries.
Jul 12th, 2011, 01:47 PM
#26
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I think you are a long way from the British sense of humour
Yes it truly ironic I missed the irony. It could be because we do need another "u" in humor.
____
It is always interesting that some value the rights of bulls over the rights of innocent human beings in Guantanamo.
That is an inflammatory as an American saying to a Brit that they are more interested in the life of a fox than Irish Catholics. (See this week's Orange Parade. Ironic that it occurs at the same time as San Fermin.)
Yes it truly ironic I missed the irony. It could be because we do need another "u" in humor.
____
It is always interesting that some value the rights of bulls over the rights of innocent human beings in Guantanamo.
That is an inflammatory as an American saying to a Brit that they are more interested in the life of a fox than Irish Catholics. (See this week's Orange Parade. Ironic that it occurs at the same time as San Fermin.)
Jul 13th, 2011, 05:21 AM
#27
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Running the bulls is worth it if you count yourself amongst the safe. I have been at the running in a Castilian town, I did not run, but watched from the boards. You dont realise what a bull is till you see him close, and feel the ground actually tremble when they pass. One of the problems in Pamplona is that a lot of people are drunk, something you would not do before climbing or painting your house.
Amazing that Camino del Rey video, thanks. I live near and they are talking about repairing it. It was built when the dams in early XX century, a convenient shortcut for people living in the area. Just imagine walking it and facing somebody coming on a donkey.
Amazing that Camino del Rey video, thanks. I live near and they are talking about repairing it. It was built when the dams in early XX century, a convenient shortcut for people living in the area. Just imagine walking it and facing somebody coming on a donkey.
Jul 13th, 2011, 10:18 AM
#29
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"That is an inflammatory as an American saying to a Brit that they are more interested in the life of a fox than Irish Catholics. (See this week's Orange Parade. Ironic that it occurs at the same time as San Fermin"
No it isn't.
1. It wasn't aimed at Americans it was aimed at human beings. Britain was complicit with America.
2. Most of this week's Orange march violence was instigated by young thugs looking for a riot. Most of Britain doesn't give two tosses about young thugs and can't see why the Northern Irish police just din't round them all up and arrest them as they would in London at an anti whatever protest.
and please don't post again you are clearly looking for a scrap and quite frankly I can't be bothered.
Josele
Where in Andalucia? We have stayed in Alora a few times and love the area, although over 20 years it has become far more touristy since the motorway was built. Friends had a farm between Alora and El Chorro I used to take an hour to get from Malaga. Now it is about 20 minutes.
Some of the locals teased me to go up when I was 22. It is one of the few occasions in life that I have declined a dare.
It is impossible to describe the Camino del Rey. It is bad enough to consider the journey if the path was 100% safe. Knowing it is falling apart adds the extra edge that you just don't get with other walks.
No it isn't.
1. It wasn't aimed at Americans it was aimed at human beings. Britain was complicit with America.
2. Most of this week's Orange march violence was instigated by young thugs looking for a riot. Most of Britain doesn't give two tosses about young thugs and can't see why the Northern Irish police just din't round them all up and arrest them as they would in London at an anti whatever protest.
and please don't post again you are clearly looking for a scrap and quite frankly I can't be bothered.
Josele
Where in Andalucia? We have stayed in Alora a few times and love the area, although over 20 years it has become far more touristy since the motorway was built. Friends had a farm between Alora and El Chorro I used to take an hour to get from Malaga. Now it is about 20 minutes.
Some of the locals teased me to go up when I was 22. It is one of the few occasions in life that I have declined a dare.
It is impossible to describe the Camino del Rey. It is bad enough to consider the journey if the path was 100% safe. Knowing it is falling apart adds the extra edge that you just don't get with other walks.
Jul 13th, 2011, 10:26 AM
#30
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Humpty
You are falling off the wall. The usual British dismissive disregard for Irish Catholics. They are merely thugs. But the prisioners in Gitmo are all upstanding citizens who actualy were misunderstood acolytes of Mother Teresa.
I actually have opposed Gitmo from day one and I was three blocks from the Trade Center when it was attacked and saw the second plane hit and my building was twice engulfed by human remains and dust.
But I am reaching.
You are falling off the wall. The usual British dismissive disregard for Irish Catholics. They are merely thugs. But the prisioners in Gitmo are all upstanding citizens who actualy were misunderstood acolytes of Mother Teresa.
I actually have opposed Gitmo from day one and I was three blocks from the Trade Center when it was attacked and saw the second plane hit and my building was twice engulfed by human remains and dust.
But I am reaching.
Jul 14th, 2011, 02:03 AM
#33
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I started running with the bulls in the 70's and finally retried in 2006. There were several close calls over the years but nothing serious. As far as most of the regular runners are concerned, the danger lies in the novice runner, those who know nothing about running "with the bulls", or the fiesta, and have been drinking all night.
16 have died since 1922, but a number have been seriously injured, some by the bulls, others by runners not knowing what they are doing. And of course there are the fools like the young Australian who was gored in the bullring this year on the first day. He was stupid in citing the bull and is lucky to be alive, thanks to the outstanding care and skill of those who saved his life. But this sort of incident seems to happen every year after a night of drinking, and not knowing or following the rules.
16 have died since 1922, but a number have been seriously injured, some by the bulls, others by runners not knowing what they are doing. And of course there are the fools like the young Australian who was gored in the bullring this year on the first day. He was stupid in citing the bull and is lucky to be alive, thanks to the outstanding care and skill of those who saved his life. But this sort of incident seems to happen every year after a night of drinking, and not knowing or following the rules.
Jul 14th, 2011, 02:49 AM
#35
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I'd love to walk the Camino del Rey - after restoration!
I understand why people like to do risky activities and I don't think that anyone else has the right to stop grown adults taking these decisions for themselves. Yes, it's dangerous to run the bulls, but so is crossing the road.
People need to make informed decisions though - let the tourists see a bull up close first - and they could regulate against drinking alcohol beforehand, as some idiots just don't know what's good for them. Someone who grew up in a town, has never seen a cow let alone a bull, and spent the night before boozing their head off doesn't understand what they are doing well enough to make an informed decision. Have a penned bull at the registration point and they'd probably cut the tourist runners numbers down by half. Breathalise anyone who appears drunk before running and again you'd knock out the idiots.
I understand why people like to do risky activities and I don't think that anyone else has the right to stop grown adults taking these decisions for themselves. Yes, it's dangerous to run the bulls, but so is crossing the road.
People need to make informed decisions though - let the tourists see a bull up close first - and they could regulate against drinking alcohol beforehand, as some idiots just don't know what's good for them. Someone who grew up in a town, has never seen a cow let alone a bull, and spent the night before boozing their head off doesn't understand what they are doing well enough to make an informed decision. Have a penned bull at the registration point and they'd probably cut the tourist runners numbers down by half. Breathalise anyone who appears drunk before running and again you'd knock out the idiots.
Jul 14th, 2011, 02:53 AM
#36
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oops finished too soon there.
Many people don't understand what seems obvious to others. That this could kill them.
(Just got back from a volunteering holiday where half my time is spent yelling at visitors to stop them doing something stupid/dangerous/suicidal, like letting a small boy swing a sharp wood axe over his head while dad takes a photo, like stepping right in front of a 2 ton horse and cart rig that CANNOT stop abruptly, like continuing to tease an animal that is clearly right about to bite a chunk out of them out of annoyance, people stepping directly over cooking fires. Some people seem to think the whole world is just an image on a TV screen and nothing is real enough any more to hurt them.)
Many people don't understand what seems obvious to others. That this could kill them.
(Just got back from a volunteering holiday where half my time is spent yelling at visitors to stop them doing something stupid/dangerous/suicidal, like letting a small boy swing a sharp wood axe over his head while dad takes a photo, like stepping right in front of a 2 ton horse and cart rig that CANNOT stop abruptly, like continuing to tease an animal that is clearly right about to bite a chunk out of them out of annoyance, people stepping directly over cooking fires. Some people seem to think the whole world is just an image on a TV screen and nothing is real enough any more to hurt them.)
Jul 14th, 2011, 07:47 AM
#37
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culling the herd for sure - both the bulls and folks trampeled or gored - I will always root for the bulls in this blatant animal abuse as bull fighting in general is and like Catalona soon I hope that all of Spain will ban these medieval bloodbaths.
Jul 14th, 2011, 09:39 AM
#38
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nona is spot on.
You discover so much "suicidal" in everyday people's behaviour. Being away from daily routine seems to boost this kind of behaviour IMO.
Baggage claim = perfect playground.
I have to check luggage quite often and always wonder how many parents let their (often really) small kids play on the conveyor belts while they don't run yet.
Group of 6 or more = always priority
Would you cross a busy four-lane city street with traffic approaching when there is no pedestrian crossing? Of course not.
But if people are in a group, and the first guys were able to cross the street safely, the rest will follow like lemmings regardless that in the meantime a 40-ton truck comes down the road.
I want to ride my bicycle...
and that 100-ton tram/streetcar will be able to stop on a dime.
The local transport authority runs ads that warns cyclists (and pedestrians) not to play chicken with trams because they need some time to come to a full stop. Who would have thought that?!
Railway crossings, barriers down, red stop lights flashing. But maybe my Ford Focus can outrun that train approaching at 120mph.. maybe not.
When I hear those stories or witness that kind of behaviour, I almost think that running the bulls is a sensible activity.
You discover so much "suicidal" in everyday people's behaviour. Being away from daily routine seems to boost this kind of behaviour IMO.
Baggage claim = perfect playground.
I have to check luggage quite often and always wonder how many parents let their (often really) small kids play on the conveyor belts while they don't run yet.
Group of 6 or more = always priority
Would you cross a busy four-lane city street with traffic approaching when there is no pedestrian crossing? Of course not.
But if people are in a group, and the first guys were able to cross the street safely, the rest will follow like lemmings regardless that in the meantime a 40-ton truck comes down the road.
I want to ride my bicycle...
and that 100-ton tram/streetcar will be able to stop on a dime.
The local transport authority runs ads that warns cyclists (and pedestrians) not to play chicken with trams because they need some time to come to a full stop. Who would have thought that?!
Railway crossings, barriers down, red stop lights flashing. But maybe my Ford Focus can outrun that train approaching at 120mph.. maybe not.
When I hear those stories or witness that kind of behaviour, I almost think that running the bulls is a sensible activity.
Very friendly staff and great parties you'll never remember! It was a great experience, no risks at all... only fun!
