OCTOPUSES ARE SO SENSIBLE THAT THEY CAN FEEL PAIN A LOT OF TIMES MORE WORST THAN HUMANS
Not that I think eating a creature who has Theory Of Mind (although the jury is still out on the matter) is a good thing, but how in the hell do you even quantify that? I have doubts.
I like squid better anyway.
I think it's because their tentacles are about ten times more sensitive to touch than human fingers are, so it goes to show they'd feel pain much more clearly than we do. Don't quote me on this though, my memory is lacking :P
Mmm, pretty certain in humans at least pain and touch are handled by different neural pathways, even though they utilize the same nerves. So how sensitive they are to touch doesn't mean they're more sensitive to pain, it depends a lot on how their neural pathways interpret it. Given an octopus can pretty easily regrow an arm, it seems likely they have a different relationship to amputation pain than mammals.
Either way, octopuses DO feel pain. Boiling or chopping up a live octopus is just as cruel as doing the same to a puppy, lobster, fish, bird, or a human. Yes, even crustaceans feel pain. They also experience pain, excitement, and happiness. It's an established fact.
https://munchies.vice.com/en/articles/how-an-octopus-feels-when-its-eaten-alive
EDIT*
Fudge, I didn't read the chapter until just now! I know this is fiction, but that octopus would have been absolutely terrified and in extreme pain! That's just messed up.
last edited at Sep 2, 2016 3:54PM