are vegetarians more ethical by not eating meat?

[Mystical]

I think, yes. More consciencious and ethical yes. With regards to mammals. It's not gonna keep me from cookin up some chicken, but when I get to a choice between a chicken or a cow: I'll choose the chicken any day. I would have no problem cuttin the head off of
one of those things and watchin their headless bodies run around the yard, or banging a trout upside the head and frying them up That's how we do when I was little.
A cow on the other hand? I see them as farther up the level of consciousness thus making their deaths quite frightening/painful for them.
I feel it only responsible to limit the amount of suffering I myself am responsible for. The rest of humanity by the individual should be the same. IE: don't order the Veal, people. I order cow on special occasions, like my birthday.

[CleanShavenJesus]

I could never go through a week without meat. Couldn't do it.

A good roast beef....oh God, I'm getting hungry.

[Whateverist]

Are vegetarians more ethical for not eating meat? I hardly think so. But I'll bet they taste better than we meat-eaters do. So if you're looking for someone whose actions are more meritorious, choosing a vegetarian is almost irrelevant. However if you're looking for someone who tastes good, always choose the vegetarian.

Seriously though, the only moral ground I'll cede to the vegetarian is in regard to limiting their share of the life carrying capacity of the planet. But it isn't enough to prevent me from enjoying a good steak (or some more of that incredible chicken soup I still have in the fridge). Nonetheless, I'll give a tip of my hat to the vegetarian who opts out eating meat for that reason. If I were a better person, I'd do the same. Guess I'll settle for being a pretty good person most of the time .. when its convenient .. oh, never mind.

[Mystical]

Which reminds me: I totally forgot to mention that it's completely and totally UNETHICAL and WRONG, UNCONSCIONABLE, DEPLORABLE, REPREHENSIBLE, and UNFORGIVEABLE...... for anyone to eat rabbit soup.

[Whateverist]

Which reminds me: I totally forgot to mention that it's completely and totally UNETHICAL and WRONG, UNCONSCIONABLE, DEPLORABLE, REPREHENSIBLE, and UNFORGIVEABLE...... for anyone to eat rabbit soup.

Oh I don't know. I'll bet the white one on the left would be delicious with some carrots, onions, celery and a rutabaga. Naw, pets are off limits of course. Anyone eying my doggies with gustatory intentions is in big trouble with me.

[genkaus]

The most common argument I see against vegetarianism here seems to be that since humanity has evolved to be be omnivores, sticking to a vegetarian diet is unhealthy. And frankly, I don't buy that. Growing up in a country where vegetarianism is a religious requirement, it's easy to see that that is not true. Most of my extended family is vegetarian - especially my grandparents' generation and most of them have active lifestyles while being over 90. A few of my close friends are vegetarian as well and they most certainly are healthier than me. While I don't regard as their being any moral issues associated with eating meat, nonetheless I also don't see necessity as a valid excuse.

[KichigaiNeko]

What you are summarising genkaus can be said of meat eaters as well, so I agree there are no grounds for argument.

Here in Oz there are those who take the "moral high ground" and consequently give ALL vegetarians and vegans a bad name. It is quite silly and I feel that for some reason (maybe evolution?) there are some who want to make a religion out of EVERYTHING!

Quite nauseating really. Say hi to your mum for me

[Gabriel Syme]

So what do you think?

Human beings are omnivores* and so it is not unethical to eat meat.

(*our teeth are a mixture of sharp teeth (at front) for tearing and ripping flesh, and grinding teeth (back/sides) for chewing grains/veg etc).

However, this does not excuse us from the duty to treat animals in a humane fashion, which we should do always.

In my opinion balanced diets are the most healthy diets and I think some of the more extreme vegan / vegetarian diets, (with lots of restrictions etc), risk being unhealthy for those involved.

I respect other peoples life choices, but personally I think it would suck to be a vegetarian / vegan! But - each to their own.

[genkaus]

Human beings are omnivores* and so it is not unethical to eat meat.

However, this does not excuse us from the duty to treat animals in a humane fashion, which we should do always.

If it is our duty to treat animals in a humane fashion then it would be unethical to not do so and killing and eating them would definitely be treating them in inhumane fashion. You are contradicting yourself here.

[Creed of Heresy]

I'll be honest, when I die, I want to be buried so that nature can devour me. Not because I want to be laid to rest or anything, but just cuz, well, serve some purpose in death. Feed some worms, you know?

Every race has a biological imperative to put itself first before anything else. Same with human beings. We put ourselves first. It's just nature. Eating animals isn't unethical, if we go by the ethics of nature [the only ethics that matter in this case]. Yes, we can choose to eat either plants or animals but plants are living organisms, too. Just cuz it can't yelp when you pluck an apple doesn't mean it's not made of organic, living materials. You start the argument that eating animals is unethical then you slide down the slippery slope to the point that you eventually reach the point where you'll have to starve to death because life comes from death via consumption.

I don't eat that cow, a lion is going to eat it for me. Fuck you, lion, that cow is MINE!

---

Human beings are omnivores* and so it is not unethical to eat meat.

However, this does not excuse us from the duty to treat animals in a humane fashion, which we should do always.

If it is our duty to treat animals in a humane fashion then it would be unethical to not do so and killing and eating them would definitely be treating them in inhumane fashion. You are contradicting yourself here.

Noooo, he's just being realistic about what the extents of "humane treatment" are. While they live, treat them well, and when you go to kill them [because they're gonna die anyway eventually], do it quickly and cleanly and don't make them suffer. There's no contradiction here unless you're just trying to split hairs, which is just petty and argumentative for the sake of being petty and argumentative.