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Meat Eater, Vegetarian or Vegan?

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Replies

  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    MissGB11 wrote: »
    People do realise that the sheer number of humans and clearing of land for agricultural needs is the main threat to the environment right? Being a vegan is ethical in the animal cruelty category (arguably) only for domestic animals raised purely for food, unless you eat a lot of wild meat but that's a whole new argument (I'm pro hunting if its done correctly and the beast is eaten and not a trophy). However it doesn't reduce the habitat destruction, fragmentation or overconsumption in wild ecosystems. The "ethics" argument baffles me - domestic animals have the right not to die quickly and humanely for food but wild animals can die slowly from starvation/habitat loss so we can grow more soy? I agree the practices could be better (I hate caged meat and feed lots) but the push for those practices was driven by population and consumption... Mainly in developed nations.

    Omnivore over here. We raise chickens for eggs at home and Australia has pretty good meat - even kangaroo is delicious.

    The domestic impact on the earth, even if we put the ethical piece aside is still pretty staggering. I usually just focus on my own plate, but not when people put my own ethical choice in quotes and throw shade at it.....

    climatechange-1.gif

    Is this the same for all meats, or just hamburger? There are meats other than beef after all. There are bad farming practices for plants and meat.

    It is similar for mass produced meat, no matter the type.

    And I would like to see your stats on comparing the environmental and waste statistics on farming plants and meat, since you think they are similar. I have never heard that. The impact on producing meat has always been shown to be worse in those aspects. So.....

    Not sure if you are confusing me with someone else, but I never said they were similar.

    So .... what? I could eat meat daily without ever eating commercially farmed meat if I wanted.

    You'd still have to grow the food to feed the animals that you are going to eat as food. It would not be as bad as factory farming and I don't think I have or know of studies of the impact of local or family based farming.

    No, I'm talking about eating wild animals. Hunting, fishing, that sort of thing.

    I wasn't aware you only ate food you caught or captured yourself. Interesting. I don't know many people in this day and age that is sustainable for.

    ??? Look up the word "could"

    My misunderstanding. I assumed most people couldn't do that in this day and age, but didn't want to assume and the belittlement is hurtful. Take care. Enjoy your day.

    I assume most people could do that in this day and age, but choose not to. As do we. Probably only about 1/2 of our meat is from hunting (venison and fish), we raise chickens and the rest is store bought. We could easily eat only wild meat but we choose not to because we like things that can't be found in the wild where we live like seafood and pork.

    My point is that poor farming practices is not something that everyone who eats meat supports.

    I'd find the amount of people who eat meat who do not support farming practices in some way to be so small it is non-existent. Even your anecdotal story which is probably more anti-farming than the average meat eater shows that. *shrugs*

    Still it is mixing topics. There are environmentally sustainable sources of meat.

    Not really. But if I come across someone who does only source their meat from wild sources, I'll remember this. Until then, it's basically just lip service of what one could but does not do.

    Yes, really. The fact that it can be done means that once ethics are removed the only reason not to do it is that one does not want to invest the time and money to do it.

    No, not really. Ethics removed and the environmental impact are two completely different things. Not sure why you would lump them both together. Both may be motivating factors for how someone chooses to fill their plate.

    The fact that someone does not want to invest the time and money may be a reason, but it's not necessarily the only reason. Not even in the slightest.

    When it can be done and ethics are removed, what other reason is there?

    In terms of the vegan philosophy, ethics cannot be removed when it comes to consuming animal flesh.

    The vegan philosophy is not the subject at hand.
  • This content has been removed.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    MissGB11 wrote: »
    People do realise that the sheer number of humans and clearing of land for agricultural needs is the main threat to the environment right? Being a vegan is ethical in the animal cruelty category (arguably) only for domestic animals raised purely for food, unless you eat a lot of wild meat but that's a whole new argument (I'm pro hunting if its done correctly and the beast is eaten and not a trophy). However it doesn't reduce the habitat destruction, fragmentation or overconsumption in wild ecosystems. The "ethics" argument baffles me - domestic animals have the right not to die quickly and humanely for food but wild animals can die slowly from starvation/habitat loss so we can grow more soy? I agree the practices could be better (I hate caged meat and feed lots) but the push for those practices was driven by population and consumption... Mainly in developed nations.

    Omnivore over here. We raise chickens for eggs at home and Australia has pretty good meat - even kangaroo is delicious.

    The domestic impact on the earth, even if we put the ethical piece aside is still pretty staggering. I usually just focus on my own plate, but not when people put my own ethical choice in quotes and throw shade at it.....

    climatechange-1.gif

    Is this the same for all meats, or just hamburger? There are meats other than beef after all. There are bad farming practices for plants and meat.

    It is similar for mass produced meat, no matter the type.

    And I would like to see your stats on comparing the environmental and waste statistics on farming plants and meat, since you think they are similar. I have never heard that. The impact on producing meat has always been shown to be worse in those aspects. So.....

    Not sure if you are confusing me with someone else, but I never said they were similar.

    So .... what? I could eat meat daily without ever eating commercially farmed meat if I wanted.

    You'd still have to grow the food to feed the animals that you are going to eat as food. It would not be as bad as factory farming and I don't think I have or know of studies of the impact of local or family based farming.

    No, I'm talking about eating wild animals. Hunting, fishing, that sort of thing.

    I wasn't aware you only ate food you caught or captured yourself. Interesting. I don't know many people in this day and age that is sustainable for.

    ??? Look up the word "could"

    My misunderstanding. I assumed most people couldn't do that in this day and age, but didn't want to assume and the belittlement is hurtful. Take care. Enjoy your day.

    I assume most people could do that in this day and age, but choose not to. As do we. Probably only about 1/2 of our meat is from hunting (venison and fish), we raise chickens and the rest is store bought. We could easily eat only wild meat but we choose not to because we like things that can't be found in the wild where we live like seafood and pork.

    My point is that poor farming practices is not something that everyone who eats meat supports.

    I'd find the amount of people who eat meat who do not support farming practices in some way to be so small it is non-existent. Even your anecdotal story which is probably more anti-farming than the average meat eater shows that. *shrugs*

    Still it is mixing topics. There are environmentally sustainable sources of meat.

    Not really. But if I come across someone who does only source their meat from wild sources, I'll remember this. Until then, it's basically just lip service of what one could but does not do.

    Yes, really. The fact that it can be done means that once ethics are removed the only reason not to do it is that one does not want to invest the time and money to do it.

    No, not really. Ethics removed and the environmental impact are two completely different things. Not sure why you would lump them both together. Both may be motivating factors for how someone chooses to fill their plate.

    The fact that someone does not want to invest the time and money may be a reason, but it's not necessarily the only reason. Not even in the slightest.

    When it can be done and ethics are removed, what other reason is there?

    In terms of the vegan philosophy, ethics cannot be removed when it comes to consuming animal flesh.

    The vegan philosophy is not the subject at hand.

    If I am vegetarian or vegan, the ethical reasons that cannot be removed sure are a reason then.

    And we're back to mixing subjects. Or dodging the question. Not really sure which.
  • This content has been removed.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    MissGB11 wrote: »
    People do realise that the sheer number of humans and clearing of land for agricultural needs is the main threat to the environment right? Being a vegan is ethical in the animal cruelty category (arguably) only for domestic animals raised purely for food, unless you eat a lot of wild meat but that's a whole new argument (I'm pro hunting if its done correctly and the beast is eaten and not a trophy). However it doesn't reduce the habitat destruction, fragmentation or overconsumption in wild ecosystems. The "ethics" argument baffles me - domestic animals have the right not to die quickly and humanely for food but wild animals can die slowly from starvation/habitat loss so we can grow more soy? I agree the practices could be better (I hate caged meat and feed lots) but the push for those practices was driven by population and consumption... Mainly in developed nations.

    Omnivore over here. We raise chickens for eggs at home and Australia has pretty good meat - even kangaroo is delicious.

    The domestic impact on the earth, even if we put the ethical piece aside is still pretty staggering. I usually just focus on my own plate, but not when people put my own ethical choice in quotes and throw shade at it.....

    climatechange-1.gif

    Is this the same for all meats, or just hamburger? There are meats other than beef after all. There are bad farming practices for plants and meat.

    It is similar for mass produced meat, no matter the type.

    And I would like to see your stats on comparing the environmental and waste statistics on farming plants and meat, since you think they are similar. I have never heard that. The impact on producing meat has always been shown to be worse in those aspects. So.....

    Not sure if you are confusing me with someone else, but I never said they were similar.

    So .... what? I could eat meat daily without ever eating commercially farmed meat if I wanted.

    You'd still have to grow the food to feed the animals that you are going to eat as food. It would not be as bad as factory farming and I don't think I have or know of studies of the impact of local or family based farming.

    No, I'm talking about eating wild animals. Hunting, fishing, that sort of thing.

    I wasn't aware you only ate food you caught or captured yourself. Interesting. I don't know many people in this day and age that is sustainable for.

    ??? Look up the word "could"

    My misunderstanding. I assumed most people couldn't do that in this day and age, but didn't want to assume and the belittlement is hurtful. Take care. Enjoy your day.

    I assume most people could do that in this day and age, but choose not to. As do we. Probably only about 1/2 of our meat is from hunting (venison and fish), we raise chickens and the rest is store bought. We could easily eat only wild meat but we choose not to because we like things that can't be found in the wild where we live like seafood and pork.

    My point is that poor farming practices is not something that everyone who eats meat supports.

    I'd find the amount of people who eat meat who do not support farming practices in some way to be so small it is non-existent. Even your anecdotal story which is probably more anti-farming than the average meat eater shows that. *shrugs*

    Still it is mixing topics. There are environmentally sustainable sources of meat.

    Not really. But if I come across someone who does only source their meat from wild sources, I'll remember this. Until then, it's basically just lip service of what one could but does not do.

    Yes, really. The fact that it can be done means that once ethics are removed the only reason not to do it is that one does not want to invest the time and money to do it.

    No, not really. Ethics removed and the environmental impact are two completely different things. Not sure why you would lump them both together. Both may be motivating factors for how someone chooses to fill their plate.

    The fact that someone does not want to invest the time and money may be a reason, but it's not necessarily the only reason. Not even in the slightest.

    When it can be done and ethics are removed, what other reason is there?

    In terms of the vegan philosophy, ethics cannot be removed when it comes to consuming animal flesh.

    The vegan philosophy is not the subject at hand.

    If I am vegetarian or vegan, the ethical reasons that cannot be removed sure are a reason then.

    And we're back to mixing subjects. Or dodging the question. Not really sure which.

    What specific question do you believe I am dodging?

    This one: When it can be done and ethics are removed, what other reason is there?
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    edited April 2016
    Isn't the subject at hand ( you know, the topic of this thread) which way of eating each person adheres to and why?

    It seems like the ethics are part of the topic at hand and most of @Need2Exerc1se 's argument here is actually off topic. ... but that's just my point of view.

    I also agree with @shell1005 's perspective that for any Vegan or Vegetarian, the ethics will never be removed from this choice... So what are we arguing about again?

    *edited to correct spelling
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    edited April 2016
    Isn't the subject at hand ( you know, the topic of this thread) which way of eating each person adheres to and why?

    It seems like the ethics are part of the topic at hand and most of @Need2Exerc1se 's argument here is actually off topic. ... but that's just my point of view.

    I also agree with @shell1005 's perspective that for any Vegan or Vegetarian, the ethics will never be removed from this choice... So what are we arguing about again?

    *edited to correct spelling

    The OP topic was which diet was healthier.

    And for the record it was @shell1005 that first mentioned removing ethics (page 22, 3rd post from top).
  • This content has been removed.
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    Isn't the subject at hand ( you know, the topic of this thread) which way of eating each person adheres to and why?

    It seems like the ethics are part of the topic at hand and most of @Need2Exerc1se 's argument here is actually off topic. ... but that's just my point of view.

    I also agree with @shell1005 's perspective that for any Vegan or Vegetarian, the ethics will never be removed from this choice... So what are we arguing about again?

    *edited to correct spelling

    The OP topic was which diet was healthier.

    And for the record it was @shell1005 that first mentioned removing ethics (page 22, 3rd post from top).

    And it's been proven that each WoE is equally healthy... so again.. what are we arguing about again?

    Ethics aside, each way of eating has been proven to be equally healthy.

    Ethics included, it's a personal choice.

    I didn't see anyone trying to convince anyone that their WoE was correct, but I do see you trying to prove they are incorrect. Not really sure why, though.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    MissGB11 wrote: »
    People do realise that the sheer number of humans and clearing of land for agricultural needs is the main threat to the environment right? Being a vegan is ethical in the animal cruelty category (arguably) only for domestic animals raised purely for food, unless you eat a lot of wild meat but that's a whole new argument (I'm pro hunting if its done correctly and the beast is eaten and not a trophy). However it doesn't reduce the habitat destruction, fragmentation or overconsumption in wild ecosystems. The "ethics" argument baffles me - domestic animals have the right not to die quickly and humanely for food but wild animals can die slowly from starvation/habitat loss so we can grow more soy? I agree the practices could be better (I hate caged meat and feed lots) but the push for those practices was driven by population and consumption... Mainly in developed nations.

    Omnivore over here. We raise chickens for eggs at home and Australia has pretty good meat - even kangaroo is delicious.

    The domestic impact on the earth, even if we put the ethical piece aside is still pretty staggering. I usually just focus on my own plate, but not when people put my own ethical choice in quotes and throw shade at it.....

    climatechange-1.gif

    Is this the same for all meats, or just hamburger? There are meats other than beef after all. There are bad farming practices for plants and meat.

    It is similar for mass produced meat, no matter the type.

    And I would like to see your stats on comparing the environmental and waste statistics on farming plants and meat, since you think they are similar. I have never heard that. The impact on producing meat has always been shown to be worse in those aspects. So.....

    Not sure if you are confusing me with someone else, but I never said they were similar.

    So .... what? I could eat meat daily without ever eating commercially farmed meat if I wanted.

    You'd still have to grow the food to feed the animals that you are going to eat as food. It would not be as bad as factory farming and I don't think I have or know of studies of the impact of local or family based farming.

    No, I'm talking about eating wild animals. Hunting, fishing, that sort of thing.

    I wasn't aware you only ate food you caught or captured yourself. Interesting. I don't know many people in this day and age that is sustainable for.

    ??? Look up the word "could"

    My misunderstanding. I assumed most people couldn't do that in this day and age, but didn't want to assume and the belittlement is hurtful. Take care. Enjoy your day.

    I assume most people could do that in this day and age, but choose not to. As do we. Probably only about 1/2 of our meat is from hunting (venison and fish), we raise chickens and the rest is store bought. We could easily eat only wild meat but we choose not to because we like things that can't be found in the wild where we live like seafood and pork.

    My point is that poor farming practices is not something that everyone who eats meat supports.

    I'd find the amount of people who eat meat who do not support farming practices in some way to be so small it is non-existent. Even your anecdotal story which is probably more anti-farming than the average meat eater shows that. *shrugs*

    Still it is mixing topics. There are environmentally sustainable sources of meat.

    Not really. But if I come across someone who does only source their meat from wild sources, I'll remember this. Until then, it's basically just lip service of what one could but does not do.

    Yes, really. The fact that it can be done means that once ethics are removed the only reason not to do it is that one does not want to invest the time and money to do it.

    No, not really. Ethics removed and the environmental impact are two completely different things. Not sure why you would lump them both together. Both may be motivating factors for how someone chooses to fill their plate.

    The fact that someone does not want to invest the time and money may be a reason, but it's not necessarily the only reason. Not even in the slightest.

    When it can be done and ethics are removed, what other reason is there?

    In terms of the vegan philosophy, ethics cannot be removed when it comes to consuming animal flesh.

    The vegan philosophy is not the subject at hand.

    If I am vegetarian or vegan, the ethical reasons that cannot be removed sure are a reason then.

    And we're back to mixing subjects. Or dodging the question. Not really sure which.

    What specific question do you believe I am dodging?

    This one: When it can be done and ethics are removed, what other reason is there?

    To not eat meat? Or why someone would not hunt their own food?

    To not eat meat. A couple right off the top of my head. Cultural. Religious. Personal preference.

    To not hunt my own food. Skill is also a pretty big reason. Family size. Also religious. Personal preference and even the availability for the meat that you want to eat, but do not have access to kill.

    And personally for me, ethics cannot be removed, so it's just a hypothetical conversation in my world.

    Right, the reason not to do it that we don't want to. I said that way up the thread and yet you kept arguing against it. But, it would seem we agree.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Isn't the subject at hand ( you know, the topic of this thread) which way of eating each person adheres to and why?

    It seems like the ethics are part of the topic at hand and most of @Need2Exerc1se 's argument here is actually off topic. ... but that's just my point of view.

    I also agree with @shell1005 's perspective that for any Vegan or Vegetarian, the ethics will never be removed from this choice... So what are we arguing about again?

    *edited to correct spelling

    The OP topic was which diet was healthier.

    And for the record it was @shell1005 that first mentioned removing ethics (page 22, 3rd post from top).

    And it's been proven that each WoE is equally healthy... so again.. what are we arguing about again?

    Ethics aside, each way of eating has been proven to be equally healthy.

    Ethics included, it's a personal choice.

    I didn't see anyone trying to convince anyone that their WoE was correct, but I do see you trying to prove they are incorrect. Not really sure why, though.

    Whoa! What? When did I try to convince anyone that anything was correct or incorrect. You are reading things into my posts that aren't there. None of my posts are about what is correct.

    The issue was someone suggesting that eating meat = supporting poor farming practices. My position is that's not necessarily true.

    We are arguing other stuff because the health thing was pretty much universally agreed on page 1.
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    I'd make the argument (joke intended) that you are reading into the posts of others equally as strongly. But don't really care to argue with you or anyone for that matter.

    I'd agree with you that eating meat does not necessarily equate to poor farming practice, but that if looked at on a larger scale, farming practices can be poor (and often are) whether they are meat related or not.

    I'd also agree that most commercial meat and/or farming practices, whether interrelated or not are poor and that it takes a smaller scale to manage better practices because of many reasons not limited to overall resource usage, soil degradation, etc.

    I only got involved because they exchange between the two of you was growing hostile on both sides, whether each of you will agree to that or not, and this thread has been an interesting one to follow and relatively peaceful for its entirety.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    I'd make the argument (joke intended) that you are reading into the posts of others equally as strongly. But don't really care to argue with you or anyone for that matter.

    I'd agree with you that eating meat does not necessarily equate to poor farming practice, but that if looked at on a larger scale, farming practices can be poor (and often are) whether they are meat related or not.

    I'd also agree that most commercial meat and/or farming practices, whether interrelated or not are poor and that it takes a smaller scale to manage better practices because of many reasons not limited to overall resource usage, soil degradation, etc.

    I only got involved because they exchange between the two of you was growing hostile on both sides, whether each of you will agree to that or not, and this thread has been an interesting one to follow and relatively peaceful for its entirety.

    I agree with everything you just said, except I was not trying to be hostile. I suppose I need to work on my forum skills because I get that too often. It's just the way I talk. I do have a tendency to argue my point to death I guess, but I harbor no ill will to those that disagree. When people keep responding I assume they want to continue discussing (aka arguing).

    If I offended anyone I am truly sorry. :flowerforyou:
  • forwardmoving
    forwardmoving Posts: 96 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    MissGB11 wrote: »
    People do realise that the sheer number of humans and clearing of land for agricultural needs is the main threat to the environment right? Being a vegan is ethical in the animal cruelty category (arguably) only for domestic animals raised purely for food, unless you eat a lot of wild meat but that's a whole new argument (I'm pro hunting if its done correctly and the beast is eaten and not a trophy). However it doesn't reduce the habitat destruction, fragmentation or overconsumption in wild ecosystems. The "ethics" argument baffles me - domestic animals have the right not to die quickly and humanely for food but wild animals can die slowly from starvation/habitat loss so we can grow more soy? I agree the practices could be better (I hate caged meat and feed lots) but the push for those practices was driven by population and consumption... Mainly in developed nations.

    Omnivore over here. We raise chickens for eggs at home and Australia has pretty good meat - even kangaroo is delicious.

    The domestic impact on the earth, even if we put the ethical piece aside is still pretty staggering. I usually just focus on my own plate, but not when people put my own ethical choice in quotes and throw shade at it.....

    climatechange-1.gif

    Is this the same for all meats, or just hamburger? There are meats other than beef after all. There are bad farming practices for plants and meat.

    It is similar for mass produced meat, no matter the type.

    Not so fast

    http://www.iflscience.com/environment/new-study-says-beef-10x-more-damaging-environment-chicken-pork-or-dairy-foods

    @shell1005, I'm wondering what your take is on this article? (Thinking this response to your post got missed?)
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Isn't the subject at hand ( you know, the topic of this thread) which way of eating each person adheres to and why?

    It seems like the ethics are part of the topic at hand and most of @Need2Exerc1se 's argument here is actually off topic. ... but that's just my point of view.

    I also agree with @shell1005 's perspective that for any Vegan or Vegetarian, the ethics will never be removed from this choice... So what are we arguing about again?

    *edited to correct spelling

    The OP topic was which diet was healthier.

    And for the record it was @shell1005 that first mentioned removing ethics (page 22, 3rd post from top).

    And it's been proven that each WoE is equally healthy... so again.. what are we arguing about again?

    Ethics aside, each way of eating has been proven to be equally healthy.

    Ethics included, it's a personal choice.

    I didn't see anyone trying to convince anyone that their WoE was correct, but I do see you trying to prove they are incorrect. Not really sure why, though.

    If you go back someone tried to argue that eating meat was better than vegetarianism/veganism because of the environment, which is silly. Shell (I think) responded that in fact modern farming practices used to sustain the amount of meat we consume are more destructive of the environment (which is so, from what I've read).

    Not sure how it got to the later exchange, maybe some misreading or misinterpretation?
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    MissGB11 wrote: »
    People do realise that the sheer number of humans and clearing of land for agricultural needs is the main threat to the environment right? Being a vegan is ethical in the animal cruelty category (arguably) only for domestic animals raised purely for food, unless you eat a lot of wild meat but that's a whole new argument (I'm pro hunting if its done correctly and the beast is eaten and not a trophy). However it doesn't reduce the habitat destruction, fragmentation or overconsumption in wild ecosystems. The "ethics" argument baffles me - domestic animals have the right not to die quickly and humanely for food but wild animals can die slowly from starvation/habitat loss so we can grow more soy? I agree the practices could be better (I hate caged meat and feed lots) but the push for those practices was driven by population and consumption... Mainly in developed nations.

    Omnivore over here. We raise chickens for eggs at home and Australia has pretty good meat - even kangaroo is delicious.

    The domestic impact on the earth, even if we put the ethical piece aside is still pretty staggering. I usually just focus on my own plate, but not when people put my own ethical choice in quotes and throw shade at it.....

    climatechange-1.gif

    Is this the same for all meats, or just hamburger? There are meats other than beef after all. There are bad farming practices for plants and meat.

    It is similar for mass produced meat, no matter the type.

    Not so fast

    http://www.iflscience.com/environment/new-study-says-beef-10x-more-damaging-environment-chicken-pork-or-dairy-foods

    @shell1005, I'm wondering what your take is on this article? (Thinking this response to your post got missed?)

    Wow, worse than automobiles. I knew beef used a lot of resources but, assuming that is true, that's an alarming comparison. Makes me glad I don't like beef much.
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    edited April 2016
    Seems to have been both from what I can tell.

    Ethical questions and concerns tend to put people on edge, in my experience, and any time it reaches that point tempers can easily run high. As @Need2Exerc1se pointed out, they have a tendency to "assume they want to continue discussing" and in a situation where the other person has their ethical dander up it can easily get out of hand (in the very minor way that this could be referred to as such). I fall prey to that all of the time in real life conversations with some people. Some people or topics just push my buttons in a face to face conversation.

    I just, for my own selfish reasons, wanted to keep this thread calm because it's one of the few places on MFP where vegans, vegetarians, omnis, and "carnivores" have not completely degenerated into name calling and ridiculousness.

    *Edited for Grammar
  • tlflag1620
    tlflag1620 Posts: 1,358 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    MissGB11 wrote: »
    People do realise that the sheer number of humans and clearing of land for agricultural needs is the main threat to the environment right? Being a vegan is ethical in the animal cruelty category (arguably) only for domestic animals raised purely for food, unless you eat a lot of wild meat but that's a whole new argument (I'm pro hunting if its done correctly and the beast is eaten and not a trophy). However it doesn't reduce the habitat destruction, fragmentation or overconsumption in wild ecosystems. The "ethics" argument baffles me - domestic animals have the right not to die quickly and humanely for food but wild animals can die slowly from starvation/habitat loss so we can grow more soy? I agree the practices could be better (I hate caged meat and feed lots) but the push for those practices was driven by population and consumption... Mainly in developed nations.

    Omnivore over here. We raise chickens for eggs at home and Australia has pretty good meat - even kangaroo is delicious.

    The domestic impact on the earth, even if we put the ethical piece aside is still pretty staggering. I usually just focus on my own plate, but not when people put my own ethical choice in quotes and throw shade at it.....

    climatechange-1.gif

    Is this the same for all meats, or just hamburger? There are meats other than beef after all. There are bad farming practices for plants and meat.

    It is similar for mass produced meat, no matter the type.

    Not so fast

    http://www.iflscience.com/environment/new-study-says-beef-10x-more-damaging-environment-chicken-pork-or-dairy-foods

    @shell1005, I'm wondering what your take is on this article? (Thinking this response to your post got missed?)

    Wow, worse than automobiles. I knew beef used a lot of resources but, assuming that is true, that's an alarming comparison. Makes me glad I don't like beef much.

    I tend to think that article is not entirely true. They are claiming that grass fed beef is worse for the environment than grain fed. That simply doesn't make sense. Sure grain fed cattle use a lot of resources - mostly due to the mono crop farming used to produce their feed. Then again, the corn or wheat or soy used in cattle feed is not suitable for human consumption. And much of the land it is grown on may not be suitable for growing anything other than substandard grains. Grass fed cattle can be raised in places that are not suitable for farming, and only need a minimum of silage for winter months in very cold climates. I haven't yet looked at the while study tho, just the opinion piece linked. But on the surface something doesn't seem right...

  • sunnybeaches105
    sunnybeaches105 Posts: 2,831 Member
    tlflag1620 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    MissGB11 wrote: »
    People do realise that the sheer number of humans and clearing of land for agricultural needs is the main threat to the environment right? Being a vegan is ethical in the animal cruelty category (arguably) only for domestic animals raised purely for food, unless you eat a lot of wild meat but that's a whole new argument (I'm pro hunting if its done correctly and the beast is eaten and not a trophy). However it doesn't reduce the habitat destruction, fragmentation or overconsumption in wild ecosystems. The "ethics" argument baffles me - domestic animals have the right not to die quickly and humanely for food but wild animals can die slowly from starvation/habitat loss so we can grow more soy? I agree the practices could be better (I hate caged meat and feed lots) but the push for those practices was driven by population and consumption... Mainly in developed nations.

    Omnivore over here. We raise chickens for eggs at home and Australia has pretty good meat - even kangaroo is delicious.

    The domestic impact on the earth, even if we put the ethical piece aside is still pretty staggering. I usually just focus on my own plate, but not when people put my own ethical choice in quotes and throw shade at it.....

    climatechange-1.gif

    Is this the same for all meats, or just hamburger? There are meats other than beef after all. There are bad farming practices for plants and meat.

    It is similar for mass produced meat, no matter the type.

    Not so fast

    http://www.iflscience.com/environment/new-study-says-beef-10x-more-damaging-environment-chicken-pork-or-dairy-foods

    @shell1005, I'm wondering what your take is on this article? (Thinking this response to your post got missed?)

    Wow, worse than automobiles. I knew beef used a lot of resources but, assuming that is true, that's an alarming comparison. Makes me glad I don't like beef much.

    I tend to think that article is not entirely true. They are claiming that grass fed beef is worse for the environment than grain fed. That simply doesn't make sense. Sure grain fed cattle use a lot of resources - mostly due to the mono crop farming used to produce their feed. Then again, the corn or wheat or soy used in cattle feed is not suitable for human consumption. And much of the land it is grown on may not be suitable for growing anything other than substandard grains. Grass fed cattle can be raised in places that are not suitable for farming, and only need a minimum of silage for winter months in very cold climates. I haven't yet looked at the while study tho, just the opinion piece linked. But on the surface something doesn't seem right...

    I doubt the claim regarding automobiles is true. The primary point of the article,however, is that beef takes more resources to produce than other meats, which contradicts the point made earlier and to which I responded with the article. That point though should be obvious to anyone who has spent time on a farm.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    tlflag1620 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    MissGB11 wrote: »
    People do realise that the sheer number of humans and clearing of land for agricultural needs is the main threat to the environment right? Being a vegan is ethical in the animal cruelty category (arguably) only for domestic animals raised purely for food, unless you eat a lot of wild meat but that's a whole new argument (I'm pro hunting if its done correctly and the beast is eaten and not a trophy). However it doesn't reduce the habitat destruction, fragmentation or overconsumption in wild ecosystems. The "ethics" argument baffles me - domestic animals have the right not to die quickly and humanely for food but wild animals can die slowly from starvation/habitat loss so we can grow more soy? I agree the practices could be better (I hate caged meat and feed lots) but the push for those practices was driven by population and consumption... Mainly in developed nations.

    Omnivore over here. We raise chickens for eggs at home and Australia has pretty good meat - even kangaroo is delicious.

    The domestic impact on the earth, even if we put the ethical piece aside is still pretty staggering. I usually just focus on my own plate, but not when people put my own ethical choice in quotes and throw shade at it.....

    climatechange-1.gif

    Is this the same for all meats, or just hamburger? There are meats other than beef after all. There are bad farming practices for plants and meat.

    It is similar for mass produced meat, no matter the type.

    Not so fast

    http://www.iflscience.com/environment/new-study-says-beef-10x-more-damaging-environment-chicken-pork-or-dairy-foods

    @shell1005, I'm wondering what your take is on this article? (Thinking this response to your post got missed?)

    Wow, worse than automobiles. I knew beef used a lot of resources but, assuming that is true, that's an alarming comparison. Makes me glad I don't like beef much.

    I tend to think that article is not entirely true. They are claiming that grass fed beef is worse for the environment than grain fed. That simply doesn't make sense. Sure grain fed cattle use a lot of resources - mostly due to the mono crop farming used to produce their feed. Then again, the corn or wheat or soy used in cattle feed is not suitable for human consumption. And much of the land it is grown on may not be suitable for growing anything other than substandard grains. Grass fed cattle can be raised in places that are not suitable for farming, and only need a minimum of silage for winter months in very cold climates. I haven't yet looked at the while study tho, just the opinion piece linked. But on the surface something doesn't seem right...

    It may not be correct. And while you raise some good points, what may be done wouldn't really apply to a study of this nature. What is done would matter. I imagine most land used for pasture could easily be used for farming, though that's just a guess.
  • King_Spicy
    King_Spicy Posts: 821 Member
    Just had pork steak, beef bulgogi, and two things of beef brisket during lunch break.

    13043385_1350535524971992_2414285890958376604_n.jpg?oh=24d0d34d71a26ee99231aee0de2559f1&oe=57AAEA93
    13000067_1350540884971456_4438892139714126682_n.jpg?oh=76c0fe7ed2ef3dc00bca92c2584cc536&oe=577F86F5
    12994410_1350555694969975_8348414738349186680_n.jpg?oh=7d0e1724322eb45a6653b5a9b87c79a1&oe=5774C7F7
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited April 2016
    tlflag1620 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    MissGB11 wrote: »
    People do realise that the sheer number of humans and clearing of land for agricultural needs is the main threat to the environment right? Being a vegan is ethical in the animal cruelty category (arguably) only for domestic animals raised purely for food, unless you eat a lot of wild meat but that's a whole new argument (I'm pro hunting if its done correctly and the beast is eaten and not a trophy). However it doesn't reduce the habitat destruction, fragmentation or overconsumption in wild ecosystems. The "ethics" argument baffles me - domestic animals have the right not to die quickly and humanely for food but wild animals can die slowly from starvation/habitat loss so we can grow more soy? I agree the practices could be better (I hate caged meat and feed lots) but the push for those practices was driven by population and consumption... Mainly in developed nations.

    Omnivore over here. We raise chickens for eggs at home and Australia has pretty good meat - even kangaroo is delicious.

    The domestic impact on the earth, even if we put the ethical piece aside is still pretty staggering. I usually just focus on my own plate, but not when people put my own ethical choice in quotes and throw shade at it.....

    climatechange-1.gif

    Is this the same for all meats, or just hamburger? There are meats other than beef after all. There are bad farming practices for plants and meat.

    It is similar for mass produced meat, no matter the type.

    Not so fast

    http://www.iflscience.com/environment/new-study-says-beef-10x-more-damaging-environment-chicken-pork-or-dairy-foods

    @shell1005, I'm wondering what your take is on this article? (Thinking this response to your post got missed?)

    Wow, worse than automobiles. I knew beef used a lot of resources but, assuming that is true, that's an alarming comparison. Makes me glad I don't like beef much.

    I tend to think that article is not entirely true. They are claiming that grass fed beef is worse for the environment than grain fed. That simply doesn't make sense. Sure grain fed cattle use a lot of resources - mostly due to the mono crop farming used to produce their feed. Then again, the corn or wheat or soy used in cattle feed is not suitable for human consumption. And much of the land it is grown on may not be suitable for growing anything other than substandard grains. Grass fed cattle can be raised in places that are not suitable for farming, and only need a minimum of silage for winter months in very cold climates. I haven't yet looked at the while study tho, just the opinion piece linked. But on the surface something doesn't seem right...

    As I read it they are saying that grass-fed is still worse than other types of animals. not worse than grain-fed, but still I am skeptical, as they seem to be placing way too much emphasis on the total amount of land needed, which assumes there's some more environmentally sound use of the land which is being passed up. I've only skimmed part of it, though, so am reserving judgment.

    http://www.pnas.org/content/111/33/11996.full

    I also admit to buying grassfed from areas where the land probably is suitable for farming, since I tend to buy local. I'd have to research it more to have an opinion on whether that's a bad thing to do, environmentally.

    (Also, unlike the average American according to the argument, lamb provides more of the "red meat" I eat than beef, typically.)
  • Pascooty
    Pascooty Posts: 48 Member
    I've been a vegetarian for about 24 years, since I was 15 years old (for ethical purposes). I used to be very healthy for many years. As I got older I made bad choices regarding food and activity level. I'm an obese vegetarian now. So, yes, I agree with many others that say all ways can be healthy or unhealthy. It mostly depends on how we eat in those chosen diets/lifestyles.
  • GraceAnneU95
    GraceAnneU95 Posts: 18 Member
    I'm a vegetarian (don't eat fish either, some people assume that I do) and chose to this way about 5 years ago (for many reasons). On the nutrition side of things, I consume very low levels of cholesterol, usually less unhealthy fats, it redirects me away from a lot unhealthy foods (most fast food has meat in it and I can't eat at some chain restaurants such as Applebee's which only has 1 veg item: fried green beans). I think I've also been led to explore more interesting veggies and recipes by getting off crutch of just making chicken-something for every meal. I consume a ton of fiber too, so I'm pretty regular haha. I will say I tried being vegan a couple years ago and found myself forming an iron deficiency and eating junk food and fake dairy because I was lazy (didn't do enough research, didn't cook nearly enough). That's not to knock it, I know people who do it well, but it wasn't the time my life to be doing that. To each their own, right?
  • GraceAnneU95
    GraceAnneU95 Posts: 18 Member
    I've already posted on here but I just wanted to add that as a vegetarian, I've never once had trouble getting enough protein in my diet
  • GraceAnneU95
    GraceAnneU95 Posts: 18 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    Meat. To be quite honest I am moving towards carnivore because I feel better without plant products in my life.

    I am was prediabetic, and I switched to a low carb diet to help stabilize my blood glucose. I realized fairly quickly that I felt better as my carbs decreased so I switched to a ketogenic diet. I appear to be quite carb sensitive so I started dropping some veggies and realized that I felt better without most of them. My only plant product hold overs are coconut ( and cream and oil), nuts, avocado, some canola in my mayonnaise, coffee and stevia drops.

    I know I can get all of the nutrients I need from animal products so I am not at all worried about nutrition. I think many of the healthful parts of plants, like fibre, are there to help humans deal with eating plants. They seem to become redundant as you move away from a plant based diet.

    I also eat eggs and full fat dairy. I probably eat meat twice a day, sometimes more and sometimes less. I keep protein to about 20% for blood glucose reasons.

    I know eating almost like a carnivore seems odd but I think that is because it is uncommon, and because of the anti cholesterol and saturated fats messages (based on what i think was a lack of science to back it up) that became so widely accepted in the past 50 odd years. I think eventually that being a carnivore will be though to be about as unusual as a vegetarian or vegan.

    Dude I'm sorry but there's plenty of evidence (which is fully accepted by the scientific community) that saturated fats and cholesterol in high levels are bad for heart health, too much over time can cause you to go into cardiac arrest.
    I think you should check your research (or lack there of) on google scholar (not regular Google) because the things you have heard are not propaganda, a lot of research has gone into those findings. You can't just decide that you think all of these things and declare them true without any real backing.
    I understand that reducing sugar was good for you because you were pre diabetic, but that doesn't mean that what you're doing now is healthy or sustainable long term.
  • GraceAnneU95
    GraceAnneU95 Posts: 18 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    kmbrvt99 wrote: »
    I'm a vegetarian on the cusp of becoming vegan. I'm a huge believer in knowing where my food comes from so I challenge everyone on this feed to watch a few documentaries such as 'Food Inc' and then ask yourself if you are okay with the way the animals are treated. But to each it's own =)

    That's like watching Star Wars to get your information about NASA.

    What makes you say that? Sounds like you haven't even seen the documentary, so you can't really make an educated comment about its content.
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    I've seen it, and find it to be like almost any other food oriented documentary... full of fear mongering and no real information outside of opinion and badly cited and even more badly quoted science. I tend to watch several of these documentaries each week and over the last 7 years or so, I've not found a single one that wasn't pushing one agenda or another.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    kmbrvt99 wrote: »
    I'm a vegetarian on the cusp of becoming vegan. I'm a huge believer in knowing where my food comes from so I challenge everyone on this feed to watch a few documentaries such as 'Food Inc' and then ask yourself if you are okay with the way the animals are treated. But to each it's own =)

    That's like watching Star Wars to get your information about NASA.

    What makes you say that? Sounds like you haven't even seen the documentary, so you can't really make an educated comment about its content.

    No, I'm thinking @Hornsby is saying that because it's more of an agenda piece, rather than a "documentary".
  • tlflag1620
    tlflag1620 Posts: 1,358 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    Meat. To be quite honest I am moving towards carnivore because I feel better without plant products in my life.

    I am was prediabetic, and I switched to a low carb diet to help stabilize my blood glucose. I realized fairly quickly that I felt better as my carbs decreased so I switched to a ketogenic diet. I appear to be quite carb sensitive so I started dropping some veggies and realized that I felt better without most of them. My only plant product hold overs are coconut ( and cream and oil), nuts, avocado, some canola in my mayonnaise, coffee and stevia drops.

    I know I can get all of the nutrients I need from animal products so I am not at all worried about nutrition. I think many of the healthful parts of plants, like fibre, are there to help humans deal with eating plants. They seem to become redundant as you move away from a plant based diet.

    I also eat eggs and full fat dairy. I probably eat meat twice a day, sometimes more and sometimes less. I keep protein to about 20% for blood glucose reasons.

    I know eating almost like a carnivore seems odd but I think that is because it is uncommon, and because of the anti cholesterol and saturated fats messages (based on what i think was a lack of science to back it up) that became so widely accepted in the past 50 odd years. I think eventually that being a carnivore will be though to be about as unusual as a vegetarian or vegan.

    Dude I'm sorry but there's plenty of evidence (which is fully accepted by the scientific community) that saturated fats and cholesterol in high levels are bad for heart health, too much over time can cause you to go into cardiac arrest.
    I think you should check your research (or lack there of) on google scholar (not regular Google) because the things you have heard are not propaganda, a lot of research has gone into those findings. You can't just decide that you think all of these things and declare them true without any real backing.
    I understand that reducing sugar was good for you because you were pre diabetic, but that doesn't mean that what you're doing now is healthy or sustainable long term.

    Actually the most recent meta-analysis have shown that dietary cholesterol has little, if any impact on cholesterol levels found in the blood and that total cholesterol is pretty useless for predicting CVD anyway (triglyceride to HDL ratio is far better): this is why cholesterol is no longer a "nutrient of concern" in the 2015 USDA guidelines. And saturated fat isn't far behind in also being exhonorated - recent studies are showing that the vegetable oils we replaced our traditional, ancestral fat sources (read - animal fats) with are actually worse for us. The lipid hypothesis is all but dead. Inflammation is being focused on as a more likely culprit of CVD. Diets high in sugars, starches, and heavily processed oils are more likely to contribute to heart disease. Try looking at research from this decade.