Posted November 12, 2016 (edited) I love meat, it's my favourite part of any meal. I've eaten all kinds of different meats from all kinds of different animals, and quite honestly the only meat that's off limits for me is human. I sure would hope so. I'm also kinda on the fence for the hunting thing. Endangered hunting is inexcusable, I don't see any valid reasoning behind it. But I'm also not a fan of people simply killing animals for the fun of it. I think your hunting should have a purpose (i.e food) No mounting! Edited November 12, 2016 by kyleedj Share this post Link to post
Posted November 13, 2016 i think hunting for any purpose is okay as long as you're being relatively humane and are using as much of the animal as possible. if you want to mount heads and make furs, that's alright with me, so long as you're also eating the meat and making good use of the rest of the body. after being a pescetarian for 3-4 years i am slowly trying to get back into eating meat. at the moment it is hard for me to do so without feeling terribly guilty but i'm getting better at it. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 13, 2016 If you eat meat? Cool, enjoy that burger or that bowl of venison stew! If you don't eat meat? Awesome, enjoy that veggie burger or that ginormous bowl of veggie pasta salad! Just don't give other people grief for their choices. Me, I'm an avowed carnivore. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 13, 2016 I'm a fish-eater and that's all the meat I intend to eat. Actually, just the though of eating mammals makes me puke. I'd several pigs as pets, so smart, just the idea of eating them is repulsive. I love horse-riding and I own 3 horses, can't even start thinking about people eating horses. Based on my experience, lambs and cows are the sweetest things, how can someone kill and eat them is above my understanding. There are three turtles in my backyard and four birds sharing my life. Actually, I feel a bit guilty eating shrimp and red snapper, planning on giving that up quite soon. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 13, 2016 I've had chicken, duck, beef, lamb, several kinds of fish.. Nothing that's out of the ordinary. I'm more of a fish person myself. As this is just food we're talking about, I'm no stickler for details behind the scenes, but I suppose my only concern is how much agriculture revolving around livestock appears to contribute to the rise in greenhouse gases. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 13, 2016 If you eat meat? Cool, enjoy that burger or that bowl of venison stew! If you don't eat meat? Awesome, enjoy that veggie burger or that ginormous bowl of veggie pasta salad! Just don't give other people grief for their choices. Me, I'm an avowed carnivore. This. I can't say it any better. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 13, 2016 I eat meat, it just isn't a main part of my diet. I eat more vegetables and fruits than I have meat-oriented dishes. I don't really mind what goes on with other people's diets as long as they enjoy what they're having, be it animal produce or be it plant-based. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 13, 2016 I've never thought about trying rabbit before... Although now I am vastly curious owo Share this post Link to post
Posted November 13, 2016 I can't speak for horses, but I've been around cows and chickens to some extent and do find them much stupider than dogs and cats, which makes it more permissible in my mind. Chickens? Stupid? Psh, perish the thought! Bird brains do work a bit differently than mammalian brains, but research has been finding some outstanding evidence on bird intelligence and that they are some of the quickest learners in the animal kingdom. Most is focused on corvids, parrots, etc., but there's a lot more budding info on chickens too. They have incredible facial memory recognition and complex social behaviors. I had the honor of meeting some great researchers on avian behavior and intelligence, and surprisingly they were working with animals like grouse, wild doves, and European robins. It's a cool topic to look into! (yeah I'm a bit biased) I haven't read too much on cows, admittedly, but I've seen that they are extremely underestimated too. Apparently females will form life long "best friend" relationships with each other, similar to humans. Pretty neat. I'm hoping I get the opportunity to try moose one day. Wildlife and forestry management keeps a close watch and regulation on their populations, so I don't necessarily have a conflict of interest there, but I hear the taste can be hit or miss. I've had to work with dead moose before and I've always wondered if it was even worth it to take down such a grand, massive animal if the meat wasn't so great. Assuming it wasn't just for the rack, which I abhor. I've seen people cook the nose cartilage in an attempt to not waste anything, and I think that's pretty awesome. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 13, 2016 I'm hoping I get the opportunity to try moose one day. Wildlife and forestry management keeps a close watch and regulation on their populations, so I don't necessarily have a conflict of interest there, but I hear the taste can be hit or miss. I've had to work with dead moose before and I've always wondered if it was even worth it to take down such a grand, massive animal if the meat wasn't so great. Assuming it wasn't just for the rack, which I abhor. I've seen people cook the nose cartilage in an attempt to not waste anything, and I think that's pretty awesome. Moose(or elk) is actually my favourite meat to eat. I'd describe it as a very lean cow meat. My father and brother hunt (the hunting season started few weeks ago). So I have plenty of moose meat to eat. My family has bought an extra freezer just for the meat. Even though hunting is a sport I don't think it should be done 'just for fun'. It should be done to control the animal populations and not just for the trophies. I don't mind whether people eat meat, veggies, both or neither . However as I live in FInland where there are quite strict laws on animal keeping and farming I don't like when people come to me and preach about how badly animals are treated and that I shoudn't eat meat because they use ABs and steroids... I'm all like, excuse me, but your imported soya beans (that were grown on a cut rain forest bed) in a tin can are more harmfull to the environment than my meat eating. Plus my Finnish meat contains so little steroids and ABs that some your imported veggies contain way more harmul chemicals. Please do not let me get started on quinoa.... In Finland we have this 'meatless October' (= lihaton lokakuu), when different organizations try to endorse more vegetables and less or none meat in one's diet. That "meatles October" is being criticed by Finnish meat producers as it chips away from their income (and they don't make enough as it is..). They have proposed that the meatless October should be an Oktober of Finnish meat (=suomalaisen lihan lokakuu). Share this post Link to post
Posted November 13, 2016 My biggest concern with meat is whether the source was humanely treated before death, and that's frequently too hard to tell without being able to visit a farm. Basically, if possible you want to buy locally, since the animals probably had a better life that way. I understand that that's not viable for many people, though, so I don't judge for it. And yes, hunting is a very important thing (especially since humans have mostly wiped out a lot of large animals' predators, leaving us hunting as the least inhumane population control), but it's one of those things where I can't stand people who don't use the animal after killing it. It's one thing if the carcass is so sick/parasite-ridden that it can't be used, but hunting for the sole purpose of sport puts a bad taste in my mouth. I mean, I live in deer country, and deer overpopulation is a huge issue and they need to be culled to keep the herd healthy, but I still don't like it when people only take deer for sport. Same with boar, although boar's more of an invasive species problem than a overpopulation problem... Share this post Link to post
Posted November 13, 2016 I am an omnivore. I do love my meat. But if it comes to killing it myself, such as lobster, I do attempt to be very respectful. Even meat that I just buy, I am respectful. It is in our biology to eat meat. its why our teeth are setup the way they are. We need vitaminst hat can only be found in meat. So when it comes to vegans - I shake my head. Whatever. Be a vegan, just knockit off when you mock my meal. As a chef, I enjoy a wide variety of dishes, be it a fat juicy burger, to an amazing vegan chili (I have my own recipe there for that) as far as I am concerned, a good variety is healthier in the long run. I have eaten: Horse, Goat, moose, lamb. mutton, pork, beef, quail, pheasant, turkey, duck, Canada Goose, Bear, Elk, wild boar, Ostrich, Emu, Shark, Skate, Monkfish, Swordfish, Eel, Aligator. Venison, guinia Hen, Octopus, Squid, cuttlefish, LObsters and Crabs, Various Shellfish... I am possibly missing some animals. Octop Share this post Link to post
Posted November 14, 2016 I eat meat, but I actively try to buy local (I live in a rural area, so it's not difficult). I'm honestly not big into meat and have to force myself to eat it. I much prefer protein from cheese and eggs. Same deal, there, really. I try to buy local and from humane farms. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 14, 2016 (edited) Chickens? Stupid? Psh, perish the thought! Bird brains do work a bit differently than mammalian brains, but research has been finding some outstanding evidence on bird intelligence and that they are some of the quickest learners in the animal kingdom. Most is focused on corvids, parrots, etc., but there's a lot more budding info on chickens too. They have incredible facial memory recognition and complex social behaviors. I had the honor of meeting some great researchers on avian behavior and intelligence, and surprisingly they were working with animals like grouse, wild doves, and European robins. It's a cool topic to look into! (yeah I'm a bit biased) I haven't read too much on cows, admittedly, but I've seen that they are extremely underestimated too. Apparently females will form life long "best friend" relationships with each other, similar to humans. Pretty neat. I'm hoping I get the opportunity to try moose one day. Wildlife and forestry management keeps a close watch and regulation on their populations, so I don't necessarily have a conflict of interest there, but I hear the taste can be hit or miss. I've had to work with dead moose before and I've always wondered if it was even worth it to take down such a grand, massive animal if the meat wasn't so great. Assuming it wasn't just for the rack, which I abhor. I've seen people cook the nose cartilage in an attempt to not waste anything, and I think that's pretty awesome. Nooo, Nine, please don't convince me cows and chickens aren't stupid, then I'll feel bad about how delicious they are! That IS a really cool video, though! I knew there were tons of smart birds out there (love me some corvids) but I've just never personally met a smart chicken. Just mean nasty roosters attacking my leg while I'm trying to lay down fresh straw and a few dumb backyard chickens who only ever showed interest in us when we had food and otherwise did nothing but poop and break their own necks by flying into stuff. Guh. My biggest concern with meat is whether the source was humanely treated before death, and that's frequently too hard to tell without being able to visit a farm. Basically, if possible you want to buy locally, since the animals probably had a better life that way. I understand that that's not viable for many people, though, so I don't judge for it. And yes, hunting is a very important thing (especially since humans have mostly wiped out a lot of large animals' predators, leaving us hunting as the least inhumane population control), but it's one of those things where I can't stand people who don't use the animal after killing it. It's one thing if the carcass is so sick/parasite-ridden that it can't be used, but hunting for the sole purpose of sport puts a bad taste in my mouth. I mean, I live in deer country, and deer overpopulation is a huge issue and they need to be culled to keep the herd healthy, but I still don't like it when people only take deer for sport. Same with boar, although boar's more of an invasive species problem than a overpopulation problem... Yesh, dis. I really wish it WAS more possible to trust that the meat we get was raised humanely. That's why I support things like passing laws to end battery cages, provide more outside access, etc to livestock. If we all come together to ensure the laws are passed across the board, then it won't matter if we can't all find local trusty farmers to buy from, we'll at least know that all food animals are being given a decent level of care. And yah with hunting and meat. At the very least if people just want the trophy, donate the rest of the body to a group that can process it into meat for those in need. It's been a while but I believe fish and wildlife services give the bodies of CWD-free deer to feed the homeless after they test them...? Edited November 14, 2016 by angelicdragonpuppy Share this post Link to post
Posted November 14, 2016 Moose(or elk) is actually my favourite meat to eat. I'd describe it as a very lean cow meat. My father and brother hunt (the hunting season started few weeks ago). So I have plenty of moose meat to eat. My family has bought an extra freezer just for the meat. Even though hunting is a sport I don't think it should be done 'just for fun'. It should be done to control the animal populations and not just for the trophies. I don't mind whether people eat meat, veggies, both or neither . However as I live in FInland where there are quite strict laws on animal keeping and farming I don't like when people come to me and preach about how badly animals are treated and that I shoudn't eat meat because they use ABs and steroids... I'm all like, excuse me, but your imported soya beans (that were grown on a cut rain forest bed) in a tin can are more harmfull to the environment than my meat eating. Plus my Finnish meat contains so little steroids and ABs that some your imported veggies contain way more harmul chemicals. Please do not let me get started on quinoa.... In Finland we have this 'meatless October' (= lihaton lokakuu), when different organizations try to endorse more vegetables and less or none meat in one's diet. That "meatles October" is being criticed by Finnish meat producers as it chips away from their income (and they don't make enough as it is..). They have proposed that the meatless October should be an Oktober of Finnish meat (=suomalaisen lihan lokakuu). Moose is so good!! My neighbor at my moms' house is a hunter, and when I mentioned I had never tried moose or venison before, he immediately went into his garage and pulled out some packs of venison steaks and ground moose. Yum yum! Moose makes great burgers, but not so great spaghetti x) He has a separate freezer for his hunted meats too. Apparently one moose will last like, three years. o_o My favorite meat has to be duck. It has the most succulent, rich flavor ever. Mmmm. Rabbit is okay, and I wouldn't mind eating it again, but it doesn't stand out to me much. Lamb has a very strange after taste to me, though I can tolerate mutton better. Veal is good but it makes me feel too emotionally sad in order to enjoy its flavor. ><; Share this post Link to post
Posted November 15, 2016 I don't eat meat anymore (vegetarian), solely because I was thinking about the fact that you're eating something's muscles, and it was revolting to me. I don't scorn people who eat meat, though. xP Share this post Link to post
Posted November 15, 2016 Nooo, Nine, please don't convince me cows and chickens aren't stupid, then I'll feel bad about how delicious they are! That IS a really cool video, though! I knew there were tons of smart birds out there (love me some corvids) but I've just never personally met a smart chicken. Just mean nasty roosters attacking my leg while I'm trying to lay down fresh straw and a few dumb backyard chickens who only ever showed interest in us when we had food and otherwise did nothing but poop and break their own necks by flying into stuff. Guh. Chickens are in a weird position because they are pretty stupid, but they're not as stupid as people make them out to be. A lot of them are vicious because people don't cull vicious chickens (presumably because even a big chicken has trouble doing serious damage to an adult human, also fighting), which doesn't help matters, but a chill chicken that's been properly trained to be handled is pretty great. Roosters especially can be affectionate; hens tend to be more reserved, but they can be friendly as well. I very much want to own a small flock of chickens someday, so I've done a lot of backyard chicken research. :V Love them delicious fluffbutt cannibal dinosaurs. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 16, 2016 While I for one do not care about what others eat, I do find it somewhat interesting how people who eat meat say that they accept people who are vegetarians or vegans, as I do not see why they wouldn't, their diet doesn't really contain anything which would upset people (unless they are a fruitarian or something like that) and it is just as healthy. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 16, 2016 Chickens are in a weird position because they are pretty stupid, but they're not as stupid as people make them out to be. A lot of them are vicious because people don't cull vicious chickens (presumably because even a big chicken has trouble doing serious damage to an adult human, also fighting), which doesn't help matters, but a chill chicken that's been properly trained to be handled is pretty great. Roosters especially can be affectionate; hens tend to be more reserved, but they can be friendly as well. I very much want to own a small flock of chickens someday, so I've done a lot of backyard chicken research. :V Love them delicious fluffbutt cannibal dinosaurs. Since I do not really like meat, it is easy for me to be a pescatarian. Now... if I was going to eat meat again, I would avoid chickens, independently of how they smart they are. There are so many contaminants associated with chickens that just the idea is sickening. Just Google chickens and contaminants. There's more than enough to wonder why we should allow our kids to eat that meat. Or ourselves. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 16, 2016 There's more than enough to wonder why we should allow our kids to eat that meat. Or ourselves. That's why you don't eat them raw... Or eat your fruit/vegetables without giving them a rinse, for the matter (who knows what the person handling them before suffered from, or whether they washed their hands after using the bathroom, or what the produce were sprayed with). I recall an infection spreading with long Spanish cucumbers, for instance... You typically don't have to worry about contaminants if you prepare your food properly. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 16, 2016 (edited) That's why you don't eat them raw... Or eat your fruit/vegetables without giving them a rinse, for the matter (who knows what the person handling them before suffered from, or whether they washed their hands after using the bathroom, or what the produce were sprayed with). I recall an infection spreading with long Spanish cucumbers, for instance... You typically don't have to worry about contaminants if you prepare your food properly. Yeah, a lot of the more recent food poisoning scandals have been with vegetables actually. I seem to remember bean sprouts somewhere, as well as tomatoes. There have been a few others involving vegetables as well. I remember one was where they were unknowingly using contaminated water to care for the plants, and it transferred to the food. Granted, I have a pretty strong opinion on the idea of banning anything that is the slightest bit unsafe. While I understand fear and concern, I think we are harming ourselves lately by our overconcern for safety. Edited November 17, 2016 by Nectaris Share this post Link to post
Posted November 16, 2016 While I for one do not care about what others eat, I do find it somewhat interesting how people who eat meat say that they accept people who are vegetarians or vegans, as I do not see why they wouldn't, their diet doesn't really contain anything which would upset people (unless they are a fruitarian or something like that) and it is just as healthy. It isn't really the diet so much as the culture. There are some vegans who are really belligerent and over the top and attack people who don't share their views (I remember one website where vegans were intensively debating whether or not using honey from domesticated bees was unfair to the bees. It was very... odd), and while they certainly don't all act that way, unfortunately a vocal minority has tainted people's perceptions of the group as a whole. More personally, I have issues with vegans because I don't understand their viewpoint. I just fail to see how taking unfertilized eggs from well cared for backyard chickens or a cow or goat that has excess milk beyond what it needs for its babies is hurting them in any way. I disagree for logical reasons. Vegetarians, though, make total sense to me and get much respect. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 17, 2016 It isn't really the diet so much as the culture. There are some vegans who are really belligerent and over the top and attack people who don't share their views (I remember one website where vegans were intensively debating whether or not using honey from domesticated bees was unfair to the bees. It was very... odd), and while they certainly don't all act that way, unfortunately a vocal minority has tainted people's perceptions of the group as a whole. More personally, I have issues with vegans because I don't understand their viewpoint. I just fail to see how taking unfertilized eggs from well cared for backyard chickens or a cow or goat that has excess milk beyond what it needs for its babies is hurting them in any way. I disagree for logical reasons. Vegetarians, though, make total sense to me and get much respect. Being a vegan myself, although more because I find animal products somewhat disgusting rather than because of any moral reasons, I agree that vegans who try to force their views upon others do not really help anyone all that much. I can see what you mean about domestic animals though, as some animals now depend on humans for a lot of things so humans' relationships with some animals are not always as black and white as some try to make it out to be, at least as long as the animals in question are fairly treated. Sometimes animals even live better in captivity than in the wild as is the case in many pets. The thing that many vegans are more against is the farms where cows and other animals are continually being exploited for their milk, eggs, and other products before eventually being killed when they stop producing them. Another obvious problem is that in order to produce milk, for example, the animal needs to be kept pregnant and in many cases the offspring is killed soon after birth. Even simple actions such as collecting eggs may cause distress in an animal if they are treated poorly. As vegans aim to limit animal suffering and exploitation it makes sense that they would in the very least not support such establishments. Share this post Link to post
Posted November 17, 2016 (edited) I think the practice of attacking goes both ways. I see plenty of unprovoked attacks, jokes and ridicule on vegans/vegetarians on social media all the time. Many times the original content doesn't even have anything to do with food but someone will come made a snide comment and immediately it gets tons of supporters. I have also not seen many people speak out against harassment of vegans/vegetarians. I personally always take a stand to speak against harassment of people based on their food habits irrespective of which side they're on. I am a Lacto-vegetarian myself in a country where vegetarianism prevails, yet the number of times I've been forced, attacked and degraded for not eating meat is ridiculous. It has only gotten worse when I've visited places/countries that primarily have only non veg diet. I've had to deal with regular ignorance of people with comments like "oh you don't eat meat? You must not be very healthy." "how do you get any strength" "that's a poor way of living" etc. The ignorance surrounding vegetarian diet is overwhelming and just because no one highlights the harassment vegans/non meat eaters get doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I have even had someone switch my meal with a meat burger inside vegetarian labeled wrapper to deceive me because I wouldn't eat meat on their "insistence" and thanks to that I had terrible food poisoning and total paranoia against ever letting any non-vegetarian person order/pick food for me in self service restaurants. Just saying that the ignorance and harassment goes both ways and neither is acceptable, although it's sad only vegans get most of the bad publicity for this unacceptable behavior. I've never consumed meat/fish since birth and I've yet to have a single side effect from it. My family and their family all are vegetarians too. It's really a personal choice what you want to eat but to label vegetarian lifestyle as unhealthy or lacking in comparison is going too far. Personally I have not given up milk because we get milk from local farmers who do not abuse their cattle, they don't have more than 3-4 animals anyway. They are poor people and their cattle are very expensive, so it would be foolish to mistreat them and risk them falling ill or dying. I don't eat eggs and after watching a lot of mass production videos, over time I lost desire to eat cheese that come from corporation factories. They just taste gross and I never know what they put into them so over time I just lost appetite for them. I am still fond of gourmet cheese as long as I can somehow verify it comes from a good source. Edited November 17, 2016 by Amaterasu-sama Share this post Link to post
Posted November 17, 2016 Another obvious problem is that in order to produce milk, for example, the animal needs to be kept pregnant and in many cases the offspring is killed soon after birth. That's not true. Cows of dairy breeds will produce milk regardless of whether they have ever been pregnant - and that's coming from a person whose relatives did own cows and can testify it from experience (and who owns what are pretty much pet chickens herself). Chickens will likewise lay eggs no matter what, the eggs will just be unfertilized (I do have a rooster now, simply because one of the chicks I hatched grew up to be one, and I had become too fond of him to give him away). Share this post Link to post
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