The ethics if factory farming

[Natachan]

So I eat meat. A lot of meat. My family has a history of diabetes and thyroid issues so I try to stay away from carbs and sugars. I've also participated in the slaughter and processing of animals. It's this experience that has made me think about and change the way I buy and consume animal products.

Factory farmed meat is when animals spend their entire lives cooped up with very little room to move. This is often dirty and unhygienic. In the case of chickens it results in a lot of chickens dying prematurely. These animals clearly go through unnecessary suffering throughout their lives. Many people, including myself, would call this animal cruelty. This is why I exclusively buy free range and cruelty free meat when I just don't hunt or slaughter an animal myself. I think this is much more humane and ethical.

But factory meat is cheap. In this country it is extremely rare for people to starve to death. Even the poorest people can usually afford at least some meat. The introduction of factory farming meat has allowed more people to eat better than they could before. Hunger and starvation have been greatly reduced by this.

So I would like to hear opinions. Is factory farming of meat a net positive or a net negative?

[Dystopia]

Call me an asshole, I don't care how the meat is obtained as long as I can buy it at the supermarket.

I also like wearing leather shoes and belts, and I don't feel guilty for it.

[KUSA]

I am at a factory farm chicken processing plant right now. I see the chickens going in one side getting processed and I smell them cooking on the other. The customer just brought me a sample of the cooked product, a chicken tender. Fuck it tasted good! Fresh killed and fresh cooked.

[Anomalocaris]

So I eat meat. A lot of meat. My family has a history of diabetes and thyroid issues so I try to stay away from carbs and sugars. I've also participated in the slaughter and processing of animals. It's this experience that has made me think about and change the way I buy and consume animal products.

Factory farmed meat is when animals spend their entire lives cooped up with very little room to move. This is often dirty and unhygienic. In the case of chickens it results in a lot of chickens dying prematurely. These animals clearly go through unnecessary suffering throughout their lives. Many people, including myself, would call this animal cruelty. This is why I exclusively buy free range and cruelty free meat when I just don't hunt or slaughter an animal myself. I think this is much more humane and ethical.

But factory meat is cheap. In this country it is extremely rare for people to starve to death. Even the poorest people can usually afford at least some meat. The introduction of factory farming meat has allowed more people to eat better than they could before. Hunger and starvation have been greatly reduced by this.

So I would like to hear opinions. Is factory farming of meat a net positive or a net negative?

It is a net positive. Animal suffering has little weight in my estimation compared to human benefit.

[The Grand Nudger]

I'm with Chuck, net positive. Morality takes a back seat to necessity, in my estimation. Doesn't mean that we couldn't improve factory farming (or even that I, personally, would operate a factory farm - thinking it's a good idea) - just means that it's the best we've got, currently, all considerations accounted for - and it does a hell of alot of good. I've always though that having to physically watch someone starve from day to day would make the hardest vegan club a puppy and feed it to the hungry masses (ultimately AI realize that this is just my reaction, but I do assume that I'm a fairly average human being). It's only from the lofty position of -extreme- good fortune that we can even begin to consider the morality of factory farming.

[KUSA]

Why can't people just enjoy the fleshy goodness?

[ShaMan]

The other day I saw a chicken wearing a Human-skin hat. Seems fair

---

Morality takes a back seat to necessity, in my estimation.

Would you slaughter a less-fortunate Human for meat if it were 'necessary' for your survival (since morality is in the back seat)?

[The Grand Nudger]

I'd probably stall the decision until such a time as my decision making faculties were so compromised that whatever I "chose" the act would be moot. In the search for food, a human being is worth more than the meat clinging to their bones (that's why there are so many of us, with so much meat clinging to our bones). I couldn't be the guy to string up members of the donner party, personally, nor would I want to be the guy that starved everyone by destroying my body in such a situation as to be inedible. I imagine that I could, in the end, be pursuaded by the smell of roasted long-pig - like many a human being before me. The idea is disgusting to me, sure - but I've put some questionable shit into my mouth under less duress brutha.

I'd love to be able to promise you that I wouldn't eat your silly ass if we got lost in the woods...but I think your best bet...is just not to get lost in the woods with me(or anyone, really..lol).

[ShaMan]

but I think your best bet...is just not to get lost in the woods with me(or anyone, really..lol).

"Lost" in the woods... That's a good one

[The Grand Nudger]

Yeah, but you sort of forced it on me with the scenario. I get the feeling that you're the kind of guy that wouldn't go hungry in the woods. So am I. But hey...if it came down to it man, it's essentially a thunderdome issue, 2 men enter.....you know? Don't let the friendly mug fool you.....I'm only smiling so that you understand the sort of animal you're dealing with here.....