Point of order – the child isn’t dead. Although its long-term prospects don’t appear to be too appealing.
Macro Man, I would think you’d be more upset with these idiots for self-identifying as vegans, rather than getting upset with people for sarcastically referring to them as vegans. Or, expend your ire upon the New York Post, which refers to the couple as vegans (based upon their own profession).
I happen to be Caucasian. If a couple of non-Caucasian people painted themselves pink, declared themselves Caucasian and went on a killing spree, I would be upset if a thread title read Mad Caucasians kill hundreds. However, I can’t complain if the thread title is altered slightly to read Mad “Caucasians” kill hundreds. The quotes obviously indicate sarcasm with reference to the self-title of the killers.
I think the Post would have been better served to simply report that a couple had fed their child a dangerously improper diet. When answering the question “Why?” (as any good news story should do), a quote from one or both of the parents as to their motives would suffice. Then again, I don’t think the Post has been known as a bastion of journalistic integrity.
huh…I may be statin’ the bleedin’ obvious here (and if so I beg all of the posters’ pardons) but you just know that anyone who would think that ‘Ice’ is a good name for a human being is that stupid
Ice??? will her sister be called Permafrost? :eek:
Um… coughbullshitcough
I’ve been a vegetarian for the last 16 years, my husband for the last 11, and my 6 1/2 year old son for his entire life. He is completely healthy and did not need meat in his diet for development.
Um… coughbullshitcough
What these parents fed their kid was NOWHERE NEAR a “normal vegan diet sans breastmilk”! It was bizarre and unhealthy and in no way resembled the way a “normal vegan” eats or would feed their child. Also, the inclusion of cod liver oil (which you did mention) is absolutely NOT vegan (or vegetarian) and as has been pointed out to you already, the child is NOT dead.
I’m an omnivore, but have a question regarding meat consumption. If we, as a species were really intented to eat meat, why are we the only meat eating mammal I can think of (with the exception of a few high primates) without sharp teeth? (No links to the underground goth subculture please)
If nature (or a higher power) intended us to be meat eaters, why aren’t our (or ancient man’s skeletal remains) sharper?
I thought I’d read the child died. Apologies. Also, istara did not refer to the diet as normal in the quoted section, and my use of the word was a mistake. Anyway, I could have justified istara’s post much more simply; since she’s already said in the same post that she knows they aren’t true vegans, unless I were looking for a reason to get offended I would assume that when she said a “vegan diet sans breastmilk” she was talking about what the so-called “vegans” believed was a vegan diet.
We were given a higher intelligence and opposable thumbs, enabling the invention and use of tools, as well as the ability to harness the power of ‘dumber’ animals for our convenience. I think the use of our brains to come up with ways to acquire and cook meat is as natural a process as anything else.
If we’re going to actually debate it, I’d like to toss in that our intestines are clearly those of an herbivoure, not an omnivore or carnivore. The colon of a carnivore/omnivore is short, that of an herbivore is long. Ours is increadibly long. Hmm…
We are also the only species that consumes the breast milk of another species. Not to mention that we are not born with the enzyme to break down lactose, we aquire it as we are forced to consume cow’s milk when we are infants. That is why if you cease to consume dairy products, you will lose it and thus become lactose intolerant.
I can’t let this last one rest. PLEASE see the link to Cecil’s column above. Also-we don’t acquire enzymes, we are born with them to various degrees and many people digest lactose quite well their entire lives whether or not they consume much dairy. The only thing we know is that the body can gradually step up lactase production if it is exposed to lactose-in other words, the more dairy you consume the easier it is to tolerate for those who have a genetic lactase deficiency.
Hijack over-please return to rant about moronic “self-titled ‘vegans’” who know NOTHING about either vegetarianism or nutrition!
Wow DR., good one! Nothing like a personal insult as your entire response! Your maturity astounds me.
I actually happen to have read multiple books and spent a good deal of time researching veganism, not to mention having been a practicing vegan for the past 5 years. The information I stated I’ve read from multiple sources. Because I may have been mistaken about a particular detail (which believe me, i’m busting out my books about) that does not make me a moron, fuckwad.
Infants don’t need meat and animal protein. They only need breast milk (prefereably) or formula for the first six months. Then you start giving them grains and fruits and veggies. You don’t start them on meats (if you choose to do so) till they’re at least 10 months old.
Found my bad, people don’t synthesize the enzyme, they do in fact contain it. I apologize for the misinformation. I’m right on about the colon thing though.
*you’re still an asshole doctor, and I hope they shrivel up and fall off.
Lezlers-in fact, you are WRONG about the colon thing. If you read Cecil’s column (see the link above) you will in fact see that the truth is that human colons are about 1 1/2 times the length of colons of carnivores, but less than half the length of those of herbivories (all relative to body size). In addition, humans are poorly designed to digest fiber and cellulose. That said, I have nothing against veganism, I feel that a vegan diet can be healthful and provide all necessary nutrients, and my last comments were directed to the subjects of the op, not to you. I am just trying to fight ignorance here, with the help of the master, of course.
(Oh, and BTW, IAAD)
The reason we’re saying VEGAN is that these morons CLAIMED to be vegan-whether they are or not isn’t the point-it’s that they’re claiming to be, and they’re insane!
Good god man, get off the cross-somebody needs the wood.
Thank you everyone for all your support and attempts to clear up Macro Man’s misunderstanding of the title of my thread.
In my second post on this thread, I mentioned the cod-liver oil thing AND the breastmilk thing. I was well aware when I posted that these people aren’t “proper”/“true” vegans (insert appropriate non-offending-Macro term) and are misguidedly attempting to follow what they incorrectly perceive as veganism, hence my " " speechmarks. I wasn’t trying to insult any vegans - I have nothing against a vegan diet whatsoever.
I had read the first thread, and posted this one because it was an update on the situation.
But basically - like most people have said - fuck these people for potentially inflicting yet another innocent child with malnutrition. Fuck them for being so stupid they have a baby - the biggest responsibility on earth - and don’t take care of its most basic need, food. And fuck them for slurring veganism with their crazy claims, you should be mad at THEM, Macro Man, not me.
