Vegetarianism

[Monkian1234]

Semi-on-topic story:

I was staying at the International house at the University of Chicago for a little over one week and I had an interesting encounter in the elevator. I saw a very young college student (looked to be around 19 or so) who had a backpack that was just covered in pins with activist slogans all over them. One pin read, "My body my choice!" which I assumed meant she was a supporter of a woman's right to choose to have an abortion. Another pin read, "MEAT IS MURDER!" in all caps just like that.

So, since I am kind of an ass, I couldn't stop myself from tapping her on the shoulder.

I said, "Excuse me."

She said, "Yes?"

"Would it be OK if I were to eat aborted cow fetuses? I mean they aren't real cows yet so that should be fine right?"

She looked at me for about 4 or 5 seconds as her face slowly turned red and then she actually slapped my face. She then slapped my face again when I started laughing hysterically at her.

 

[armageddonman]

My definition is "do not eat dead animals or products made from dead animals".

I do refrain from milk products however because I think that milk is food for baby mammals, not for adult humans and because of the way it's produced (some people seriously think that cows give milk by default, no baby cows required).

 

[JAStewart]

Girlfriend is a flexi-tarian. She likes to call it the official title which is like Pescotarian. She eats dairy/fish.

 

[whatthebutlersaw]

(some people seriously think that cows give milk by default, no baby cows required).

I have never come across anyone who believes this. Not even on teh internetz have I come across anyone who believes this. I taught pre-school for three years, and all my four-to-six-yearolds knew how this works. Where on earth have you come across anyone expressing this?

 

[Mobyseven]

Semi-on-topic story:

I was staying at the International house at the University of Chicago for a little over one week and I had an interesting encounter in the elevator. I saw a very young college student (looked to be around 19 or so) who had a backpack that was just covered in pins with activist slogans all over them. One pin read, "My body my choice!" which I assumed meant she was a supporter of a woman's right to choose to have an abortion. Another pin read, "MEAT IS MURDER!" in all caps just like that.

So, since I am kind of an ass, I couldn't stop myself from tapping her on the shoulder.

I said, "Excuse me."

She said, "Yes?"

"Would it be OK if I were to eat aborted cow fetuses? I mean they aren't real cows yet so that should be fine right?"

She looked at me for about 4 or 5 seconds as her face slowly turned red and then she actually slapped my face. She then slapped my face again when I started laughing hysterically at her.

Wait...what was the point of that exchange? If somebody believes (a) it is wrong to eat meat, and (b) women should have the right to choose, how does that then entail the belief (c) it is not morally wrong to purposefully induce abortion in a cow in order to eat the fetus?

 

[Monkian1234]

Wait...what was the point of that exchange? If somebody believes (a) it is wrong to eat meat, and (b) women should have the right to choose, how does that then entail the belief (c) it is not morally wrong to purposefully induce abortion in a cow in order to eat the fetus?

Under the reasoning that a fetus is not a developed being, how could it be morally wrong to eat an aborted cow fetus? I did not say that pregnant cows should be purposefully induced into aborting. But if their happened to be some cow fetuses lying around because they were aborted for the heifer's health anyway then would it be OK for me to eat them?


As to the point of the exchange...there wasn't one really


I did say that I am an ass, didn't I? ^^

 

[Mobyseven]

Under the reasoning that a fetus is not a developed being, how could it be morally wrong to eat an aborted cow fetus? I did not say that pregnant cows should be purposefully induced into aborting. But if their happened to be some cow fetuses lying around because they were aborted for the heifer's health anyway then would it be OK for me to eat them?

An off the top of my head response? Probably, yeah. If you just happened to stumble across an aborted cow fetus, go for it. You know, if you really want to.

As to the point of the exchange...there wasn't one really


I did say that I am an ass, didn't I? ^^

I wouldn't be so proud of that if I were you.

 

[icerat]

Girlfriend is a flexi-tarian. She likes to call it the official title which is like Pescotarian. She eats dairy/fish.

flexitarians can eat any meat. Pescotarian's are limited to fish

 

[GStan]

I am a vegetarian. I'm just not a strict vegetarian. I do eat beef and pork. But not fish 'cause that's disgusting!

- Jim Gaffigan

 

[Monkian1234]

An off the top of my head response? Probably, yeah. If you just happened to stumble across an aborted cow fetus, go for it. You know, if you really want to.

Sweet-permission!

[/QUOTE]I wouldn't be so proud of that if I were you.[/QUOTE]



It is truly fortunate that we are ourselves and not each other then isn't it

Silver linings FTW!


P.S. How can I do that nifty snipping a quote in two thing?

 

[Maus]

I have heard both the semi-vegetarian and flexitarian for "vegetarians" that occasionally eat meat.

I knew one fellow who ate no warm-blooded animals and called himself vegetarian.

People can eat whatever they want, obviously. It's a choice. I think labels are just to make people feel better about their choices by allowing them to be part of a larger, more recognized group.

-Maus

 

[Amapola]

I have heard both the semi-vegetarian and flexitarian for "vegetarians" that occasionally eat meat.

I knew one fellow who ate no warm-blooded animals and called himself vegetarian.

People can eat whatever they want, obviously. It's a choice. I think labels are just to make people feel better about their choices by allowing them to be part of a larger, more recognized group.

-Maus

That's a great point (bolding mine) and I think it also explains why some people are so aggressive about their food choices and try to force others to agree with them. Religion can be like that too.

 

[NewtonTrino]

I'm going to have a delicious vegetarian porterhouse for my dinner tonight. With a vegetarian baked potato.

 

[Just thinking]

On what basis do you think that vegetarians, particularly those who chose to do so for health or ethical reasons (the vast majority I expect) would no longer enjoy or desire the taste of meat?

It's not just that ... it's the look and feel and whatever else about meat that makes it meat that is being taken in as well. To me it seems odd that many (and there must be many for companies to make these products and still be profitable) would consume something that so closely resembles that which they are in objection to.

 

[Just thinking]

I think you'll find that most vegetarians didn't make the switch because they believe meat looks unethical...

So you're saying that some still want the sensation of eating something that are trying to avoid? OK ... but I indicated that point right in my initial comment. Now, are most doing so because a doctor told them they need to change their diet? I doubt that ... I think with most it's a personal choice, and they may in fact feel it to be a healthier choice --- but that's still a personal choice. And if I personally chose to avoid something, I don't think I would then take an alternate that resembled that avoided element almost exactly.

 

[Slimething]

People who take delight or pride in defiining themselves by what they eat are tiresome and are best avoided. People who do this to me get a "really, really don't care and stop talking about it" look from me. If they persist, they forfeit the tremendous pleasure of ever breaking bread with me again. So sad.

 

[icerat]

And if I personally chose to avoid something, I don't think I would then take an alternate that resembled that avoided element almost exactly.

Well sorry, but IMO that's just nuts. There's a reason why soft drink companies try to get their "diet" versions to taste like "the real thing".

 

[Just thinking]

Well sorry, but IMO that's just nuts. There's a reason why soft drink companies try to get their "diet" versions to taste like "the real thing".

That's actually a non-sequitur. Your soda analogy falls right into equating people choosing lower fat content meats (92% lean vs. 80%), or avoiding red meats, but not vegetarianism. It's not like they are going off soda entirely. There are still a good number of chemicals (caffeine for one, food colorings and sugar substitutes are others) still present in diet sodas.

 

[Mobyseven]

So you're saying that some still want the sensation of eating something that are trying to avoid?

No, I'm saying you're conflating "avoiding meat" with "avoiding the taste/texture of meat".

If someone wants to avoid foods they consider unethical, then they may become a vegetarian/vegan on those grounds. If there is a product that looks and tastes like meat but isn't meat, why would you expect them to avoid it?

On the other hand, I do know people who avoid meat because they don't like the taste. They're hardly going to be thrilled by faux-meat because in their case, the taste/texture actually IS what they're avoiding.

Really, it's not that hard to understand...

 

[icerat]

That's actually a non-sequitur. Your soda analogy falls right into equating people choosing lower fat content meats (92% lean vs. 80%), but not vegetarianism. It's not like they are going off soda entirely. There are still a good number of chemicals (caffeine for one, food colorings are another) still present in some diet sodas.

Huh? I don't follow at all what you are saying here. Which makes me suspect that I and others replying to you are not following what you are saying.

Many peope chose a diet cola over regular cola because they want to avoid the calories. If regular cola didn't have the calorie problem, they'd still drink it because they prefer the taste.

I'm interpreting your posts as saying the equivalent of you can't understand why they'd want diet cola to taste like regular cola, since they've decided not to drink regular cola.

That makes no sense to me.