Comment on Don't forget where we came from and what shaped us as a species. The Jungle.
alekwithak@lemmy.world 1 day agoNot vegan, but to play the vegan’s advocate—vegans are acutely aware of the level of cruelty in the factory farm system, as well as it’s affect on the environment and don’t want to partake in those systems of harm and taking without consent. To them, it’s not just a dietary choice but an ethical stance against suffering and exploitation. To someone who sees the life of a cow as just as sacred and important as a human’s, you can imagine why it would upset them to see you eating a steak. Just like you might be upset if you saw someone eating a dog or a fellow human. To them there’s no difference.
It’s similar to how evangelical Christians genuinely believe they’re trying to save people from eternal damnation when they get preachy. Just as annoying. The difference is that one is rooted in observable reality—documented animal suffering, environmental damage, and ethical concerns—while the other is a matter of ‘faith.’ and the latter is given a lot more leeway. So when vegans speak out, it’s not necessarily about policing your diet; it’s about trying to reduce harm in a world where harm is often hidden or normalized. And for what it’s worth I have known a lot of vegans and not one of them was ever preachy or judgemental, in fact most tend to keep it to themselves because vegans are so often the subject of ridicule, the butt of played out jokes, or made to host a session of 20 questions and feigned health concerns from people who eat nothing but processed meat and carbs.
I believe everyone should be able to do and live as they want as long as it doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s ability to do the same, and I can fully understand how to a vegan someone eating a steak would break that rule.
WrenFeathers@lemmy.world 1 day ago
And if a vegan wants to help that by obtaining from animal based products, that’s awesome for them! But they don’t need to be telling others how to live their lives.
They can make an effort to put the info out there, and do their part by staying true to their belief, but they have no authority to tell others how to eat.
That’s all I’m saying.
I will not debate the moral implications as that is not relevant to the point I’m making and is a different discussion altogether.
alekwithak@lemmy.world 1 day ago
And I’m saying the vegan that tells others how to live their lives is as fictional as the god who damns sinners to hell. Even the weird publicity stunts by PETA are just to raise awareness of the issue.
And the moral implications are totally relevant as they completely explain the reasoning of someone who would care if you ate a steak, the question your original comment asks.
WrenFeathers@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Okay. You’re entitled to that take, and I’m simply just stating mine.
And that is- The reason for either side’s justification is irrelevant. Just leave people alone to do their own thing. If they want to know about the other side’s cause, they’ll look into it themselves. It’s 2025. The info is out there in spades.
Maybe let’s care less about what others eat, as it’s not our business unless asked, and care more about what we ourselves can do to make things better.
tomi000@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Youre entitled to your opinion, but the argument in itself is not a valid one. Not caring about what other people do has is called anarchy. How would you rate the same argument with other context?
“Lets care less about who others kill?” (that ones actually pretty similar now that im writing it^^)
“Lets care less about who others spit on?”
“Lets care less about when your neighbors blast their music at 130dB”
Imagine those in a context where there were no laws regulating those actions yet. Someone had to step up and start demanding we regulate behavior and establish rules for generally accepted behavior. Those rules are constantly changing and they should. We need to adjust to new information as we go on. Making animals suffer for our convenience is something many people consider immoral and sometimes people point out when other do immoral things.
tomi000@lemmy.world 1 day ago
What if I like eating human meat?