Hi all, I was wondering if I could get some advice or reassurance or help or whatever one one of the articles I’ve done up and has seen a whole lot of controversy, which isn’t surprising.
The How to Slaughter Cattle
article has been getting some bad rap lately with 90% of the votes complaining that it’s a “stupid topic” and the majority of complaints clearly indicating they’re coming from individuals who are anti-slaughter and anti-meat related. Either the article got spammed by some animal activist “trolls,” or there’s just a lot of people out there who really want to remain ignorant–if I dare call it that–on how livestock are slaughtered for meat. Funnily enough, though, past reviews have been positive, but this last go-round held since March, I believe, has been painful to say the least. Even worse is that an average of 10 people voted “unhelpful” (in the mobile version) with all the warnings written in that article. Yet no one, at least that I could see (because I don’t know how to see the rest of the rating reasons other than the 10 already listed and probably can’t see it as a non-Admin) mentioned any reasons why any of the warnings were unhelpful. Spammers/trolls again, or just people who don’t want to know how dangerous handling livestock and knives can be? I’ve no idea…
And I really do not want to see that article deleted. As a matter of fact, I don’t want it deleted period, because there’s literally nothing about it that would deserve it an NFD tag. But I would love to figure out a way to reduce the bad rap to the article and show how beneficial the article really is despite the fact that it is seen as “disgusting” or “sickening” by several uncomfortable with knowing how and where their meat really comes from, or even by those who have abstained from consuming meat for their own personal ethical reasons, or any other reason I haven’t thought of here. All I can do is provide rebuttals for some of the negative comments, and maybe review the article to see what needs revising and where more sources can be linked to prove that it’s an article worth keeping on wikiHow. Otherwise, I’m stuck on what to do for now.
So any suggestions or advice or whatever would be great, even if it’s some form of moral encouragement.
Thanks.
One thing that might be helpful is to avoid entering a discussion on the article discussionpage with someone who will unlikely be persuaded that the process is beneficial. This isn’t quite the same as feeding trolls, since the anonymous contributor really seems sincere in their comments, but it really doesn’t help the situation to continue an argument there.
The facts of the article stand for their self, it isn’t pretty, and it might be offensive to people, even people who don’t mind indulging in the finished product, but there doesn’t seem to be any issue that should cause concern about deletion.
A couple of the images don’t seem quite right, like the cuts for attach the gambrel, which look like they are going into the upper leg, not the lower, the one showing the guy aiming the Henry rifle (a buffalo gun from the old west, not a 22 cal as the instructions suggest), and images showing quarters hanging in the section of steps referring to the animal when it is still intact prior to skinning.
The biggest thing to remember is, when dealing with a topic that can be controversial, there will be negative comments, and negative votes on accuracy, learn to take them with a grain of salt and to appreciate other people’s views on the subject.
Is it possible, then, that some of the discussion that’s already on that discussion page should be moved somewhere else, like an archived discuss page, so that it avoids the possibility of another somewhat heated discussion to occur in the future?
Otherwise I appreciate the advice so far given, thanks.
That’s a nice article, I don’t think there are any concerns about deletion since you have followed wikihow’s policy. One concern is on the wiki-visual on the bolt-action rifle used and the way that they portray the shooter aiming. Cattle are not wild animals that have to be hunted and shot from the distance. Usually the way to slaughter cattle with a 22lr would be inches away from the animal. That way you wouldn’t miss the shot and cause unnecessary pain to the poor animal.
My father and Grandfather were Butchers and some of my 1st memories were when they still would either stab them on the heart or bleed them, Sometimes there was great commotion; such a loud & violent way the animal could cause itself and others injuries.
It will always be a controversial topic and we may not all agree, but this is the freedom that we all should have. @WildRoseBeef
don’t take it as bad rep and if you keep on improving on it.
Voltaire would say “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
