Why Do You Eat Animals?

[brimstoneSalad]

Some people argue that earthlings show some rare and awful cases of animals treatment and then lie that it is common practice.

Simply consider how they got this video. Some animal rights activists went undercover and got a job at these places, and then smuggled in a camera at some point.
These are not hundreds of people taking cameras into these places every day to find these things - they are a small handful of people, working at these places just long enough to get some film before quitting.

It is by no means easy:

http://boingboing.net/2012/03/08/workin ... laugh.html

They are the worst examples from what those people were able to film, but the total amount of film is relatively small. People aren't allowed to bring cameras in, and most workers aren't even supposed to be able to see what goes on, so they have to leave their posts and get let in somewhere they're not supposed to be in order to film it.

These are examples of the worst thing that happened that hour, or that day that they were able to film, and only for what they were able to film, not that year.

There's not an undercover animal activist filming everything that goes on in every slaughterhouse in the world waiting for one bad thing to happen - if these people think that, they give the scope and power of animal advocacy far too much credit. Slaughterhouses and even factory farms are pretty well locked down, this kind of film is by no means easy to come by.

These things are awful, but they are also common, otherwise it would be nearly impossible to catch them on film by an undercover investigator.

In some states, it's even illegal to film in a farm or slaughter house.

Unfortunately I found it impossible assess the validity of this claim without going to many different factory farms.
Can anyone help me with to find the answer?

Just explain the conditions under which the film is acquired, and ask them if they think there are armies of vegan super spies across the country, working in farms and slaughter houses and filming 24/7 to catch these 'rare' events.

There aren't. The claims are false. Those films represent a small peek into that world, and are only the worst things that happened in that tiny window where they were able to film.
If animal agriculture industries were more open and allowed filming - instead of making laws to put those people who film in prison - then there might be an argument for that. The total volume of undercover film, as it stands, is very low, making those instances of intense cruelty quite substantial and representative of normal occurrences.

As to standard industry practice- this can be looked up online; there are a number of industry papers that cover this in detail, as well as publicly filed patents.

I hope that helps answer your question.

[Shadow Fox]

1. We as humans evolved into omnivorous creatures. Its in our diet that the vitamins of meat are required regardless of what plants or pills can substitute it.

2. They taste really..really...REALLY GOOD.

3. I do not feel right if I go too long without meat. My body will actually start to get weak if I do not have some sort of animal in me at least once a week.
It's like going a week without Caffeine. I can do it, but I do not feel right and my body reacts differently.

4. I had a pork chop today. Onion powder, some kinda mixed meat spice...you know like its those ones with the peppers or whatever and like 5 other spices in one jar...yeah those....and some thyme grilled in a pan with butter.
Also with green beans and mashed potatoes and gravy. I think tomorrow I will have ramen with hard boiled eggs.

[Humane Hominid]

1. We as humans evolved into omnivorous creatures. Its in our diet that the vitamins of meat are required regardless of what plants or pills can substitute it.

This is a misunderstanding of both evolution and omnivory.

Humans did not "evolve into" omnivorous creatures, we evolved from them. To say we evolved into omnivorous creatures implies that none of our ancestor species were omnivorous, and most of them were.

Further, omnivory does not mean that we have to eat meat. It just means that we can maximize our options, and more easily adapt our diets to fit changing circumstances than can other species. Being an omnivore isn't about having restrictions, it's about having options. Veganism is completely compatible with being an omnivorous species.

2. They taste really..really...REALLY GOOD.

So what? Lots of healthy vegan food tastes really good, too.

3. I do not feel right if I go too long without meat. My body will actually start to get weak if I do not have some sort of animal in me at least once a week.
It's like going a week without Caffeine. I can do it, but I do not feel right and my body reacts differently.

You've just admitted that meat is essentially an addiction for you. Not the best defense. Your body does not need meat or dairy, you just want it. Not the same thing.

4. I had a pork chop today. Onion powder, some kinda mixed meat spice...you know like its those ones with the peppers or whatever and like 5 other spices in one jar...yeah those....and some thyme grilled in a pan with butter.
Also with green beans and mashed potatoes and gravy. I think tomorrow I will have ramen with hard boiled eggs.

So what? We're not interested in your food diary.

[thebestofenergy]

1. We as humans evolved into omnivorous creatures. Its in our diet that the vitamins of meat are required regardless of what plants or pills can substitute it.

https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/appeal-to-nature
Yours is an appeal to nature fallacy. Just because we're omnivores, it doesn't mean we have to eat as such. We were living in caves, do we have to keep doing it? Rape is natural, driven by hormones, is it OK then?
We're omnivores, but why does it matter? It doesn't.
We can leave a perfectly healthy life without animal products. Those are unnecessary.
The vitamins of meat? What? And what are those?

2. They taste really..really...REALLY GOOD.

Selfishness is not a valid argument when we're talking about what's morally right and what's not.

3. I do not feel right if I go too long without meat. My body will actually start to get weak if I do not have some sort of animal in me at least once a week.
It's like going a week without Caffeine. I can do it, but I do not feel right and my body reacts differently.

If you feel weak, then you're having an unhealthy diet as vegan.
When you understand that all food is composed by certain nutrients, and when you know that those nutrients can be found in a different variety of food, there's no such thing as 'I need meat to be strong'. That's a cheap excuse without scientific basis.
Meaby you're referring to cravings? If so, when you give up an addiction, you're going to have cravings for a while. Meaby 2 weeks, meaby 2 months, meaby more, it depends. But sooner or later cravings diminish and go away.

4. I had a pork chop today. Onion powder, some kinda mixed meat spice...you know like its those ones with the peppers or whatever and like 5 other spices in one jar...yeah those....and some thyme grilled in a pan with butter.
Also with green beans and mashed potatoes and gravy. I think tomorrow I will have ramen with hard boiled eggs.

This is basically your point 2.
Meaby you don't know, but this is not Youtube comment section. Mocking and trying to enflame, you don't get thumbs up, you only show how immature and desperate to have some drama you are.

[TheVeganAtheist]

Your comments taken into the human context (for comparison):

1. We as humans evolved into omnivorous creatures. Its in our diet that the vitamins of meat are required regardless of what plants or pills can substitute it.

1. We humans are highly sexualized creatures. It is in our nature to require that we have sex with unwilling participants (rape).

2. They taste really..really...REALLY GOOD.

2. Rape feels really really.... REALLY GOOD. (at least for the rapist).

3. I do not feel right if I go too long without meat. My body will actually start to get weak if I do not have some sort of animal in me at least once a week.
It's like going a week without Caffeine. I can do it, but I do not feel right and my body reacts differently.

3. I don't feel right if I go too long without forcing myself onto another person. My body will actually start to ache if I dont have rape a person at least once a week.

4. I had a pork chop today. Onion powder, some kinda mixed meat spice...you know like its those ones with the peppers or whatever and like 5 other spices in one jar...yeah those....and some thyme grilled in a pan with butter.
Also with green beans and mashed potatoes and gravy. I think tomorrow I will have ramen with hard boiled eggs.

4. I raped a person today. I drugged her, kidnapped and took her home... were I assaulted her. I think tomorrow I will find another person to do this to.

*** obviously the above is not an account of true events. I in no way encourage or engage in such monstrous acts, however I think its important for you to hear how poor your argument is in defence of eating animals. You have on (very tightly) meat eater goggles, and so to you your argument sounds reasonable. To the rest of us, your argument sounds just as reasonable as my rape example.

[Shadow Fox]

1. We as humans evolved into omnivorous creatures. Its in our diet that the vitamins of meat are required regardless of what plants or pills can substitute it.

This is a misunderstanding of both evolution and omnivory.

Humans did not "evolve into" omnivorous creatures, we evolved from them. To say we evolved into omnivorous creatures implies that none of our ancestor species were omnivorous, and most of them were.

Further, omnivory does not mean that we have to eat meat. It just means that we can maximize our options, and more easily adapt our diets to fit changing circumstances than can other species. Being an omnivore isn't about having restrictions, it's about having options. Veganism is completely compatible with being an omnivorous species.[

2. They taste really..really...REALLY GOOD.

So what? Lots of healthy vegan food tastes really good, too.

3. I do not feel right if I go too long without meat. My body will actually start to get weak if I do not have some sort of animal in me at least once a week.
It's like going a week without Caffeine. I can do it, but I do not feel right and my body reacts differently.

You've just admitted that meat is essentially an addiction for you. Not the best defense. Your body does not need meat or dairy, you just want it. Not the same thing.

4. I had a pork chop today. Onion powder, some kinda mixed meat spice...you know like its those ones with the peppers or whatever and like 5 other spices in one jar...yeah those....and some thyme grilled in a pan with butter.
Also with green beans and mashed potatoes and gravy. I think tomorrow I will have ramen with hard boiled eggs.

So what? We're not interested in your food diary.

1. If I am mistaken in that part, then I will admit I am wrong if I see some information on it.

2. Vegan food taste good? Well I never actually tried it...or maybe I have...Is ranch dressing ok? I have had salads before and I LOVE me sum salad!

3. If the human body does not need dairy, then why is it that so many vegans I heard of take pills to suppliment some of the vitamins milk gives you? Would they not just need to eat whatever plant has it?

4. Fair enough and I admit that was a jerk move of mine to say something like that. I am sorry.

[Humane Hominid]

1. If I am mistaken in that part, then I will admit I am wrong if I see some information on it.

Which part?

2. Vegan food taste good? Well I never actually tried it...or maybe I have...Is ranch dressing ok? I have had salads before and I LOVE me sum salad!

If you're like most people, you eat vegan food all the time and just don't think of it as "vegan food." This would include things like beans, rice, potatoes, salsa & chips, pasta & marinara sauce, Oreo cookies, and yes, salads of all sorts. There is even vegan Ranch dressing, though most Ranch isn't vegan.

3. If the human body does not need dairy, then why is it that so many vegans I heard of take pills to suppliment some of the vitamins milk gives you? Would they not just need to eat whatever plant has it?

Be more specific; which vitamins are you referring to? Most vegans don't take supplements except for vitamin B-12, which EVERYONE should take, vegan or not.

4. Fair enough and I admit that was a jerk move of mine to say something like that. I am sorry.

No problem.

[Steve]

I choose to include the flesh of animals and their bodily secretions as part of my diet.

I use them as food and it's a choice I make. Being that they are being consumed as food which is one of the most basic needs for survival I think that is about the extent of a primary reason there is. Yes now days doing so can be considered a want inside of a need. I don't feel it is wrong or immoral but do feel it should be exercised with a level of responsibly.

Other reasons would be taste, exercise, social, convenience, nutrition, adventure, variety.

[Humane Hominid]

I choose to include the flesh of animals and their bodily secretions as part of my diet.

I use them as food and it's a choice I make. Being that they are being consumed as food which is one of the most basic needs for survival I think that is about the extent of a primary reason there is. Yes now days doing so can be considered a want inside of a need. I don't feel it is wrong or immoral but do feel it should be exercised with a level of responsibly.

Other reasons would be taste, exercise, social, convenience, nutrition, adventure, variety.

"I do it because I do it" is not really a compelling argument.

[thebestofenergy]

Being that they are being consumed as food which is one of the most basic needs for survival I think that is about the extent of a primary reason there is.

The amount of people that need animal products for survival is less than minimal. If you live in a developed country, you don't need it to survive.

Yes now days doing so can be considered a want inside of a need.

It is a want instead of a need indeed. Selfishness, laziness, tradition.

I don't feel it is wrong or immoral but do feel it should be exercised with a level of responsibly.

You don't feel it is wrong? Why?
Animals are sentient beings, plants are not. Therefore eating a plant based diet inherently causes less harm than an omnivore diet.
Without including health reasons and environmental issues, that reason alone should convince any rational person - who's not emotionally attached to what they're eating - to go vegan.

Other reasons would be taste, exercise, social, convenience, nutrition, adventure, variety.

-Taste - there is fake meat, eggs and dairy, that taste similar. And there are also plenty of vegan recipes that you might find delicious.
Taste is a selfish argument, not anything rational. Taste also changes with time, depending on what you eat.

-Exercise - What? How do animal products matter with exercise?

-Social, convenience - This, again, doesn't regard morality; saying that it's for convenience is a cheap excuse, and it doesn't say anything about what's morally wrong or right. If you are willing to cook at home you can spend less with a vegan diet aswell.

-Nutrition - Every nutrient you need, you can take with a vegan diet.

-Adventure - What do you mean?

-Variety - It depends where you go to eat. If you go to a steak house, definitely not many options. If you go to a vegan restaurant, you'll find as many options as other restaurants.
But like I said before, there are fake products and plenty of recipes you can choose from.
And this is, again, not a moral justification.