Eating meat unethical debate?

Question

Im a vegeterian. My cousin is supposed to be this "globally aware i care about the environment blah blah" but he doesnt want to admit the fact that eating meat is unethical. He does admit that the way slaughterhouse animals are treat is unethical, but eating meat isnt. I keep telling him that, even though it may be ok to eat meat, it still doesnt make the way they are treated correct, and that since, there is nothing we can do about the way the animals are treated, eating meat altogether is unethical and the habit should be broke.

Vegans please!

What can i tell him.

Answer 1

well, we would't need the use of slaughterhouses if everyone would stop eating meat (which isn't likely anytime soon). the fact of the matter is that these animals are being abused in this fashion so that they can eat the meat. and the only reason that meat tastes so good is all the man-made chemicals and "antibiotics" (most of them are known carcinogens) that is injected into the dead carcas. and if he is so into eating meat when he thinks that he is doing no wrong, then get him a steak from a cow that has had no chemicals whatsoever injected into it. it is in all actuality dry, extremely difficult to chew, and tastes like dirt. or one thing you could do is buy him the book "the vegetarian alternative:a guide to a healthful and humane diet" by vic sussman. it is from the seventies, but the majority of it still holds true-not many of the laws have changed since then. it changed my life when i was simply considering vegetarianism.

and instead of holding out until getting a job (because that is a very rediculous excuse) to turn vegetarian, do it now. it is an extremely cheap way to live. i am currently unemployed and i make less than fifty dollars a week (on most weeks i make nothing). i spend probably ten dollars (if even) on my groceries a week. vegetarianism is much cheaper than people think-not everyone has to eat tofu and hummus. my go to meal that i eat at least six to seven times a week is refried beans on a tortilla (i spice it up with salsa). buying them costs me about three dollars together (two cans of refried beans-1.18, one package of fajita style flour tortillas-1.16. you even have money for tax).

Answer 2

vegans UNITE!!!

Answer 3

I wouldn't try to argue with him... you don't want to put him off of vegetarianism or veganism! (And as I'm sure you know, the more you push, the more most people will dig their heels in.)  As much as you disagree with him, he's able to make his own decisions about his lifestyle. It's possible that he demonstrates his dedication to environmental health in a different way from you. (Maybe he recycles, carpools, and grows his own vegetables, for example.) While you might think that eating meat is unethical, he's able to determine what he considers morally responsible behavior. It's his right.

You can point out the consequences of the mass meat industry, but the fact is that there are environmentally conscientious ways of including meat and other animal products in your diet. Heck, even ethically it's possible, unless you think that it is the *killing* of animals for food that is wrong. (And there's nothing wrong with it if that's what you believe... but from your question, I feel like you object less to the killing itself and more the way in which it is done and the path leading up to it.)

There are farms out there that raise animals for food but treat them as sentient beings rather than products. Take, for example, one buffalo ranch in the Midwest. The owner of the ranch restored acres and acres of prairie grasslands in order to raise buffalo. The buffalo are essentially free to roam as they want. The only thing they do there that wouldn't be done in the wild is tag them. The buffalo are never given hormones or antibiotics. They spend no time on feedlots or trucks... in short, they basically get to live a lot like wild buffalo.

I guess what I'm saying is that while a lot of the meat and animal products out there are raised with no regard to the animals or environment, it is erroneous to say that all animals are treated badly, or that all kinds of meat are bad for the environment. If you do your homework, it is possible to find sources, just like it is possible to find animal-friendly health and beauty products.

Answer 4

to get a flesh of one kg[what ever,lamb or beef or pork etc] they should be fed about 50 kgs of grains. does any one know this? yes this is kept secret by the buillion dollor business owners. but this is the true.any one can check it. i am sure i would be ryt. so one can easily immagine how many could be fed with 50 kgs of grain[mainly its wheat]. so this one point is enough tthe discussion can reach all the subjects food shortage, enviroment problems etc. definetly non vegeterian is not meant for humans. u can ask any medical proffeessional or nutritionists. try honest people u trust and get the facts. i hope that wiil be alryt for ur cussin to become vegetrian. it helps in a lot way not just animals, it turns out to be a big goodness thing that we do for ourself and to the society.

Answer 5

I am not veggie or vegan but I will say that if your cousin wants to eat meat but also wants to help ensure that animals are treated well then he can always use the most powerful of all mediums-CONSUMER CHOICE! Tell him to only buy free range products and meat from farms that treat the animals well. If everyone did that then it would force more intensive farms to change! MONEY TALKS!

Answer 6

As a vegan myself, I hate people that try to force their beliefs and diets on other people.

He is entitled to his morals and you need to respect that.

Answer 7

God killed off most of humanity with a flood, then promised he'd never do it again and made a rainbow in the sky as the sign of his covenant. He also said "Every living thing is yours to eat, I give it to you."

So we have a GOD-GIVEN RIGHT to eat both plants and animals. Yay!

(And hey, plants are living things too. We stick pesticides in them and no one protests! We burn down forests (with animals) in order to plant the next soy farm. I'm going to eat ONLY meat until they stop their cruelty to plants!)

Answer 8

I'm a vegetarian too and honestly its just not worth fighting over what someone does or doesn't eat your beliefs are your beliefs and his beliefs are his own you have your reasons and your cousin has his

there is a major problem in the world because others cant respect different beliefs

you can pick your freinds but you cant pick your freinds nose same with telling what to eat and what not to eat besides arguing with him isnt going to help your cause

Answer 9

You could tell him that buying meat is essentially the same as hiring someone to kill animals for us. (The number of animals that are bred and slaughtered depends directly on the consumer demand for meat.) So it doesn't make much sense to be opposed to the way slaughterhouses treat animals, but at the same time, continue to support these practices by buying meat.

You could mention that there are very few choices in our day-to-day lives that make a significant impact on the world around us. But at every meal, you have the opportunity to cast your vote against cruelty to animals and environmental destruction.

I wouldn't be too pushy, though. Your cousin seems to realize that the way animals are treated isn't right, but it may take some time before he's willing to consider going vegetarian. Ask a lot of questions, get a dialogue going and help him to grapple with the issues. No one likes to listen to a lecture or monologue.

Answer 10

well as long as you have respect for each others lifestyles but really and truly people were never meant to eat meat only animals were and our stomach were never meant to digest it thats why it rots inside of us it even says in the bible in the proverb12:15 i think not to eat animals so its basically a sin right along with though shall not kill

Answer 11

personal choice -don't criticize what i eat & i won't judge your diet!!

Answer 12

If he is indeed environmentally concerned, then I'm sure he is aware of the U.N. report which found that the raising of animals for food produced more greenhouse gases than all forms of transportation combined, and was thus the number one contributor toward global warming.

And "there is nothing we can do about the way the animals are treated" is entirely the wrong attitude.  Get involved and DO SOMETHING.

By the way, don't post things like "eating meat altogether is unethical."  It sounds ill informed and immature, and will only act as a magnet for trolls.

Answer 13

Not all meat that is consumed is from slaughterhouse animals, so right there your logic and/or argument is flawed.

I so love the 'when I start working' part.  And you wonder why people stereotype.

Answer 14

Ethically speaking I'm completely opposed to consuming or using animal products. Both due to environmental ethic and my moral views about taking life. I believe we do not have the right to take the life of another sentient animal simply to satisfy our taste buds and our appetites. I also believe it's our moral responsibility to protect those more vulnerable than us.

I don't understand how people can pet their cat or dog with the same hand they use to eat their steak or pork. It is so contradictory and doesn't make logical sense. Why is it ok to eat a cow but love your dog? It's speciest and contradictory.

I refuse to eat meat because it's not our moral right to eat meat. It's not our right to take the life of another living sentient being. I don't think we should take the life of another living creature especially when it is unnecessary. There are so many alternatives to killing, why should we resort to the cruelest course of action when there are so many other options, sans death, torture and pain.

Animals have the same desires and natural instincts as humans. They seek warmth, shelter, a mate, family, food, water, and to live a comfortable uninhibited life. We as humans seek the same basic principles. Why is it fair to inflict pain, suffering, restrictions, and death, all in the name of lunch, dinner, shoes or a coat? Just because we can't understand animals that doesn't mean they don't seek the same essential things in life.

A global scale omnivorous diet is ecologically unsustainable a large scale omnivorous diet is to sustain globally. Producing meat places massive stresses on the earth's resources and the environment. I study environmental engineering and majoring in agricultural waste management. Some other reasons you could mention include:

1. Cruelty to Animals

2. Health

3. World Hunger

4. Worker Rights

5. Government Negligence

6. The environment

Answer 15

Mammals are carnivoures by nature, so eating meat is natural.  Just because we have evolved as a species and don't go out individually and hunt other animals, doesn't make eating meat unethical.  When a lion or other animal attacks and kills another animal and eats it's flesh are they unethical?

Humans have created a lot of baggage that tries to negate what is natural behavior.  Where do you get your information that slaughterhouses are cruel in their treatment of animals?  Much of this information is propaganda put out by those that oppose eating meat.  I am sure that there are some that are unethical in their processes, but how do you police them?  

What way of slaughtering these animals would you recommend as humane, I would assume none.  Humans are the only species with the higher level of intelligence that creates ideas and theories such as ethics, etc.  Lower forms of species do not have this capability, so these animals do not know this theory.  Are we suppose to allow them to die of old age?  If we did this, then there would be a serious ecoligical problem on the planet.  Species need to prey on other species, it's natures natural order of things and how the planets ecological system stays in balance.

Answer 16

Eating meat isn't unethical.

If it were, then it would also be unethical for people to have biological children, when there are so many parentless children suffering in the world.  It would be unethical to own a nice home, when there are so many homeless people in the world.  It would be unethical to earn a decent living, when there are so many people living in poverty, etc. etc. etc.

See how this works?  Each and every person subcribes to their own set of ethics; everyone has their own "causes", so to speak, and to try to push your own ethics on someone else is, well, it's unethical!

Answer 17

I agree, don't try and convert him, let each person live how they want. You vegetarians are all the same, cry when people critise your belief, then turn around and call meat eaters monsters. Hypocrits much!

Edit: Thumbs down, my point PROVEN!

They hate it when someone disagree's with their beliefs, because they aren't secure in their own belief. No matter how much someone critises me for eating meat, I won't stop, because I have faith in what I believe, nothing anyone can say or do will ever stop me from eating meat.