Vegetarians/Vegans: What would you say back to this person?

Question

That's why vegetarians annoy me more than any other type of person on the planet.

You obviously don't understand.

You wanna stop people from eating meat because it's cruel to animal life? Here, enjoy this tasty rock. 'Cause plants are life forms too. Who are you to say eating plants isn't cruel to plants? Plants breathe [photosynthesis], plants have a life cycle, plants have skin [the epidermis]; but oh no- Alex, you don't know what you're talking about.

No. You don't know what you're talking about. I eat cows and I think green because you know what cows do? They f**t, emitting methane and carbons into the atmosphere that are destroying this planet.

Now what are you vegetarians and vegans around the world doing? You're eating the plant life that could turn that nasty carbon into perfectly good breathable oxygen for all other life forms to exist.

So let's get one thing straight right now- you vegetarians are the reason for global warming.

Answer 1

I'm not a vegetarian.  But I am a botanist.

Your accuser is a bit confused toward the end of his comment.

And as for your animal treatment comments in the additional info section... I don't know what farms you've been visiting, but my grandparents' farm never looked like that.

But as for the "plants have feelings" arguement... yes, they do.  Is it what animals feel when we say "feelings?" No.  They don't have nervous systems as animals do- but they do have various sensory mechanisms.  Cascade reactions can be very interesting, and I'd recommend you take a Plant Physiology course at a university if you're really interested in this stuff.

For the most part I don't understand vegans, but some comments of the Dalai Lama to the extent of the number of lives lost to to number of people fed can certainly be appreciated by even the non-vegetarian (and I've never looked at a shrimp cocktail the same way again).  

So, I suppose, in response to your obnoxious commentor: ignore him?  He won't respect your choices (and it IS your choice), so why be anywhere near him?  You have made your own ethical decision.  Humans must consume that which was once alive to survive... you have a limited available diet starting right there.  Could we live on seawater, we wouldn't be having this discussion.  But you've drawn the line where you feel comfortable.  I refuse to eat horse or dog, and I've been teased mercilessly for it in the past.  Just ignore him- it may not be the answer you were hoping for, but personal ethical decisions can be difficult to explain to people without a similar background.  ...Just don't try to convert others to your decision, if they do not want to be converted.

Good luck.

Answer 2

From the sound of his "rant" it seems like you have done a bit of lecturing yourself and that is his response. He seems to have heard a lot of "preaching" from other fanatic vegetarians. as well.

You can't really give him a satisfactory answer because he is set in his ways and beliefs as you are. There is nothing you can say that will change his mind as there is nothing he can say that will change your mind.

I  would say " thank you for your thoughts.. I will keep that in mind..." and leave it at that. If youa re friends with the person, it would be silly to break a friendship over something so trivial. If you can't let it go, then let him go.

Answer 3

Here's what I would say to that person:

Yes, plants are life forms, but they aren't capable of feeling pain and suffering like animals are. Do you really believe there's no difference between pulling a plant out of the ground and skinning a cat while he or she is fully conscious?

Cows exist in such large numbers only because we breed them for slaughter, often through artificial insemination. If more people were vegetarian, fewer farm animals would be bred, and their population would be reduced.

If you're really concerned about preserving plants, a vegetarian would still be the best option. Plants have to be fed to the livestock, and meat production is extremely inefficient. Only a small fraction of the food that is eaten by animals is converted into meat for human consumption.   (For instance, cows have to eat 16 pounds of plant matter to convert it to one pound of meat.) You can save many more plants’ lives by eating vegetables directly.

Not to mention that the meat industry is responsible for global warming. A 2006 United Nations report found that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUVs, Hummers, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined. See http://www.goveg.com/environment-globalw...

Answer 4

That's messed up.

Answer 5

seriously why does he care so much its your life you live it how you want why does it matter what he thinks one day he will wake up and maybe he will realize how dumb he is being but until then I have no idea

sorry =(

Answer 6

Wow. Im speechless :o

Answer 7

he's an idiot and obviously needs to be educated!

But I doubt I would put it like that if you know what I mean!

LOL I'm not a vegetarian BUT I don't think you should have to stand there and let yourself be disrespected because of personal choices! AND you shouldn't be made to feel like you owe anyone an explanation for your choices!

I would have probably not have let him say as much as he did! I would have cut him off short and probably pt him in his place quickly and with a smile and just a few not so nice words would've tore him apart.....he would probably not ever want to speak to me again afterwards......I really don't think I could have managed to keep quiet or been nice at all!

Answer 8

that sounds all right...what you have so far...but my personal advice is to say nothing. someone like this obviously has no common sense, i mean really? plants are life forms is his argument against vegetarianism? he isn't going to listen to any sound advice so i would suggest ignoring it. don't worry about people who say things like this, idk why they care so much about how other people choose to live their lives. as far as the contributing to global warming thing...first off i don't believe in it, second of all, if so many people didn't eat cows, then there wouldn't be so many to f**t or whatever the c**p they apparently do to contribute to global warming. so anyways he's dumb. end of story. but not quite--i'm sorry you had to deal with such a rude person, he needs to get a life and stop worrying about yours. cheers!!

Answer 9

He is the person who knows that he is doing something really bad by eating all such innocent animals..but he couldnt control his tongue even when it comes to the life of other living beings..so he is hiding his cruelity by commenting all this about vegetarians and trying to get rid of what bad he do to such cute and lovable animals.

Answer 10

Plants do not have a central nervous system and are not capable of feeling pain. I would just ask them "Are you serious?" Because they must only be asking you this to make you stuck. But do they truly believe that plants can feel pain?  Doubt it.

The fact is that eating animals is more detrimental to the environment then eating plants. They are cutting down the rain forests just to make room for cattle grazing. And it is in countries where the people are STARVING. Yet the meat is going to other well developed countries.

Answer 11

Sounds like a very heated blame game. It went so far past just you and that guy. It went global.  Holy c**p. Are you friends? I'm not sure this question should be in the section. maybe it should be in relationships or therapy section or something.  To answer your question i would probably tell em santa clause isn't real and whatever made up world they live in doesn' t have to hate someone that believes something different than they do. It's almost to the point to where he's/she's some kind of preference racist. I didn't even know there could be a meat or non meat racist. It's just strange....

p.s. i know rasicm means something else literally. you get the jist of my point.