I, on the other hand, went vegan so that I can be justified in not watching those videos
And now instead I get to watch this cute video of a cow that's friends with a dog, without having to repress awkward questions about why animal cruelty is only socially condemned for certain animals and not others.
I feel like that sign is a bit alienating, which is unfortunate because it perpetuates the idea that vegans are holier than thou. As a person that (i think) understands the basic reasoning behind veganism (intentional non-participation in animal exploitation and cruelty?) i wish that more people would consider it. Hey, maybe that should be a sign
To be fair, I feel like there's a lot of videos that would traumatize you if you watched them, not just ones related to meat. Sure there's traumatizing videos you should watch, but actively seeking that stuff out seems like no way to live.
I didn't even watch the videos. I just saw a video of someone's pet cow who was curled up in a little girl's lap getting a scratch after having been snuck into the porch by the kid, and that was enough. One day the light just goes on.
I've seen those videos, a lot of them. I still choose to eat meat. I totally disagree with the implication that anyone who eats meat is being willfully ignorant of evidence that would convert them.
I'm pretty sure the vast majority of adult meat eaters have seen multiple videos and still continue to eat meat. Very few have actionable ability to directly stop the suffering so they then stop caring. One person cutting down on red meat will never be enough until there's enough lab grown meat and/or delicious FakeMeat alternatives to satiate western society at large. We still a long ways away from that.
Until then, vote for people who want to cut down on brutal industrial practices.
I watched the videos. But at the end of the day we're omnivorous.
I appreciate those tv shows Alone or The Island where they are confronted with killing for sustenance and it means more. So many people cry when they have to kill for food.
One hunter in Alone left after killing a squirrel. It made him depressed
I think we shoulf reduce meat production and make laws so millions of animals dont het abused every day and i aldo saw the videos but i just like meat so i dont think that everyone becoming a vegan would be a good solution. I of course 100% support if someone makes the decision themself. If a meat substitute is found that tastes like meat and solves meats flaws then i would happily switch.
I like watching the videos while I'm munching on an extra crispy 12 piece from the colonel. Is that why it's so tasty? I knew torture was part of the secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices!!Finger licking good!
But killing cows does suck, they're cool. Like big cowy dogs.
I'm drunk, I apologize.
But also life is just random coincidence and we're probably the only place it exists and it seems like everything is out to get everything else already. Fuckers can't eat me, I'll eat them. I'm coming for you, flesh eating bacteria. I have teeth. They're real creepy. Like bones in my face made to chew things. FACE BONES.
I mean I've seen the videos. It's no worse than what I've seen in nature shows. Earth is a violent beautifully bloody place. There is nothing more abundant than the slow tearing of flesh for nourishment as the unfortunate prey suffer their last breath. It's impersonal and necessary. I like animals and treat any animal I encounter with kindness and that's not mutually exclusive to embracing the raw animalistic instinct in us that makes us formidable hunters and incredible at processing a carcass to its maximum utility. If i didnt have access to farmed meat i would not think twice about hunting that same animal. Humanity has figured out ways to use the bones, the collagen, the hide and organs of an animal and fully appreciate these gifts. While we definitely can make improvements on how to raise and harvest I am not ashamed of the fact that humanity has had the ingenuity to take control of our own nourishment and mass produce food that once used to be inaccessible to everyone but the wealthy.
I have watched these videos and I've seen different slaughtering techniques. The sheep's purpose is to reproduce to feed other animals. They don't create or advance. They exist because other animals need to eat them. If we can feed ourselves without upsetting the natural balance I'm all for it.
Humanity reproducing and spreading, building, changing the planet, rivers, swamps and other habitats is what is actually harmful to wildlife and yet these things continue to happen. We insist on reproducing and while I've seen plenty of hope with the advent of birth control and education, we still are a threat to biodiversity.
Want to reduce meat consumption? Keep up the low birth rates! We can do it!
I've seen those videos. the ones where there is just as much rotting meat caked on the walls floors and staff as new hooks come around the assembly line and eventually get injected with ammonia pellets to hide the fact its rancid meat...still eating meat. and beans and vegetables because being an Omnivore has Further Reaching Advantages than self restricting your own dietary needs to just plants.
I'll stop eating meat when you convince every other omnivore on the planet to stop it. To pretend we are some how more more elevated than any other animal on the planet is arrogant. If we were were any better than a virus we would realise te are fucking ourselves over the need for the abstract concept of stock price go up.
I have seen how animals are killed hell caravan park I holidayed In as a kid was next door to an abattoir which I walked passed eating a burger.
I also grew up in the country helping my farmer friends on cow rearing farms.
Plants and mushrooms are living entities too with growing evidence that they too react and warn their kind when under stress pr attack. As we learn more about the plant and mycelium world the arguments fall apart.
Life cannot exist without death in the end all we can do is minimise the suffering.
Something we can't seem to manage for our own species never mind others.
I say this as someone with mostly vegan wife and who where it doesn't suck will pick the non meat option.
Are we talking about the doctored videos a la fetal tissue sales? Maybe the hit pieces that are done to further an agenda? I'm not against veganism, but using propaganda to spread your ideology is an awful way to go about it.
So, where does that put children of migrant workers on your tiered morality list? Their parents pick your vegetables, and often so do they instead of going to school (if they even have school as an option). I'm genuinely curious.
edit: Ah, yes, the silent outrage of drive-by downvoting rather than making the effort to engage in mature discourse. Color me surprised.
A friend told me that she asked her father to watch a vid for her bday. He agreed and converted after seeing it. For this reason, I cowardly avoid seeking out such material (I love meat). I know that I should switch. I’m just selfish enough not to.