Maybe it's time to go vegan..

[A Many Splendored Thing]

Warning: Video is not for the feint of heart.
If Slaughterhouses Had Glass Walls - YouTube
Also, Paul McCartney rules.

I guess ignorance is bliss after all.

 

[Froggy246]

Friggin ell, that was unpleasant to watch. I don't buy meat, but I'll stop eating it at other peoples houses as well. I'm in two minds about free range organic meat, I wish I was naturally repulsed by eating meat but I'm not.

 

[Scandic123]

No I wouldn't, because I know it isn't like that everywhere and that slaughtering can take place without inflicting massive pain on the animals. Besides, I like eating meat.

 

[Odo]

Eating meat goes back millions of years, but being repulsed by violence is a new thing.

I'm not saying I'm big on slaughterhouses, but I wouldn't stop eating meat just because someone is trying to make me feel guilty for it.

I do wish they had higher standards/better conditions on farms, though... if they were to start a project where the animals would get nice homes and be able to live long, rich lives before they were killed I would definitely support that.

 

[Silatuyok]

I didn't watch it, but I can guess what it's about. And this is why I don't eat conventional meat. Only wild game or family farmed/processed. It doesn't have to be all or nothing, but do what feels right to you.

 

[montejocarlo]

factory farming contributes to climate change- from deforestation to the emission of greenhouse gasses such as methane and nitrous oxide in the environment. most factory farms also use GMO's to feed the farm animals. i think commer******m is the primary evil in this system. i'm not saying that people should go completely vegan but as long as the industry generates money, the cruelty as well as the complete disregard of nature will never stop. to the businessmen and investors, it's all about profit. and it's the consumers who create the demand. we are the primary stakeholders and we have control. sadly, we are incapable of controlling ourselves in the first place.

 

[Silatuyok]

factory farming contributes to climate change- from deforestation to the emission of greenhouse gasses such as methane and nitrous oxide in the environment. most factory farms also use GMO's to feed the farm animals. i think commer******m is the primary evil in this system. i'm not saying that people should go completely vegan but as long as the industry generates money, the cruelty as well as the complete disregard of nature will never stop. to the businessmen and investors, it's all about profit. and it's the consumers who create the demand. we are the primary stakeholders and we have control. sadly, we are incapable of controlling ourselves in the first place.

I don't want to get too far into this topic because I will never stop, but yes I agree that it is all about the money/politics, and has nothing to do with providing healthy meat for consumers. A good example: the US recently made it legal for chicken raised in the US to be shipped to China for processing, then shipped back to the US to be sold. wtf? It's not even cost-effective, we're just trying to show China that we trust them and that we want to eventually open the meat market to them. Ummmm, no thank you!

 

[Silatuyok]

I do wish they had higher standards/better conditions on farms, though... if they were to start a project where the animals would get nice homes and be able to live long, rich lives before they were killed I would definitely support that.

If you have farmers markets in your area, that is the best way to support local family farms who care about and respect the animals they raise. It's a growing movement, and by far the best way to combat the disgustingness of factory farms. I would argue that it's a better method than suggesting that we all go vegetarian. (which isn't going to happen).

 

[Phoenixx]

I didn't watch it, but I can guess what it's about. And this is why I don't eat conventional meat. Only wild game or family farmed/processed. It doesn't have to be all or nothing, but do what feels right to you.

^ It's the same for me too. Once in a while I will get chicken from the store, and I always get my seafood from the store too since I can't get it local (and I'm not a huge fan of freshwater fish), but my family always buys from nearby farms here and/or raises it themselves. Not only do I feel better knowing the animal was raised properly, but it's so much better for the community too to buy local. Also, pastured meat and wild game tastes a lot different (and better, imo) than anything you buy in the store.

 

[A Many Splendored Thing]

I also just came across a good documentary called "Forks over Knives" that focuses on diet with high animal protein(meat/dairy) increases chance for pretty much everything bad, and of course the modern American diet of processed/fried food.

So even if not doing it for them, it also has benefits for everyone.

 

[Opaline]

Eating meat goes back millions of years, but being repulsed by violence is a new thing.

Where do you get that?

 

[chatterbox71]

I also just came across a good documentary called "Forks over Knives" that focuses on diet with high animal protein(meat/dairy) increases chance for pretty much everything bad, and of course the modern American diet of processed/fried food.

So even if not doing it for them, it also has benefits for everyone.

--I like the way you think. Why not give it a try? I've been vegan for 20 years, now, so let me know if you have any questions. I'm a pre-med student, planning to take the MCAT next spring.

 

[Entangled]

Vegan sounds too extreme for me, but I'm trying to go vegetarian. Just by eating less meat helps too, it's all about taking it step-by-step.

I've stopped eating chicken and eggs for the past couple of years now due to the cruelty, and I'm slowly working towards not eating other animals as well. Again it takes time..

I'm not saying that I am a fan of PETA though, they are a very lousy charity.

 

[A Many Splendored Thing]

Vegan sounds too extreme for me, but I'm trying to go vegetarian. Just by eating less meat helps too, it's all about taking it step-by-step.

I've stopped eating chicken and eggs for the past couple of years now due to the cruelty, and I'm slowly working towards not eating other animals as well. Again it takes time..

I'm not saying that I am a fan of PETA though, they are a very lousy charity.

I figure there is a lot of good tasting food besides meat. In fact, I just had a baked mixture of veggies that was delicious(cooked onions and mushrooms are great).

I've also substituted almond milk on cereal. While I don't like drinking it alone(might need to acquire a liking for it), it tastes the same when mixed with cheerios at least.
---
Looking into the energy cost of meat, it's also amazing how beef requires 13kg of farmed grain+30kg of foraged plants for every kg of meat.

Even the most efficient chicken "Broilers" is a little over 2 kg, and that would pretty much be caged chicken. I thought humans were the most successful species on the planet, but chickens almost outnumber us 3:1!

Then there's the extra water and energy necessary. And a growing concern about soil erosion...

And the population still continues to grow, of course.

We need a zombie apocalypse stat, or we're going to starve!

 

[Feathers]

People are pretty resilient, I think some will stay meat-eaters, some will consume less meat, some may go vegetarian and vegan...

If you go vegetarian or vegan just make sure to eat varied food to get the proper nutrients, vitamins and minerals. And enough protein. Some supplements might be needed too.

 

[jaim38]

I went vegetarian once, for about a year, but be prepared for the negative reception. I've had people look at my egg and salad and say things like "eww gross". Vegetarians and vegans consist less than 1% of the population I think. I saw a documentary a while back which contributed to my decision to go vegetarian. However, that was back then when I lived away from home. Now I'm back home, jobless, and can't really complain about the food my mom decides to cook. I have to settle for eating meat for the time being. But if you make your own money and have your own place, I say go for it!

 

[surewhynot]

I'm not saying I'm big on slaughterhouses, but I wouldn't stop eating meat just because someone is trying to make me feel guilty for it.

What does that even mean? You shouldn't stop eating meat just because someone is trying to make you feel guilty for it, you should stop eating meat because you feel guilty for it (which you rationally should, all cognitive dissonance set aside).

 

[Odo]

Where do you get that?

For a very large portion of our history, killing animals for food was something that the majority of human beings did.

Here's an example of what I mean:

Humans hunted for meat 2 million years ago | Science | The Observer

Not having to worry about doing this kind of thing is a modern-day luxury. We don't need that instinct anymore so much because the only hunting that most of us do is for bargains in the supermarket, but I'm pretty sure it's still there.

 

[Opaline]

I'm pretty sure that for a very large portion of our history, killing animals for food was something that the majority of human beings did.

Here's an example of what I mean:

Humans hunted for meat 2 million years ago | Science | The Observer

Not having to worry about doing this kind of thing is a modern-day luxury. We don't need that instinct anymore so much because the only hunting that most of us do is for bargains in the supermarket, but I'm pretty sure it's still there.

Well, yeah, we hunted animals. I'm aware of that. And I know you said violence in general. I don't have anything to support this, just my own ideas, but it seems to me that most people have a very strong visceral reaction to violence against other humans. But then there have been groups of humans who performed grisly human sacrifices routinely, among other things, so I don't know.

I guess I'd rather be desensitized to it than otherwise, because being averse to just about anything seems like a hindrance more than a help.

Maybe it's just my very recent unpleasant experience talking.

 

[Odo]

What does that even mean?

Why would it mean anything other than what it says?
:thinking: