I've always wondered why there is so much segregation between animals. If someone did to a dog or cat, the things that happens to pigs and cows on a daily basis, it would certainly be frowned upon... Why?

Personally, I've been a vegan for years, and a vegetarian since I was a little kid. My stance is if I don't have to hurt an animal, I wont. It's not about some strong moral conviction for them or anything... It's about the fact that it is unnecessary, so why continue it?

There's also the health aspect of it... The number one cause of death in Americans is heart disease, which is almost always the result of high cholesterol. The ONLY source of cholesterol is from animal products (notably eggs and milk).

Most humans produce the proper amount of cholesterol (with a small percent of people who actually produce an excess). A medium egg is about 1/3-1/2 of your recommended cholesterol intake. A few eggs and you're over your limit. Toss some bacon and a glass of milk and you're simply asking for heart disease. But people do this daily (and that's just breakfast).

So with such an obvious reason why NOT to eat animal products. Coupled with the fact that they were once living creatures (similar to your dog or cat). And the fact that we have plenty of scientific research to show alternatives to eating animal products (don't be fooled into thinking you can only get protein, vitamin D, iron, and calcium from animals... It's really easy to replace those)

Why is it still so common? Is the taste of a cheeseburger so awesome that you will happily raise your blood cholesterol and raise the demand for a harmless little cow or pig to be killed?

I agree that it is not a good idea to do harm to animals without reason.

I know well that vegan diet is so much healthier than meat eating.

The fact is

the taste of some meat dishes, not a cheeseburger I mean, is so awesome that I will happily raise my blood cholesterol and raise the demand for a harmless little cow or pig to be killed.

P.S.
For me, dogs and cats are not much different from cows/pigs. No reason to discriminate cows and pigs.

Man's nature is as an omnivore. Evade this fact at your own risk. Unlike this kid, who had no choice.

ps. /me <3 cheeseburgers!

So you do things because it's natural, not because it has a purpose or moral attachment?

We were omnivores when we had to be... But we've only recently become milk and egg consumers, and cheese... Well, that's not natural at all, we make that.

Throughout most of history animal products were more reserved for wealthy individuals, the mass often ate vegetable and fruit based products (like breads and soups). It's only been recently that this started changing.

Natural? Steroid injected cows who's muscle mass develops too fast for their bones. Drinking breastmilk that was intended for a calf, not a human?

As primitive humans we probably did deep-fry a lot of meat in fat... Or did we?

Cheeseburgers aren't natural man...

EDIT:

After reading that report... Why wasn't the child breastfed? Cowmilk based formula can have negative consequences too. Pure soymilk is an obvious mistake, they were stupid... It had nothing to do with them being vegan. There are alternatives (vegan products formulated to support a child, not typical soymilk and apple juice)

That has to be a trolling comment - you can't be serious. The kid was starved by neglectful parents. No-one with half a brain could think they could keep a child healthy on soy milk and apple juice alone, that is just plain stupid.

And what the heck is 'man's nature' - we are an intelligent being with will power, so we can make decision. We can't claim instinct or anything like that.

I love eating animals!

But if you choose not to, more power to ya! I could never have that kind of self control.

It's not really that hard... You'd actually be surprised by the amount of vegan food you eat. Aside from the obvious meat/milk/egg products, there is an equal vegan product out there.

Run to your cabinet and look for the bacon bits. There's probably a 90% chance that they will contain no animal products, but instead are usually based from textured vegetable protein...

** all the non-vegans gasp **

It's because it's more economical, it lasts longer, and seriously... It's not as icky as it sounds.

EDIT:

Oh, and that cream in your oreos isn't really cream either.
Actually, if you guys wanted to make something of a difference without giving up animal products, do just that. When you see two different brand products on the shelf, try to pick up the one without animal in it. You don't even have to change, but it will make a small difference.

well i love to eat meat i like my veggies as well,
if i can catch it i will eat it,i even have been known to partake in our national emblems.kangaroo and emu, snakes, lizards,ducks ,geese,wild turkeys,fish and even the odd crocadile they all make the menu.
but i do not kill indiscriminatly only kill to eat and always eat what i kill.
and i breed rabbits,big ones

While it doesn't matter to me what I'm eating, but I do favor vegetables over meat, since I do sympathize with animals. But did anyone try a veggieburger? I'm thinking of trying one to see if it tastes as good :P

Extreme Coder

It depends how their prepared and what kind... Pan-fried, where they get nice and crispy... They're great. Even better, grilled... Yum...

But a lot of brands have microwave instructions, and let me tell you... They suck. Basically, prepare it how you would a normal burger (you wouldn't microwave a normal burger, would you?)

Also, burger king has veggie burgers, and they aren't too bad. They put mayonnaise on them though, which doesn't make any sense at all (people are either ordering them to avoid animal, or for a healthier burger... Mayo completely ruins either).

Ok then, tomorrow at Carrefour I will buy a pack

Extreme Coder

if we were meant to have a vegeterian only diet..why are we born with incisors? Anywho, i need all my essential amino acids as well as the non essential ones. Meat is the best source of certain ones that vegetables lack,

I guess I don't recognize the eating of animal flesh as a moral problem. Why should I?

Yes, our standard of living is now such that even the poorest an\mong us can afford the best protein sources. Our lifespans have risen accordingly. A Good Thing, no?

mmmm, milk. With chocolate chip cookies. Heaven.

What could be more natural than applying cheese to burger and bun? It was fated to be so.

I was hoping someone would bring up protein.

Actually, all it takes is a little research to find that you can build complete proteins simply by combining vegetables.

Aside from oils, almost every vegetable compound contains amino acids.

Animals are not the only place to get them, and not even the best place. If health is the goal, then you trade off the pack of amino acids for the excess cholesterol.

Whereas with veggies you can get the amino acids by eating a small variety, and you get no cholesterol aside from the natural amount your body produces.

It doesn't matter that we have incisors... We have a brain, which comes with the decision to eat what we choose.

EDIT:

And to utabinarbo...

"Yes, our standard of living is now such that even the poorest an\mong us can afford the best protein sources. Our lifespans have risen accordingly. A Good Thing, no?"

That's possibly the most evasive argument I've ever heard. Are you saying that eating animals as risen our lifespan?

It's not science... By chance, is it?

I fail to see any correlation.

And there are several cultures throughout the world that eat a minimal amount of animal (most notably the asian cultures) who have had higher life expectancies then our obese, heart disease-ridden society.

What is your point?

Look... For every animal you don't eat, I will eat 3.
Man is an omnivore and meant to be omnivorous. Crack a book if you don't think that one to be true. Mankind was not meant to survive on a vegan diet alone. Babies sure as heck can't, yet the messed up in the head vegan types get charged regularly for child abuse. Why? The believe the wrong things when it comes to their babies diets. Not condemning all vegans here so don't misread those last comments! I know a few vegans myself. 2 are messed up in the head. Hence my "For every animal you don't eat, I will eat 3" comment. The others do so for very good and sensible reasons (all health related by the way). I quite agree with them too.

Man is also smart and has come up with different ideas and comes up with a new menu regularly. cow --> milk--> strawberry ice cream for example

Man is also gluttonous. Too much is just that.. too much. And too much anything is usually bad for you diet-wise.

So you're saying a vegan diet inhibits brain growth... Yeah, I can see that....

Man's nature, in this context, is as an omnivorous mammal. We know that we are omnivorous due to our digestive system. Will or instinct is not at play in this context.

I wouldn't make a child eat vegan. I would insist the child be breastfed, which is the only NATURAL way. Are you arguing that it's NATURAL for a child to drink breastmilk intended for a cow?

Crack a book? I became vegan from all of my research... I've spent hours studying nutritional science. Humans do not do well on a high animal intake diet. That's just how it is. There are levels where it's OK health-wise, but most people abuse that (like I said, 2-3 eggs is OVER the recommended cholesterol intake, most people eat that much for one meal)

On the other hand... There have been countries that consume almost NO animal products and have survived (healthily) for generations. So don't try to tell me humans aren't capable of it.

Look. Whatever. You are a vegan. Great. I won't insist you eat meat if you don't insist I not eat meat. Deal?

The problems come when one side or the other starts getting all militant. I can't recall ever hearing anyone advocating the forced feeding of meat to vegans. Let's not hear vegans advocate the elimination of meat from our diets. OK?

i just choose not to eat any.

That's great... I don't remember actually saying that you should be vegan... Let alone forcing it on you, but OK. That's been my view all along. I'm a vegan, you can't change that, and you're obviously anti-vegan... So that's that.

I was basically just interested in peoples opinion, not trying to force my own. But the argument that it's unhealthy to not eat animals isn't accurate (which is basically what my counterpoint became).

But yes... Let's happily disagree.