Why can't vegetarians and vegans understand?!
I believe we all have the right to CHOOSE what we want to eat, so can't we just accept each other's ways and get on with it?
I'm interested only in INTELLIGENT opinions here, so if you have something foolish to say please move on to the next question.
A blessed day to EVERYONE!
Answers: That omnivores LIKE to eat meat? Why can't they understand that hunting, fishing and butchering animals has been a way of life since the beginning of time? I don't knock your eating habits, even if I don't agree with them. Don't give me that baloney about "If you had to kill it would you still eat it." We have farmers, hunters and butchers for a reason.
I believe we all have the right to CHOOSE what we want to eat, so can't we just accept each other's ways and get on with it?
I'm interested only in INTELLIGENT opinions here, so if you have something foolish to say please move on to the next question.
A blessed day to EVERYONE!
I do agree that we all have the right to choose our own eating habits. I myself don't like eating red meat for various and sundry reasons. I don't like hunting. However I realize that everyone has the right to eat what they want, and to hunt, fish etc if they choose to do so.
I think a lot of vegans feel very passionately about their choice and sometimes get a little carried away with their arguments. Same thing with those on the other side of the coin.
I think in the end it all comes down to respect. Respect of other people and their choices.
I am a vegetarian && your opinion is WAY different than mine! I know it has been the way of eating since the beginning.. but I don't like eating meat for the ways they prepare it. Hormones && Crap like that! So don't just say that people have 1 opinion on things.
I am not a vegetarian but I do not necessarily believe in killing animals. I mean, I don't go out and shoot them. I think it's senseless to kill random animals in the forest who are just living their lives. I don't know if that makes sense....I mean we don't need deer meat to survive.
I am vegetarian but I have no problems with your diet at all.
I think the question here is ''why do you generaise about ALL vegetarians?''
have a good day
Well, most of us do understand. For instance, I am a 13-year-old vegan, still living at home, (duh). My mom eats meat. Do I rag on her eating habits? Of course not. It's a personal choice.
Most of us vegans will leave omnivores alone, unless an omnivore approaches us with a question about veg*nism, then we will gladly share information we have, and why we are vegan.
I probably shouldn't be using "we", as you will get the occasional vegan preacher, AKA the "Vegan Police". It's best to ignore these naggy little pests, as they can make you so fed up it's just maddening.
Yes, we have farmers, hunters and butchers. I am appalled, personally that anyone can be in those "professions". Killing innocent animals to be shipped to supermarkets and sold as a bloody hunk of flesh wrapped in styrofoam? Yum. Sending a package of venison sausage (containing who knows what) to a friend at work, or a kid in college? Sounds like fun.
Yes, I realize that it has been this way maybe since the beginning, but that's what us veg*ns are trying to change- we don't want it that way anymore! I can't bear to eat something that is flesh, a once living animal, that had a face! (Well, that and meat just grosses me out. Have you recently saw a raw pork chop?? *gags*)
=)
Since begining of time. - many things have changed since begining of time. Mainly the "how" animals have been treated. As we humans have over popullated, we have not only abused animals, we have also over used animals. We no longer show respect to animals, nor their way of life and place on earth.
We have used our dominace to the point thousand of animals have become extinct.
Today we have so many choices, where we can eat better and healthier without killing. yet we chose death. - not really equal nor fair is it now.
Also, here is something that I object to, http://fi.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti... and after watching it, I am sure you will agree that things need to change.
The most important thing for a person to do is what they think is right, not what they think is easy. For example, it's a lot easier to eat meat, but I don't think it's right. Now, I'm not saying that my morals are absolute, but people who eat meat should do so because they think that it's not just a thing to do, but the right thing to do. Personally, I'm curious as to how someone can justify this. Not in a judgemental way, but it seems like the most common argument for the consumption of meat and animal products is "Because they're there." I wish I could agree, but I simply don't.
There is in fact a very compelling reason for becoming a vegie.
It is environmental. To raise animals for meat, milk etc uses far more land because you grow the food for the animals. There is not enough land in the world for everyone to eat meat. Many people in world never eat meat because they can't afford to.
The health reasons are minor. Eating too much meat is bad for you, but eating any unbalanced diet is bad for you.
Some people are vegetarians, vegans for more reasons. In past meat was essential for a healthy, balanced, but today we understand nutrition and can easily choose not to eat meat and be healthy. Therefor some people believe that morally we should be giving up meat.
However to me that is arrogance. Because we see ourselves as using animals. But if a tree grows a fruit, then a bird eats that fruit and takes the seed to a new location, we say that the tree is using the bird.
When we clear the best land for cows, give them food in the winter, treat their diseases and so on, we say we are using those cows. As the cows benefit from our treatment, and get to populate the earth, be moved over oceans, it seems they are using us by being fat, juicy and delicious (like an apple tastes nice too).
Because I get harassed by meat eaters at home, at work, when I am out having dinner with others. I have never been shown any understanding, so although I try to be patient and tolerate other people's beleifs I don't even know why I bother to try, they don't try to tolerate me.
BTW thanks but no thanks on the blessed day, religion is another thing I try not to impose on others. I would appreciate a little reciprocity.
If a person fully understands the meat production process, and still chooses to eat meat, then I'm not going to attempt to change his or her opinion. But I find that a lot of people justify it purely on the basis that slaughterhouses are humane (i.e. animals are stunned, they don't feel anything) and this is all baloney. They should know what really goes on. If they still choose to eat meat, okay, go ahead.
The same goes for war. A lot of the public would be less likely to be armchair warriors if they knew what war was really all about.
The same goes for a lot of other things. I just wish more people would make informed decisions. Whether I agree with those decisions or not is another story.
I believe that animals were mainly put on earth to feed us. It is gross to think about the hormones and anti-biotics that are used in the cows. There are also healthy alternatives to that as well such as organic meat. I don't think I could live without meat or any animal products.
When you say 'since the beginning of time' are you referring to when the cavemen used to wear loin cloths and go out with a club?
In my experience with vegetarians and vegans, the reason they don't eat meat anymore is because of the way the animals suffer so much cruelty and abuse in the 'demand' for more meat and cheaper meat, hence intensive factory farming!
I don't have a problem with you eating meat if that's what you feel happy doing, I personally don't want to be a part of animal suffering.
If you live in the past there will never be progress!
LOVE your answer veggie wedgie! :)
Hi.
I am a vegetarian and to me your opinion is different then mine. I think meat eaters always say," why be a vegetarian?", "You are hurting yourself by not eating meat", "Have meat", etc. I understand how some people like to eat meat and I respect that decision, but that does not mean we have to say inappropriate statements to each other if we know it isn't going to do anything but start an argument. It was my choice to be a vegetarian and it is other people's choice to eat meat or not.
I think we should all respect each others choices.
I completely understand it. I was omnivore 27 years before I went vegan, so I understand perfectly what it's like to be blocked.
And certainly I tolerate that you have the right to choose what you eat, even if you choose to eat animals and their excretions...
...but I don't have to respect it. I don't have to shut-up about the fact that what you do truly sickens me, and so I never will.
Yeah sure you like the taste of meat and your right to choose. That's OK. Everyone should be able to understand that. But perhaps if you took a stroll through a factory farm or modern mass-slaughtering abattoir you might be able to consider the horror of cruelty that inspires people to go vegetarian and why they might not understand you.
The meat and eggs you get from the supermarket were not from nice little farmers. If I lived on a self sufficient farm in the county where the wellbeing of the animals I had to eat were respected, then I might live differently.
But as long as I live in a city where every alternative is available to me, I do not want or need to give those big business bottom dollar cruelty merchants my money. I just don't want to eat something that has endured an awful life of agony. And I don't need to.
I hope my answer was intelligent enough for you. I generally only share this information when asked.
Frankly, I doubt that there's anybody here who cares what you eat. I mean, really, do you care that I like tofu with broccoli? I doubt it. What difference could my food preferences possibly make in your life? Well, I feel the same about your diet.
You are the one that has failed to understand.
Not all vegan and vegetarian people think alike.
Do you know what a stereotype is? Do you know that it is foolish to generalize.
I am vegan and that is my own choice. People can eat whatever they want and they have my respect as long as they can treat others with kindness and accept their differences.
I encourage others that eat meat to hunt for food. I know that the reason for wildlife overpopulation is due to the hunting of predators but I also agree that it is better to die by a bullet to the vitals than be eaten alive by predators. Most people do not know how most animals are raised for food these days. Most animals are not raised on "farms". They live and die in factories.
http://www.factoryfarming.org
http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan
http://meat.org
You sound like someone has really gotten under your skin. Maybe you should learn to be more confident in YOUR OWN decisions and not take your frustrations out on the rest of us.
I will keep eating what I want to eat and you can keeping eating your own food. If your family really likes meat, I encourage you all to buy guns and learn how to kill it yourself or at least buy meat from someone that hunts.
I do accept that people like to eat meat. What I don't understand is why you have come on the vegan & vegetarian board to tell us this? If you don't want to hear people telling you meat is murder etc (which some of the more militant posters on here will tell you) go to another board?
But can I also say that we used to live in caves, burn witches at the stake and send menstruating women into the desert because they were 'unclean'...just because we have been doing something forever doesn't mean it's the only way.
ETA:
If you're not generalising, why didn't you ask why can't SOME vegetarians and vegans understand...
We're not all the vegan police & it's attitudes like that which do lump us all together which really get my back up.
I completely understand why other people eat meat, they like it, there is nothing wrong with that for them. I personally don't care what other people eat.
My husband's theory is the stranger the better, he eats organ meats, marrow etc. I made a personal choice to stop eating meat, and do not try to change people's eating habits.
Respectfully, I think the problem with your question is that it is (intentionally or not) quite inflammatory. People come into this forum to ask questions like that and are almost always trolling.
It is our decision not to eat meat, and your decision to eat meat. Most people base their assumptions on the stereotype that all vegetarians are PeTA loving activists who will assault you for putting that piece of steak in your mouth, granted there are some of those out there. Most of us don't care what you eat.
Being able to eat a totally a vegetarian diet is a recent
occurrence.
The ability to farm is a recent innovation.
(like 10 to 15 thousand years ago)
So we evolved to eat any thing that we could get.
Though it is still harder for us to digest grains.
Personally I leave that to the cattle.
though I do like porridge
But a mature, blue cooked steak has my
mouth watering.
prefer from grain fed cattle
I eat meat. But I also eat vegetables. The reason I do so is because I like the taste of both. I think you need both to be healthy.
My husband hunts and we do eat the deer that he kills. We both fish and we do eat the fish we catch.
We plant a garden and we do eat the things we grow in our garden.
I don't think the two types of people are so different.
nfd?
simple
many ppl believe their lifestyle is the only way of living
therefore when they meet someone who is different
they want to "modify" them LOL
I am a vegetarian whose husband is an omnivore. He eats quite a bit less meat b/c of me, and even eats many vegan products we have on hand, but will not likely ever give up eating meat here and there. (He, too, LOVES meat.) And that is fine, because I know that everyone is different and have different views/needs etc. I can wish people ate less (or no) meat but that doesn't mean I expect it to happen. I personally don't think it is necessary in our society, but I also know that I am in the minority at this point. Everyone is on a different path and has different backgrounds and opportunities. What is a relatively easy commitment for some is a huge sacrifice for others. Maybe what you are wanting to hear is that not all vegetarians and vegans are on a crusade to change the habits and lives of others. And I can tell you it is true, they are not that way. In my daily life I don't talk about my vegetarian ways much at all. My friends and family talk about food a lot, but not the "why" of what we choose to eat. In this (US) and similar countries, there are as many difference among vegetarians as there are in the population as a whole.
It isn't that I don't understand, it is simply that I like animals and I am very interested in preserving and protecting life on earth, and living in harmony with everyone/ everything. I now it sounds weird but hey I'm only 14. I think your question is a very logical one. I'm not one of those people who gets mad at people because they don't agree with me not eating meat. I just don't eat meat and I'm not bothered by people who eat meat. I am very understanding of those who are not like me, because no one is like me. I understand that there are people that processes the meat so others don't have to, I just choose not to support it. I understand that it isn't natural for omnivores to become herbivores, but after chicken packing and watching horses be slaughtered I don't think I could stomach meat lol. I try my best not to give others pressure on becoming vegetarians and I don't knock people who knock me there's no point. If you have more questions I would be happy to answer them.
i agree.
humans eat meat. it helps us survive. there's this girl i know who came up to me and said, "you know leather is a cows flesh right?" and i said, "yes, i'm aware of that." and she said, "doesn't that bother you?" and i said, "no, because i like hamburgers too much."
i do think we shouldn't waste the animals though, because god gave them to us for food. and as a dominate species we should have an obligation to take care of the animals that aren't.