Why are we suddenly calling poeple omnivore/carnivore/herbivores? Why not just: Vegan Average Person Dad at the barbecue
These are all excellent examples.
I'll add one that hopefully is not as bad as those:
Being vegan is hard. I am not sure I'm up to the task
I'm glad I'm not that kind of omnivore.
I'll just straight up say I love the way meat tastes.
Also, arguments about what people eat and why almost never come up.
Raised meat animals and hunted for roughly half my life. Coming from that background, I absolutely do not like to see animals suffer. Quick and clean kills. Minimal pain.
Raised poultry for both meat and eggs. When the broilers were ready for slaughter, it was a quick chop of an axe and done.
I've shot several deer over the years. Most dropped dead right on the spot. Only one had to be shot a second time, and it sucked to do. But also overpopulation/starving/eaten alive is objectively worse.
All that said, I fucking LOATHE the modern meat industry. I try and get my meat and eggs from local co-ops or people I know. Locally raised and not in cramped sheds. The butcher is smaller and not just a streamlined kill chute. I try to avoid the big corporate food market when I can.
All that said, it's difficult to explain how I see an animal as food. I know it's a living, breathing thing, but also, it's being raised for food. That's its purpose. I love meat, the way it tastes, and will continue to eat it for the rest of my life.
I'm not trying to convince you anything, just explaining my point of view.
Do I like hurting animals? No.
Am I a psychopath? Don't know. Never been examined.
Unfortunately, it usually comes up if I order a veg option then some friend of a friend proceeds to interrogate me.
They need to grow up.
I might notice it and even ask if they are vegetarian or vegan. Mostly just because if I'm gonna hang around that person again, I can have that information tucked away for future use.
Inevitably, my answer is just "cool" and move on. Eat what you want, dude.
Honestly, I've just accepted, that animals are going to suffer for me to eat them. Now I'd like it, if they could lead happy lifes before I do so. But that is sadly not the world we live in.
You already said that they suffer. Isn't that a good reason to not do it? I assume you wouldn't want somebody to kill and eat you, either.
Well yes but I a) ascribe to most animals a lower level of consciousness to humans and b) am very biased when it comes to that in as I don't want for anyone or anything to kill me.
Genuine question, what benefits do you mean? On the health side - since I went vegan + aiming for whole food plant-based, I've been the healthiest I've ever been. I wasn't even anticipating it, but I've lost a great amount of weight without trying and have more energy than ever. Definitely has cemented the switch as one of the best life decisions I've ever made.
I think the book How Not To Die by Dr. Michael Greger explains really well why. It discusses how animal-derived foods straight up are not good for you nutritionally. It also explains the health benefits of various plant-based foods in preventing different illnesses and supporting your immune system. I recommend it.
