(08-21-2012, 09:49 AM)Bring4th_GLB Wrote: At any rate, I understood that no form of animal slaughter is acceptable to the vegetarian, no matter how painless for the animal; and acknowledged such in my post. What I didn't think about was that the vegetarian would add an asterisk saying, "unless it is necessary for survival".
Right. An easy way to remember it is to liken it to a common view about killing in general, such as "killing humans is always wrong except for in cases of self-defense."
It's the same, except, in the case of animals, necessity might be defined as self-defense (being chased by a tiger) or survival (as with primitive cultures).
(08-21-2012, 09:49 AM)Bring4th_GLB Wrote:(08-20-2012, 06:09 PM)Bring4th_Monica Wrote: If you are truly comfortable with such killing, then the only way to ensure it's done like that is to do it yourself.
No thank you. I'm comfortable with using the toilet but have no desire to be a plumber.
A plumbing problem doesn't involve the taking of a life.
(08-21-2012, 09:49 AM)Bring4th_GLB Wrote: Indeed. A lot of things done by myself would ensure that they were done to my particular standard on the matter. But in an interdependent complex society, we rely on sources we trust to produce that which we need or desire. Whether it's my kitchen table, or the seatbelts in my car, or the clothing I wear, or the foodstuffs I consume.
Right. But meat 'foodstuffs' involve the taking of the lives of beings who feel pain and emotions.
(08-21-2012, 09:49 AM)Bring4th_GLB Wrote: Why are you interested in knowing my reasons for retaining meat as a part of my diet?
I'm not. That's not what I asked. My question was a general one, out of sheer curiosity, and it was asked in the context of your idea of replacing factory farming with 'love-based' killing. I said I didn't think that idea was feasible on a wide scale, but if it were feasible, why would that be preferable to just avoiding meat altogether? I said nothing about your personal choices.
Meat hasn't been part of my life for 30 years. It's really no big deal to avoid it, and it's even easier now, with all the veggie options at even fast food restaurants.
So I was just curious: With veggie options freely available, that didn't cause the death of an animal, why go to all the trouble of trying to find 'humanely slaughtered' meat? Seems like a lot of hassle to me, with dubious results, so I was just wondering why, in general, meat-eaters go to such great lengths. It seems a lot easier to just quit eating animals.