Can we find a happy middle ground?!
Can someone explain how being a vegetarian or vegan has come to be a political movement!? Almost a religion!? I grew up in a community with a lot of vegetarians and it was always just a personal choice, something that was private, and it was frowned on for you to preach about it, or make a scene about what others may be eating!. It seems now like it is a war of words, a war of attacking people for how they live, and a war of if we are omnivores or not!. By all the science I've read we are omnivores, that if we were not the people eating so much meat would be very sick within days of eating it, just as a cat would get sick for eating plants for a week, or a deer would for eating meat!. Chimps are omnivores the most closely related to us of all animals!. It seems that the issue should not be discriminating against people for what they eat, since eating some meat seems to be on some line a normal behavior in a very round about way, and trying to change the meat industry!. Why don't we put our energy into that since the cause of trying to turn the world will never happen, and at least make the process of getting meat more humane, less a health hazard!? i am not a vegetarian, but very rarely eat meat!. My question is why argue abot this in an almost religious manner, and why not make the best use of our energy, and do what we can to find a middle ground!? Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
The problem with the folks who visit this section of YahooAnswers is that no one is willing to see the other persons side!. It is the far too common "Its the world according to me!" - feeling that people use here!.
No one is right or wrong!. Everyone can choose what they want to put into their body!. Everyone has to respect everyone!.
As far as Chef Bette implying that this section of YahooAnswers is just for vegetarian/vegan folks -- that is absurd and directly ties in to what I stated above!. This section of YahooAnswers is titled "Vegetarian & Vegan" and NOT "Have to be Vegetarian and Vegan to participate"!. Anything relevant to the subject of Vegetarian & Vegan can be posted here!. This is regardless of what your beliefs are!. Its a place to simply talk about the 'subject'!. This by no means is me saying people should bash one anothers beliefs!. Again!.!.!.common sense and respecting everyone!. There is nothing wrong about discussing it in a constructive manor!.
As far as a middle ground!? Maybe in a perfect world!.
If you like to eat meat, buy local and organic!. Now the only loose string is the 'moral dilemma' as some vegetarians put it!. But again!.!.!.moral dilemma for who!? ;) Everyone has the right to form their own opinion here!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
No one is right or wrong!. Everyone can choose what they want to put into their body!. Everyone has to respect everyone!.
As far as Chef Bette implying that this section of YahooAnswers is just for vegetarian/vegan folks -- that is absurd and directly ties in to what I stated above!. This section of YahooAnswers is titled "Vegetarian & Vegan" and NOT "Have to be Vegetarian and Vegan to participate"!. Anything relevant to the subject of Vegetarian & Vegan can be posted here!. This is regardless of what your beliefs are!. Its a place to simply talk about the 'subject'!. This by no means is me saying people should bash one anothers beliefs!. Again!.!.!.common sense and respecting everyone!. There is nothing wrong about discussing it in a constructive manor!.
As far as a middle ground!? Maybe in a perfect world!.
If you like to eat meat, buy local and organic!. Now the only loose string is the 'moral dilemma' as some vegetarians put it!. But again!.!.!.moral dilemma for who!? ;) Everyone has the right to form their own opinion here!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Plant based diets only seem like a religious or political phenomenon to those who are unfamiliar with them!. Why should vegetarians have to keep their dietary choices "private" !? This would mean they couldn't go to restaurants or any gathering where food was served!.
Being an omnivore doesn't mean I have to consume something full of antibiotics, hormones and pesticides!.
The meat industry will never change until economic forces make them!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Being an omnivore doesn't mean I have to consume something full of antibiotics, hormones and pesticides!.
The meat industry will never change until economic forces make them!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Probably because for the vast majority of the world's vegetarians, it is a religious choice - Hinduism, Jainism, Hare Krishna, 7th Day Adventists, Buddhists, etcetera!.
Any time a behaviour is borne from a moral or ethical belief, it's going to become almost spiritual to that person!.
Added - Oh, don't get me wrong, I think freedom of spirituality is a right, and one that you shouldn't intrude on!.!.!. but just like enthusiastic Muslims, or Christians, or any religion, really, once you believe you are doing something good for the world at large, you want everyone to 'do good' as well!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Any time a behaviour is borne from a moral or ethical belief, it's going to become almost spiritual to that person!.
Added - Oh, don't get me wrong, I think freedom of spirituality is a right, and one that you shouldn't intrude on!.!.!. but just like enthusiastic Muslims, or Christians, or any religion, really, once you believe you are doing something good for the world at large, you want everyone to 'do good' as well!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Other than on the internet, I think we do mostly live in a middle ground!. In my day-to-day life, most people have no occasion to ever find out that I'm vegan!. I don't wear it on my sleeve and I sure as hell don't preach it to anyone!.
Here, though, the topic of the day is vegetarianism and veganism and people hold opposing viewpoints!. It's going to be the nature of a venue like this that people are going to argue for their viewpoint!. I'd bet though, that if I encountered some of the meat eaters who participate here in real life, we wouldn't argue about my veganism becuase they'd never have a reason to know about it and I'd never have a reason to know about their negative opinions of it!.
Many of us do work in the real world to improve the conditions of livestock!. But many of us also believe wholeheartedly that improving the welfare of food animals is ultimately not enough and we also work to reduce the number of animals that will ever be bred and killed for food!. We don't hold these beliefs to piss you off or to start arguments!. But we're also not obligated to compromise deeply held beliefs to make you comfortable and we're not obligated to keep them secret to make you comfortable, either!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Here, though, the topic of the day is vegetarianism and veganism and people hold opposing viewpoints!. It's going to be the nature of a venue like this that people are going to argue for their viewpoint!. I'd bet though, that if I encountered some of the meat eaters who participate here in real life, we wouldn't argue about my veganism becuase they'd never have a reason to know about it and I'd never have a reason to know about their negative opinions of it!.
Many of us do work in the real world to improve the conditions of livestock!. But many of us also believe wholeheartedly that improving the welfare of food animals is ultimately not enough and we also work to reduce the number of animals that will ever be bred and killed for food!. We don't hold these beliefs to piss you off or to start arguments!. But we're also not obligated to compromise deeply held beliefs to make you comfortable and we're not obligated to keep them secret to make you comfortable, either!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
There are and always will be those who will take a lifestyle (any lifestyle) to an extreme!. In my experience the people who are militant about being vegan/vegetarian are those who are Animal Rights Activists and proponents of PETA!. And the people who are avowed omnivores or abject carnivores -- usually come to these pages to bull bait rather than to share information!. You have to admit that is a bit offensive!.
There are many of us who are vegetarian/vegan for spiritual or religious reasons, others who are vegan/vegetarian for health resons, and those who have embraced the lifestyle out of a compassionate heart---- and are truly concerned for the animals!. There are also many of us who embrace several of those reasons at once!.
As for your alleged "scientific evidence" -- I have to challenge that because my research indicates exactly the opposite point of view!. And as always I ask the question "Who funded the research!?" Perhaps you should ask that question too!?
And here is the main point -- in a section on Yahoo Answers which has been defined as Vegan Vegetarian to have non-veg persons challenge in the most offensive manner possible not only the basic precepts and principles of our diet and choice of lifestyle but to speak derogatorily of the person holding the view and living this way, is patently absurd and deeply offensive!. It gives rise to a lot of rhetoric in defense that is perhaps shrill in some instances but truthful!. I think it reflects the hurt and betrayal many of us feel when we are abused in a section where we are allegedly safe to share and help others who want to enjoy a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle!.
So to answer your question: --
If you ask a relevant question in a polite tone -- which you did -- you will no doubt be treated to respectful responses in equally polite tones!. If that is the middle ground you are looking for -- I think you found it!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
There are many of us who are vegetarian/vegan for spiritual or religious reasons, others who are vegan/vegetarian for health resons, and those who have embraced the lifestyle out of a compassionate heart---- and are truly concerned for the animals!. There are also many of us who embrace several of those reasons at once!.
As for your alleged "scientific evidence" -- I have to challenge that because my research indicates exactly the opposite point of view!. And as always I ask the question "Who funded the research!?" Perhaps you should ask that question too!?
And here is the main point -- in a section on Yahoo Answers which has been defined as Vegan Vegetarian to have non-veg persons challenge in the most offensive manner possible not only the basic precepts and principles of our diet and choice of lifestyle but to speak derogatorily of the person holding the view and living this way, is patently absurd and deeply offensive!. It gives rise to a lot of rhetoric in defense that is perhaps shrill in some instances but truthful!. I think it reflects the hurt and betrayal many of us feel when we are abused in a section where we are allegedly safe to share and help others who want to enjoy a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle!.
So to answer your question: --
If you ask a relevant question in a polite tone -- which you did -- you will no doubt be treated to respectful responses in equally polite tones!. If that is the middle ground you are looking for -- I think you found it!. Www@FoodAQ@Com