Fur Coats - Yes or no?

[Judas]

Recently, a lot of high profile celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, to name a few, have been getting harsh criticism by organisations like PETA, the public and their peers for wearing real fur coats.



"Tell PETA my mink is dragging on the floor" - Kanye West's 'Cold'

Of course the debate of fur in fashion has been going on for a LONG time, but it's one that I have never really thought about. I used to conditionally think it was bad to wear real fur in the name of animal rights etc, but the recent attention and debate surrounding celebrities I am a great admirer of (Kanye and Gaga) has made me question what I really think about the matter.

I expect most will say it's bad and cruel to animals, and so did I. But then I thought of the leather that covers my couch and is used to make my shoes and belts, the woolly jumpers many of us wear in winter time and the ivory used to put the keys on my piano. Not to mention all the food I eat from animals every single day.

So I can't help but question my initial beliefs now with one question... what's the difference? Is it just that we've been led by the media to believe that fur coats are bad and wrong, or is it a deep rooted sense of jealousy because those coats are so expensive that most of us will likely never afford one? I mean, we're happy enough to support stores like Primark by purchasing cheap clothes that are made by starving children in awful conditions in third world countries. It's just hypocritical, isn't it?

This is not intended to be a debate about any celebrities in particular, nor about PETA. Of course these things and people can and should be used as examples to support your argument, but we are talking about the principle of wearing fur in general.

[Inseriousity.]

I don't really have anything against wearing them but I think a better question is why would you want to, they look terrible, the picture in your original post being exhibit A, B and C.

[Judas]

I don't really have anything against wearing them but I think a better question is why would you want to, they look terrible, the picture in your original post being exhibit A, B and C.

Lol I agree, except I don't think Kanye's is so bad. It's definitely a status symbol on the most part.

[Futz]

I don't think you should wear fur coats in this day and age where they are now just a fashion statement and there are better alternatives that dont cost the lives of animals.

In the olden days I think it's fine though where they were killed and worn for warmth but theres no need to anymore, all three people mentioned above are just prats with money, it wouldnt be so bad if they went out and killed the animals by themselves but they don't so screw them all

[-:Undertaker:-]

If you don't want a fur coat either because you disagree with them (why exactly? you eat meat) or simply think they look awful - then don't buy one.

It is as simple as that, meanwhile if I want to strut around in my baby seal skin jacket then so what? living in a free society means people will do things that you may not exactly agree with.

[Mentor]

I'm pretty meh on the issue since it essentially just revolves around people being worried about the cute fluffy animals. If we are going to eat meat & use products such a leather, its hard to form a valid reason as to why we should draw the line at fur?

[dirrty]

i don't care (unless the animal is endangered). i couldn't argue against fur coats whilst my various leather shoes are in my bedroom...

[Judas]

I don't think you should wear fur coats in this day and age where they are now just a fashion statement and there are better alternatives that dont cost the lives of animals.

In the olden days I think it's fine though where they were killed and worn for warmth but theres no need to anymore, all three people mentioned above are just prats with money, it wouldnt be so bad if they went out and killed the animals by themselves but they don't so screw them all

Are you a vegan? If no, then do you run out and kill the animals you eat yourself? Do you have any clothing made from leather? Did you go kill those cows yourself?

---------- Post added 18-08-2012 at 10:00 PM ----------

i don't care (unless the animal is endangered). i couldn't argue against fur coats whilst my various leather shoes are in my bedroom...

good point

---------- Post added 18-08-2012 at 10:04 PM ----------

If you don't want a fur coat either because you disagree with them (why exactly? you eat meat) or simply think they look awful - then don't buy one.

It is as simple as that, meanwhile if I want to strut around in my baby seal skin jacket then so what? living in a free society means people will do things that you may not exactly agree with.

I'm not sure if your post is directed at me personally, and if so then I will simply assume you didn't read my original post.

But what you have said is quite obvious, the point of this thread is for people to discuss those differing views about the morals involved in fur coats - that is what this section of the forum is for isn't it?

[Futz]

Are you a vegan? If no, then do you run out and kill the animals you eat yourself? Do you have any clothing made from leather? Did you go kill those cows yourself?

We need food to live, we don't need fur to live. I don't think I have any real leather products since I'm not a rich man but a lot of the leather that comes from cows are ones that are mainly being killed for thier meat, so if it's already dead you may as well make the most of the carcas

[Judas]

We need food to live, we don't need fur to live. I don't think I have any real leather products since I'm not a rich man but a lot of the leather that comes from cows are ones that are mainly being killed for thier meat, so if it's already dead you may as well make the most of the carcas

You're correct, we need food to live. However, we don't need meat to live. We could survive being vegans, so if you're going to complain that animals killed for fur are killed because of humans being greedy and selfish, aren't we doing the same by killing them for their meat when really we don't actually need to eat it?