On Eating Meat...

Ricksea · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 3:48 pm

Animals are living things, and yet we eat them regularly. Upon that, some of these animals (cattle for veal, for example ) are treated very cruely. I'm not talking about eating meat to keep Kosher or other religious necessities, but in America, where we generally have an ample food source, why are we eating meat when we don't need to?

I'm not actually a vegetarian myself. I've tried cutting out meat from my diet (for a full year at one point) but I couldn't handle it.

What are your thoughts on this subject?

InterruptorJones · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:01 pm

My thoughts on the matter? I can't really justify being a carnivore, apart from just liking the taste of -- and let's just be honest with ourselves here -- flesh. A couple hundred years ago, before the invention of the meat-packing plant, I'd probably have felt a lot better about eating meat. Back then people were a lot closer to the animals they ate. But now, like I said, I can't really justify my consumption. I know that the short lives of the chicken whose flesh I cook and eat were horrible, awful ones filled with fear and pain. And I feel badly about that.

So does it make me a bad person that I still eat, and enjoy, meat? Yeah, I think it probably does.

ModestlyHotGirl · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:03 pm

I'm a little conflicted on this whole thing. I do eat meat, but not a ton of it. I'm too picky (I think) to be fully satisfied with a vegetarian diet, but I definitely see the benefits of living that way, from both a health standpoint and an animal rights standpoint. In my teen years, hanging out with the punk kids, going vegetarian/vegan was the cool thing to do, so I suppose I'm still a little affected by that. I guess you could say that I'm a hypocrite.

I wear leather shoes and a leather belt, but I'd never wear fur.

I have pets, but I'd never support a circus with performing animals.

I eat meat, but morally, I'm completely against factory farming.

I use Gillette products, but I'm against animal testing.

So you can see that I'm completely aware of my hypocrisy, so please don't call me on it. I know. And I'm none too pleased about it, but I really have no excuse for not changing the way I live. Maybe I ought to.

Ricksea · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:08 pm

What do you have against performing animals? I thought they could be treated very well.

StrongCanada · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:10 pm

ModestlyHotGirl wrote:

So you can see that I'm completely aware of my hypocrisy, so please don't call me on it.

*Calls you on it*....kidding...I'm guilty of pretty much the exact same thing.

I'd like to be vegetarian, but I think I'd either starve to death, or turn to eating too much junk food. And I loves my chicken and turkey, and the occasional burger.

So in conclusion, I admire those who can make a vegan/vegetarian diet work, but I can't, so I don't. There.

ModestlyHotGirl · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:14 pm

Ricksea wrote:

What do you have against performing animals? I thought they could be treated very well.

I'm sure they could be, Rick, but the fact is that many aren't. I'm sure there's some info on the peta site, but I'm not going to dig it up. I've seen a bunch of printed literature in past years, though.

DESTROY US ALL! · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:34 pm

well we eat meat because humans are naturally carnivorous or omnivorous (as seen in sharp protruding teeth in neaderthals sorry i cant spell) and without meat we cant function properly our systems need the protein and fat from meat to survive, and come on, if you've ever had montgomery inn ribs, well come on.

InterruptorJones · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:38 pm

dag_yo wrote:

without meat we cant function properly our systems need the protein and fat from meat to survive

Well, except that's not true. We need protein and fat. We don't need protein and fat from meat. Protein and fat from elsewhere is just as good for our bodies.

And I'm sorry, but the teeth argument doesn't have any legs. Yes, we're evolved to eat meat. Does that make chicken confinement operations any less wrong? Not in the least.

Cmarbagoi · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:45 pm

I proudly eat meat. Shoot me down if you must, but I believe that some animals were meant to be food supply. Not for sport, but for food. Sure, the methods of killing aren't great, but hey, I still eat meat. Now lemme make this clear. I have NOTHING against vegetarians. They can eat whatever they want. But the thing is, I just don't like it how some just preach to you. Last year, a bunch of vegetarians passed out peta pamphlets in school about animal slaughtering. There were pictures of dead cows and crap. Now, I hate being preached to. If I wanted a bunch of people telling me what I can and can't eat, I'd ask for it. And even at the peta website, they talk about spreading views at libraries. That's what I hate. When people try to change someone's opinion on food, it's really annoying. Eat what you want, but when you tell me I shouldn't eat meat, then you cross the line.

Lunar Jesty · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:48 pm

Meat? Sure, it's wrong to eat meat. It's also wrong to eat plants. They're alive, they go through a life cycle. Because they're not cute, because they can't appeal to you, no one cares. You can go hungry if you want, but I'll go on being wrong.

Cmarbagoi · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:52 pm

Lunar Jesty wrote:

Meat? Sure, it's wrong to eat meat. It's also wrong to eat plants. They're alive, they go through a life cycle. Because they're not cute, because they can't appeal to you, no one cares. You can go hungry if you want, but I'll go on being wrong.

I totally agree. Not everyone is perfect, and we all have guilty pleasures.

And a side note, on peta's website they say "Animals are not ours to eat". If their not "ours", then who is able to eat them? And why are they on earth then?

Lunar Jesty · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:59 pm

Cmarbagoi wrote:

Lunar Jesty wrote:

Meat? Sure, it's wrong to eat meat. It's also wrong to eat plants. They're alive, they go through a life cycle. Because they're not cute, because they can't appeal to you, no one cares. You can go hungry if you want, but I'll go on being wrong.

I totally agree. Not everyone is perfect, and we all have guilty pleasures.

And a side note, on peta's website they say "Animals are not ours to eat". If their not "ours", then who is able to eat them? And why are they on earth then?

Are we on earth to be eaten? And the "not ours" part, that's just PETA jargon.

StrongCanada · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:01 pm

Cmarbagoi wrote:

And a side note, on peta's website they say "Animals are not ours to eat". If their not "ours", then who is able to eat them? And why are they on earth then?

Other animals, I think, is their point, are allowed to eat other animals. But...I'm an animal. Rarr! :ehsteve:

Cmarbagoi · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:10 pm

StrongCanada wrote:

Cmarbagoi wrote:

And a side note, on peta's website they say "Animals are not ours to eat". If their not "ours", then who is able to eat them? And why are they on earth then?

Other animals, I think, is their point, are allowed to eat other animals. But...I'm an animal. Rarr! :ehsteve:

Wait a minute! How come peta isn't passing out pamphlets to lions in Africa?!?! They eat meat without peta complaining, and they could eat vegetables! I don't gets it!

Didymus · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:41 pm

Click!

Mr. Sparkle · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:52 pm

I'm conflicted too, I eat meat, but when I imagine the animal, the think of this:

(My Dog.)

Jitka · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:59 pm

That's why you don't eat dogs, Sparkles.

Seriously, eating meat is not evil or wrong or cruel. Granted, the conditions in some of the farms are pretty bad, and should be fixed, but I have absolutely no ethical problems whatsoever about eating meat based solely on the argument of "They're living things too!" So are plants, as Jesty said, but we eat them with no problem.

And do not even get me started on PETA. I severely dislike them, the arrogant little...

Cmarbagoi · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 1:00 am

JohnTheTinyCowboy wrote:

That's why you don't eat dogs, Sparkles.

Seriously, eating meat is not evil or wrong or cruel. Granted, the conditions in some of the farms are pretty bad, and should be fixed, but I have absolutely no ethical problems whatsoever about eating meat based solely on the argument of "They're living things too!" So are plants, as Jesty said, but we eat them with no problem.

And do not even get me started on PETA. I severely dislike them, the arrogant little...

If you won't, I will. I am so tired of peta. I'm tired of their signs. I'm tired of their propaganda. Don't believe me?

http://www.petakids.com/games.html

Look at "Make fred Spew". Ugh. Not only is peta annoying, theyre just plain crazy! Why? They say milk "sucks". I just don't get them. Apparantly, the FDA approved Dairy category of the food pyramid is "inhumane" and "unhealthy". And as if that was abnormal, look at this. Apparently, beer is healthier than milk. Drink your beer kids!

doom · **Joined:** Sun Apr 24, 2005 6:16 pm **Posts:** 36

we need meat for protien, you think a snake feels bad for the frog it just swallowed alive, we are born carnivore, if we were herbivores we'de be born not smart enough to get the animals, killing things for food is fine, its how other animals get meals, just cause we're smarter we shouldn't eat them? are we suppose to think of killing when we kill for food, OF COURSE NOT.

Cmarbagoi · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 1:54 am

Quote:

To: info@peta.org
Subject: MilkSucks.com among other things

I recently saw your webpage on how milk is bad for you. So you're saying that the FDA approved Dairy section of the food pyramid is wrong? Dairy may cause gas, but I don't know what came into you guys when you said that cow milk causes cancer. It most certainly does not, and millions of doctors can't be wrong compared to a bunch of crazy hippies. But thats not the only thing that bothers me. Not only do you spew out your crack-pot ideas to gullible adults, you're doing it to children to. I saw the PeTA kids page and I was shocked. "Make Fred Spew" is telling children that every SINGLE DAIRY PRODUCT is bad for you. And then there's the "goveg" part of PeTA. Some of it just makes me laugh. The fact that it says "Animals are not ours to eat" is just hilarious. Who is allowed to eat animals? Other animals? I don't think they've seen your website. :/ Oh wait, animals don't have the mental capacity to go on websites. So I guess they won't be able to thank you for saving them. Now, I have nothing against all the other sections of PeTA, it's just the fact that you guys have to "spread the word" of veganism. And Like Maddox always says, "For every animal you don't eat, I'm going to eat three." I proudly eat meat, and you're not gonna stop me.

And P.S.: By not answering this e-mail, you're just proving how much cowardly PeTA is.

Sincerly,
Alex Schulman

StrongRad · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:20 am

An innebriated college thought StrongRad had wrote:

Yeah, I eat meat, and by doing so, I'm helping to save the planet. Don't believe me? Think about this: Plants, grasses, and trees make the air we breathe. Animals, like cows, eat grass and plants (thus removing a source of oxygen for the system). They also burp methane, which is a greenhouse gas, and exhale CO2, another greenhouse gas, plus, they use oxygen (depleting part of the supply). If you eat the cow, you keep it from eating plants, which means more oxygen is made, you prevent them from spewing greenhouse gasses, and you prevent them from using oxygen... Thus saving the planet...
If you don't eat meat, I assume you eat plants. If you do this, you're not only leaving the animals alive to do the things I mentioned above, but you're also helping the animals to eliminate even more plants (and more sources of oxygen)... Makes you wonder what vegetarians are REALLY up to... <Shifty eyes, "DUM DUM DUM!!" music>

Ok, in all seriousness, PETA is right about the cruelty of some factory farms. I can't make a blanket statement about all factory farms, cus I haven't been to them all, but some are REALLY cruel. I've also been to a feed lot operation where the animals seemed to be treated pretty well (eg. not in small pens, not pumped full of antibiotics and steroids, and allowed to move semi-feely).

To me, I don't know. I mean, I despise cruelty to animals, yet I eat meat, some of which, no doubt, comes from factory farms (not all the meat I eat does, though, some comes from local farmers, other comes from hunting). Which brings me to a point I'd kinda like to make about hunting, while some of it can be quite cruel (fox hunting immediately comes to mind), worthless (dove hunting and frog gigging), or just plain scary (when people mix alcohol and hunting), the sport, for the most part, can be a lot less cruel than most other ways people get meat. I called it a sport, cus, well, that's what people call it. I don't really see it that way, though, cus I don't hunt and kill just to hunt and kill. While there are some that do that, I can't, in my right mind, kill an animal just because I want to. I eat what I kill (when I hunt, I don't eat flies and stuff, but common sense would tell you that), and I make sure the death is as quick as possible (according to PETA, some factory farm animals die agonizingly slow deaths. I tend to agree.)

Ok, I'm-a stop now, lest your head a'splode from a hunter agreeing with PETA..

Bonus points to those who are smart enough to realize that plants are living things, too, and eating plants is also killing.

blazebalm · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:21 am

Cmarbagoi wrote:

I proudly eat meat. Shoot me down if you must, but I believe that some animals were meant to be food supply. Not for sport, but for food. Sure, the methods of killing aren't great, but hey, I still eat meat. Now lemme make this clear. I have NOTHING against vegetarians. They can eat whatever they want. But the thing is, I just don't like it how some just preach to you. Last year, a bunch of vegetarians passed out peta pamphlets in school about animal slaughtering. There were pictures of dead cows and crap. Now, I hate being preached to. If I wanted a bunch of people telling me what I can and can't eat, I'd ask for it. And even at the peta website, they talk about spreading views at libraries. That's what I hate. When people try to change someone's opinion on food, it's really annoying. Eat what you want, but when you tell me I shouldn't eat meat, then you cross the line.

I agree with most of what's being said, but about the preaching, I think that it's good. Most people now ARE aware that the meat they eat had a terrible short painful life, but before awareness started to spread, people just blissfully ate meat not thinking about the life that that particular animal must have led. The preaching was just a way to let everyone know what was going on, and to give them all the information so that they could make the choice whether or not to eat meat. Oh, and if they told me in exact terms what I could and couldn't eat, I'd tell them to shove it. (Hope that language isn't too stong on this board).

Lunar Jesty · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:52 am

Quote:

Dairy products are a health hazard. They contain no fiber or complex carbohydrates and are laden with saturated fat and cholesterol. They are contaminated with cow's blood and pus and are frequently contaminated with pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. Dairy products are linked to allergies, constipation, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.

Skim milk. And I have no idea where they get their milk from, but there's always the fact that milk is cleaned. I don't think I've ever seen blood or pus in my milk.

Jitka · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 4:01 am

Zah. I thought I told you guys not to get me started on PETA.

Seriously, their smarmy sense of self-superiority (woo, alliteration) makes me want to puke. And they're dangerous too. How about "Milk sucks. Got beer?"

Yes, let's encourage children to consume alcoholic beverages rather than something which is healthy for them. :rolleyes:

What a bunch of crackpots.

StrongRad · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 4:35 am

JohnTheTinyCowboy wrote:

Seriously, their smarmy sense of self-superiority (woo, alliteration) makes me want to puke. And they're dangerous too. How about "Milk sucks. Got beer?"

They aren't the only ones with that sense of self-superiority (thinks about people who brag about living in "red" or "blue" states), but yea. The whole "I don't eat meat, so I'm better than you" attitude probably turns off more people than it attracts.

That whole "I'd rather be naked than wear fur" thing was funny. Just imagine if our neanderthal (I'm sure they don't believe in creation) ancestors had that attitude. I liked how it P.O.'d the feminist crowd. That was hillarious.

To me, PETA is just another example of how Americans (and the international community) can take a good idea and completely blow it into a mutated freak that, in no way resembles the original idea. The National Rifle Association also comes to mind (yes, I am in the NRA, but disagree with some of the stereotypes that are becoming all too common in the organization).

Prof. Tor Coolguy · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 11:48 am

I think it may be time to mention the http://www.themeatrix.com/

Simon Zeno · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:15 pm

Aww, did you really HAVE to mention the Meatrix? I thought that it would just eventually die, but I guess I was sorely mistaken.

Let's see... I could take the raging monstrous carnivore stance:

ANIMALS DESERVE TO BE EATEN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DEFEND THEMSELVES!!!! I'M GOING TO GO CHASE DOWN AN ANIMAL AND EAT IT RAW, LIKE A REAL MAN!!!!!!! THEN I'LL BENCH PRESS ITS CARCASS!!!!!!! RAGGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lol, no.

Seriously though, if I felt like going without meat, I could. I just enjoy the taste. And until meat stops tasting good, I'm going to continue to eat it.

Vegetarians don't bother me unless they go preaching. In all fairness, it's actually usually vegans that go preaching, but whatever. The point is, I'll eat whatever the heck I feel like, and no hippie is going to tell me otherwise.

Cmarbagoi · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:21 pm

Ha, guess what my response was.

Quote:

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That part just cracks me up.

Choc-o-Lardiac Arrest · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:38 pm

i once ate a can of food with a picture of a dog on it, it was good....... and so was that can with the picture of a brain on it.....
as for the subject of meat: remember, As long as we keep eating meat, we will never have to hear the words,

ITS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jimmie · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 5:15 pm

After reading through this thread yesterday, it really, REALLY showed me how idiotic PETA is (I didn't have a stance at first).

Seriously, if we can't eat animals because they have lives, then what about plants? They're living, too. So what are they going to eat? Rocks?

While they're sitting on the dirt eating rocks, I'm going to be eating a Thanksgiving feast. Oh, I'm a baaaaaaaaaad dude. :-|

And StrongRad has a good point (what he put in the quote box).

I eat meat, and I don't care about it. I eat dairy products, and I don't care. I'm just fine. I'd much rather eat flesh than eat rocks from the ground.

I'd say it's healthier to eat meat and dairy products than exclusively on plants, and WAY healthier than eating rocks.

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