Vegetarian why?

JethroUK · 06-09-2011, 22:00

Why do people become vegetarian?

Is because they are concerned about animal welfare?

Or is it for health reasons?

jojo01 · 06-09-2011, 22:12

Different people will have dfferent reasons for becoming vegetarian, there is no 'one size fits all' reason.

MamboJimbo · 06-09-2011, 22:31

Quote:

Why do people become vegetarian?

Is because they are concerned about animal welfare?

Or is it for health reasons?

It's mostly the former - ethical vegetarianism, because people see the use and abuse and exploitation of animals as commodities to be wrong, the cruelty inflicted on them in their lives and deaths as worse, etc. But it's perfectly possible (though less common) to be a vegetarian simply because you don't like the taste/texture of meat - I know somebody like that, in fact.

c4rv · 07-09-2011, 00:41

there are many different reasons. ethical, religion, health, taste, many others I am sure. take your pick

BrunoStreete · 07-09-2011, 07:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by JethroUK

Why do people become vegetarian?

Is because they are concerned about animal welfare?

Or is it for health reasons?

My daughter did it because of animal welfare. It is a proven fact that vegetarians (but not vegans) live longer but I doubt many people do it for that reason.

RussellIan · 07-09-2011, 07:54

I became a vegetarian as a teenager because meat looked and smelled like sh*t to me. I'm not a vegetarian anymore although I mainly eat fish and only very rarely 'proper' meat.

mirabelle · 07-09-2011, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrunoStreete

My daughter did it because of animal welfare. It is a proven fact that vegetarians (but not vegans) live longer but I doubt many people do it for that reason.

REALLY? i Might go back to eating meat then

MamboJimbo · 07-09-2011, 09:31

Quote:

It is a proven fact that vegetarians (but not vegans) live longer but I doubt many people do it for that reason.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mirabelle

REALLY? i Might go back to eating meat then

You want to live less long that you might be able to?

mirabelle · 07-09-2011, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamboJimbo

You want to live less long that you might be able to?

Yeah. I don't fancy being old. You get aches, pains, memory loss and all sorts of problems

molliepops · 07-09-2011, 12:37

Initially 8-9 I just didn't enjoy eating meat - the taste and texture. Then as I got older 15-16 I would say the ethical side of meat production really started to bother me too.

Now I haven't eaten it for so long the idea of placing it in my mouth just makes me feel nauseous.

RussellIan · 07-09-2011, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by molliepops

Initially 8-9 I just didn't enjoy eating meat - the taste and texture. Then as I got older 15-16 I would say the ethical side of meat production really started to bother me too.

Now I haven't eaten it for so long the idea of placing it in my mouth just makes me feel nauseous.

No doubt that's the last thing a significant percentage of husbands up and down the country want to hear

edEx · 07-09-2011, 12:45

Meat actually repulses me. I can't even touch it, let alone eat it.

It gives visitors a bit of a comedy chuckle watching me feeding my dog though. Fully arms length and looking the other way as I open the tin

finbaar · 07-09-2011, 12:49

If you care about animal welfare then you should eat meat that has been raised in an ethical manner. The greater the demand for free range meat the greater the production and the lower the cost and this would enable more people to afford it. Being a vegiterian is actually couter productive if you are looking to help animals.

Lets raise lots of happy chickens, cows, sheep and pigs. Then kill them and stick them in a pie. Yummy. They are happy and we are happy that they are happy and we are happy to eat them.

MamboJimbo · 07-09-2011, 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by finbaar

If you care about animal welfare then you should eat meat that has been raised in an ethical manner.

If you care about animal welfare you wouldn't be eating them in the first place.

Quote:

Being a vegiterian is actually couter productive if you are looking to help animals.

Explain how.

BrunoStreete · 07-09-2011, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by finbaar

If you care about animal welfare then you should eat meat that has been raised in an ethical manner. The greater the demand for free range meat the greater the production and the lower the cost and this would enable more people to afford it. Being a vegiterian is actually couter productive if you are looking to help animals.

Lets raise lots of happy chickens, cows, sheep and pigs. Then kill them and stick them in a pie. Yummy. They are happy and we are happy that they are happy and we are happy to eat them.

You are kidding yourself if you think that the more people eat free range meat the cheaper it will get.

c4rv · 07-09-2011, 13:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by finbaar

Lets raise lots of happy chickens, cows, sheep and pigs. Then kill them and stick them in a pie. Yummy. They are happy and we are happy that they are happy and we are happy to eat them.

But they won't have been breed in the first place if there was no demand for meat at all

KaffeeundKuchen · 07-09-2011, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by finbaar

If you care about animal welfare then you should eat meat that has been raised in an ethical manner. The greater the demand for free range meat the greater the production and the lower the cost and this would enable more people to afford it. Being a vegiterian is actually couter productive if you are looking to help animals.

Lets raise lots of happy chickens, cows, sheep and pigs. Then kill them and stick them in a pie. Yummy. They are happy and we are happy that they are happy and we are happy to eat them.

Did you actually read what you just wrote?

Lainiomonkio · 07-09-2011, 14:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by finbaar

If you care about animal welfare then you should eat meat that has been raised in an ethical manner. The greater the demand for free range meat the greater the production and the lower the cost and this would enable more people to afford it. Being a vegiterian is actually couter productive if you are looking to help animals.

Lets raise lots of happy chickens, cows, sheep and pigs. Then kill them and stick them in a pie. Yummy. They are happy and we are happy that they are happy and we are happy to eat them.

While I don't think this poster has put his view across in the most eloquent of fashions, I'd be interested to know how vegetarians / vegans feel about some species of rare breed sheep that are now being bred for their meat and skins and have been saved from extinction because of this demand.

Very random question, I know but I think it's an interesting point. Would you rather a species died out or that the animals are bred to ultimately be eaten but it would mean they carry on existing?

molliepops · 07-09-2011, 14:22

I don't have a problem with others making their own choices and do cook meat for my husband and dogs so would have no problem with it unless they were kept/killed badly.

RAINBOWGIRL22 · 07-09-2011, 14:32

My militant veggie friend only became a veggie by accident (they were travelling and last place was India where it was just safer not to eat the meat)

On the back of this she did a lot of research and made the decision to remain vegetarian, but my gawd did she bang on about it !!!

I cannot abide people who ram their beliefs (especially new found beliefs) down your throat!! But she is a good girl and generally very easy going - she was just really passionate in the beginning of her journey as a vegetarian. She even asked me once if I'd eat my cat in a bid to make some kind of point

MamboJimbo · 07-09-2011, 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lainiomonkio

While I don't think this poster has put his view across in the most eloquent of fashions, I'd be interested to know how vegetarians / vegans feel about some species of rare breed sheep that are now being bred for their meat and skins and have been saved from extinction because of this demand.

Very random question, I know but I think it's an interesting point. Would you rather a species died out or that the animals are bred to ultimately be eaten but it would mean they carry on existing?

That's a thoughtful and interesting point.

My own take on it is that I don't think it's usually that stark a choice - between keeping a species alive for food/wool (etc.) and extinction, for the reason that if a breed of sheep - to continue with your example - was that rare, there would be room on farm animal sanctuaries somewhere (and there are umpteen such places around) to keep a few specimens going to ensure that complete extinction doesn't happen. They would in effect be curiosities, of course, but no more so that white rhinos and similarly endangered species: that particular breed of sheep would be kept going in protected surroundings but wouldn't have to be bred large-scale for meat and wool as we see with farm animals now, "ordinary" (for want of a better term) sheep included.

On the other hand, if it really had to be an either/or choice, knowing what I know now about what animals are put through from birth to death in the intensive/industrial farming system so prevalent in the West, I'd rather they went extinct, frankly. No kind of existence is worth that.

j4Rose · 07-09-2011, 14:46

I just don't like meat. I think the thought of eating another living creature has a lot to do with it, but I've never liked it. I would eat meat if I missed it, but I don't.

MamboJimbo · 07-09-2011, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by j4Rose

I just don't like meat. I think the thought of eating another living creature has a lot to do with it, but I've never liked it. I would eat meat if I missed it, but I don't.

My experience too. The longer I've been a vegetarian and latterly a vegan, the idea of eating another living creature just becomes weirder and weirder and weirder, like something from another planet.

LaChatteGitane · 07-09-2011, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by j4Rose

I just don't like meat. I think the thought of eating another living creature has a lot to do with it, but I've never liked it. I would eat meat if I missed it, but I don't.

It usually is not 'living' anymore by the time it gets on the plate.

MamboJimbo · 07-09-2011, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaChatteGitane

It usually is not 'living' anymore by the time it gets on the plate.

Yes, we know - that's the problem!

06-09-2011, 22:00	#1
JethroUK Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Loughboro', Leicester (ex NTL) Posts: 5,953	Vegetarian why? Why do people become vegetarian? Is because they are concerned about animal welfare? Or is it for health reasons?

06-09-2011, 22:31	#3
MamboJimbo Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,119	Quote: Originally Posted by JethroUK Why do people become vegetarian? Is because they are concerned about animal welfare? Or is it for health reasons? It's mostly the former - ethical vegetarianism, because people see the use and abuse and exploitation of animals as commodities to be wrong, the cruelty inflicted on them in their lives and deaths as worse, etc. But it's perfectly possible (though less common) to be a vegetarian simply because you don't like the taste/texture of meat - I know somebody like that, in fact.

06-09-2011, 22:12	#2
jojo01 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 9,215	Different people will have dfferent reasons for becoming vegetarian, there is no 'one size fits all' reason.

07-09-2011, 00:41	#4
c4rv Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Essex Posts: 16,218	there are many different reasons. ethical, religion, health, taste, many others I am sure. take your pick

07-09-2011, 07:52	#5
BrunoStreete Inactive Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 7,071	Quote: Originally Posted by JethroUK Why do people become vegetarian? Is because they are concerned about animal welfare? Or is it for health reasons? My daughter did it because of animal welfare. It is a proven fact that vegetarians (but not vegans) live longer but I doubt many people do it for that reason.

07-09-2011, 07:54	#6
RussellIan Guest Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 11,503	I became a vegetarian as a teenager because meat looked and smelled like sh*t to me. I'm not a vegetarian anymore although I mainly eat fish and only very rarely 'proper' meat.

07-09-2011, 09:27	#7
mirabelle Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: around Posts: 2,627	Quote: Originally Posted by BrunoStreete My daughter did it because of animal welfare. It is a proven fact that vegetarians (but not vegans) live longer but I doubt many people do it for that reason. REALLY? i Might go back to eating meat then

07-09-2011, 09:31	#8
MamboJimbo Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,119	Quote: It is a proven fact that vegetarians (but not vegans) live longer but I doubt many people do it for that reason. Quote: Originally Posted by mirabelle REALLY? i Might go back to eating meat then You want to live less long that you might be able to?

07-09-2011, 09:59	#9
mirabelle Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: around Posts: 2,627	Quote: Originally Posted by MamboJimbo You want to live less long that you might be able to? Yeah. I don't fancy being old. You get aches, pains, memory loss and all sorts of problems

07-09-2011, 12:37	#10
molliepops Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: woking Posts: 21,678	Initially 8-9 I just didn't enjoy eating meat - the taste and texture. Then as I got older 15-16 I would say the ethical side of meat production really started to bother me too. Now I haven't eaten it for so long the idea of placing it in my mouth just makes me feel nauseous.

07-09-2011, 12:43	#11
RussellIan Guest Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 11,503	Quote: Originally Posted by molliepops Initially 8-9 I just didn't enjoy eating meat - the taste and texture. Then as I got older 15-16 I would say the ethical side of meat production really started to bother me too. Now I haven't eaten it for so long the idea of placing it in my mouth just makes me feel nauseous. No doubt that's the last thing a significant percentage of husbands up and down the country want to hear

07-09-2011, 12:45	#12
edEx Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Londres, Tierra del Fuego Posts: 12,952	Meat actually repulses me. I can't even touch it, let alone eat it. It gives visitors a bit of a comedy chuckle watching me feeding my dog though. Fully arms length and looking the other way as I open the tin

07-09-2011, 12:49	#13
finbaar Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3,921	If you care about animal welfare then you should eat meat that has been raised in an ethical manner. The greater the demand for free range meat the greater the production and the lower the cost and this would enable more people to afford it. Being a vegiterian is actually couter productive if you are looking to help animals. Lets raise lots of happy chickens, cows, sheep and pigs. Then kill them and stick them in a pie. Yummy. They are happy and we are happy that they are happy and we are happy to eat them.

07-09-2011, 12:53	#14
MamboJimbo Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,119	Quote: Originally Posted by finbaar If you care about animal welfare then you should eat meat that has been raised in an ethical manner. If you care about animal welfare you wouldn't be eating them in the first place. Quote: Being a vegiterian is actually couter productive if you are looking to help animals. Explain how.

07-09-2011, 13:07	#15
BrunoStreete Inactive Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 7,071	Quote: Originally Posted by finbaar If you care about animal welfare then you should eat meat that has been raised in an ethical manner. The greater the demand for free range meat the greater the production and the lower the cost and this would enable more people to afford it. Being a vegiterian is actually couter productive if you are looking to help animals. Lets raise lots of happy chickens, cows, sheep and pigs. Then kill them and stick them in a pie. Yummy. They are happy and we are happy that they are happy and we are happy to eat them. You are kidding yourself if you think that the more people eat free range meat the cheaper it will get.

07-09-2011, 13:12	#16
c4rv Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Essex Posts: 16,218	Quote: Originally Posted by finbaar Lets raise lots of happy chickens, cows, sheep and pigs. Then kill them and stick them in a pie. Yummy. They are happy and we are happy that they are happy and we are happy to eat them. But they won't have been breed in the first place if there was no demand for meat at all

07-09-2011, 13:14	#17
KaffeeundKuchen Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 71	Quote: Originally Posted by finbaar If you care about animal welfare then you should eat meat that has been raised in an ethical manner. The greater the demand for free range meat the greater the production and the lower the cost and this would enable more people to afford it. Being a vegiterian is actually couter productive if you are looking to help animals. Lets raise lots of happy chickens, cows, sheep and pigs. Then kill them and stick them in a pie. Yummy. They are happy and we are happy that they are happy and we are happy to eat them. Did you actually read what you just wrote?

07-09-2011, 14:01	#18
Lainiomonkio Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Enchanted Wood Posts: 878	Quote: Originally Posted by finbaar If you care about animal welfare then you should eat meat that has been raised in an ethical manner. The greater the demand for free range meat the greater the production and the lower the cost and this would enable more people to afford it. Being a vegiterian is actually couter productive if you are looking to help animals. Lets raise lots of happy chickens, cows, sheep and pigs. Then kill them and stick them in a pie. Yummy. They are happy and we are happy that they are happy and we are happy to eat them. While I don't think this poster has put his view across in the most eloquent of fashions, I'd be interested to know how vegetarians / vegans feel about some species of rare breed sheep that are now being bred for their meat and skins and have been saved from extinction because of this demand. Very random question, I know but I think it's an interesting point. Would you rather a species died out or that the animals are bred to ultimately be eaten but it would mean they carry on existing?

07-09-2011, 14:22	#19
molliepops Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: woking Posts: 21,678	I don't have a problem with others making their own choices and do cook meat for my husband and dogs so would have no problem with it unless they were kept/killed badly.

07-09-2011, 14:32	#20
RAINBOWGIRL22 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: London Posts: 23,261	My militant veggie friend only became a veggie by accident (they were travelling and last place was India where it was just safer not to eat the meat) On the back of this she did a lot of research and made the decision to remain vegetarian, but my gawd did she bang on about it !!! I cannot abide people who ram their beliefs (especially new found beliefs) down your throat!! But she is a good girl and generally very easy going - she was just really passionate in the beginning of her journey as a vegetarian. She even asked me once if I'd eat my cat in a bid to make some kind of point

07-09-2011, 14:38	#21
MamboJimbo Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,119	Quote: Originally Posted by Lainiomonkio While I don't think this poster has put his view across in the most eloquent of fashions, I'd be interested to know how vegetarians / vegans feel about some species of rare breed sheep that are now being bred for their meat and skins and have been saved from extinction because of this demand. Very random question, I know but I think it's an interesting point. Would you rather a species died out or that the animals are bred to ultimately be eaten but it would mean they carry on existing? That's a thoughtful and interesting point. My own take on it is that I don't think it's usually that stark a choice - between keeping a species alive for food/wool (etc.) and extinction, for the reason that if a breed of sheep - to continue with your example - was that rare, there would be room on farm animal sanctuaries somewhere (and there are umpteen such places around) to keep a few specimens going to ensure that complete extinction doesn't happen. They would in effect be curiosities, of course, but no more so that white rhinos and similarly endangered species: that particular breed of sheep would be kept going in protected surroundings but wouldn't have to be bred large-scale for meat and wool as we see with farm animals now, "ordinary" (for want of a better term) sheep included. On the other hand, if it really had to be an either/or choice, knowing what I know now about what animals are put through from birth to death in the intensive/industrial farming system so prevalent in the West, I'd rather they went extinct, frankly. No kind of existence is worth that.

07-09-2011, 14:46	#22
j4Rose Guest Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 5,259	I just don't like meat. I think the thought of eating another living creature has a lot to do with it, but I've never liked it. I would eat meat if I missed it, but I don't.

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Vegetarian why?

07-09-2011, 14:49	#23
MamboJimbo Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,119	Quote: Originally Posted by j4Rose I just don't like meat. I think the thought of eating another living creature has a lot to do with it, but I've never liked it. I would eat meat if I missed it, but I don't. My experience too. The longer I've been a vegetarian and latterly a vegan, the idea of eating another living creature just becomes weirder and weirder and weirder, like something from another planet.

07-09-2011, 14:55	#24
LaChatteGitane Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: stirring the cauldron Posts: 3,957	Quote: Originally Posted by j4Rose I just don't like meat. I think the thought of eating another living creature has a lot to do with it, but I've never liked it. I would eat meat if I missed it, but I don't. It usually is not 'living' anymore by the time it gets on the plate.

07-09-2011, 14:57	#25
MamboJimbo Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,119	Quote: Originally Posted by LaChatteGitane It usually is not 'living' anymore by the time it gets on the plate. Yes, we know - that's the problem!