to think sharing explicit anti-meat eating photos on Facebook is completely abhorrent and unnecessary? [Title edited by MNHQ]

[WiiUnfit]

I'm sat here eating a naice ham sandwich, scrolling through & minding my own business when WHAM, a picture of a sleeping puppy being carved like a joint of meat on my newsfeed. Poster is an old school friend and a (recent) vegetarian.

I mean seriously, I don't share photos of great big juicy steaks to promote my status as a meat-eater?

I think the post had the desired effect..

FuckOffGroundhog there is a very big difference between eating less meat (reasonable) and going vegan. But I guess nuances are not militants' forte.

I hope I haven't been included in the 'militant' camp

I think my posts have been pretty measured and not at all aggressive, nor have I pushed any kind 'vegan agenda'.

I'm never going to give meat up, but I have made a point of improving the quality of the meat I eat. I tend to shop at the farm shop now rather than supermarkets. I would rather eat less good quality meat (which generally works out better for the animal anyway) than vast amounts of hormone pumped, water injected crap.
I hate being lumped into the "nugget patch" brigade as much as veggies hate being lumped in with the militant veggies that feel the need to educate everyone.

FightOrFlight nope you are not

Yabu op.

Mind, so is Abby, on the other end of the scale.

FightOrFlight nope you are not

Phew!

< wipes lentil-scented brow with relief >

Fightorflight I think you are quite refreshing.
You can back your argument up rather than just ranting.

:)
Lentil is good. Alone or with fine cube of lamb.

I wasn't always like that crazy in my early vegan days I was a pain in the arse! I've since learnt that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Not that honey or catching flies are vegan, but you know what I mean!

I've swayed many an opinion with tasty vegan food - people seem to think we just eat mung beans and dirt. They are quite surprised when I produce food that is not only edible but bloody delicious. My youngest (meat eating) son ate it for months without realising (I didn't serve it up to him he'd find it in the fridge and scarf it without knowing it was vegan!)

french < vegan death stare> ....

YANBU to think it grim. If you know this person well, YANBU to decide if s/he is trying to guilt people.

S/he can post what s/he wants on own facebook though and you can easily follow and defriend if you think it grim, gross, them a passive aggressive twat or idiot. That's what I did when someone shared a picture of dead bodies on facebook and massacre photos. Likewise, agreeing people can like and share.

Animals didn't evolve specifically to be eaten by humans
Humans are a peak predator. True, we're only a peak predator because we have big brains but nevertheless. I have worked a lot with horses and I can tell you that prey animals (eyes on the sides of their heads) have most definitely evolved to recognise predators (eyes on the front of their head), because they know that predators usually want to eat them.

your children who seem to think meat comes from a nugget patch
This is why I love mumsnet. It gives me a useful insight into the weird and slightly aggressive views she may find her school mates parroting, and allows me to prep her in advance (well, she's only one, I'll wait until she starts talking )...

I think Moomin put it best. I don't try to make anyone eat meat, I expect the same courtesy in return.

I don't want to see horrific images like the one described on my FB feed. I'm a vegetarian.

I've been one on and off for 15 years. It was a TV programme my DH was watching last year about barbaric (and illegal) practices that some butchers do when killing animals. It was fucking horrific, it made me cry I couldn't watch the rest of it. After that I just couldn't eat meat. I'd look at buying it and then think about the poor little pigs or cows or chickens or lambs.

I don't want to eat flesh. I also don't want to see pictures or videos of animals being slaughtered. They make me sick.

I don't force my beliefs on anyone. I ate meat for years, my kids eat meat. I do get pissed off at explaining myself to people though. Some how my choice not to eat meat offends them. It's not my problem if they want to stuff their faces with something that used to be alive, I don't, so don't give me shit for it.

I can understand campaigning against killing animals (and agree with it obviously). But I disagree with anyone who trys to ram their beliefs down other peoples' throats. Fuck off! I'll believe what I want to believe, when I want to believe it. It's the same with pro-lifers for example. I've deleted so many people off FB for posting horrible images against abortion.

Humans are a peak predator. True, we're only a peak predator because we have big brains but nevertheless. I have worked a lot with horses and I can tell you that prey animals (eyes on the sides of their heads) have most definitely evolved to recognise predators (eyes on the front of their head), because they know that predators usually want to eat them.

I explained myself badly. Its a bit philosophical, but I was trying to say that animals have some sort of intrinsic worth, some sort of reasn for existence other than purely to be eaten. People should give a shit that an animal has been killed, rather than just thinking "meh, that's what its for". Responsibility for a death should never be taken lightly.

And as you said, prey animals have evolved features that help them to evade predators. They don't "want" to be eaten.

Going back to your actual question - Yes YABU.

Because your friend is entitled to post whatever she wants, no matter how upsetting you find that when it forces a conflict with your own ethics.

You are likewise entitled to block her posts from your facebook page, or to click the "don't show me posts from this website" option which also exists.

I am vegetarian but recently blocked some guy I know who became vegan like, two weeks ago, but now feels compelled to keep shitting out PETA links every three minutes.

Killing is wrong so I think it's a good thing that someone is trying to show you they simply fact op.
Sadly it doesn't seem to have got through.

PETA - truly a four letter word. Whilst they do some very good work a lot of it is very and doesn't endear people to a non-meat eating way of thinking.

I notice that both the vegetarian in the OP and rednails vegan friend have only recently adopted the diet/lifestyle.

That's usually the answer to these sort of posts. I was a nightmare when I first became vegan, fortunately my friends ignored tolerated me.

It's like people who have recently given up smoking - they are in the evangelical stage and after a while it usually calms down and they become more rational. I understand the need (and it's almost a physical need) to spread the word once you have 'seen the light' but it's always the worst time to do it as you come across as a fecking nutter. Never ends well in my experience.

animals have some sort of intrinsic worth

Completely agree. Wilderness ecosystems, for example, should be left to their own devices for no reason other than because they have a right to exist. No life should be taken thoughtlessly, like big game poachers do. And no life should end in an environment of pain or fear, like barn reared chickens or live meat ships.

I'm not sure I understand why that means I shouldn't eat meat though? I think it's possible to eat meat ethically.

Somuch because it isn't possible to eat meat ethically.
You are still killing. That is wrong. No matter how well treated the animal is you are still slaughtering it just so you can have something you think tastes nice. Not that you need for survival just for pleasure.
That is not ethical.

I've always struggled to have a sensible discussion with people who make blanket morality statements that overly simplify complex topics. They start to sound like religious arguments and we all know THOSE never end well.

So I may bow out of this one on that basis, which is a shame as I do genuinely believe there is a middle ground that we could have discussed.

Somuch because it isn't possible to eat meat ethically.

Pet pig that has had a wonderful life, dies of old age and is then turned into bacon. Ethical.

Ok. You don't have to respond of course.
But it is only a complex topic with a middle ground if you are claiming killing for pleasure is morally right. I don't see how anyone can justify that.

Animal in the wild with injuries that render it impossible to save. Quick death via expertly placed bullet etc. and eaten. Ethical.

Animal in the wild that is in an overpopulated area and will slowly starve to death otherwise. Quick death via expertly placed bullet etc. and eaten. Ethical.

Pet cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster that has had a wonderful life and dies of old age then eaten. Ethical.

Roadkill. Ethical.

Factory farming, animals hunted and caused extreme fear and panic etc. to satisfy your taste buds. Unethical.

That's my personal line in the sand. I wouldn't eat animals from any of the above scenarios just to clarify, but there are occasions when eating meat would be ethical in my personal opinion.

Those are not how animals are killed and eaten though.
I still think it is immoral though in the same way if I thought it was kinder to a human to 'put them out of their misery' or found a body then consuming it would be wrong.