Bettas Fighting On Youtube

[jollysue]

I wouldn't like the bull fights either.

Betta fighting is legal in the States and does not come under the cruelty to animal statutes, last I heard. I know the SE Asian communities in my area do have Betta fighting and gambling.

 

[Ravenwing]

I believe betta fighting is illegal in the states actually....for example, if a petstore employee caught people fighting the betta fish he/she can call the cops and get them involved.

I'm pretty sure it's not as inforced as say, dog fighting. And yes Korki Buchek it is a misdemeanor to attend dog fights AND cock fights.

Okay to help everyone out, yes You Tube does have a "report offensive content" button next to the videos and from there "Terms of Service - You Tube"

In connection with User Submissions, you further agree that you will not: (i) submit material that is copyrighted, protected by trade secret or otherwise subject to third party proprietary rights, including privacy and publicity rights, unless you are the owner of such rights or have permission from their rightful owner to post the material and to grant YouTube all of the license rights granted herein; (ii) publish falsehoods or misrepresentations that could damage YouTube or any third party; (iii) submit material that is unlawful, obscene, defamatory, libelous, threatening, pornographic, harassing, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive, or encourages conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, violate any law, or is otherwise inappropriate; etc....

Even better: http/www.youtube.com/t/community_guidelines

Don't post videos showing dangerous or illegal acts, like animal abuse or bomb making.

So to make a long story short anyone wanna help me get these things off of YouTube???

 

[little_betta_boy]

HECK YESS!! I can't believe they're doin that!! Can you like...E-mail the owner person of you-tube or something?!

I'd rather watch someone cut they're guts out!!

SiMoN

 

[little_betta_boy]

OMG!! I went to watch one of those videos to see how bad it was!! AAAHH!! I'm scarred for life!! After 7 seconds i had to close it!! THAT'S SO CRUEL!! Wow...!!

SiMoN

MOD EDIT
Please refrain from swearing on the forum

 

[catxx]

i sent a message to their customer services, everyone should do the same. the videos have to be approved before they're posted right? shocking.

 

[jollysue]

I say, again, that from previous discussions of this subject, it is my understanding that Betta fighting is not illegal in the States. Obviously, if someone puts a petstore's fish in to fight a petstore's fish that is damaging the store's property, and so the perpetrator is then liabel to the store and can be arrested. It would be like stealing.

Fish are not treated the same under the law as other pets. That's why they can be shipped by mail. Try shipping your dog by USPS. Do a google or ask wuv by PM. If I'm incorrect, I'll appologize.

 

[Korki Buchek]

I just looked up the law for California. It looks like the term "animal" includes "any dumb creature" which can mean mammals, fish, fowl, amphibian, woman, gypsy, etc. (I keed, I keed).

I can't find anything where they explicitly prevent Betta fighting, but I don't see an explicit exception either.

 

[Ravenwing]

It is set up by state I believe...some states include "All Animals", others unfortunatly do not. (Checked on the Humane Societies website) Even so, considering the content is offensive, I don't see why we can't check with YouTube to see what they have to say.

Update:
Sweet! Apparently we can at least mark them for "18 and older" Which isn't the best, but it's better then nothing right??? (I just found one that I was attempting to find an example of, and that's the warning notice I recieved.

When I get home I'm going to be seeing if there's more I can suggest and perhaps try contacting YouTube directly and see if they're willing to do anything else.

 

[Korki Buchek]

Also I agree with GuppyDude when he says that American Betta fighting is worse. I went to Youtube and looked up betta fight, some highlights were"WWF" "Royal Rumble" "Cool Badass Betta Fight" "Bloods vs. Crips" and other idiotic stuff. These people ought to be placed in a jam jar with a live pitbull. Most of these "fights" involve petco style veiltails that have clearly not been trained for fighting or well cared for.

I knew a Cambodian guy in college that used to breed Plakat in his dorm room. He filled the entire room with tanks and small jars and stuff. He told me, basically, that they would condition and train the fish for two or three weeks and then let them fight for only a few minutes before one was clearly losing. Then they would separate the fish in order to prevent injury. He said that the losing fish would be treated until it was healthy and then either kept as a pet or given away. While not fighting them at all seems like the best case, I don't find this style as offensive as "Dude, I totally bought two betta's from petco yesterday, you wanna put them together and see which one kills the other." Worse are people that throw two in together at the fish store and then leave. I've even seen at petco that someone had dropped a live goldfish in with a betta. Again, small jar, live pitbull for these people.

 

[matty101]

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES.............AND YESSSSSS

THIS PEOPLE SHOULD BE CONDOMED FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING. It's not only immoral, it's insane. No one would wan tto be caged up and fight a tiger so why would they do that to fish? They think bettas are the gum under your shoe in the fish and animal world and they believe they have the rights to have them face off?!Heck no! I propose a petition, which would be emailed and sent to YouTube headquarters to complain. I'm going to make another topic that is the signing itself. This topic however, styas as is.

 

[Nick Bramley]

MOD EDIT For inappropriate use of language

 

[jollysue]

I've been poking around, and it seems you are correct: it is animal cruelty in CA and most states. In Florida it is a felony, but in most states it is a misdemeanor.

So: I appologize.

 

[K.J.]

I'm, for the post part, against it.

However, I'm only against what YouTube is promoting - unexperienced fighting, and often longfinned bettas. If the bettas aren't fatally wounded and can be cared for after, I don't see harm in it.. but I doubt that is happening with those videos. However, I don't agree with the no offense policy being incorporated - something is going to be offensive to some people while others love it, and though I do think it's encouraging unexperienced teenagers to do it, there really isn't anything we can sufficiently do.

 

[jollysue]

Assuming then that Betta fighting is illegal in California, YouTube has no business promoting it in any form.

 

[LouiseRat]

so lets all get contacting youtube and get this cruelty removed from their site