compromising your morals... mmm, delicious

I was talking to a friend about a friend of hers whose father happens to be something like a rich government official type person in China. My friend was telling me that her friend's father was one of those people who ate panda.

Let's think about that for a second. Even if you don't know much about pandas, you know that they are pretty cute and pretty rare. I personally have beef with pandas but let's put that aside for now. The point is that they are very close to extinction and everybody knows that.

You may be wondering 'does panda taste good?', which exactly what I asked. But this is besides the point also. How good does panda have to taste for you to eat an animal so publicly in danger? I thought about it and figured there are three possible reasons.

1. Panda tastes really good

2. Some people are just douches who eat panda as a delicacy simply because it is rare

3. This guy must be around the kind of people who want to know if he would compromise his morals for them. 

Whether it is true or not, this third is the most interesting to me. Maybe eating panda is a signal that he is willing to follow the crowd no matter how distasteful the activity.He will keep their secret because they  are keeping his... This seems like the kind of bond that would come in handy as a business man or  Chinese government official.

There are many things people try to get you to do, not because the activity itself is intrinsically fun or meaningful, but because it signals the kind of person you are. Most people are more comfortable knowing that you are like them. So you can't judge them, perhaps. Like when drinkers feel uncomfortable around non-drinkers. They love getting that person to take a drink. Or streakers wanting other people streak... or anything really. It's interesting.