The act of eating is a service.

[Monica]

Ah, yes. And I perceived an implication from you that all meat eaters=murderers. Or at the very least accomplices to murder.

Apparently you missed the post in which I explained, in detail, what I meant. It depends on perspective.

I caution all who read my next few sentences, to please refrain from jumping to conclusions, and please bear with me until you read through to the end and try to understand what I'm saying here.

From the animal's perspective, s/he is being murdered. Killed. His/her life is being cut short.

From the human's perspective, it's not murder, because the human doesn't even think the animal is a being who deserves life, and the human thinks killing animals is just normal, so how could it be murder? Murder is intentionally taking the life of another person. If the human doesn't think the animal is a person, then it's obviously not 'murder' in the same sense as a human ruthlessly killing another human.

The action is the same. It's an act of bloody violence, and stops a beating heart.

The intention, however, is quite different.

It all depends on perspective!

When vegetarians say "killing animals is murder" we are referring to the animal's perspective, in an effort to elicit compassion in humans who are ignoring the animal's perspective and thinking only about the taste of that burger.

Now, if anyone reading this is still offended and erroneously thinking I am calling them murderers, please hold off on the butthurtness until I can dig out my old post in which I explained this in more detail, ok??

And it sounds like I was also wrong in my perception. Isn't it sometimes great to be wrong?

Oh sure! Being wrong is cool. It's how we learn!

Let's see if you still feel that way after reading this post though, heh!

As I have attempted to clarify on numerous occasions, I don't have a problem with "activism" per se. I just question if some of the tactics employed by certain activists actually work to create the desired outcome.

Sure, and I agreed with that. A great example is people trying to save one single cow or one single lab rat. There are animal sanctuaries full of cows and rats! I understand their good intentions, and I'm well aware they would find holes in my logic on this point, but I find their methodology less than efficacious.

In the case of meat-eating, you might be surprised to know that I actually support efforts to reduce the consumption of meat, for the sake of human health and the rest of the animals.

I'm not surprised because you've stated that before. I just never responded to that particular statement of yours, because my policy is to avoid any personal assessment of anyone's lifestyle/dietary choices, when engaged in a philosophical or academic discussion.

Because, once we start assessing other people, the discussion is no longer academic but becomes personal, and then it's a freefall into butthurt territory!

It's just that, in my opinion, some of the more extreme tactics employed actually result in more meat-eating.

If by "extreme" you mean acts of vandalism, I agree.

If by "extreme" you mean billboards, or being tenacious in expressing one's opinion in an internet discussion forum, then I'd disagree.

For better or worse- when the average human feels like they are being judged they tend to respond by increasing the activity they are feeling judged about.

Here's where we might disagree. What I was trying to express in my previous reply to you, is that if Person A feels "judged" by Person B expressing their opinions about xyz, when Person B never even said anything directly about Person A personally, then it is Person A's responsibility for what they are feeling. It's NOT Person B's fault if Person A feel butthurt just based on disagreement of viewpoint.

Now if Person B says to Person A "you are stupid" then yes, of course Person B is responsible for their rude comment. But when Person B just says "I think xyz is wrong" and Person A engages in xyz, it's not Person B's fault if Person A feels guilty, butthurt, offended or whatever.

Gosh- I hope that wasn't an implied accusation that I asked the mods to shut down the thread, because I did no such thing!

Oh no!! Not you!! Others did. Sorry for the implication. I wasn't referring to you at all.