Should you feel guilty for eating meat?

[thespyisdead]

if you are a devout follower of your religion, and don't feel comfortable eating meat because of it, don't....


otherwise, pick that fork up, stick it in the nearest steak, and old it up with pride, followed by a big bite of it

 

[In Search of Username]

Well then consider this, it has been proven that plants feel pain.

Unless I've missed something pretty big in biology, I doubt that's true. Evidence?

First a disclaimer, I was told this in my landscaping course or Ag Tech, and without spending a couple hours on Google I don't think I can get very solid info either way, so my apologies if my info is incorrect.

Now here's what a brief look onto Google showed me, two websites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_perception_(paranormal) and http://www.didyouwonder.com/do-plants-feel-pain/ both are probably not grand sources. other quick skimming leads me to believe that I'm probably wrong, however the fact that plants still are living things can't be denied. We still have to eat one life to continue our own.

Yeah that's what I found when I looked. Seems like it's more like plants react to pain but don't necessarily have the consciousness to have any real way of 'experiencing' it. If plants really did feel pain then being a vegetarian would really be pointless.

But yeah, I know they're alive; that's not the part that bothers vegetarians (at least in my experience), it's the pain inflicted that causes the feeling of guilt, not the actual death or the eating of the previously alive substance.

I guess this where being a farmer comes in for me. All my life I've been raised to respect animals. I've never actually killed an animal before, but I've been raised with the knowledge that when they kill an animal it's as quick and painless as possible. Please note this is certainly not always the case, but it's how a good farmer is raised. I try not to look poorly upon vegetarians but if you like meat, you really shouldn't feel bad about eating it, on the other hand I know someone who's in training to be a vet and she's a vegetarian because she feels that it's wrong for her to be saving animal life and then eating them... I explained that horribly, but anyway I've always respected her for that choice. Anyway if I keep going I'm gonna enter controversial ground so I'll stop while I'm somewhat ahead

I don't think I'd really have much problem with eating meat if it was always done humanely, but it just seems like there are far too many cases where it isn't so I don't want to be a part of that. I know a lot of farmers treat the animals with respect and sympathy, don't worry, I don't think you're all bloodthirsty psychopaths. ;P

 

[Frission]

If you want to be good to the environment, then I suggest you do things like recycle, use renewable energies and have an energy efficient house. Have a neutral carbon footprint in other words. The world would be in a much better shape if people were more conscious of this.

Quite frankly, being a vegetarian is only to make yourself feel good. It's the equivalent of posting about horrible things on facebook.

 

[Twilight_guy]

If you feel guilty, then don't eat meat. Feeling guilty is an indication that some portion of yourself is against that particular action. If you want to find out why, go to to a psychologist, although you probably already know why. Don't eat meat and suffer from guilt, that's not healthy. Deal with it either by not eating meat or addressing why it bothers you. Also, humans don't need to eat meat, but seeing as how vegetarians have to carefully watch their diet, as opposed to omnivores who don't, and (from what I've heard) tend to be less healthy then non-vegitarians, I'm guessing that eating meat is good for humans.

 

[Malty Milk Whistle]

Of course I don't feel bad, It's their fault for being made of food.

 

[Andrew Bascom]

Well then consider this, it has been proven that plants feel pain.

Unless I've missed something pretty big in biology, I doubt that's true. Evidence?

First a disclaimer, I was told this in my landscaping course or Ag Tech, and without spending a couple hours on Google I don't think I can get very solid info either way, so my apologies if my info is incorrect.

Now here's what a brief look onto Google showed me, two websites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_perception_(paranormal) and http://www.didyouwonder.com/do-plants-feel-pain/ both are probably not grand sources. other quick skimming leads me to believe that I'm probably wrong, however the fact that plants still are living things can't be denied. We still have to eat one life to continue our own.

Yeah that's what I found when I looked. Seems like it's more like plants react to pain but don't necessarily have the consciousness to have any real way of 'experiencing' it. If plants really did feel pain then being a vegetarian would really be pointless.

But yeah, I know they're alive; that's not the part that bothers vegetarians (at least in my experience), it's the pain inflicted that causes the feeling of guilt, not the actual death or the eating of the previously alive substance.

I guess this where being a farmer comes in for me. All my life I've been raised to respect animals. I've never actually killed an animal before, but I've been raised with the knowledge that when they kill an animal it's as quick and painless as possible. Please note this is certainly not always the case, but it's how a good farmer is raised. I try not to look poorly upon vegetarians but if you like meat, you really shouldn't feel bad about eating it, on the other hand I know someone who's in training to be a vet and she's a vegetarian because she feels that it's wrong for her to be saving animal life and then eating them... I explained that horribly, but anyway I've always respected her for that choice. Anyway if I keep going I'm gonna enter controversial ground so I'll stop while I'm somewhat ahead

I don't think I'd really have much problem with eating meat if it was always done humanely, but it just seems like there are far too many cases where it isn't so I don't want to be a part of that. I know a lot of farmers treat the animals with respect and sympathy, don't worry, I don't think you're all bloodthirsty psychopaths. ;P

Thanks for remembering that, I didn't necessarily think you thought that anyway. I do agree there is still a lot of wrongdoing done in the meat industry, so the only suggestion I can make to those who want to eat meat but don't want to harm animals is do the research find the companies that have good practices. Anyway at this point we'll just go on repeating ourselves and it's not like I'm trying to change your mind, so I'm gonna respectfully bow out of the conversation. It was a good one though, thanks.

 

[Omechron]

But lately I have been questioning if I should feel guilty for eating meat, seafood (anything that has a life).

[...]

I'm very confused if eating meat/seafood is justified and that we shouldn't feel guilty for killing living things for our consumption. What do you guys think?

Plants are alive too. Nuts, berries, grains, and beans would be right out since that's eating babies. Also eating root vegetables since you have to destroy the entire plant to get them.

To avoid killing entirely you would have to eat only fruit (which can be eaten without killing the tree) and then make sure you plant all the seeds. I guess leafy vegetables might be okay too since you're just ripping its arms off but leaving it alive, so that's fine if you're against murder but cool with mutilation.

You can't get enough protein to survive that way. Eat whatever you want.

There are good arguments against eating meat. Ecologically speaking, it's wasteful since it takes so much more land to graze cattle than to raise soy beans. A lot of meats, especially red meats, are way unhealthy compared to alternatives. It's expensive. It's a little bit gross when you really think about it. But morally, it's no different. Just by existing, you are killing. Make peace with it.

 

[Flight]

Speaking as a vegetarian (eleven years and counting!), I don't think people should feel guilty for eating meat. We are omnivores by default; we need the protein that comes from meat and other byproducts (eggs, dairy, etc.). There's nothing inherently wrong with choosing to be a vegetarian, but neither is there anything inherently wrong with eating meat. Now, the way some of the meat industries handle things, on the other hand...

 

[lacktheknack]

Only if we should feel bad for using, say, electronics.

I don't feel bad for eating meat - my lifestyle all but requires it, actually. You SHOULD feel bad for overeating meat, but then, you should feel bad for overeating anything.

 

[White-Death]

Extremist Vegetarians always manage do their wurstwhen trying to convince me to stop eating meat,but their arguments will have to be a lot more juicy.The anti-meat do have some good arguments, but they come about rare,and their research can be a bit undercooked.
I don't feel guilty when eating meat, I feel a sense of success, I think ''I'm eating a beast that weighs 5 times more than me, and can gore me with their almighty horns.I am a god beast.''

 

[That_Sneaky_Camper]

Meat is tasty. I'm not going to feel sorry for an animal just because I think it tastes good on my dinner plate. Pets deserve our sympathy, not our food.

Sorry pigs I like bacon. Sorry cows I like burgers.

 

[Living_Brain]

Plants are also alive. Don't feel guilty. You are meant to eat animals.

 

[RJ 17]

The simple answer to the question in the topic: no. No you should not.

The animal that is Man is, and always has been, an omnivore.

If you're a vegan, I really don't care. That's your decision and you're free to make it. What I can't stand, though, are vegans who try to force THEIR decision on other people.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Short answer: No

Longer answer: Of course not you silly person; not eatting meat won't bring the dead animals back after all.

Longer-answer still which could potentially be insulting but which I'm trying to use here in a light and funny way:

 

[game-lover]

Hell to the no.

I don't care what anyone says. I shall not feel guilty for feasting upon the flesh of animals.

 

[Ampersand]

I've never eaten meat because the idea of killing animals for food has never sat right with me. I would not be comfortable with killing an animal myself, nor would I be comfortable with someone killing an animal for me.
I am very pleased to see someone on the internet talking about their feelings on the subject in a sincere way as opposed to just being a snarky prick towards vegetarians. So regardless of which ever lifestyle you decide upon, you get major props for that in my book.