Any Vegetarians/Vegans here?

[bennyboy]

Oh so you are only against people eating meat, because it causes suffering...So you are ok with animal testing/research , that may also cause long term suffering?After all that also helps prevent human suffering. Did you ever think of cancer?

You can not end suffering! You mind as well just wait for the sun to exploded if you really want all the suffering to end.

This is clearly a false dilemma. The options are actually: 1) reduce suffering; 2) keep it the same; 3) increase it. If at least some suffering can be reduced or eliminated, with no important loss, then it is rational to eliminate the suffering, unless one has a total disregard for the suffering of other species.

Without regard to the ethics of medical research, meat eating, particularly in very copious amounts, is simply not required, and does lead to suffering. Since eating of large amounts of meat is not required, the suffering is not required, either. Will there still be suffering in the universe? Yes. But those animals who did not need to be eaten will not be bred into existence in order to suffer and be slaughtered. Your argument is kind of like saying, "We cannot stop the suffering of cancer victims, so we shouldn't bother stopping the suffering of people with broken arms." Same species, completely different cause of suffering.

Personally, I wouldn't argue that we should try to get people to be vegetarian-- many have a very high resistance to that life style, socially or even instinctually. However, I think it's a lose-lose when a 350-lb man is eating 3000 calories worth of greasy meat each day-- in this case, the animal has lost its life, and has not only not positive effect on the man's health, but contributes to a loss of health. I'd categorize this as an unhealthy addiction, not an act of liberty and enjoyment.

IF we could get people to eat meat for its nutritional value only, and not because grease triggers their monkey-pleasure centers, that would be a win-win.