The AntiChris

Arrowman

My "let's get the facts straight" comment was made only to put Lord Snooty's undoubted over-reaction in context. It in no way justifies his reaction but does, I think, go some way to explaining it.

When I first started posting on IIDB, it was on a thread "discussing" the morality of meat-eating, and I remember being completely taken aback by the overwhelming hostility shown to anyone who dared to defend the ethical vegetarian position, so I can understand Lord Snooty's frustration.

Chris

Ut

Well, I think that "anti-vegetarian" means someone who believes people shouldn't be allowed to be vegetarian, that everybody should eat meat.

If you find evidence of this in August Spies' statement, fell free to repost your s.

The AntiChris

You're free to think what you like, but that's a very narrow, literal interpretation.

Chris

LordSnooty

It's true that I said I would leave this thread, but I keep coming back in an (moronically pointless) attempt to try and defend my beliefs.

I have been accused of over-reaction, which I find somewhat amusing.

Obviously, the site referenced in the original post was a calm, witty and scholarly essay, doubtless deserving of a Nobel prize. Not so much as a merest hint of over-reaction, and my own reaction to it was wholly unjustified. I apologise unreservedly to the author - doubtless an under-rated genius, destined for the very top of the journalistic profession. I may even contact the Queen, in the event of her requiring a new Poet Lauriate.

For the record: Yes, I can claim moral superiority in the issue of my vegetarianism. For all that's worth. It's not an all-encompassing indicator of my enormous moral strength. For all you know, it could be my only decent moral trait. I might otherwise be an immoral monkey-shagger. I never claimed to be better than anyone else.

But vegetarianism is, as far as I'm concerned, morally superior to meat eating. Don't like it? Well then, I couldn't care less what you think. Because I have my opinions, and I know for a fact that they are based on solid foundations of kindness and an understanding and sympathy for the suffering of other creatures.

If you don't agree with my views, that's up to you. I don't have any problem with people that eat meat. Almost everyone I know eats meat! But I will not stand by and allow my beliefs to be attacked without any logical or rational explanation.

It is interesting to note that no actual justification for these attacks has yet been made, or even attempted.

Paul

August Spies

LS:

what are you talking about? who has been atacking your beliefs? who said you shouldnt' be vegetarian? no one. People are attacking certain claims and statements you made. that is all....

well yes I realize that is what it would mean, but do such people exist?

alek0

Well actually they do exist. Or how else you explain that often in begining years of being a vegeterian friends and family members are tryng to trick vegeterian into eating meat containing dishes?

Also, why are vegeterians so frequently presented as freaks and fanatics?

I am ethical vegeterian. If I considered eating meat moral, I would eat it (I am aware that there are people who are vegeterians for other reasons). I don't see why should anyone get offended with that.

I also have one question for meat eaters: would you eat cats & dogs? If not, why not and how would it be worse than eating a pig?

August Spies

would you eat cats & dogs? If not, why not and how would it be worse than eating a pig?

They are different animals. Period.

Personally I think cats and dogs are a bit smarter than pigs and I don't see anything appealing about dog or cat meat. But if someone I knew was eating dog I certainly wouldn't be grossed out or think he was immoral.... like my vietnamese roommate.

Arrowman

I read a very good article on this a while back; damn, I can't find the reference. Anyway, what it boiled down to was - dogs and cats have been specifically bred by humans as companion animals, not food animals. Pigs, cows etc have been bred as food animals. It therefore makes sense for humans to treat dogs & cats differently.

Of course it's all fine lines and grey areas, and some might say that the above is a rationalisation (although it's not - it's based on historical fact) but then again - how would an ethical vegetarian feel about eating worms or insects for example? Both of these are legitimate human food.

The AntiChris

What criteria do you use for deciding whether an organism is "legitimate human food"?

Chris

LordSnooty

Pigs are actually significantly smarter than cats or dogs. I thought everyone knew that.

Paul