Homestar Runner Wiki Forum

What I fail to understand is the WHY of vegetarianism. I just can't understand why someone would do that to him/herself.

Obviously, humans evolved to eat meat. It's no longer necessary, true, but I just don't see any reason not to eat meat, other than health issues.

_________________
beep beep I'm a Jeep

Ethical reasons. Plenty of vegetarians became vegetarians because they're ethically opposed to killing animals for food.

_________________

I think people just like animals. I like them too, but that's no reason to stop eating meat.

Those cute animals vegetarians refuse to eat eat, each other. You're not contributing to less world suffering in any way. I know some of you have taught yourself to think "meat is disgusting", but really, there's no point.

Those 'horrible conditions' people often refer to are no longer the norn. They don't just shred them up while they're alive. They're on sedatives most of the time they spend on transport to and in the slaughter house, and before processing (at least what I know) they're killed in an instant (I believe a metal pin shot though their tiny brains). Don't worry about them.

On the other hand, eating at McDonalds should be discouraged for a completely different reason: it's NOT meat. I dunno WHAT it is, but it's disgusting

Raising then killing animals for food and growing crops are what made humans the advanced species that we are. If we hadn't founded the basics of agriculture, well, we'd still be hunting (for food, not for sport). Although animals are treated badly, the main problem is the subsidies that the government pays farmers and herders to "get rid" of the extra food. It's not that we have too much, it's that we waste it. So get angry at the government for supporting this behavior, not at your tenderloin.

_________________

They actually 'get rid' of the stuff by dumping it in the Third World. But that's a matter for a completely different debate thread.

Oh, I don't just refuse to eat "cute" animals. If it's an animal, I won't eat it, no matter how ugly it is. And in my opinion, it's a fine reason to stop eating meat. Like I said, you don't have to stop, but if you have a right to eat meat, I have a right to not eat meat.

And yes, animals eat other animals. That's different--they can't survive without meat, at least not without a variety of health problems. Humans can live without it.

_________________

Hey, I don't think cows or pigs are cute. I think they're big, dumb, and ugly... and so are many people at my school. Humans are animals too, and alot less cute than rabbits.

If I stopped you from feeling any pain, would it make it okay to eat you? Not in my book. This is another reason why I don't eat meat. I certainly wouldn't want to be on that hamburger bun.

There's one MASSIVE difference between humans and animals; humans are sentient, animals are stupid.

I see no problem with killing an animal that has no sense of self.

And come now, let's be honest; What is the purpose of pigs? They serve no useful purpose other than as food, except for maybe hunting out truffles.

_________________
beep beep I'm a Jeep

Who says animals aren't sentient? They all have their own distinct personalities and preferences. And while not all animals are all that intelligent, there are quite a few animals that are quite smart. Pigs, for example, are quite intelligent. Same thing with dolphins, gorillas (coughKOKOcough), and some breeds of dog.

(I must add, I do find pigs and cows to be cute. But I don't find adult chickens all that cute, and I'm just as opposed to eating them.)

_________________

Of course animals are aware. And they're just as ruthless as we are. Give your cute pet cat a mouse and in time it will devour it, and play with it's corpse. That happens.

I don't see why we should be the species acting all nice if the rest doesn't care

Yes, cats kill mice. Like I said, they need meat to survive, and they've evolved to act the way they do--it may seem cruel to some of us, but they're just following instincts. It's a completely different thing, when you think about it. No, they don't care, but if they did, chances are their species would've died out by now--it's necessary for them to eat meat, so they will, and they'll think nothing of it.

_________________

Thus: if animals can be cruel, so can we. Thus... *eats a hamburger*

That's not what I'm saying at all. I never called animals "cruel". I said that it can seem cruel to us, but that it's entirely based on instincts.

_________________

Human instinct is also to eat meat. We're programmed that way. It's the way our species evolved. We're supposed to eat meat. Animals killing and eating other animals is not cruel, it's just the way life works.

_________________
beep beep I'm a Jeep

You point out that we're smarter than animals. Then you say we should follow our instincts like the animals we are.

Yes, we are smarter than animals. Some animals are smarter than others. The thing about humans is we have morals.

You have the right to think it's okay to eat animals, and I have to right to think it is not. It all comes down to who we are as individuals. Because we are human, our personalities are developed enough to do so.

That's why we eat meat!

Wow... Someone recognizing the right of people with opposing opinions to have those opinions.. We don't like your type here on the interweb!!

Seriously, though, if more of the vegetarians I've been exposed to were of the same opinion as you, I'd probably feel better about the whole idea..

_________________
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.

Ok, Here's my two cents:

What on earth would all the meat (beef cows, dairy cows, chickens) do if we let them all go? They would just mosey around eating stuff, getting really fat. I believe it would be crueler to let them all go free into the wild. All the carnivorous animals would take advantage of these slow fat animals and drive them to extinction. They are dependent on us. Also, I think God may have made these domestic animals for our consumption. They reproduce quickly, they provide a great source of food, and they aren't very loveable, like dogs and sometimes cats (I hate cats). But seriously, what would these animals do without us? We wouldn't want them as pets, would we? I've never heard of PETA until today, and knowing that such a horrendous organization exists is going to give me nightmares.

Actually, if you take into account longhorns, mustangs, razorbacks, and other forms of domesticated life that went wild, the animals might have a rough time, but they will eventually adjust to wild life.
But I agree with you on one point..PETA can be really extreme.
However, there always needs to be checks and moderators, and checks on those as well, so that everything doesn't get completely out of hand.

However, I still like meat, and no matter what you say will I stop eating it. Humans are omnivores, so yes, they can live on just vegetables, but it is a much more difficult time getting proteins and enzyme-builders without meat. If you observe bears in an area where wildlife is sparse, they will eat vegetables and lose a lot of bulk. But they are just fine. I have no problem with vegetarians (I went out with one for quite some time)...just don't ostracize me when I want my t-bone!

_________________

Would you eat a human that was born with a mental disorder that caused him or her to have no sense of self?

_________________

Of course not. I wouldn't eat ANY human.

All humans are members of a sentient species. That sets us apart from animals, no matter how disabled you are.

_________________
beep beep I'm a Jeep

I don't think humans are tasty. SO that's probably why we don't eat them. But we likely would if we had no food. *John is eaten*

How do you know this? I wouldn't put biting past you, but that's not cooked...

The first civilized humans were hunter-gatherers. Then came the farming livestyle, which only came about 2,000 years ago to some parts of the world. Obviously, we ate plants before this, but they were likely to not be there or kill us.

Which brings up the issue of scurvy. Vitamin C is found in liver and clams. It is also found in about fifty fruits and vegetables. Liver and clams were hard to find when you only had a bow. Scurvy was a major problem until recent years in first- and second-world nations.

Muscle deficiency due to lack of protein isn't widespread. Although there are a few vegetarian/vegan options, a vegetarian (and especially vegan) spends their first few days making sure they get enough meat.

We were meant to be omnivores. That's what I'm trying to prove. You could survive with no meat, or theroretically, no meat, but really, you're meant for both.

_________________

Jup.

And you aren't harming anyone by eating meat. Seriously.

Uggh. I'm SO tired of this misconception. WE DO NOT LIVE ON VEGGIES. There ARE a few vegetarians who only eat food that can be harvested without killing the plant (I think they're called "fruititarians" or something, I don't know), but it's far from healthy. Basically, vegetarians do not eat meat; vegans do not eat any animal products. Neither group lives entirely on veggies.

_________________

Yes, you CAN live on whatever you feed of except veggies in your comfortable First World home, but imagine you being lost in some remote barren area of wherever. Don't think you'll be stickin' to vegetarianism for too long then

That's different. For example, take the Donner Party--you know, the families who got stranded in the Sierra Nevada and are thought to have resorted to cannibalism. I doubt they would've eaten each other if they had the choice. Same thing with a vegetarian stuck in the wilderness--they'd prefer not to eat meat, but chances are that if it was necessary, well, a-hunting they would go.

_________________

Something I don't understand is if you don't eat animals because they are living creatures (I'm not sure if that's why; I'm only guessing) then why do you only eat plants? Plants are living creatures too.

Because animals have clear thoughts and can make signs that they are feeling pain. Therefore, it seem inhumane to hurt something that shows such feelings, in addition to animals showing love, anger, trust, and other emotions. For example, a dog, dolphin, cat etc. shows these emotions quite often. So, we don't eat them.

However, on the other hand, cows, pigs, and other stock aren't that smart, and can be easily raised for multiple purposes: milk from cows, sheep and goats, meat, hides for leather...dog leather probably wouldn't be that great.

_________________

ZING! Indeed. Plants have feelings too . Every time you eat fruit, you're aborting a plant . Not that I have anything against abortion