# Are humans meat eaters or vegetarians by nature? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [July 4, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326 "2008-07-04T22:24:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![telecommunications](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@telecommunications](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/telecommunications)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/41 "2008-07-05T20:13:41Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] A complete sentence would be helpful here, as I’ve no clue what you’re trying to say. [/QUOTE] terrestrial 1. Botany. a. growing on land; not aquatic. b. growing in the ground; not epiphytic or aerial. 2. Zoology. living on or in the ground; not aquatic, arboreal, or aerial. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/42 "2008-07-05T20:30:42Z")
I am well aware of the definition of the word, thank you. What is your point? Also, you conveniently left out the main definition which is “of or pertaining to Earth.” ---
**Author:** ![telecommunications](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@telecommunications](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/telecommunications)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/43 "2008-07-05T20:32:17Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] I am well aware of the definition of the word, thank you. What is your point? [/QUOTE] i said sunlight is the main source of energy on the surface of the planet, that article you linked is not very relevant to that. who cares if it is the main definition, there are other definitions which can substitute it which is exactly what i did. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/44 "2008-07-05T20:39:23Z")
[QUOTE=telecommunications] i said sunlight is the main source of energy on the surface of the planet… [/QUOTE] No, that’s not what you said. What you said was: > [@you](#): > > evolution is all about utilizing the central source of all terrestrial energy, sunlight If evolution is “all about using sunlight” then how do you explain the black smoker ecosystem? ---
**Author:** ![telecommunications](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@telecommunications](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/telecommunications)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/45 "2008-07-05T20:41:04Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] No, that’s not what you said. What you said was: If evolution is “all about using sunlight” then how do you explain the black smoker ecosystem? [/QUOTE] evolution as pertains to terrestrial things, and by terrestrial of course i meant the surface of the earth because sunlight can’t reach deep anywhere else. stop nitpicking please, the issue is agent smith’s quote and human diet. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/46 "2008-07-05T20:51:45Z")
Agent Smith’s quote is irrelevant, as it has no bearing on reality. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/47 "2008-07-05T22:57:39Z")
> [@telecommunications\[/quote](#): > > That experiment says “fasting”. the one i gave said “with food”. Sure, but your stomach starts making more HCl to account for this and maintain a stable pH. > [@](#): > > The cephalic phase: 30% of the total gastric acid to be produced is stimulated by anticipation of eating and the smell or taste of food. > The gastric phase: 60% of the acid secreted is stimulated by the distention of the stomach with food. Plus, digestion produces proteins, which causes even more gastrin production. > The intestinal phase: the remaining 10% of acid is secreted when chyme enters the small intestine, and is stimulated by small intestine distention. [From here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_acid) ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/48 "2008-07-05T23:07:56Z")
[QUOTE=telecommunications] Agent Smith: I’d like to share a revelation that I’ve had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you’re not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet, you are a plague, and we are the cure. [/QUOTE] He makes this long speech about how we are a virus. And then he says we are a cancer. So which one is right? ---
**Author:** ![telecommunications](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@telecommunications](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/telecommunications)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/49 "2008-07-06T00:34:25Z")
[QUOTE=mr. jp] He makes this long speech about how we are a virus. And then he says we are a cancer. So which one is right? [/QUOTE] Agent Smith: I’m going to be perfectly honest with you, Mr. JP. It was simply a metaphor. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/50 "2008-07-06T01:49:23Z")
Well, if we’re going to use _Matrix_ quotes to carry on the discussion: **Neo** : Bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![telecommunications](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@telecommunications](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/telecommunications)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/51 "2008-07-06T02:16:25Z")
Agent Smith: You humans are driven by your instinct for survival to such ideas as human success and civilization. Vagaries of perception. The temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence that is without meaning or purpose. And all of them as artificial as the Matrix itself, Surely, you can see this by now, Q.E.D. There is no escaping reason. No denying purpose, because we both know without purpose, we would not exist. And despite all your wrong-thinking on this matter, the purpose of all life is to end, and when your remains are liquefied and fed into the next crop all your human notions of human success will be eradicated. That is the reality; that is who you are. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/52 "2008-07-06T02:34:56Z")
[QUOTE=telecommunications] because human physiology shows humans weren’t designed for grains or meat, other great apes do not suffer from the kind of diseases found in humans and also you don’t see them skinning and cooking meat. [/QUOTE] Are you sure that we were designed? You have heard of adaptations haven’t you? Re: Eating meat - Neo gave us the answer. > [@Neo](#): > > Choice, the problem is choice. ---
**Author:** ![telecommunications](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@telecommunications](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/telecommunications)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/53 "2008-07-06T03:00:10Z")
[QUOTE=KRM] Are you sure that we were designed? You have heard of adaptations haven’t you? Re: Eating meat - Neo gave us the answer. [QUOTE=Neo] Choice, the problem is choice. [/QUOTE] [/QUOTE] Agent Smith: Look around you, KRM. Do you honestly believe that there are still people with free will, or choice, as you call it? Human beings weren’t meant for it, it could only lead to certain disaster! Did you know that the first Matrix was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program. Entire crops were lost. No, KRM, the only choice your and other primitive human cerebrums have made is to abandon all reason and purpose so that the only thing that remains is the stench of undigested protein in your dung. But, of course, only in the Matrix do frugivores pretend they can be omnivores. In the real world we take far greater precautions to ensure the bioavailability of human waste matter. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/54 "2008-07-06T03:25:31Z")
You do realize that the Matrix was one of the stupidest movies ever made, bottomed only by its sequels, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/55 "2008-07-06T07:03:33Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] You do realize that the Matrix was one of the stupidest movies ever made, bottomed only by its sequels, don’t you? [/QUOTE] What do you think was stupid about it? (Apart from humans being harvested for energy, obviously) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/56 "2008-07-06T11:57:33Z")
[QUOTE=telecommunications] We both know without purpose, we would not exist. [/quote] Wrong. That is only a philosophical statement. From Richard Dawkins’ _River out of Eden:_ > [@](#): > > The desire to see purpose everywhere is a natural one in an animal that lives surrounded by machines, works of art, tools and other designed artifacts; an animal, moreoever, whose waking thoughts are dominated by its own personal goals…Our pagan forebears would have asked the same question about thunder, eclipses, rocks and streams. Today we pride ourselves on having shaken off such primitive animism. If a rock in a stream happens to serve as a convenient steppingstone, we regard its usefulness as an accidental bonus, not a true purpose. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/57 "2008-07-06T15:00:13Z")
“There is no spoon” ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/58 "2008-07-06T15:02:09Z")
Crap, now how am I gonna eat this ice cream? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/59 "2008-07-06T15:33:26Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Crap, now how am I gonna eat this ice cream? [/QUOTE] There is no ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326/60 "2008-07-06T15:44:21Z")
[QUOTE=mr. jp] What do you think was stupid about it? (Apart from humans being harvested for energy, obviously) [/QUOTE] Aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/455326.md?page=4)