In regards to eating meat

[Monica]

That you is not directed at you or any one single person. That is just my writing style and I might have done it hundreds of times in other places as well... You are reading too much on a personal level in that general statement. But the statement still stands when we take something too far, it leads to these things...

OK thank you for that clarification!

I agree that taking things too far can lead to 'these things.' Where we disagree is what is 'too far' and in what direction it goes in. In my view, it is taking the acceptance of violence 'too far' to try to justify unnecessary violence to beings who feel pain.

My point being that it's not a given as to what is 'too far' or what is 'extreme.' To you, championing oppressed animals is 'extreme' whereas to me, NOT championing them is extreme. I find it curious that your choice of examples (Crusaders, Communists, Marxists) were all oppressors, with the implication that animal activists are 'too extreme' and could end up like those oppressors. In my view, your examples have more in common with those who oppress animals, than with those who seek to free animals.

Discussion of these tough questions can be beneficial by inviting everyone to try on the other point of view, and explore what it looks like from the other side of the debate, rather than assuming that all sides agree as to what is 'extreme' or acceptable.

Thanks for your participation.

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Extreme is a very subjective term. What cyclists and mountain climbers do on a personal level the crusaders do on a social level. So it depends upon how the extreme tendencies are applied. If you apply it to yourself (corrected to ourselves) you become perfectionist and if you (corrected to we) apply it to others it becomes a control thing...

So, by your definition, do you consider those who championed civil rights and ending slavery (or any other oppression) to be extremists and controlling? Do you consider their actions STS?