Meat Eater / Vegetarian / Vegan

[Eyes]

Yes, I'm ok with certain vegetables and fruit, if they've been properly prepared (I can't eat raw carrots, for instance, but I'm fine with peas, tomatoes, cooked carrots etc.), but the amount I eat normally wouldn't feed me properly were I too give up meat. I'd have to abandon a lot of my diet, to become a vegetarian.

I find that if I have a lot of bland vegetables, it's enough to make me retch. Better grown, organic, vegetables are good enough, but I couldn't eat them as a staple.

That's not to say I don't have vegetarian meals. I have meat most of the time, but occasionally, I have a meat-free meal, but they almost always mainly involve cheese, so I know that even if I wanted to become a vegetarian, I'd be living on non-meat containing pizzas and macaroni cheese.

 

[Jadzia]

Just a general poll to see what we got around here.

So are you a Meat Eater, Vegetarian or Vegan?

What made you become Vegetarian/Vegan? or if not either of those why do you choose to eat meat knowing what has to be done to provide you with it?

I am vegan.

I became vegetarian when I was around 8 years old, and facing much dissuasion and mockery from my parents.

When I was younger than this, I was often interested to know what the things were on my plate. I was very uncomfortable hearing that some of the things used to be animals.

My feeling then was a strong instinctive feeling that killing animals for food was wrongful. I felt that an animals life has more intrinsic value than my selfish desire to satisfy a few hours of hunger. And if we could go back in time, then I'd rather forego the meal and allow the animal to live, as it seems to want to do, in its own peaceful way.

How I reinterpreted that as I grew older is with my maxim that "no life is worth so much that it can justify destroying anothers in order to extend its own."

(Life in this context is anything with a mind; minds are morally considerable.)


And then I became vegan in my late teens.

My motivation here was that animals were still being treated as commodities, as part of the same industry, and they will all go on to be slaughtered when they're old. I'm not completely against the consumption of dairy products, but I am strongly against the attitudes held towards the animals, and the treatment of them as commodities.

I choose to not be part of that supply and demand chain. I choose to be vegan.

umm, I firmly believe that humans are, in fact, carnivores. to attempt to survive on a vegetarian diet is IMNSHO to deny the truth.

Your body is capable of digesting worms and human flesh, but that doesn't mean you have to include them in your diet through some "denying the truth" argument.

Nor do you have to define and classify your diet with worms and human flesh in mind. The same goes for all digestible things. Your diet is what you choose it to be.

 

[scotpens]

Vegetarian since ... hm..16/17 years. And also before that I never ate much meat, only a few things and only prepared in a certain way. A steak for example I never ate in my life.

Man, you don't know what you've been missing!

 

[scotpens]

umm, I firmly believe that humans are, in fact, carnivores. to attempt to survive on a vegetarian diet is IMNSHO to deny the truth.

Your body is capable of digesting worms and human flesh, but that doesn't mean you have to include them in your diet through some “denying the truth” argument.

Mmmm . . . worms!

 

[Shazam!]

pescetarian

now that word always makes me laugh!

It always makes me eye-roll. Either go animal-free or just don't bother. Creating you're own little rules is absurd.

 

[Holdfast]

I love all kinds of food, provided it's prepared nicely. More of an omnivore than anything else. I eat meat, but I'll also occasionally have vegetarian meals and since a friend of mine is vegan, occasionally I have those too.

Basically, I don't think I'd like to omit any food group from my diet, because done right, they can all be tasty.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I have no problem with eating meat, as it's part of the natural cycle. What I do have a problem with is how animals are treated, and I always promote the humane treatment of all creatures; I'll be even happier when something like this is possible.

 

[TerokNor]

Vegetarian since ... hm..16/17 years. And also before that I never ate much meat, only a few things and only prepared in a certain way. A steak for example I never ate in my life.

Man, you don't know what you've been missing!

Maybe, but as I don´t know how it tastes, I can´t miss it...and it leaves more steaks for you.

Well but I think, if one likes to eat meat, thats fine as well... but it would be good if one is somewhat concerned about, where the meat comes from.


TerokNor

 

[Cornholio]

umm, I firmly believe that humans are, in fact, carnivores. to attempt to survive on a vegetarian diet is IMNSHO to deny the truth.

Your body is capable of digesting worms and human flesh, but that doesn't mean you have to include them in your diet through some "denying the truth" argument.

wow, I guess I really need to like, triple re-read my posts and stuff before hittin' that submit button.

what I was tryin' to say there in regards to the truth was more of a "to thine own self be true" kinda truth. wasn't meant to be an argument on behalf of all humans, or an argument of any kind, just a statement of my own opinion in regards to myself.

hope that clarifies stuff for everyone.

maybe I should lay off the Bud Ice when posting too.


oh, and I have eaten worms. been a long time though.

pescetarian

now that word always makes me laugh!

It always makes me eye-roll. Either go animal-free or just don't bother. Creating you're own little rules is absurd.

kinda like pickin' only some parts of a religion to follow?

actually it makes me laugh 'cause it pretty much starts with my last name.

 

[RedFenix]

Sushi and salmon are what keeps me from going fully vegetarian. So, I'm a pescetarian.

 

[Nathan_Heller]

I listed myself as meat-eater, but I'm an omnivore. I enjoy a good salad as much as good steak sometimes.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Proud member of the other PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals)

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

My feeling then was a strong instinctive feeling that killing animals for food was wrongful. I felt that an animals life has more intrinsic value than my selfish desire to satisfy a few hours of hunger. And if we could go back in time, then I'd rather forego the meal and allow the animal to live, as it seems to want to do, in its own peaceful way.

Like I said, animals kill EACH OTHER for food. So that, IMHO, gives us the right to kill them.

 

[Daneel]

I would classify myself as an omnivore, but since there isn't a poll option for that, I guess "meat-eater" comes closest. I've been eating meat for as long as I can remember, and I don't plan on changing that any time soon.

 

[AstroSmurf]

Another vegetarian here and a hardcore one at that. This means no gelatin and certain cheeses. And I have been one for the last twenty years. I would also love to go vegan but my diabetes makes that almost impossible. (I would also have a hard time giving up cheese. Mmmmm... cheddar.)

But unlike a lot of my brethren, I refuse to try and impose my beliefs on others so no worries here. You can slaughter and eat whatever you want, just don't ask me to watch... or cook it for you.

 

[Jadzia]

My feeling then was a strong instinctive feeling that killing animals for food was wrongful. I felt that an animals life has more intrinsic value than my selfish desire to satisfy a few hours of hunger. And if we could go back in time, then I'd rather forego the meal and allow the animal to live, as it seems to want to do, in its own peaceful way.

Like I said, animals kill EACH OTHER for food. So that, IMHO, gives us the right to kill them.

Do you mean this as some kind of judge and executioner? If so, then note that cows do not go around killing other animals, so would seem innocent in the eyes of justice.

Or do you mean that the existence of predators somehow gives you the right to be a predator too?

But why does your moral logic not translate to other acts of hostility? For example, does the existence of thieves give you the right to be a thief too?

 

[PlixTixiplik]

I'm a mostly-vegetarian (I will eat local fish I get at the farmers' market and invertebrates, but no tetrapods) for environmental reasons - mainly greenhouse gas emissions and water use. I will eat meat occasionally if it's inconvenient not to - for example, if I'm eating at a friend's house or cooking in a group while camping. Beef is by far the worst offender, environmentally speaking, so I prefer chicken or similar in those circumstances.

 

[RJDiogenes]

My feeling then was a strong instinctive feeling that killing animals for food was wrongful. I felt that an animals life has more intrinsic value than my selfish desire to satisfy a few hours of hunger. And if we could go back in time, then I'd rather forego the meal and allow the animal to live, as it seems to want to do, in its own peaceful way.

Like I said, animals kill EACH OTHER for food. So that, IMHO, gives us the right to kill them.

That's flawed logic, since it can also be used to justify murder.

 

[gturner]

Do you mean this as some kind of judge and executioner? If so, then note that cows do not go around killing other animals, so would seem innocent in the eyes of justice.

Cows are among the most vicious creatures on the planet, far worse than hippos, which is why we keep them carefully penned up behind fences.

As most any dairy farmer can attest, "Mooooo...." translates as "milk me or I'll kill you."

Sure, occassionally you get a wimpy one like Ferdinand the bull, but most delight in trying to gore and trample Spaniards and the occassional tourist.

The danger becomes even greater when they grab guns.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPhWfSeMYHA[/yt]

 

[Kirby]

To quote Anthony Bourdain, ""If it has four legs, is dumber and slower than me, pass the salt."

I love most fruit and vegetables, but meat is just so tasty I could never/will never give it up.