[split] "Some people eat animals, some don't."

[Diana]

For someone who claims to be into rigorous study, you seem not to study up much here and rather, just think you're "right."

I don't think I'm right. I've told you I have no intention of convincing you of anything. You are perfectly welcome to your moral stance, but you don't get to have a monopoly on morality any more than I do.

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Perhaps it is important to add here that argumentation doesn't lead to truth. We argue to establish the internal coherence of the perspectives we are already beholden to. Similarly, we argue to knock down perspectives we are already opposed to. Monica, I'm saying you're arguing against a straw man because you are looking for the interpretations of my perspective that do not hold water rather than the interpretations that do. I've given ample information to support a coherent perspective, but no amount of commentary will make a case that appears watertight to you, so I'm not going to try. Besides, I really don't want to convince you. I simply wanted to add a perspective. I did so in response to you and Diana, only because it is easier for me to speak in response to someone else. BTW, I've watched some of your videos.

Okay. I do see that you aren't trying to be "right." This was a bad choice of words. On the other hand, which is fine too, you obviously have no idea of the how much this topic has been canvassed, and that indicates to me that you were posting with no reference to what had already transpired. I can't think of one other subject here that has garnered more interest or posts (unless one includes threads such as The Treehugger's Treehouse). The thing is, for a topic to go anywhere or evolve, it would be better if anyone posting had some idea of what had already transpired (just as members here would presumably have some idea of the Ra Material). That is what I was referring to in saying you hadn't studied. In this case "study" means looking at the whole progression, rather than just jumping in.

As far as argumentation, this is a debate and discussion. There are times when it devolves into something less, such as when I responded to you. I will be honest here and say that your seeming callousness provoked me into reacting (completely my responsibility), which was on top of the long haul here on this volatile, important, many-faceted subject. The way you talked so cavalierly about killing ants and termites bothered me. I am one of those very few people who does not kill "pests" or see them as such.

Debate and discussion CAN lead to truth. For instance, I have heard points of view I never thought of before these threads—really expansive thoughts making the subject not so black and white in my mind. These opinions and thoughts would never lead me to eat meat agin, but they did make me see a wider view, a bigger picture. So it ISN'T about convincing anyone for my part. It is about enlightenment. We are hopefully shedding light here on a subject very important to us, the animals, and all life on the planet including the planet itself. And by the way, using insecticide poisons isn't any good for any of it or us.