2011-09-13: The One Where I Make An Orwell Reference

[Nosy Neighbordroid]

Discussion thread for The One Where I Make An Orwell Reference

[BloodHenge]

I never did understand what part of the horse became what part of the glue, or why horses were so much better suited for it than other livestock.

[RGE]

In most western countries there's a social taboo against eating horse meat, so I guess they end up in the glue factory because that's the only thing they're good for.

[Dena]

I never did understand what part of the horse became what part of the glue

Bones, hooves, and other things made of protein. They break them down with an acid (loosening of the atomic bonds), then do some processing to turn it into adhesive.

or why horses were so much better suited for it than other livestock.

They're not. You can use pretty much any animal bone to make glue. It's just that we tend to reserve bones from other livestock for making soup bases and giving to family pets... the hides to make a good leather ...

so I guess they end up in the glue factory because that's the only thing they're good for.

But there are other countries where it is acceptable, and the processors will ship overseas...

[Tiamat]

so I guess they end up in the glue factory because that's the only thing they're good for.

But there are other countries where it is acceptable, and the processors will ship overseas...

Horses are also bigger than a lot of other livestock, so you get more bang for your buck. And yeah, if you ship the horses overseas they'll strip the bones, make them into glue, and sell the meat to butchers shops nearby and the hides to tanners.

[DatDude]

HaHAHa take that stupid pony's ! Your goddess is horrid and vengful so face her horned wrath!

I hated this show so much and if not for my 4 year old niece id have found something better to watch poe thank you for pony vengeance!

[Dena]

And yeah, if you ship the horses overseas they'll strip the bones, make them into glue, and sell the meat to butchers shops nearby and the hides to tanners.

Not counting the stuff that is ground down to turn into filler and binder.

[BloodHenge]

In most western countries there's a social taboo against eating horse meat

That's because they're draft animals, a form of production capital. Pretty much anywhere you go, there's a taboo against eating animals traditionally used to pull a plow, cart, or sled, because it implies you have no choice because you've failed at whatever you ought to be doing for a living (usually farming, more than a couple hundred years ago). Also, any horse you eat this year can't pull a plow/cart/sleigh next year, so you're also setting yourself up to fail in the future. (If you have enough horses to eat some without impacting your work, you could sell them instead and buy more socially acceptable food animals.)

[Tiamat]

That's because they're draft animals, a form of production capital. Pretty much anywhere you go, there's a taboo against eating animals traditionally used to pull a plow, cart, or sled, because it implies you have no choice because you've failed at whatever you ought to be doing for a living (usually farming, more than a couple hundred years ago). Also, any horse you eat this year can't pull a plow/cart/sleigh next year, so you're also setting yourself up to fail in the future. (If you have enough horses to eat some without impacting your work, you could sell them instead and buy more socially acceptable food animals.)

While this is generally true, it doesn't apply to the Jewish tradition of not eating pork. I've always wondered about that... maybe an unintended side effect of an over-broad proscription? (Since camels, horses, and oxen are clovenfooted as well)

[Anthony]

While this is generally true, it doesn't apply to the Jewish tradition of not eating pork. I've always wondered about that... maybe an unintended side effect of an over-broad proscription? (Since camels, horses, and oxen are clovenfooted as well)

Or it might just be for protection from trichinosis, if someone actually noticed the link somehow.