Can Meat Eaters be Easy to Offend?

[TheRightToArmBears]

Of course they're easy to offend. They're people. It's 2015. You try and make a joke and not offend someone.

 

[madwarper]

Only one thing can kinda put me off a meat meal, and that's staring at the dead face of the animal. For example I don't wanna eat fish that still has the head attached.

Spoiler

Besides, the only way to eat a lobster is whole.

 

[Dizchu]

So you claim. And, I should note, a little light on proof.

What do I need to prove? It's what the term "factory farming" means. Intensive farming with animals densely confined. It's not my opinion or my interpretation, it's literally the definition of the term. You might as well ask me to "prove" that water is wet.

Like I already pointed out, you came here making accusations of "meat eaters", in that they are "easy to offend".

Interestingly though, I've found that meat eaters can be really easy to offend.

Multiple people in this thread have said that vegans can be smug and elitist. I did not interpret that to mean "vegans are inherently smug and elitist". I actually agree that they can be. I'm not making any accusations I am just curious about a certain form of behaviour that's common but not an inherent quality, ie. people feeling that there's some sort of threat to their dietary choices which they must defend against.

Maybe the thread title should be changed to "Why Can Meat Eaters be so Easy to Offend"? I initially didn't think it was necessary because I assumed that there was a clear distinction between your average meat eater and those that respond very negatively to animal rights activists. I even changed it so there can be less ambiguity.

If anything, this would have come from an encounter between yourself and others, others which are not here to give their side of events. So, all we have to go on is your heavily biased version of events. So, yes. I'm going to be giving those that cannot defend themselves the benefit of the doubt, because I don't believe your recollection is completely accurate.

I have no idea what you're even saying here. If I'm understanding this correctly, you wish to divert the conversation to focus on me as an individual. Because I have claimed that it is irrelevant you've assumed victory?

Wait, and that is offence? As opposed to a joke?

I suppose it could just be a "get back in the kitchen"-style joke but I can't help but feel that it's a lazy prefab response, much like "if humans evolved from monkeys why are there still monkeys?" and "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!" It just comes off to me as a cheap "gotcha".

But if it is just a joke response I have to wonder, why is it the stereotype is about vegans that feel the need to make everyone know that they're vegan, and is not equally applicable to meat eaters?

 

[madwarper]

What do I need to prove? It's what the term "factory farming" means. Intensive farming with animals densely confined.

a) Define what "insensitive farming" means, as opposed to say "sensitive farming".
b) Prove that that these farms have "insensitive" practices.
Misread.

Or, let me just ask you this; Have you ever visited any animal farm? A pig? Chicken? Turkey?
Can you personally attest to the veracity of the statements which you purport to be true?

Or, are you just rattling off a list of talking points with no interest in the truth of the matter?

 

[Dizchu]

EDIT: And usually it's restricted to Beef, at least in America.

I thought it was bacon? Hmm, interesting. Well I suppose most burgers are made with beef.

I do think beef tastes a lot better than bacon though, which I always found overrated.

 

[DoPo]

Wait, and that is offence? As opposed to a joke?

I suppose it could just be a "get back in the kitchen"-style joke but I can't help but feel that it's a lazy prefab response, much like "if humans evolved from monkeys why are there still monkeys?" and "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!" It just comes off to me as a cheap "gotcha".

And indeed, I would say it could be often used as a cheap "gotcha". Still, doesn't make it an automatic expression of offence.

But if it is just a joke response I have to wonder, why is it the stereotype is about vegans that feel the need to make everyone know that they're vegan, and is not equally applicable to meat eaters?

I don't know. I haven't actually heard of that vegan stereotype myself. Still, if I were to go off on stereotypes in general - a lot are bullshit and get perpetuated as some sort of group confirmation bias. Sure, some stereotypes have some basis in reality, but the phrase (and variations of it) "every stereotype starts from a truth" I've found to be bullshit as well.

 

[DementedSheep]

Sometimes, it's like if you tell people you don't drink and they immediately take the mere fact that you don't as judgement against them. You tell people you're vegetation and they assume it means you think you're above them. It's weird.

 

[Dizchu]

a) Define what "insensitive farming" means, as opposed to say "sensitive farming".
b) Prove that that these farms have "insensitive" practices.

Or, let me just ask you this; Have you ever visited any animal farm? A pig? Chicken? Turkey?
Can you personally attest to the veracity of the statements which you purport to be true?

Or, are you just rattling off a list of talking points with no interest in the truth of the matter?

You have one farm where animals can roam freely outside, get tended to individually and have enough living space to live in relative comfort.

You have another where animals live indoors, in extremely close proximity and in very large numbers. The sheer density of stock means that hygiene is extremely compromised, meaning animals must be pumped with antibiotics (70% of all antibiotics are used on livestock).

Don't tell me you can't see how the second type of farm makes ethical treatment extremely difficult (if it's even deemed necessary in the first place).

 

[Jux]

Interestingly though, I've found that meat eaters can be really easy to offend. I've seen many take criticisms of the meat industry very personally, which often results in lashing out.

Assuming for the sake of argument this is true, and not overblown, why is this a shock? I imagine it would create quite the dissonance in someone to be confronted over something that they enjoy, but has problematic elements. In this case, perhaps the dubious ethics of how animals are treated, or perhaps sustainability issues of raising meat for food when the land could be more efficiently used by crops, to feed more people.

To draw a parallel, some gamers have kneejerk reactions to criticism of certain games as personal attacks because they enjoy those games.

 

[madwarper]

Don't tell me you can't see how the second type of farm makes ethical treatment extremely difficult (if it's even deemed necessary in the first place).

So... No. You have not visited any of these farms.

But, I have visited the farms in my area, and I can attest that their conditions are entirely ethical. Though, I suppose it is pointless to attempt to continue this conversation with you if you do nothing but continue to spout the same nonsense, and not consider that it might not be entirely accurate.

But, it appears we have come to the answer to your question. If farming were my livelihood, and my ethics and professionalism was called into question as you have done for said farmers, I might be offended.

 

[DementedSheep]

Sometimes, it's like if you tell people you don't drink and they immediately take the mere fact that you don't as judgement against them.

I've had people ask if I was Mormon when I said I didn't drink <.<

What do I need to prove? It's what the term "factory farming" means. Intensive farming with animals densely confined.

a) Define what "insensitive farming" means, as opposed to say "sensitive farming".
b) Prove that that these farms have "insensitive" practices.

I think you misread that; Intensive, as in Intense, not Insensitive.

Same here! It always Morman they leap to and then some of them make it their mission to make you drink.

 

[Beliyal]

While I ate meat, I never noticed this. I always complained how vegetarians and vegans are annoying with their preaching every once in a while.

Then I became a vegetarian.

There's not a single day that goes by without someone commenting on my food, telling me how humans have to eat meat, how can I not eat meat, bacon is amazing, are you insane, you are going to die. I cannot accurately describe how incredibly more annoying some meat eaters are when it comes to this. I don't even comment on anyone's meal. I normally eat with people while they meat and I don't. Unless someones starts the topic first, I literally couldn't give two shits about someone else's food. And yet, people comment on my choice without being provoked or asked anything at all.

This is so fascinating to me, as I always heard the "annoying vegetarian/vegan" trope and even believed it myself and yet, during my life, I've maybe met 2 or 3 annoying vegetarians/vegans and about 3 fucking thousand annoying meat eaters. Like, even if I say nothing at all about my diet, let alone if I comment on the meat industry, people immediately jump at my throat simply because I put soy in my plate, instead of a steak.

Important note: eating meat has an almost religious devotion where I live. There are still many people who literally cannot fathom what vegetarianism/veganism is. I say "I don't eat meat" and they stand, observing me like I'm a literal alien. These people take it as a personal slight if someone isn't gorging themselves on pork. God forbid you actually say something against eating meat. My grandmas reacted as if got cancer when I told them I'm going vegetarian. So perhaps my experience is mostly painted by this cultural background.

 

[Jux]

There's not a single day that goes by without someone commenting on my food, telling me how humans have to eat meat, how can I not eat meat, bacon is amazing, are you insane, you are going to die. I cannot accurately describe how incredibly more annoying some meat eaters are when it comes to this. I don't even comment on anyone's meal. I normally eat with people while they meat and I don't. Unless someones starts the topic first, I literally couldn't give two shits about someone else's food. And yet, people comment on my choice without being provoked or asked anything at all.

This is so fascinating to me, as I always heard the "annoying vegetarian/vegan" trope and even believed it myself and yet, during my life, I've maybe met 2 or 3 annoying vegetarians/vegans and about 3 fucking thousand annoying meat eaters. Like, even if I say nothing at all about my diet, let alone if I comment on the meat industry, people immediately jump at my throat simply because I put soy in my plate, instead of a steak.

I would venture this is due to two reasons. First, vegetarians and vegans are a minority, so any criticism of eating meat is going to seem odd, out of place, and thus magnified. People make it bigger than it really is in their own heads. On the flip side, I can see why you catch so much flak for it. You're surrounded by meat eaters, so the statistical chance of someone saying something to you is going to go up (also because not eating meat is 'out of place', so they probably feel it's worth commenting on, either in jest or seriously). Not that that makes it right, by any means.