In regards to eating meat

[Monica]

I didn't feel defensive, and feeling offended is a normal reaction. It's not the philosophy or academic info that offends but words such as "weak-willed", and jealous" sound accusatory. The implication is basically denigration of people who eat meat in general, not me personally, but I happen to eat meat.

Those are words to describe normal human emotions that we all feel from time to time. I confess to feeling a bit of momentary jealousy if I see a super slim, ultrafit woman who has the luxury of doing 2 hours of yoga per day. I just don't have the time to do that. But feeling jealous is really pointless, because I could do 2 hours of yoga per day too, if I rearranged my priorities. So after that initial twinge, I realized that only *I* am responsible for myself and my choices.

Nevertheless, I am human and admit to occasional twinges of said emotion. Just being honest here. Nothing to feel offended about, since we are all human. We are having a discussion about human feelings as well as failings, so it's difficult to discuss these without using words such as these, when trying to understand why people make the choices they do.

They may have a bunch of other things that they are choosing to focus their will and intent on.

We all have a bunch of other things to deal with.

What do you feed your pets?

Shemaya, this question seems a little odd, at this point. Are you trying to trap me in a contradiction or hypocrisy?

I'm not evading your question. I already answered it, previously in this thread. In great detail. I don't have time to repeat what's already been said.

I have read alot of this thread, not all, probably need a few hours. It's not the academic information offered that most affects me when reading the thread, but the interaction in the discussion. In light of Bring4th guidelines, I find that there does seem to be an undercurrent of disrespect in the thread for the choice of eating meat. And it bothered me so I spoke up. It seemed worthwhile to address what I was feeling openly on the forum.

Did you happen to also notice the undercurrent of disrespect towards vegetarians?

We notice what we wish to notice, because of our biases. If anything, the vegetarians have been walking on eggshells all along, going out of our way to not offend. It's impossible to avoid completely, because of the subject matter.

For the most part, the vegetarians have restricted discussion to the academic and philosophical implications of killing animals; whereas, in multiple instances, meat-eaters have actually called vegetarians derogatory names (fanatic, zealot, hypocrite, holier-than-thou, sickly, self-righteous, controlling, manipulative, even STS and Nazi...and others). I don't recall any vegetarian ever calling any meat-eater by any derogatory name in this thread. So if anything, I think there has been much more disrespect expressed towards the vegetarians.

To be fair. But we're not having a contest.

I am saying that anyone who is awakening and continuing to support and give energy to anything that oppresses any being in this consensus reality, is having a level of cognitive dissonance happening. Unless there is a complete withdrawal from the system as it is, we are participating in oppression of another being. So whether you make animals, or child-labor in third world countries, or abortion your "cause", on another level you are being cognitively dissonant about something unless you completely withdraw from society as it is. As you said there is only so much one can do. So if we are all cognitively dissonant, why accuse one another , why not just be humble.

Firstly, I disagree completely that if we continue to participate in society we're cognitively dissonant.

cognitive dissonance 
noun Psychology .
anxiety that results from simultaneously holding contradictory or otherwise incompatible attitudes, beliefs, or the like, as when one likes a person but disapproves strongly of one of his or her habits.

I personally don't feel anxiety about eating meat, because I simply don't eat meat. I don't feel anxiety about driving my car, because it's necessary to function in this society. I try to make up for it as much as possible, by being as active as I can, in ways that can make a difference.

Cognitive dissonance arises when people are aware of something, but don't act on it. Their actions are incongruent with their beliefs or feelings, but they do it anyway. In other words, they ignore their conscience. That is what causes the anxiety.