Hello folks! First, I’d like to clarify that, even as a bloodmouth, I fully understand why some people have moral objections to eating meat. I am simply here to ask about it, as someone who is not a vegan.
So I suppose I have a few questions for anyone who wants to answer them, 100% as your own opinions and feelings about the topic.
Why do you make the conscious decision to not eat meat/animal products? Do you have negative feelings towards those who raise their own animals for food, such as those who raise chickens for eggs or cattle for milk, and otherwise treat the animals ethically? Are there other reasons for not eating meat that I’m not considering? When did you choose to switch to a vegan lifestyle, what (if any) was the “catalyst”? What are some challenges that you have dealt with when it comes to this lifestyle? Why do you believe there is a continued stigma around veganism in many physical/internet communities?
I understand that as someone who isn’t vegan, this is not my space, and I am trying to be as respectful as possible while here. If I have said anything objectionable within my questions or otherwise, please let me know so I can avoid making the mistake in the future.
EDIT: Holy crap, thank you all for the responses! I appreciate y’all for taking the time out of your day to respond and share your knowledge. I’m going to go watch Dominion within the next few days since some of you mentioned that.
Why do you make the conscious decision to not eat meat/animal products?
Compassion for all sentient beings/the original position thought experiment. If I was in their position, what would I want humans to do/how would I want to be treated?
Do you have negative feelings towards those who raise their own animals for food, such as those who raise chickens for eggs or cattle for milk, and otherwise treat the animals ethically?
Yes. They’re treating those animals as a resource to exploit, rather than with compassion. If you can honestly say you’d be fine with being in the position of those other animals yourself, then I probably can’t convince you of why it’s still an issue. As a thought experiment, imagine aliens who, in terms of intelligence, make us look as intelligent as a traditionally farmed animal. Would you be ok with them using their advanced intelligence to manipulate us into being raised as livestock, to eat us or our secretions?
Are there other reasons for not eating meat that I’m not considering?
idk, which ones have you considered? imo the one that stands on it’s own is ethics (e.g. do no harm, treat others as you want to be treated, combined with the fact that humans at all stages of life can thrive on a vegan diet), but the environment is another big one, although for me I care about the environment because of ethics, and lastly health. Most vegan diets are better than the Standard American Diet (SAD), but it’s not the strongest argument imo.
When did you choose to switch to a vegan lifestyle, what (if any) was the “catalyst”?
About 4-5 years ago, after leaving religion. I had to think about ethics for myself instead of “whatever the bible says is right”, and arguing about atheist ethics with my dad he said “wouldn’t that apply to animals too?” and I said yes, and then realized the implications of that, went pescetarian, learned fish feel pain, and went vegan within about a month.
What are some challenges that you have dealt with when it comes to this lifestyle?
realizing people are not as compassionate as I thought, who don’t give a fuck about the atrocities of animal agriculture
Why do you believe there is a continued stigma around veganism in many physical/internet communities?
same reason there’s a stigma about environmentalists among people who love fossil fuels.
People don’t like change, and when people have gotten used to causing harm and oppressing others, they don’t like it when other people demonstrate a better way to live is possible. It shows them that they’ve needlessly caused a lot of harm, and instead of reflecting on that and stopping/changing, or accepting that they’re being selfish, they lash out at the group demonstrating the better way.
when you’re accustomed to privilege, justice feels like oppression. If you’ve been hurting others for personal gain and people tell you to stop, it feels like oppression. The reality is, we’re just asking to end the injustice and oppression of other species.
