Vegetarians and vegans. Controversial Topic
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I think the person who yelled at you probably had mental problems. Veggies and Vegans aren't usually like that. :drinker:
I was a veggie for years and never came down on anyone...0 -
I'm not a veg anymore (I was one of the people who's bodies just can't take it), but I was for six years, and I am still really light on the meat most days. I just honestly don't like it that much. Unless my fiance is cooking it, then it's generally amazing. But I grew up in a house where (no offense, ma) but the food was BAAAAD, constantly the meat was cooked to a charred mess, and it was usually really fatty and disgusting. I was always eating pork that I swear chewed like a piece of gum, it was so rubbery and fatty and GLUUUUK just thinking about it... I'm grossed out. I MUCH preferred cooking and eating stuff that I know is not made of hormones or lips and *kitten*. So I switched to vegetarian (I am dairy allergic, so I never ate cheese, but I ate eggs and every once in a while I would have fish, but not often).
Unfortunately, I started wearing down really badly. I got all kinds of little bone breaks and stuff. And I was tired ALL the time. And if I worked out, I was sore as HELL for DAYS afterward. And finally I went and saw a kinesiologist on the recommendation of a friend, and he said that I really needed to be eating meat. That there are some people who can do without meat, but I am not one of them. And I am A positive, so it's not my blood type... I dunno. Since I started eating meat again (and again, this is not every day... more like every three or four days), I haven't had any bone breaks and I can work out like crazy before I hurt myself. But I totally support vegetarians and vegans, and I get it completely. I just can't do it.
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Uh. Animals are humanely killed, they are not "tortured to death". I have been to slaughterhouses and have seen it firsthand.if you dont mind my input id like to say. that yes overall in America vegetarians may be healthier than most, but thats because a lot of Americans are over weight like me and made a choice not to combine the right meat and fruit?vegetables to make them healthy. you can be healthy and eat meat like yourself. i get that most vegetarians/vegans want to save animals. i was vegetarian for a few months, but i like meat. the real problem is the way they are killed. GOD put the animals on earth to eat. if we could just treat the animals better and not torture them to death then there would probably be less vegetarians. just saying!
P.Speople dont realize that you shouldnt it to much meat. skip out like twice a week on meat. Dr oz says you shouldnt eat animal with for legs more then 3-5 days a week.
I take exception, too, to your claim that animals were put here by God for us to eat.
We are animals. We love to imagine that we're special, but I think that's bull****. We are no different and have evolved in the same way as anything else.
If you really believe what happens to these animals before & during their death isn't considered torture I encouraged you to watch some of the undercover slaughterhouse videos, egg hatchery videos, dairy cow videos... That is cruel, inhumane disgusting torture, I couldn't care less if others eat meat but you cannot honestly think what happens to these poor creatures is 'okay'.0 -
Wow, that lady was rude..
I think I've met the exact same amount of rude vegetarians and rude vegans and rude every-other-group-ers. everyone just wants to think they're the one group that's right, whereas everyone's eating choices have pros and cons.
I eat mostly goat meat and chicken because my father has goats on our property that he slaughters every once on a while to dwindle the numbers back into 30 or so, and my mother has chickens that annoy her sometimes
And even people who eat meat as well tell me that it's gross to eat goat meat, and that I should eat beef. I don't say anything, I just smile pleasantly.
As cliche'd as it sounds: haters gonna hate.
There are rude people everywhere.0 -
I've been a vegetarian nearly all my life. I'm healthy and careless of what people think. If you eat meat, great! If you don't, great! However, that woman's a brave dumb-*kitten* for complaining to you like that.0
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I was vegetarian for about 12 years and have now been a mostly-vegetarian omnivore for about as long. In my time as a vegetarian I met many, many more preachy meat-eaters than I did preachy vegetarians. As a vegetarian I constantly heard comments like "you eat tofu, gross" and "being a vegetarian is so stupid, we were meant to eat animals," "why would you want to do that to yourself" etc. Since beginning to eat meat again, I have eaten meat in front of any number of vegetarians and vegans and heard not a word of criticism.
Of course, there are preachy people of all sorts, and that woman you met was incredibly rude. However, since meat-eating is the norm in this country, I think you'll find that it's vegetarians and vegans who are more often accosted for their food choices.
I completely agree with this person. I've been vegetarian for four years and I always find people ask me 'why are you vegetarian, it's not natural or healthy' and variants of all the above comments. That lady was really rude to you, but I find that more people are rude to me about being vegetarian. Most vegetarians will happily talk to you about their reasons without being preachy, and only when asked.
Being vegetarian isn't necessarily healthier than being a carnivore, except you do seem to have a more varied diet - because you've got to think up new and interesting ways to get enough protein and various nutrients into your body. That might be healthier than someone who always eats fatty or processed meats and foods. Personally I'm vegetarian because I object to the unsustainable fishing practices of the world's nations. I don't eat seafood, and 30-60% of the world's seafood catch actually goes to feed other animals which we eat. It's very difficult (and costly) to find meat or fish that is sustainably or ethically produced, so I found it easier to become a full vegetarian than be an extremely fussy eater. Especially since the western markets (UK, Australia, etc) have lots of alternatives.
Saying that, my fiance is in the navy and is a carnivore. We eat vegetarian at home and he's still able to be as fully fit as he needs, with the addition of a few protein shakes. When we go out he often has meat, but then it's usually a lot nicer than what you could buy in the supermarkets. Everyone should just eat what they need to be happy and healthy. If you're happier not eating meat, that's your prerogative. But no-one should push their ideas onto someone else.0 -
I was brought up as a vegetarian. I do believe killing animals for our benefit whether for food or pleasure is wrong but I don't force my opinion on others. That lady was rude and had no business in budding in other's affair or forcing her opinion. Being healthy is all about eating right and being physically fit.0
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I've been a vegetarian for 8 years now. There are many reasons to be a vegetarians, including health reasons. And as for "doctors not recommending it", every cardiologist at the hospital I work at HIGHLY recommends it to their patients. A lot of people have made comments about how this lady over stepped her bounderies (which she did), but something to keep in mind...many people constantly make offensive comments to vegetarians as well.0
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If you really believe what happens to these animals before & during their death isn't considered torture I encouraged you to watch some of the undercover slaughterhouse videos, egg hatchery videos, dairy cow videos... That is cruel, inhumane disgusting torture, I couldn't care less if others eat meat but you cannot honestly think what happens to these poor creatures is 'okay'.
I had to watch a movie on that in high school, for my AP Environmental Science course. I forget the name but it was disgustingly heart-breaking
I'm so glad I have a hearing problem because I ended up turning off my hearing aids and looked away. One of my classmates turned vegan because of it, and my little cousin turned vegetarian two years ago when she watched a similar one in her class. 0 -
what is your purpose for being vegetarian? Do they just taste that good to you? Is it about being healthy? WHY!?!? Don't get me wrong I have no problems with it, and everyone is entitled to eat what ever they wish. I however am trying to understand the madness.
Thought I'd jump in on this. I do eat meat, but not much. I don't particularly enjoy meat. While preparing and eating meat, I find that pretending it is something else is the only way to not lose my appetite. If I actually acknowledge that I am handling the dead flesh of an animal, I can't stomach the thought, and I have to force myself to finish the bite. The only reason I eat it is because it is an excellent source of protein, and the only reason I prepare it is because my husband would not be a very happy camper if I didn't.
That lady was incredibly rude to you. Shame on her.0 -
I am a long-time vegetarian (now vegan) and would never presume to tell someone else what to eat. I decide what I eat and you can decide for yourself. Ahhh freedom! Sorry you had such a bad run-in, we're not all angry crazies:)0
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I've been a vegetarian for 19 years, since I was 11 y/o. I have plenty of personal reasons, but the deciding reasons were the not wanting to eat my pets line of reasoning.
I would never, ever in a million years approach a stranger and evangelize vegetarianism! It is none of my beeswax what other people eat!
People who try and convert others to vegetarianism are obnoxious and insane. Nobody is going to make that huge lifestyle change because someone approached them. I will tell others about it if they're interested, and I try to be as helpful as possible to people considering vegetarianism, specifically about how to get enough protein and eat a balanced diet, but I have no interest in lassoing converts.
Edit to add- I just read the end of the OP post again, and wanted to add that vegetarian diets are no more inherently healthy OR UNHEALTHY than an omniverous diet. You can do either one and be perfectly healthy.0 -
I'm a vegan. I don't eat meat simply because I think it's wrong to eat animals of any kind. They don't eat us so why should we eat them? This being said, I don't judge people who do eat meat. There are a few reasons that I took the next step to be vegan, one of them being that I'm extremely lactose intolerant. I also believe that it is a more sustainable way to eat and it's better for the environment. I really can not understand why someone would actually go up to a complete stranger in a restaurant and start ragging on them about the way they eat. We all have different diets and we're all entitled to our own opinions.0
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Being a educated fellow
:laugh:
But anyway, I agree with you. Meat itself isn't unhealthy, (especially if it was just smoked ham...it's only about 75 cals. for 5 slices of the packaged black forest stuff), it's how it's cooked that can make it unhealthy. As far as the 'killing animals' thing, well, I love animals too, but I'm certainly not giving up meat just because of that.
It's funny that she brought god into it though, since my ultra religious relatives believe the opposite of what she said.0 -
Today, after I left the gym I stopped at Jimmy Johns to get a snack. I ordered a #1 which is Applewood Smoked Ham and provolone cheese garnished with lettuce, tomato, and mayo. I sat down minding my own business enjoying my snack. Like a the normal American Male that I am, I take really big bites of my food. Of course their might be a string of lettuce hanging from my mouth or drops back onto tray. Well while doing this I'm approached by a very bitter lady.
"That is so gross" was the first words out of her mouth. At first I was going to say something like "get off my nuts if you don't like the way I eat" but before I could say anything she wasn't talking about the way I eat food. She was referring to my meaty sandwhich. She says to me, "How can you eat that stuff, its disgusting, unhealthy, and just plain wrong. People kill animals for you to eat, god didn't put us on this planet to kill everything" (that wasn't word for word but its the same damn gibberish she was spouting at me)
Being a educated fellow I smiled real big and just knew this was going down right then and there.
My response "What makes you think that this is unhealthy? Because its high in calories? My food is cooked to kill the germs that might be harmful to me. As far as taste goes I believe its very good and I might just get another."
"I'm a vegetarian and vegetarians are just more fit and healthier than those who are not" she said.
Again I smile real big "Lady I'm 5'4" 160lbs, I can run 2 miles in under 13 minutes and at that pace I can maintain a heart rate of 150bpm and a dead rest heart rate of 52bpm. My blood pressure is 116/75. I can benchpress 205lbs. I go to the gym 4 days out of the week. I eat all the nutrients my body needs. Without sacrificing my size. If I were like you and eat only veggies I would be a puny twig that can be pushed over by a strong wind. I like my chances of being healthy without being a vegetarian. I like having protein in my body, it allows me to do hard labor work without being strained, and if I am strained I can recover very quickly. If I were you I'd start eating meat so you can be healthier than you are now"
Baffled and stunned this lady was forced into retreat.
I finished my meal and I walked over to her and her friend. I reach into my wallet and I pull out a trainers card from a gym. I said trainers and nutrionists do not recommend being a vegetarian, neither do doctors. Here is card for a trainer at my gym if you wish to learn more about why your not healthy give him a ring... And I left
Brilliantly done!!!0 -
They don't eat us so why should we eat them?
....yes they do. They might not farm us like we do them, but they do eat us occasionally.0 -
I'm so glad you had an awesome comeback. That lady needed to mind her own business.0
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People who try and convert others to vegetarianism are obnoxious and insane. Nobody is going to make that huge lifestyle change because someone approached them.
It usually has the opposite effect, actually. (for me anyway)0 -
I have been a vegetarian since I was 5
Being an animal lover I could never understand how someone can kill a living breathing being to fill their stomachs when there are plenty of fruits veggies nuts legumes etc etc for one to eat
However those are my beliefs and I have a right to my lifestyle
Same goes for those that eat meat...all my friends eat meat and we always chose restaurants that accommodate both our lifestyles and choices ie some eat halaal or kosher etc etc
My only issue is that the meat made is not cruelty free
The animals know they are about to die and begin crying out..that's like killing an animal twice
There is so much demand due to pure wastage and it's the animals that suffer0 -
They don't eat us so why should we eat them?
....yes they do. They might not farm us like we do them, but they do eat us occasionally.
Haha, well I meant farming. Although, if one attacked me, I'd eat it :P A couple weeks ago on a bike ride I was attacked by a grouse! No joke, a grouse. It flew like a basketball into the back of my head. I was only partly joking when I said I would've eaten it hahaha.0 -
If I were like you and eat only veggies I would be a puny twig that can be pushed over by a strong wind. I like my chances of being healthy without being a vegetarian. I like having protein in my body, it allows me to do hard labor work without being strained, and if I am strained I can recover very quickly. If I were you I'd start eating meat so you can be healthier than you are now"
I said trainers and nutrionists do not recommend being a vegetarian, neither do doctors.
Extracts only included as I do not know how to bold (sorry)
Ok - what she said was totally rude and out of order - BUT, please see the extracts above from your post. I am a vegetarian and am not puny in any way, nor am I unhealthy because of it. There are many professional athletes that are vegetarians. I have never had a trainer or a doctor say anything about me being a vegetarian being unhealthy.
I do however, really get annoyed with 'holier than thou' vegetarians because they are the catalyst for exactly the type of statement you have made in the extracts shown above from your post.0 -
Wow - Let me start by saying, I'm vegan. How i choose to eat is my business and how that lady carried on is not ok.
Quite frankly im sure arguments can be made for meat and non-meat eating diets (some things are good/bad for you in both diets).
Im vegan for (MY OWN) ethical reasons (and i understand others have different morals, values, priorities) and i feel alot better since making the switch, HOWEVER - i dont believe this is just because im no longer eating meat/animal products, i think its more to do with eating more fresh fruit, veg and making things from scratch so i know whats in them (it also stops me buying that occasional muffin in the cafe at work because they're not vegan etc).
In saying that - vegans can be healthy - i run marathons, lift weights, i play contact sports (and im performing better than before), train almost every day of the week and i have loads of energy. The key differance i think is that i dont cram it down peoples necks, im happy to joke with people and infact my partner is a meat eater (her choice is her choice and i respect that).
i did laugh when i read this bit "I'm a vegetarian and vegetarians are just more fit and healthier than those who are not" she said. - im not sure her logic here. I dont think either diet is absolutely better than the other as there are so many variables- both meat and non meat diets contain junk foods it just depends what you choose to eat. For the record the institute of sport here in Australia have many successful athletes that are vego.
I think the key here is that people should make their own decisions, feel empowered by their decisions and then let others make their own decisions. After all - we all have a brain (or do we)?0 -
Vegetarians like that are why most vegetarians and vegans get a bad name. What you eat is your own business, and no one has the right to tell you how to eat.0
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Every one should make their own choices. But as a meat eater I don't feel its wrong to kill animals for food - particularly when you don't have an emotional attachment to them. Others believe strongly that it is wrong.0
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i am personally vegan. everybody has a right to what they want to eat. my reasons for being vegan are my business and whoever eats/doesnt eat animals is their business. people at work never give me crap for being vegan as i would never for their beliefs. would i want everybody to be vegan, of course, but reguardless of your belief, being it food wise, religion, war, etc. my personal philosophy is dont shove your beliefs down my throat and we will get along just fine. if people would think, would your parents be proud of you if you did this certain thing, as in being extremely rude and preachy, 95% of things that are bad wouldnt happen.0
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Today, after I left the gym I stopped at Jimmy Johns to get a snack. I ordered a #1 which is Applewood Smoked Ham and provolone cheese garnished with lettuce, tomato, and mayo. I sat down minding my own business enjoying my snack.
DAMNNNN! If that's a "snack" --what's a meal? Eating like a boss. **love it** haha0 -
Meat is murder... Tasty, tasty murder.
Okay, not my quote but I still love it
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Watch the documentary "Forks over Knives" and actually absorb the staggering scientific evidence that animal matter makes us sick. Then maybe we'll talk.
That being said, people who approach other people and berate them for what they are eating really, really need to find something more constructive to do with their lives.0 -
I personally dont eat a lot of meat, the only meat I will have is chicken and I will only have it once to twice a week, I try to force myself to eaat fish twice a week and for the rest of the time its pure veggie for me, I dont eat a lot of meat because it makes me feel sick and causing my illness ( adrenal tumour) to flare up and when that happens I am hospitalised which is not good. the other reason i do not eat meat is because I feel sorry for the animals.
I personally do not have a problem with anyone eating meat at all, I cook it for my family and have no problems with them eating it, when I eventually have children I will not force them to be veggie I will allow them to make their own choice, we all have a choice and mine is to avoid it, even if it didnt set my tumour off I doubt very much I would be a big meat eater.0 -
I reach into my wallet and I pull out a trainers card from a gym. I said trainers and nutrionists do not recommend being a vegetarian, neither do doctors. Here is card for a trainer at my gym if you wish to learn more about why your not healthy give him a ring...
I don't know about doctors not recommending being vegetarian and really they don't get mch nutrition training anyway. And as for trainers, I'm sure some educate themselves in nutrition to some extent but really what do they need to do to get qualified? Here in Australia I think it's just a six week course. I wouldn't count on them to be experts in nutrition...0
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