That's ok. I enjoyed reading why it worked for you and I have a better understanding why you liked it : ) I didn't dislike the article, it is well written (not that I'd be able to recognise good literature if it hit me on the face) but as a vegan it feels like it sits on the fence of abuse. I wonder if the author would've taken the same neutral stance if he was writing about a more commonly recognizable kind of discrimination/abuse such as rape or racism. It feels like he took the politically safe approach in an attempt not to alienate his readers. But the biggest disappointment to me is that by being neutral he comes across balanced on a subject where balance doesn't exist! And that misrepresents the victims. Still I appreciate that such writing exists and speaks to someone out here.
Apparently the article was considered quite controversial. I'm in agreement with you though in that I don't feel it is at all. It puzzles me a little that according to what I've read the article caused quite a stir. I guess my favorite part about it is that I am sure the editor meant for DFW to come back with an article about the fair and how delicious it was and the experience of the fair (I mean this is Gourmet magazine, right) - and instead he came back telling the story of the lobster. The fair is basically a back-drop to the lobsters. I think that approach at least shows the lobsters some - respect. Regard. More consideration than usual, anyway. I like lobsters as animals. I tend to like sea creatures. It makes me sad that lobsters can live indefinitely in the ocean, to massive sizes, except that we've fished them so much that there are few giant lobsters and there will be fewer in the future too I'm sure. I think that we live in a world whose natural quality, beauty, and diversity has been and continues to be declining at a depressing clip. I think that we are the ones responsible for that. I think it is more than a shame that the children of the future will live in a more diminished world, and yet think it is something satisfying and wonderful. I would like there to be monstrous lobsters.