Calling all vegetarians/vegans

[LullabyLizard]

It annoys me when 'vegetarians' say - "Oh, I'm a vegetarian, but I eat fish"...

Fish is meat. Fish are being plucked out of the ocean, and some scientists say that we wont have any fish left in 100 years, if we keep fishing like we do. They are cruely *sp killed, they are suffocated. But, cows, pigs and sheep are not on the brink of extinction. Yes, they are killed horridly, but they arn't going to go anywhere.

 

[Tikanderoga]

Yes, they are killed horridly

Not really.. from I remember they just get "shot" in the head with a bolt - quick and as painless as possible.

The mice we buy for our snakes are suffocated with CO2... so not much more cruel than a fish getting dragged out of water and left to die on the air - yet, we do keep snakes and other reptiles and we do buy the mice for them at the pet store.
So as someone already pointed out correctly - it is kind of a hypocriticsm.

 

[slim6y]

Chemical additives (supplements) into your diet... BAD BAD BAD....

Lifestyle choice requiring these supplements.... BAD BAD BAD....

Humans used to live on a feast or famine diet dependant on season - we never lived for that long back then, but it worked on the whole.

There is absolutely NO REASON on this earth now that you could not have a balanced diet (considering hunting means you go to the supermarket and gathering means you put in the shopping trolley).

Why can't you eat fresh greens and meat (if you choose) from the supermarket?

Why should you put your liver through high doses (unnecessarily) of vitamin C, B and especially the WORST A... If you take vitamin A supplements (other than for acne) you're a bigger fool than I can imagine. Vitamin A has been linked to so many health issues and on top of that (like all foods though I guess) the risk of cancers is so unbelievably high!

Vitamin D - you should NOT need that in Australia if you see the sun more than twice per week - we don't live in the Arctic Circle - we don't need a supplement with Vitamin D in it (unless you're calcium deficient and a ginge...).

Then what about fish oil tabs... Well.. hmmm don't get me started - yes, Omega 3 is GREAT for you... but in a condensed tablet equivalent of eating four snappers??? WHAT THE??? It's NOT healthy for us to get large doses of vitamins and minerals in any form....

Which is why I choose to be the happy little heterotroph that I am and go all out to eat a balanced healthy and varied diet to include meats, fish, veges and fruit with some unhealthy stuff to add to it because that's what balance is all about...

If by choice, I felt animals were being cruelly dealt with I would choose bio-dynamic harvesting only... And still eat red meat, fish and poultry... I do buy free range... I do not buy chemical pesticides (including NO natural ones either - they're a bigger jip), I do look for good quality meats - but I am never sure of how they're farmed. But for the time they're alive, they were probably pretty happy.

 

[slim6y]

Not really.. from I remember they just get "shot" in the head with a bolt - quick and as painless as possible.

The mice we buy for our snakes are suffocated with CO2... so not much more cruel than a fish getting dragged out of water and left to die on the air - yet, we do keep snakes and other reptiles and we do buy the mice for them at the pet store.
So as someone already pointed out correctly - it is kind of a hypocriticsm.

Actually, I'd have to disagree there about the fish comment...

CO2 in high doses is toxic and you still breath apparently normally up until the point where you lose consciousness. It's also much much much much quicker.

Fish on the other hand require oxygen (like humans) to be passed over their gills in the water (usually in the form of dissolved O2). When out of the water they're unable to breath because no water is passing over the gills - effectively it's like a plastic bag going over your head, but some nasty person (obviously not the word I was really choosing) stabs two or three tiny fork holes in the plastic bag so you get just enough air to remain conscious and aware, but not enough to keep your survival going for more than a few hours of terror.

Yes, I DO EAT FISH... and not hypocritical - I don't agree with it... but part of my lifestyle involves the requirement of me working and unable to spend my day fishing so I can quickly and painlessly dispatch the fish I catch... So I just face the facts - fish will die by slow suffocation or be kept in holding tanks to die when on shore....

Have you watched No Country For Old Men? The one with the cattle bolt... Freakyness (I think it was a play on the whole vegetarian thing - black comedy at its best I think). But I do beleive cows do feel the 'terror' of their former mates getting iced!

 

[LullabyLizard]

I'm not a vegetarian. I love meat! I was just elaborating on the hypocrite part of it all

 

[ubermensch]

Alot of abbotoirs actually slice the tendons on the feet of cattle so they can't "run" BEFORE they get shot in the head with metal bolts. Cause otherwise, how hard would it be to run around after a paddock of sheep or cows with a fancy gun in hand?
It's absolutely terrible and inhumane, not as quick as people would like to think.

 

[slim6y]

I think they use a stun gun - a few hundred volts of electricity as well - but in some cases they just stun, then slice their neck...

Cheetahs on the other hand just bite at their neck while they're still alive... it works and is incredibly cruel too...

I'm very anti cheetahs - the quicker they're extinct the better I say!

 

[ubermensch]

It's all a part of the food chain.
The cheetas can't help having good teeth and nice legs and the wildebeasts can't help being wildebeasts.
I hope I come back as the cheetah.

 

[redbellybite]

PLANTS scientifically have shown distress ,ACACIA and GIANT SECOYA communicate and are linked by their roots and share information ,so when 1 plant is being ripped up or out ,it initiates tannin to sour the leaves ..in hoping it will be left alone
PLANTS CAN SCREAM we just cant hear them now

NOW answer me this veg heads ..how many of you own LEATHER PRODUCTS?

If you answer NO you dont own any ...HOW MANY PLASTIC BY PRODUCTS are in your homes? better for the enviroment argument is BS ..better for you to sleep at night well probably

 

[Laghairt]

I think someone should close this thread, it's getting silly now. These kind of discussions will always attract the ignorant and intolerant who have nothing to offer but misguided criticism.

 

[redbellybite]

I think someone should close this thread, it's getting silly now. These kind of discussions will always attract the ignorant and intolerant who have nothing to offer but misguided criticism.

I am always amazed at this ..If your whole point on not eating meat is because your not keen on the taste ..FAIR ENOUGH each to their own ...BUT when you claim its because you HATE animal cruelty and are doing the enviroment a favour blah blah ...and when asked do you own leather goods or use plastic by products ...you claim we are being ignorant and giving misguided criticism ...Have you heard of the saying 'cant have your cake and eat it too?' same thing here YES you dont have to like meat ,thats your choice ...but unless you live in a cave with no power and creature comforts ..dont throw the animal or enviroment slogans in our meat eating faces now ...

 

[Laghairt]

Original post restated.

 

[Wally]

Alot of abbotoirs actually slice the tendons on the feet of cattle so they can't "run" BEFORE they get shot in the head with metal bolts. Cause otherwise, how hard would it be to run around after a paddock of sheep or cows with a fancy gun in hand?
It's absolutely terrible and inhumane, not as quick as people would like to think.

This statement is not accurate at all. Cattle are brought onto the kill floor through a single file run ( like you see being used to load them onto trucks ). The cattle cannot run anywhere and are pinned at the top of the chute to be killed. Cattle and all livestock for that matter in a commercial sense are not slaughtered in a paddock. I know this story is gruesome but I want to correct what has been said.

 

[Crystal..Discus]

After reading some of the comments in this thread, I'd like to clear up a few things.

In relation to the link between animal protein and cancer; the scientists in charge of this "finding" have been discredited time and time again, to the point where discrediting it is child's play. The extractions and summary were based solely on one control group, and that same control group ate meat, smoked and drank. However, other control groups, such as Mormons (among other religious groups), who also ate red meat but were forbidden from smoking and drinking showed just as little incidence as vegans. Smoking/Drinking/being fat and unhealthy causes cancer, not red meat

Even if it is for ethical, financial, religious, or environmental, it's a personal choice, and should be treated as such (much like one's choice to follow religion).

That out of the way, look into trying some polenta I love it, but I'm strange like that.

 

[camspeed]

Can't understand how people don't eat meat. Nothing better than a nice juicy medium rare eye fillet mmm

 

[babba007]

This statement is not accurate at all. Cattle are brought onto the kill floor through a single file run ( like you see being used to load them onto trucks ). The cattle cannot run anywhere and are pinned at the top of the chute to be killed. Cattle and all livestock for that matter in a commercial sense are not slaughtered in a paddock. I know this story is gruesome but I want to correct what has been said.

Totally agree

 

[Laghairt]

Of course there have been some poorly designed studies that are effectively worthless but there have been long term studies in the lab with animal models that have proven the link beyond doubt. Red meat in moderation is harmless and humans are definitely able to handle it as part of a healthy diet but the link is there.

In relation to the link between animal protein and cancer; the scientists in charge of this "finding" have been discredited time and time again, to the point where discrediting it is child's play.

 

[Kristy_07]

As much as I support a veggo lifestyle as much as possible, when I woke up with a raging hangover this morning, I really enjoyed a plate of eggs and bacon

I think it's unfair to say that to be "vegetarian" you have to have absolutely no meat or fish or animal by-products whatsoever. Depending on your reasons for doing it of course. But, for me, the occasional steak is good for me, and I feel good for eating it. The fact that I'm not eating a great big hunk of commercially processed meat every day is still helping the cause as far as I see it.

Similarly, meat in Vietnam is not processed in the commercial numbers or by the same practices as at home, so I have felt more comfortable eating the meat over here than I do at home. I still consider myself to be leading a healthy, "responsible" lifestyle.

There are hypocrisies all over the place. I keep snakes. I ride a motorbike when I have to. I use a computer and buy first hand clothes. You can't fight absolutely every evil, but I'm doing my best

 

[Wally]

Yes, living naked in a cave just isn't an option unfortunately.

 

[Megzz]

Regardless of whether or not the OP will be a 'true' vegetarian and the arguements for and against etc we are kind of missing the point of the original question...

She was asking for tips on being vegetarian, maybe recipes etc?