[quote=kathrynj;347887]What are you on about, respecting vegans and vegetarians and all that rubbish, that is not what this is about, and I am offended that you think my opinions are based purely on this, being vegan or vegetarian. Who are you to say what I respect and what I dont?/[quote]
When did I try to tell you what you base your opinions on or even what you should base your opinions on? I only told you what I base mine on.
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Originally Posted by kathrynj  What I eat is based on what I believe, not about who respects my opinion or choices about what to eat. I go to sleep at night with a clear concience. |
Very cool. The only thing I've been saying is that what I eat is also based on what I believe. I also go to sleep at night with a clear conscience.
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Originally Posted by kathrynj I don't care if you or anyone respects my food choices, and I don't get where being 'morally superior' enters the picture. I am where I am based on what I know and have learnt and what I have done with that information. The reason for my choices are 'honest' and I dont claim or suggest anyone has moral superiourity because of where they are on the journey. |
The same is true for me. As for where being morally superior enters the picture, this is the message I have received from (and I'm going to go ahead and name names, because the vast majority of people on this thread have been very polite) Susan9608:
If I eat meat because I feel I have a valid moral reason, I am a hypocrite and a liar. No one who is not a vegan or at least thinks they ought to eventually be a vegan when they become strong enough could possibly have any reason for their choice that is not a rationalization. All pro-meat arguments are rationalizations. Everyone who disagrees with vegans is a liar. What's more, I can't possibly do anything that really matters in the arena of animal welfare activism if I believe in consuming or using animals at all. I might as well give up. If I have no interest in ever becoming a vegan, I might as well go ahead and shop at Petco, because it's convenient and the only thing I am doing is trying to justify whatever is most convenient for me, anyway. I might as well become a breeder. I might as well wear fur imported from China.
Is that the message of this forum? If you're not a vegan and you have actual reasons for not being one other than that you simply haven't achieved enlightenment yet, you might as well not do anything to alleviate animal suffering? Is that message effective advocacy? Is that what you really wanted to say to me, Susan?
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Originally Posted by kathrynj I remain puzzled at your intentions in these threads, what is the outcome you are wanting? For people who you are aiming this at, the vegans and vegetarians to say , oh you know what? You are RIGHT, I will start eating meat again and think about the lives of my food and making sure they are not cruelly treated, up untill the point of DEATH. |
Since you ask me, what I wanted was for people to say: wow your beliefs are different (or weird or strange or whatever) but it's okay with me that you believe them. I certainly don't choose to believe that way, but hey, let's go do what we can to alleviate animals suffering together, anyway.
What I did not want was to be called a hypocrite because my beliefs couldn't possibly be anything other than rationalizations. I didn't want to be told my beliefs were rubbish, either. I don't know what you eat, but I'm sure your beliefs aren't rubbish.