# Vegetarianism question **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 2, 2001, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621 "2001-08-02T07:30:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mofo\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mofo\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mofo_Rising)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/1 "2001-08-02T07:30:31Z")
Let me just say right now that I am emphatically not a vegetarian and am not liable to become one at any point. I also know nothing about vegetarian culture. If you are a vegetarian, why? It seems to me, and once again I’m not a scholar, that we have to eat living things in order to stay alive. Why is the line drawn at eating animals? I have heard somewhat about health reasons and enviromental reasons for deciding to become vegetarian. I’ve never been able to completely buy the reasons for not eating animals however. Yes, I know you vegetarians are probably tired of defending your position, but I’m really interested in these questions and nobody else I know is going to be answering my them. Sorry if this belongs in Great Debates, but I think I have only a General Questions interest. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/2 "2001-08-02T12:47:18Z")
Before I dive into this can I ask you a question in return that will clarify your question: If you aren’t remotely interested in becoming a vegetarian, and you state that you’re unconvinced by reasoning you’ve already heard, then what exactly is that you’re looking for, and do you expect to hear anything new? Every vegetarian I know has different reasons, and they all draw different lines, too. I can only state my own reasons, and cannot speak for any other vegetarians: Too much of the United States’ meat production industry relies on inhumane animal-rearing and -slaughtering processes which result in unnecessary misery and suffering. I believe it is wrong to cause unnecessary misery and suffering in creatures capable of feeling it. Therefore, I do not eat meat. Before anyone starts with deconstruction of my position, or ridicule, or any GD-ish contributions, please note my deliberate use of the word “unnecessary.” ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/3 "2001-08-02T13:54:43Z")
C’mon, Jerry just spent a ton of time fixing up the boards so that folks could search for stuff like this. And yeah, it’s not a General Question. Well, actually it is, but since no one ever chooses to believe the General Answers, it belongs in a debates forum. I’d probably be doing **David B** and **Gaudere** a favor by moving this straight to the Pit, but what the heck. Off to GD. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/4 "2001-08-02T14:06:43Z")
test ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/5 "2001-08-02T14:13:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by manhattan \* > \*\*test \*\* Aww, come on, you’ve been here long enough, manny, you know these sort of posts belong in ATMB. 😃 😃 😃 To **Mofo Rising** : though it isn’t 100% on topic, you might want to wander [over](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=78745) here where I am successfully (IMO) defending some vegetarian ideals which I don’t agree with. Since my co-debater seems to have left the threads, or taken a hiatus anyway, you’re welcome to start one on your own. > [@](#): > > It seems to me, and once again I’m not a scholar, that we have to eat living things in order to stay alive. Why is the line drawn at eating animals. One veggie I know simply doesn’t like meat; she could care less about animal rights (well, not really, but that wasn’t her motivation for it). ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/6 "2001-08-02T14:19:48Z")
1. Don’t like the taste of meat 2. Uncomfortable with the idea of eating dead animals 3. Animal treatment/ethical concerns 4. Environmental issues 5. Concerned about the safety of meat products (raising, prep, handling, supplements) 6. Economic decision 7. Health decision 8. Religious decision 9. To feel superior and smug 10. New age reasons 11. Concern about disease (mad cow and such.) 12. Peer pressured into it by SO or friend 13. A step in attaining discipline and control 14. Weight loss 15. As a step in bodybuilding to look “cut” 16. Sensitive to the smell of meat eaters (we smell different then vegetarians) 17. More regular 18. Can overindulge in Veggie fare without the same consequences of eating a five pound steak (better digestion 19. Cardiac concerns 20. Some people feel they have more energy on a vegetarian diet. 21. Upbringing or habit. Your body gets used to a diet. If you go through a period where you don’t eat meat, your body is no longer prepared to do so, and often won’t react well. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/7 "2001-08-02T14:26:43Z")
I think you hit most, except perhaps my favorite Pisses off mom and dad. I know several people who became veggies during their rebellious stage, and are still veggies out of preference, habit, and now they think meat is gross. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/8 "2001-08-02T14:27:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by erislover \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by manhattan \* > > \*\*test \*\* > > Aww, come on, you’ve been here long enough, manny, you know these sort of posts belong in ATMB. 😃 😃 😃 > > \*\* You can see this??? I swear to **Cecil** that I can not see this thread on the forum listing when I am signed into the board. Vbulletin hates me. ::sulk:: ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/9 "2001-08-02T14:35:28Z")
> [@](#): > > You can see this??? Yes. But you can’t see me. I am **The Shadow** Who know what evil… lurks… in the hearts of Manny? The Shadow knows. ---
**Author:** ![Mofo\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mofo\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mofo_Rising)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/10 "2001-08-02T15:35:02Z")
I suppose I’m more interested in individual responses. Why are you, the individual, vegetarian? Do you have arguments behind it, or are you vegetarian just for the hell of it? One of my best friends in high school was vegetarian, but he did it for health reasons. I’m sure there are many more reasons, and I was just wondering what they were. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/11 "2001-08-02T15:40:21Z")
Well Mofo, those are reasons that I have heard from individuals. I didn’t get them wholesale at a discount store, you know. There are arguments behind each of those reasons. There are perhaps other reasons as well, but the ones I’ve listed are fairly common. Certainly it answers your question, and I’d be happy to discuss any of those reasons in detail. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/12 "2001-08-02T15:48:39Z")
Here’s 101 reasons: [http://www.vivavegie.org/vv101/101reas98.html](http://www.vivavegie.org/vv101/101reas98.html) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/13 "2001-08-02T15:54:52Z")
Doing your penance, **Scylla**? ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/14 "2001-08-02T16:00:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spoke- \* > \*\*Doing your penance, **Scylla**? \*\* Nyahhhh. Asking what the reasons are and the arguments behind them is a different topic than whether I personally think some of the reasons are **good** or not. But yeah, I got some guilt on that issue. ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/15 "2001-08-02T16:07:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > Before anyone starts with deconstruction of my position, or ridicule, or any GD-ish contributions, please note my deliberate use of the word “unnecessary.” \*\* Does this mean that if you were satisfied, in a given instance, that the meat was not produced through unnecessary suffering, that you would eat it? ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/16 "2001-08-02T16:23:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by IzzyR \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > > Before anyone starts with deconstruction of my position, or ridicule, or any GD-ish contributions, please note my deliberate use of the word “unnecessary.” \*\* > > Does this mean that if you were satisfied, in a given instance, that the meat was not produced through unnecessary suffering, that you would eat it? \*\* Yep. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/17 "2001-08-02T16:47:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mofo Rising \* > \*\*I suppose I’m more interested in individual responses. Why are you, the individual, vegetarian? \*\* Personally, I’m a vegetarian not because I love animals, but because I hate vegetables. **DIE, broccoli, DIE! I shall cast you down into the boiling cauldron until you grow limp with fear. I shall scald you with blessed molten cheddar and smite thee with my five pronged spear of vengeance. DIE, broccoli, DIE!** O.K., maybe I have issues. -Beeblebrox “Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.” Digest’. They’ve got a page for people like you." ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/18 "2001-08-02T21:28:58Z")
First, I’m not a full-time vegetarian. Two weeks out of the month, however, I maintain a vegan diet (no meat, dairy, eggs, etc.). I do this to keep my fairly hyper metabolism guessing and help maintain a low % body fat. I make sure to put down enough calories every day, and I don’t let my weight fluctuate very much, but I’ve found this approach helps in terms of muscle definition and appearance. I also like the challenge of coming up with new things to eat / ways to prepare them this eating plan entails. That being said, my eyes face frontwards. My third teeth on either side point. I’m natually designed to eat meat and, what’s more, I enjoy it. I don’t view animals as “non-human entities with an equal right to life”. Then again, I’m not in favor of cruelty, either. I understand the animal rights vegetarians’ concerns, but I think they’re too sensitive to what’s really not that big an issue. I might lend the anti-veal argument more credence than most others, but I’m too big a fan of marsala and too little of a hypocrite to say it really bothers me. To me, there are far more important human concerns to worry about than whether a cow has enough leg room (admittedly over-simplified). As for the environmentalist arguments, it’s a prejudice that grows out of my strict belief in personal property rights, I admit, but environmental arguments are almost always dismissed out of hand, whatever the issue. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/19 "2001-08-02T22:10:45Z")
What if we were to genetically engineer an animal that could not feel pain? (I’m not saying it’s possible; this is purely hypothetical.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621/20 "2001-08-02T22:50:17Z")
Or **wanted** to be eaten by people? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarianism-question/74621.md?page=2)