I really was questioning even adding my 2 cents here just because it seems to be a bit heated! I truely hope I don't offend anyone with my comments. I have seen strong arguements to claim either case in this thread and much more at earlier threads and other locations. This thread is so debatable because it has several different points which could be argued and seen at least in 2 different ways
1) Is "being proven by science" the end all, be all of fact? Some would say yes, some no. The big bang theory isn't proven, but is still taught to children in school as the most "probable" scenario. Different religious groups believe their way to be the truth. I'm sure at some point it was considered a fact that the world was flat. Science itself has evolved just as our understandings have evolved! Some experiments could be done with 10 separate groups of 100 random people in each group, with 1 group being a "control group". An argument could be made based on the findings (this happens almost daily at prestigious colleges), only to be "changed" when years later 1 freak occurance that disproves the original case is documented. Either way scientists are just people and science is created and adapted by people....thus FLAWED to some extent.
2) Fish not having feelings is based on a current "theory" that their neurological system doesn't have the capacity for the "pain" as it is defined in medical texts. I don't remember for sure, but I believe I read someone wrote that pain is an emotional response and that fish don't have emotions....is that right? I'm not sure if I remember exactly what was written. Sorry if I'm wrong. If this is right, then fish would not experience fear, which I believe could be strongly argued against! I fine a couple of experiences of my own interesting in light of this topic. One is when I am not paying close attention and someone acts like they are going to hit me hard, but only lightly touch me (or similar event) and I react as if hit hard....and even say "OUCH!" Seconds later I realize their was no pain involved! Second thing is how some fish that I move from tank to tank react in strange ways sometimes. First I catch them in my hands, then the thrashing around happens, then a calm comes over the fish (with possible intermittent thrashing at random), then I put them into the tank. If their sensory nerves are telling them "trouble!", then why don't they continue to thrash until it is no longer stimulated? Some fish thrash all the way to the new tank. Often times small fish will remain in the "fold of my hand when released into a new tank feeling more secure next to the "thing" that just "hurt/touched/grabbed" them! Why? If the sensor doesn't say something more than trouble or cold or hot, then they would not react this way!
Please chime in if you have some ideas on my comments. But Please.....be gentle!
-Mark