# Aliens demand the human race turn vegetarian - could we do it? Should we? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 30, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390 "2010-03-30T22:26:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/41 "2010-03-31T22:37:48Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > Wait. If we don’t have 100% compliance, the human race is all destroyed? Even the compliant ones? There’s a bit of wiggle room, but not enough to make much difference. If commercial farming continues, we’re all screwed, even the compliant ones. > [@](#): > > We’re boned. No way we’re getting that. We couldn’t even convince 100% of people that the aliens really exist and aren’t some kind of conspiracy by PETA. I’m inclined to agree. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/42 "2010-03-31T22:40:04Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Tell the aliens to go to hell because that kind of demand violates The Prime Directive. They don’t have a Prime Directive, or at least, it doesn’t involve non-interference. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/43 "2010-03-31T22:44:27Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > What do we do with all the animals we are farming now? Can we kill and freeze them all? Anything we like, if it takes less than a year. > [@](#): > > I assume the aliens know that releasing six billion free-range chickens into the wild isn’t going to do much towards sparing their lives. Can we keep dairy cattle? Sheep for their wool? … We can, but animal welfare is going to have to drastically improve. > [@](#): > > …Set mousetraps? They didn’t say. Do you reckon we should risk it? > [@](#): > > Besides, if they are so damn interested in saving animals, why are they so ready to disintegrate six billion of us? Their motives are unfathomable. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/44 "2010-03-31T22:48:45Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > What about growing meat sans animal? I read recently about cell culture techniques that give the ability to grow muscle cells that can then be prepared/eaten. (I can find cites if necessary) Their message appeared primarily focused on exploitation of living animals, so it seems like this should be OK, but they refuse to elaborate, so it’s a gamble. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/45 "2010-03-31T22:51:46Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Where so they stand on milk? Vegetarian is pretty easy - IF we just treat the milk cows better can we go on using them? What about the laying hens? Seems we can do this, if we treat them pretty much like family. > [@](#): > > Actually I woudl love it - but my prediction is that we’d all die - unless we just nuke Texas to save the rest of us. Then the aliens probably nuke us anyway for killing all those cows . . . We can do anything inside the year - so maybe one possibility for the continuation of the human race is to drastically prune it, in order to be able to control and monitor the remainder. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/46 "2010-03-31T23:17:51Z")
This isn’t an allegory for global warming, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/47 "2010-03-31T23:28:35Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > This isn’t an allegory for global warming, is it? Not intentionally. It’s just a scenario that popped into my head. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/48 "2010-03-31T23:40:09Z")
Much better than aliens with a book titled ‘To Serve Man’… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/49 "2010-04-01T01:59:46Z")
A few things come to mind. What about carnivorous animals such as lions and tigers and bears? Are they wizard enough to communicate with them? If we shoot our secret weapon at them (missiles filled with gaseous cows) will they shoot them down? If we breed animals without brains (politicians?) can we eat them? If we breed Ameglian Major Cows that expressly want to be eaten is that OK (from the Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy)? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/50 "2010-04-01T02:03:40Z")
We kill and eat the aliens. Simple solution to a complex problem. What wine goes with Martians? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/51 "2010-04-01T02:09:58Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Basement Cow. > > Black Market Bacon…mmmmmm… You’re planning on making bacon from a cow :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/52 "2010-04-01T03:55:44Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > Wait. If we don’t have 100% compliance, the human race is all destroyed? Even the compliant ones? > > We’re boned. No way we’re getting that. We couldn’t even convince 100% of people that the aliens really exist and aren’t some kind of conspiracy by PETA. Well if they’re just going to sit on their hands … umm…tentacles … for twelve months and then choose whether to hit the disintegrate button, then I agree. OTOH, if they start off bombing the largest abbatoirs at around the eleven month mark, I would think the number of abbatoir workers showing up for their shift at month 12 would be pretty low. I’m pretty sure the human race’s first response would be to spend that twelve months putting everything we could into military hardware so we could (attempt to) fight back though. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/53 "2010-04-01T04:21:45Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > We comply because we have little choice. We beg, borrow or steal their technology until we can stand up to them. Then we eat them. I was scanning through the messages waiting to see if someone had replied with “eat them.” You have preserved my faith in humanity, sir. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/54 "2010-04-01T04:41:15Z")
We would all die. even if all the world saw and believed the aliens, there would not be total compliance, too many people would say “I’ll be damned if I cant get my meat”, cold dead hands and all of that. Hell, if the stipulation was the entire human race was wiped out if people ate meat period, no personal allotment, etc, I suppose a dozen or so people even in _this thread_ would share personal responsibility for wiping out humanity, probably within a few hours of the ultimatum. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/55 "2010-04-01T07:43:55Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > A few things come to mind. What about carnivorous animals such as lions and tigers and bears? Are they wizard enough to communicate with them? Oh my! They haven’t addressed that, only specified that humans need to stop the exploitation - maybe it’s because they feel we have a choice in the matter, but who knows? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/56 "2010-04-01T12:37:34Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Their message appeared primarily focused on exploitation of living animals, so it seems like this should be OK, but they refuse to elaborate, so it’s a gamble. Refuse to elaborate? Threatening to eliminate the entire human race? These “aliens” are sounding more and more like my ex. We are doomed. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/57 "2010-04-02T18:04:10Z")
I think that in practical terms it would be very easy to do. That said, all those millions of animals alive in the world today purely because we are going to eat them would die almost overnight. If we didn’t actually slaughter them we’d probably let them starve to death because we’d be using all our resources to grow crops. But my own thoughts are if I had to give up bacon, roast beef, lamb and steaks then the hell with it. Attack them immediately, go for the throat. We could use animal shields (As opposed to human shields). Stuff our pockets with dormice or whatever and then launch the assault. Let them know what you’ve done beforehand and and then they can sweat out the consequences of attacking you . The other tactic could be use hostage tactics. Touch me and the fluffy bunny gets it ! Here I’ve got pictures of her mum and dad and her thirtysix off spring. Don’t push me copper,er weird alien being I mean,I’m gonna do it ! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/58 "2010-04-02T19:10:38Z")
That’s the thing. In that year, regardless of the final choice, there would be a horrible holocaust of animal destruction as people became convinced that we were all doomed and decided to take all the fluffy bunnies with them. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2010, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/59 "2010-04-03T06:01:06Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Actually I woudl love it So would I. I get sad when I think about meat ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390/60 "2010-04-03T15:20:41Z")
Wouldn’t it also be environmentally unfrendly ? Veggies fart alot more then omnivores so this would definitely have a massive effect if all humans went veggie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-demand-the-human-race-turn-vegetarian-could-we-do-it-should-we/534390.md?page=4)