Your thoughts on Vegitarianism

Dean wrote: I do not believe that vegetarianism is a noble cause. I believe it is a cop-out - the art of doing nothing while thinking you're doing good.

A cop out or an excuse for smugness - speaking as an ex "Well-I-know-I-can't-change-anything-but-doesn't-mean-I-have-to-be-part-of-it" vegetarian, I know

Dean wrote: Snow Dog wrote: Dean wrote: I do not believe that vegetarianism is a noble cause. I believe it is a cop-out - the art of doing nothing while thinking you're doing good. If anything only a Vegan can be considerd noble in these terms. Any vegetarian that thinks he is doing it for anything other than personal taste should stop eating dairy products too. I do not consider vegan diet to be in any way noble either. A vegan diet does not change animal husbandry, it does nothing for animal welfare, it does not save a calf from slaughter, it does not mean that an egg laid will hatch into a chicken, it does not prevent deforestation, it does not reduce greenhouse gasses or prevent global warming, it does not reduce food-miles and all the waste of fuel and increased pollution that entails, it does not save the world from hunger, it does not reduce or manage world overpopulation, it does not reduce the use of pesticides and insecticides, it does not save water or reduce our reliance on inorganic fertilisers, it does not halt extinction and it does not result in a healthier human being.   It is a lifestyle choice and nothing more.

I agree.

It's also something I neither applaud or have a problem with. When someone tells me they don't eat meat it has the same impact on me as them telling me they don't drink peppermint tea.

I'm also inclined to think that government advice on diet should be taken with a pinch of salt (so to speak) What's good for you on Monday will be bad for you on Tuesday - according to some study in Japan, or something. In the early 80's peanut butter was linked to cancer. Orange juice - drunk in the mornings only - was linked to a potentially increased risk of stomach cancer last year. When it comes to meat we should probably bear in mind that nature 'designed' us to eat meat, hence we have canine teeth for tearing it. Red meat is rich in vitamin B, zinc, selenium, protein and numerous other essential minerals and elements which we need for good health. Despite the fat content the consumption of red meat is a healthy thing, IMO so long as part of a diet which balances meat with vegetable matter. We are omnivores, after all. Combined with exercise, not smoking and only moderate drinking, I don't believe there is any negative impact to eating red meat.

Processed meat may be a different matter altogether.

Atavachron wrote: mmmm.. Popeyes

Jim Garten wrote: Dean wrote: I do not believe that vegetarianism is a noble cause. I believe it is a cop-out - the art of doing nothing while thinking you're doing good. A cop out or an excuse for smugness - speaking as an ex "Well-I-know-I-can't-change-anything-but-doesn't-mean-I-have-to-be-part-of-it" vegetarian, I know

^ how do you make a stupid comment

Evolver wrote: How do you cook a honeybee?

Deep fried - apparently "No real taste, just very crunchy"  

timothy leary wrote: ^ how do you make a stupid comment

Ambient Hurricanes wrote: I don't practice vegitarianism, but I respect the choice of anyone who chooses to do so.

I found that when I discovered vegetarian Indian, I could actually entertain the idea of not eating meat.  Unfortunately I also love Indian meat dishes.

My sister decided to go mostly vegetarian recently and her husband is doing vegan.  We did a mostly veg Thanksgiving last year.  And totally veg Christmas dinner when we got together.  I have no plans on giving up meat, but from a health standpoint it doesn't hurt to moderate.

Edited by Slartibartfast - January 15 2013 at 14:20

i ate a vegan taco at Roskilde festival, i felt all the time that i was missing something, i really feal that vaganisme and vegetarianisme is something that is craving devotion and time and effort that i am not willing to throw myself into, im to much in love with Hungarain food to never eat Paprikash and Goulasj to quit eating that....