Vegetarianism

[ThrobbingEgo]

A child in Africa might be starving right now because of you choosing to be a vegetarian! The veggies you eat are grown to die!

Yeah, that's retarded.

Someone is smart and didn't notice any irony. Though it's not completely untrue.

Some of the food that is not eaten is sent to African nations and others in need of help as aid. You have to eat more as a vegetarian which means less food is going to be available for those in need.

Also the vegetables were grown to die.

Yeah, except we'd also be using less resources on meat - which is a very energy inefficient way of getting food. So we'd actually have more food resources to ship to Africa in the long run.

And, last I checked, carrots aren't social animals with mental states.

That would still mean we'd have to kill ass loads of animals. Energy? Well the cow has to eat to live and grow. It mostly eats grass. If we stop eating meat and release the cow we can replace it's meadow with veggies. But we'd still need more and that cow still has to eat. Also counting calories meat is pretty efficient.

Who said they had?

Yeah, I don't think there's going to be a massive transition overnight, neccesitating a slaughter. Just reduced demand over time, meaning less necessity to breed farm animals. Besides, aren't they all inevitably going to be slaughtered under the current system? If a euthanasia slaughter were necessary, it'd be no different than as it is now, but without future generations of suffering. I don't believe that that's the most positive solution, but it's no worse than the way things are now.

And cows don't just eat grass. You think it'd grow fast enough in a pen to support dozens of cows? I'd imagine it'd only be possible free range.

Also, we grow a *lot* of poultry. What do you think they eat?

 

[Cortheya]

why do you eat fish? Honestly, the fish you eat probably came from fish farms, therefor raised to die. Even that point is a little contrived isnt it? Sorry dont mean to question your choices i just dont understand that part of vegetarians.

Eating fish is not part of vegetarianism.

And why not? I smell hypocrisy. In my opinion, vegetarianism is crap especially if you see some distinction between fish and other animals.
As for your advice, get some protein from other sources if you're intent on this course.

 

[CWestfall]

Vegetarianism is stupid in my eyes. Humans started to evolve when they began eating meat.

QFT.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Vegetarianism is stupid in my eyes. Humans started to evolve when they began eating meat.

Wow, that shows a total lack of understanding for the theory of natural selection. Humans didn't "start" to evolve. It's a constant ongoing process. We just happened to adapt to be omnivorous.

It's not like meat = evolution. It's not like if we stopped eating meat, we'd turn into chimps, then lemurs, and then crawl back into the sea.

 

[CWestfall]

What he meant by that (At least hopefully, seeing as how I have quoted it.) was that the neolithic period when our ancestors began raising cattle was the turning point of mankind, changing from being hunters and gatherers to residents of small communities, laying the groundwork for civilization and thus Earth as we know it.

 

[Aries_Split]

why do you eat fish? Honestly, the fish you eat probably came from fish farms, therefor raised to die. Even that point is a little contrived isnt it? Sorry dont mean to question your choices i just dont understand that part of vegetarians.

I found out about that, so I only buy fish that are taken out of the ocean. It's a ***** to look for specialty brands though.

Then you aren't a vegetarian. You are eating fish who have had their life taken from them.

Last time I checked, fish were not vegetables. Nor were they fruits. They have consciousness.

 

[Acaroid]

I have recently started practicing vegetarianism. I still eat fish but will not eat any other type of meat due to them being raised to die. I would like to know if anyone has any advice for me or any warnings that my lifestyle of not eating much meat could have on me.

Well if your just a vegitarian, ou dont have anything to really worry about. Mind you i personally dont understand why you arnt a vegan, because milk cows are bread for death also. Also dairy is the most f'ed up thing to eat in the world... it is kinda sick and horrible, I say eat all the meat you want, it is dairy that is the real un-natural, gross thing you can possibly eat...

being a vegan would be harder as you dont have that large of source of b12 avalible, so you would need to supliment or eat fortafied foods (or eat seaweed). Vegetables use to have b12 but due to centuries of farming methods it no longer contains it.

being a vegan you also hav to have a bit knowledge of nutrition I would guess, it would take alot of reading and maybe you should invest in a nutritional almanac (mind you EVERYONE should do that anyway, vegi or not, most people have no idea about nutrition and should read up about the real facts.. not the stupid stuff they teach ins chools or put on TV, most of it is somewhat mis-informed)

I have no clue about your beginning paragraph about milk being gross or something, but thanks for the tips.

LoL yeah most people dont get the milk thing... I just think it is seriosuly wrong.. even without the factory farming methods... just the idea of milk is wrong...
Humans are the only animal known, ever to ever drink the milk of another animal... there is no use at all for drinking it, no animal is designed in anyway to drink the stuff after weening and in general creeps me out thining about the idea... Oh and for anyone who thinks you need it for calcuim or some crap, milk only gives you 1 source of a specific type of calcium and as humans we need more than one and as we shouldnt drink milk by design, it is stupid to think it is an essential part of any diet...

but I still think you should buy a nutritional alminac, it will sever you good not just for you, but the usually give you interesting tips and facts on various things about how we eat.

 

[Jast]

I kinda hate that life style. I think it's quite ridiculous if you ask me but I doubt you will. Though on another point though, a couple of times I was with friends and I was taking them to this really nice restaurant and was all excited about treating them to a great meal and thought they would absolutely love it. A couple of them hardly ordered anything and one of them said they didn't want the food cause they were vegetarian. It's also annoying when you provide meals for them at your own home and they give you the whole "Oh I'm vegetarian" crap. I don't know about you but quite frankly I feel a bit insulted going through all the trouble thinking you're doing something special for them when they won't even touch the food. To me it's like saying, "I'ld rather starve than eat what you are feeding me for free."

 

[CWestfall]

Then you aren't a vegetarian. You are eating fish who have had their life taken from them.

Last time I checked, fish were not vegetables. Nor were they fruits. They have consciousness.

His problems with eating meat stem from the fact that most meat on the market today is from animals who were raised for slaughter, not the whole "They have feelings too" bit you get from most vegetarians.

 

[Beefcakes]

Yeah, you need the protein that animals provide in order to stay sane and prevent brain damage. Which is why I don't trust vegetarians or vegans, they be bat-shit crazy.

For Proof: http://bit.ly/xj7jE

Hey hey hey, I've been a vegetarian my entire life, and I'm fine
Socially normal, really quite intelligent, live a great life
I have never willingly eaten meat
Or fruit
Or vegetables's, apart from potato's

I currently hold the world record for being the fussiest eater and remaining normal

So saying that all vegetarians are insane and have brain damage?
Thats just abysmal
Shame on you

 

[Beefcakes]

Vegetarianism is stupid in my eyes. Humans started to evolve when they began eating meat.

Yeah, I know I'm double posting, but this is just, ugh...
Humans were evolving before, and yet after we started eating meat.
You think we went single cell organism straight to meat eating multicellular organism?

You know, its still in dispute we are meant to be eating meat, were are the only omnivores/carnivores that have to cook our meat before eating it
The more you know.

 

[Abedeus]

If humans were to eat only vegetables, I think our ancestors would just stay in one place and grow crops instead of moving around and hunting for animals. I mean, an animal might attack, hurt you! Most of the plants people grow for harvest can't hurt you, unless you shove them up your nose.

Humans are omnivores! You can't make a lion eat only grass and vegetables or turn a cow into a blood-thirsty monster. Just like animals' bodies need what they need, we need both vegetables and meat.

Yeah, but we don't need to eat meat. We can get along just fine with vegetables and beans. Indian food is mostly vegetarian, it's primarily the West that's bought into the heavy meat meals. The problems come in when people assume they can just live off of salad. Lettuce doesn't have much in the way of protean, or anything besides water, but broccoli and beans do.

We're not lions - we can live without eating meat. Making appeals to our ancestors is pointless, because they did all kinds of crap that we wouldn't tolerate in our society. We can make choices. We have options. We can think for ourselves.

It doesn't matter, for the sake of our morality, what our ancestors did. We're here now. We're not going to go backwards if we eat plants instead of meat.

Uhm. Yeah, we do need to eat meat.

And you get proteins from... which vegetable? Broccoli and beans? Hope you don't fart a lot. Hmm, might explain why they are so smug...

1) That was uncalled for. Why the personal attacks?
2) We don't need to eat meat. Vegetarians who eat properly are actually healthier because they don't eat red meat.
3) It depends how you prepare the beans.

1) I didn't know you are a vegetarian. My apologies.

2) Studies. Citation needed.

3) Yeah, because every vegetarian knows that ;d

 

[MasterSqueak]

I have recently started practicing vegetarianism. I still eat fish but will not eat any other type of meat due to them being raised to die. I would like to know if anyone has any advice for me or any warnings that my lifestyle of not eating much meat could have on me.

Honestly? You WILL have some muscle degrading from the lack of meat, although eating fish solves that problem.

I still fail to see WHY you would go vegetarian though.

 

[michael_ab]

you can do really well being a veggie you just have to know where to look.

try to learn to cook for yourself so your sure what your taking in, then rely on the local farmers market if you have one

if all else fails just grow your own food, if your worried about protine remember this, spinich, pound for pound, has more protine that raw meat.

and does your own brand of veggie exclude dairy too? i couldnt do that i love cheese.. and cream

 

[jasoncyrus]

Technically not vegetarian but piscatarian if you still eat fish. You should be fine. Just find things that you like that will give you the right minerals. Quorn and tofu if cooked correctly can be very nice, despite what some people think. Dairy products are also helpful although over-indulging in dairy might not be too healthy. If all else fails you can pick up some mineral tablets specialised for veganism and vegetarianism that make up your lack of some minerals.
Well done by the way!

Or he can go back to a therapist, work out his issues and return to being an omnivore since is logic is frighteningly bad and is an extremely poor excuse for becoming a vegetarian. Especially when there are far worse issues in the word today.

Who are you to criticize his beliefs? How is discriminating for a moral belief any better than discriminating over a religious belief?

Also by your logic we should ignore theft because murder is a worse threat to the world. If he believes killing animals is wrong and can make a difference as easy as changing his diet why shouldn't he?

Just because you have a different viewpoint to him it doesn't mean you shouldn't respect it.

Who am I? I am Jason Omen Cyrus. The man who is amazed you've managed to confused a moral belief with a dietary choice. There is nothing MORAL about going vegetarian, we evolved to eat meat, thus no moral issue end of story. Your logic is flawed beyond belief on that point.

As for religius beliefs, I discriminate against religion all the time, (except things like bhuddism because they don't have a convertion rule), because certain religions are a flawed choice aswell.

As for making a difference, what differenc eis he making? a few more animal around that we can replace *Extremely* easily. This is why we BREED cattle, poultry, pigs, etc, etc.

Respect? Friend, respect has to be EARNED. This decision of his for its incredibly pointless reasoning (he may aswell join the current mad peta), barters ZERO reespect for him, quite the opposite since it apparently shows his inability to reason properly.

you can do really well being a veggie you just have to know where to look.

try to learn to cook for yourself so your sure what your taking in, then rely on the local farmers market if you have one

if all else fails just grow your own food, if your worried about protine remember this, spinich, pound for pound, has more protine that raw meat.

and does your own brand of veggie exclude dairy too? i couldnt do that i love cheese.. and cream

see? THIS guy earns respect for going vegetarian (assuming he is) because he has projected the reasoning of choosing that lifestyle because he can get the same if not more nutrients his way.

GJ sir.

 

[NoNameMcgee]

Good for you, but if you're still eating fish, whats the point? Why not go all the way once you've started? :O

Theres no real excuse to eat meat anymore, to be honest. We don't need it, the few things you miss out on for not eating it are mostly unimportant after a certain age (I believe), and we're at a point where we can sympathise with animals as living beings that don't deserve to die for our own selfish needs for tasty treats.

But damn it, I love burgers.

 

[Doomdiver]

Technically not vegetarian but piscatarian if you still eat fish. You should be fine. Just find things that you like that will give you the right minerals. Quorn and tofu if cooked correctly can be very nice, despite what some people think. Dairy products are also helpful although over-indulging in dairy might not be too healthy. If all else fails you can pick up some mineral tablets specialised for veganism and vegetarianism that make up your lack of some minerals.
Well done by the way!

Or he can go back to a therapist, work out his issues and return to being an omnivore since is logic is frighteningly bad and is an extremely poor excuse for becoming a vegetarian. Especially when there are far worse issues in the word today.

Who are you to criticize his beliefs? How is discriminating for a moral belief any better than discriminating over a religious belief?

Also by your logic we should ignore theft because murder is a worse threat to the world. If he believes killing animals is wrong and can make a difference as easy as changing his diet why shouldn't he?

Just because you have a different viewpoint to him it doesn't mean you shouldn't respect it.

Who am I? I am Jason Omen Cyrus. The man who is amazed you've managed to confused a moral belief with a dietary choice. There is nothing MORAL about going vegetarian, we evolved to eat meat, thus no moral issue end of story. Your logic is flawed beyond belief on that point.

As for religius beliefs, I discriminate against religion all the time, (except things like bhuddism because they don't have a convertion rule), because certain religions are a flawed choice aswell.

As for making a difference, what differenc eis he making? a few more animal around that we can replace *Extremely* easily. This is why we BREED cattle, poultry, pigs, etc, etc.

Respect? Friend, respect has to be EARNED. This decision of his for its incredibly pointless reasoning (he may aswell join the current mad peta), barters ZERO reespect for him, quite the opposite since it apparently shows his inability to reason properly.

However his choice in his change of diet is caused by a moral belief. In case you didn't read his first post he has changed his diet due to the belief that it is wrong to raise animals to be killed.

And surely he has earned respect for actually doing something about what he believes in rather than just sitting by idly and doing nothing. He is making a difference by not eating meat and reducing demand. Okay yes it is hard to imagine that one person will make that much of a difference but it is not just one person. He is joining many others who are turning vegetarian.

I also agree with you on the point that religion should be criticized. However it appears that you are just shunning this guy because of his choices without even thinking about his point of view. Criticizing someone about their choices without a thought of how they may believe in something different to you is just plain discrimination.

 

[LockNstock]

I believe this is untrue,they have no nerves,or indeed nerve endings.Or any sort of pain receptor

 

[LockNstock]

I think the path to becoming healthy,you have to eat meat.It's a balanced diet,and really it's the natural order of things.And I think it's unethical what you said about the animals getting raised on farms to die,and your still going to eat fish.....fish get the same treatment really....there is just a different process.

 

[khain13]

Vegetarianism is stupid in my eyes. Humans started to evolve when they began eating meat.

Yeah, I know I'm double posting, but this is just, ugh...
Humans were evolving before, and yet after we started eating meat.
You think we went single cell organism straight to meat eating multicellular organism?

You know, its still in dispute we are meant to be eating meat, were are the only omnivores/carnivores that have to cook our meat before eating it
The more you know.

In all actuality humans, being Omnivorous, are quite capable of digesting most plant and animal matter and even many minerals (under the right circumstances) without harm and in fact gaining sustenence from said matter. Humans DO NOT have to cook meat prior to eating it, take sushi as a currently trendy uncooked meat product. In fact cooking meat destroys some of the nutrients it contains and in the case of overcooking/charring it can even produce harmful carcenogens. The reason we cook most meats has a lot to do with how the meat is harvested (for lack of a better term) and transported to us. A lot of harmful bacteria enjoy meat as much or more than humans and we discovered some time ago that cooking meat kills the bacteria that would harm us (thus the 180 degree F internal temp guidelines for food prep).

And to adress a couple other thing brought up above:

Cannibalism - I won't deny that if this were an option there would probably be a LOT of people that would try it. I would also like to add that we probably taste horrible. However, being that grain-fed beef tastes the best I would guess that vegans would be the tastiest humans.

I worked with an ovo-lacto vegitarian (still eats birds/eggs and milk products)for several years, the things he did to a bathroom should be considered a crime. As someone else posted above, cellulous found in large quantities in plants digests poorly and quickly. So, if you do seriously go vegitarian be mindful of what you are eating when on long trips and stock up on air freshener for your bathroom.