Are you a vegetarian??

dimension10

I too believe in the deterministic view of the universe and that there is no fundamental separation between living and non-living. And I am also vegetarian, because I believe that pain and suffering do exist! Which is why I do not believe in the "plants live too!" argument since plants don't feel pain, so they have no rights. Because then, would come the "Bacteria live too!" argument which would not permit me to wash my hands.

Kholdstare

What exactly are you trying to say? Animals feel pain and suffering, while plants do not. Yet there is no fundamental separation between living and non-living!

Curious3141

I've always thought the most humane diet would consist of using genetically modified bacteria to produce and excrete high-grade proteins and all the vitamins essential for human health. The bacteria + nutrient mix would then be filtered through a micropore filter that would allow the nutrient macromolecules through, but hold the living bacteria back. The completely inanimate nutrient mix is then processed and packed, and people can subsist on it.

While this is as "humane" as it gets (no living things are eaten or intentionally killed to get the food), it's also immensely impractical and exceedingly expensive. One's "daily allowance" may cost at least a few hundred bucks to produce.

So that's a no-go. Pragmatically speaking, we all have to draw the line somewhere when it comes to deciding what we eat. How much suffering are we willing to abide for our nutritive needs? Killing higher animals (mammals and maybe avians)? Or just lower vertebrates (fish)? How about invertebrates only?

Is lacto-ovo-vegetarianism OK? What's so humane about animal products like dairy and eggs? The former involves pumping cows full of antibiotics and tearing a calf away from its mother. The latter involves sacrificing a HUGE number of male chicks which are just tossed into blenders while still fully conscious. This applies even to many "free range" farm products, which "humane"-conscious shoppers buy exclusively (and obliviously). That's just sick, isn't it?

Is veganism completely humane? Because many vegans still eat root vegetables, the harvesting of which involves killing the entire plant. What about fruitarians? Is it a subversion of the order of nature to eat the fruit but not disperse the seed?

And if one follows all these "-ism"s, is adequate nutrition guaranteed? Even if adults may choose to follow such diets, is it fair to "inflict" this upon young children, who have stringent needs, are unable to make an informed choice and are highly dependent on their caregivers?

Finally, are people who follow the most stringent dietary practices also abstaining from taking any medication, even for life-threatening conditions? Because EVERY drug has been tested on animals at some point, and that means that animal life, usually of the cute, furry and cuddly kind, has been taken in the process of developing and testing the medicine. While one may choose to avoid cosmetics and hygiene products that have been animal-tested, how can one avoid medication if one is sick?

The point of my post is to show that there's no black and white when it comes to humane arguments for or against some form of diet. While I'm lacto-ovo-vegetarian myself, I am no longer strident in decrying meat-eating. I no longer harangue others and extol the virtues of vegetarianism. I'm sticking with my form of vegetarianism because I've been conditioned to be happy with this diet, and I still figure it's more humane than an all-out meat-eating diet. But I won't fault anyone for choosing to eat meat.

dimension10

I'm saying that everything works mechanically, except quantum mechanical corrections, that is. Pain is also a mechanical process, but I don't want to cause it because it is not something one would want to encounter. Aargh, this is getting a little philosophical.

dimension10

I am lacto-vegetarian. I stopped eating eggs after watching one of PeTA's videos. Some dairy farms are ok, they don't tear calves away from their mothers nor make them veal.

Evo

Eat what you want, don't eat what you don't want. Just be aware that your choices could be harmful to your health. Don't go by fad sites (like a raw food diet, paleo diet) get real scientific/medical advice on what constitutes a healthy, balanced diet. If you still want to go on a dangerous/unhealthy fad diet, well, we warned you.

GladScientist

I am not a vegetarian, and I find it extremely difficult to morally justify my position as a meat eater. In some sense, I'm open about the fact that eating meat is probably wrong but I refuse to stop because I love it.

Curious3141

What happens to the old cows after they've stopped giving milk?

Danger

They marry us and make our lives miserable.

Curious3141

daveb

I'm the same way (though vegan). I call the types of people that try to force others into veganism vegangelicals.

glb_lub

I used to eat non-vegetarian but I am an ovo-lacto-vegetarian as of now.
But recently I watched the following video :-



And would love to give a break to my vegetarianism exclusively to try out these locusts.
Some of you may have watched that TED talk.

I don't know whether this has been already discussed. But what are you people's views on insect diet ? A lot of people here are not eating non-vegetarian food for humane reasons. That is quite understandable.

But would you consider eating insects as inhumane ? I mean , a locust (most probably) does not have the same amount of emotional range like a cow. Similarly, would you say eating animals such as oysters inhumane ? Of course , eating locusts/oysters would count as non-vegetarian diet but would you say it is less inhumane than eating cows/lambs ?

micromass

It's a tough question. I'm vegetarian because suffering and pain of animals bother me. But I don't think that insects or locus can even feel pain (although I'm not sure).

However, I want to draw a line somewhere between what I don't eat and what I do eat. That line is necessarily arbitrary. So I choose to draw the line between plants and animals. I don't think I would have any problems right now with eating insects, but I just choose not to.

Infinitum

http://www.utilitarian-essays.com/insect-pain.html

Yes, they do!!

glb_lub

Anyways in case some of there are ex-meat eaters here who are missing the taste of meat, there are few vegetarian substitutes which somewhat simulate the texture of meat.
We had discussed 'Paneer' i.e cottage cheese a few posts back. It is a good substitute for meat. Some people may say that so is mushroom. Not to mention tofu.

In India, we have dishes made from a fruit called Jackfruit.

The unripe fruit tastes similar to chicken.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackfruit#Young_fruit

I'm not sure whether it is available everywhere around the world. How many of you have tasted it ?

Danger

Is there anything that doesn't taste like chicken? Rattlesnakes, worms, lizards, anything found in a meteorite crater... If anybody wants you to try something inedible, they say that it tastes like chicken. The only thing that I haven't heard it said about is chicken.
I have no objection in principle to eating insects. On the other hand, I have a morbid bug phobia. I can't even pick up a dead one without pliers or tweezers. It doesn't bother me that I suck in the occasional gnat or fruit fly, but the thought of something like a beetle or grasshopper entering my system send shivers up my spine.

CAC1001

Not a vegan, but I do make sure to eat lots of fresh raw produce. Every day I munch on raw baby carrots and raw spinach. I have a "daily vegetable requirement" so as to make sure I am always consuming veggies to get the nutrition. I figure a combination at least of raw carrots and spinach is a very good balance nutrition-wise. I eat other vegetables and lots of fruit as well.