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Exploring the Ethics of Recreational Cruelty: A Call for Compassion
by Lauro Amezcua-Patino, MD, FAPA and Vincent Perez-Mazzola
In recent years, a troubling phenomenon has emerged in society, one that challenges our understanding of entertainment and ethical boundaries: recreational cruelty. This term encompasses various activities where individuals derive pleasure or amusement from inflicting harm or suffering on animals or other humans. Whether it is bullfighting, cockfighting, trophy hunting, or even online “pranks” that involve distressing others, recreational cruelty raises profound questions about our values as a society and our treatment of living beings.
In the age of Trumpism and MAGA, recreational cruelty has risen to a level of professionalism. To be cruel, is the point for Trump and many of his followers. It reflects the weakness within him and them. They use it to elevate themselves, because they have no other way to do so. They have never out performed or out thought those around them so they must simply put them down to feel more powerful.
The practice of recreational cruelty often stems from a combination of factors, including cultural traditions, societal norms, and individual attitudes towards animals and other humans. In some cases, these activities are deeply ingrained in certain cultures, passed down through generations as a…