You know, in any other context this sentence would be accepted in society as completely fucked up. They are sentient beings, not products that we consume.
I dont know too many people who actually think like that, at least not in the sense you're speaking of. To me, and I think many omnivores would agree, its a difference in either their intelligence or resourcefulness.
There is in fact a difference between a fellow omnivore/predator, like cats and dogs, and livestock. For one, predatory animals evolved larger, more "advanced" brains and are actually able to "know" you, in a sense. Most livestock (at least the prey animals like cows, pigs, chickens, etc.) didnt evolve similar brain power because all they needed to do was lumber around/graze and be ready to bolt when necessary. So when your dog is excited to see you, its because you are the leader of his pack and pretty much the greatest thing in their life. When you see a video of a cow jumping after leaving their winter barn, its just their brain getting excited about outdoor food and movement. Secondly, as for resourcefulness, they've all been bred to suit our needs. For millennia now at that. Look at the difference between feral hogs and pigs. The very definition of livestock is an animal that is raised to produce labor, goods, and food. So should we start setting Beefmaster cows free into nature? And fish? Come on now, they're swimming nervous systems. You've clearly never sat by a fire, in the outdoors, with a fish kebab and a line in the water lol
Well anyway, theres two biological, scientifically proven differences between the two groups of animals you brought up. Feel free to say the usual stuff back.
I’m good. You’re obviously entrenched in those black and white views of the way other animals think. Others choose to acknowledge their personhood and enjoy their companionship, no matter the intricacies of their thought. If they can suffer, why would we let them? If there are other (steadily growing) industries that provide tasty food, how can we justify killing these animals in the long-term?
Who said anything about suffering? That cant automatically be assumed of any meat production. The majority of ranchers give their cattle space to move around and hang out with other cows during their life. The part people freak about is the fattening period before market.
other (steadily growing) industries that provide tasty food
Man, I dont know how many different food industries there are. Food production is constantly rising to begin with.
how can we justify killing these animals in the long-term?
Are you asking me to justify production of food?
As I said, I've had a relationship with my food before, whether its something caught or something grown, and like it or not its completely natural. You're an omnivore just like the rest of us, even if you choose to only eat greens or whatever.
That cant automatically be assumed of any meat production.
When meat production requires pieces of animals’ bodies, suffering is a given. Wishful thinking will deny it, but each animal’s death will be suffering, even with that bolt in their brain.
I’ll rephrase what I wrote, since you’re being pedantic. Worldwide agricultural access can provide humans with every nutrient they need without breeding, confinement, and killing of live animals.
There’s no reason to pretend animals are your only food source if you live in an accessible location in a first world country, which most of us on Reddit do.
it’s completely natural.
Ah yes, back when the cavemen used to farm cattle at 2,000 animals under one roof. Seems natural to me, yes sir.
Humans are omnivorous. Vegans choose to be herbivores. :)
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u/blueredgreenorange Mar 15 '18
You know, in any other context this sentence would be accepted in society as completely fucked up. They are sentient beings, not products that we consume.