The point of veganism (besides the environmental side) is that there is far too much unnecessary suffering caused to animals; complex and intelligent animals, because of the meat industry. Of course humans will probably always cause death and suffering to animals and even other humans, but accepting this and taking it as a reason for "why should I care at all then" is ridiculous.

[–] Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I don't think we are at the point where all of humanity can refrain from meat. Maybe most Americans but we should maybe collectively decide this is the goal before pursuing it.

Being incendiary is a strategy that only had small short term gains. Looking at th big picture more people need to understand the argument and it can't be, "you should feel bad." At least not until you've established the expectations and clear reasons why they exist outside of one's own personal judgement.

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Why can't we?? Meat is a luxury product!! The only reason you can afford it at all is because I subsidize it so heavily with my taxes. It is made by refining cheap, safe, plentiful plant food using the bodies of animals to create a toxic, addictive, scarce luxury good. In that process, MOST OF THE NUTRIENTS ARE LOST. If we all stopped eating meat, we would have such an overabundance of food, we would have to stop farming more than half the land we are currently farming for plants.

Now tell me why YOU can't stop being cruel and violent against the kindest, gentlest creatures on the planet? Because even if you can come up with a tortured hypothetical reason some unlikely hypothetical person can't, if you can, then what you are doing is atrocity.

[–] BluJay320@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 3 months ago

Not that I was going to listen to you anyway, but the entire way you’re going about this just makes you look like a dick.

Also, accusing me of being cruel and violent for buying a slab of meat off the shelf is laughably stupid.

[–] Kacarott@aussie.zone 0 points 4 months ago

I agree not everyone can refrain from eating meat, but waiting until everyone is doing it before one stops eating meat is a good way to ensure it never happens. Veganism has grown to where it is now from people deciding to adopt it for themselves, regardless of other people are doing it.

But yes you are right, the argument shouldn't be "you should feel bad". I think educating about the problems of the meat industry, and also making veganism ever more accessible and normalised are the ways forward. But it will spread person by person, not as large communal decisions. At least not yet.