to not give a toss that I'm vegan and just killed 40-50 slugs and snails

[killervegan2015]

I haven't had a single strawberry this year that hadn't been part nibbled.

Its wet outside. I tool my torch and a bucket with salty water and plopped all the ones I could find in there.

Sadly this didn't seam to kill them, so I sprinkled salt on the ones that tried to get out. And they dropped down.

Am I a bad person? Mostly they were slugs, but did get a few snails.

I am questioning earlier respondents on this thread who insist true vegans respect all forms of animal life etc etc.

Several posters have alluded to a very high standard to be a "real" vegan beyond not consuming animal products. It's not enough for them.

Humans are animals. So you can be a real vegan by not killing slugs who are eating your veggie patch? But not be a real vegan if you kill pests? And conversely not think there is anything ethically wrong with human adults and children being exploited to grow your coffee and green beans? Or you might think it is ethically wrong but do it anyway cause that's life?

Another vegan poster up thread said a real vegan must consider the ethics of all they consume.

Also how do you think the farmers who grow you food deal with pests? Make pets of them?

I think it's impossible to respect all living things.

For example people clean the toilet, the toilet has germs. Even though you can't see the germs they are a living organism. Same with kitchen work services and washing up.

I think you are being unreasonable to kill any living creature, vegan or not... they what comes around goes around. Maybe a big giant will come and sprinkle acid on you and you will slowly die in agony like the slugs and snails did when you put salt on them

That's anti-bacterials out the window then.

And antibiotics.

A muppet thread.

With you OhMittens. Vegans don't revel in cruelty which is exactly what the OP is doing.

Organisms are not animals. Veganism focuses on animals, not people, not organisms but animals.

Definition; Animal: "A living organism which feeds on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli."
That's why bacteria don't come under vegan remit but snails do.

Hope that's clear enough, pedants.

Exactly Bunty. OP clearly not a genuine vegan (or even genuine) with that attitude, but good to get some points across to the ill-educated on this thread anyway.

Dude, you're not a vegan. Obnoxious self righteous twat who doesn't eat meat, possibly.

Agree that vegans are the ones who try not to kill anything at all (excluding bacteria, little fuckers). I think you're more of a herbivore op.

I do sympathise with the snail infestation, the bastards are eating all my broccoli. Can't bring myself to go inorganic though (am vegan)

Wrt trying to make good choices about fairtrade etc - I do this when I can. Realistically most of the kids clothes come from Tesco because we're propping them up anyway, but I try to avoid Primark and the retailers with dodgier reputations now. The magazine Ethical Consumer is quite good bit preachy

I think it's quite hypocritical then.

I'm a carnivore, I love nothing more than a medium-rare steak with garlic mushrooms onions and homemade chips with a peppercorn sauce.

Only because micro organisms are so small why is it that life any less important than any other.

YABU.

You don't kill animals that aren't harming you and you can't eat ffs, oh the humanity.;)

This makes veganism, unless for diet rather than ethical reasons, pointless.
Do you eat honey by the way?

I walked down the garden tonight (on my ancient vegetarian legs) and there were dozens of snails (no slugs strangley)
I was tempted to put circles of salt round them "Ha! Get out of THAT you buggers"
But it might have summoned demons or something.

So if veganism centres on not killing any animals, what about head lice or black fly ?

So if veganism centres on not killing any animals, what about head lice or black fly ?

So if veganism centres on not killing any animals, what about head lice or black fly ?

whoops inadvertent repeat posts - sorry

You're all being too tough on the OP, IMO - especially the meat and dairy lovers amongst you!

We all do what we can - and some do more than most.

OK, I wouldn't do what the OP did, and when she thinks about it, she probably won't do it again.

But, as a vegan, she is not participating in the forced rape of cows; she is not complicit in removing calves from their mothers at birth (in case the calves drink the milk that is surely intended for humans!); she has no part in the so-called 'humane killing' of animals.

'Humane killing'! Tell me, what is humane about shooting a bolt into the brain of a mammal?

Do you eat eggs? Are you aware that every male chick is discarded? Mainly gassed.

There is some real hypocrisy on this thread, I'm afraid!

I became a vegetarian, then gradually (over 12 months or so) started eating a plant-exclusive diet, initially out of concern for my health. My sinuses dried up and my osteoarthritis was stopped in its tracks. I felt good about that.

Then I became aware of animal welfare issues and live by the maxim that no animal is being harmed so that I can live. And I felt even better about that.

Now I discover that the most effective thing an individual can do to help defeat global warming is to become a vegan. And that adds even more to my feeling of well-being.

So being vegan is at least a win, win situation!

We all do things without thinking, at times, but if you were to think deeply about the issues raised here, you would surely eat less meat and dairy - and perhaps give them up altogether.

mittens humans fall under your definition of animals.

But let's all defend and protect the pests and fuck the humans.

Do you really think the organic farmer growing your expensive veggies wouldn't kill a slug or snail? Of course they do. But a person cant possibly be a vegan if they kill pests in their garden so they can grow their own food? What nonsense. It's a very hypocritical stance you have there.

You revelled in murdering animals? You are so not a vegan.

Why didn't you cook the emails with some garlic and eat them for supper? At least then they would not have been murdered in vain.

I wonder why you felt the need to name change for this thread. I suspectt either it's all bollocks or you are one of the Smug Vegans (not all vegans are like this, obviously) who likes to boast about how morally superior they are because they don't participate in animal exploitation and murder.

Re microbes I think there may be some confusion between veganism and Jainism.

Jains extend their non-violent practice to microbes as much as possible. They will escort pests away out of the house/garden and may not eat root vegetables as pulling them up would kill too many microbes.

They do have an order of priority for their non violence with humans coming first : humans, animals, insects, plants. They accept violence towards plants only because it is necessary for human survival.

They also practice open mindedness towards others.

OP, have you considered using Nemaslug? It boosts the number of nematodes you would have in your soil normally. It's not an instant thing, I bought it on subscription (new packet posted out every six weeks during summer months), but I did see a gradual reduction in the number of slugs.

I was going to suggest Nemaslug too. I have seen a real reduction in the slug population since I started using them. I am also quite happy to buy boxes of lady bird larvae to tackle the aphid infestations on my plants.

I consider myself to be an ethical omnivore - is it hypocritical to use the natural world to do your slaughtering for you?

Any snails either get taken down the road to the railway line and let loose there or get put in the bin with some green waste.

I don't think it was a nice thing to do. I used to be a vegan, it is very difficult. I still wouldn't kill slugs or snails like that. It's brutal.

Set the hens on them yes. Not sure what your other options are tbh.

Veganism is a red herring here. Anyone who revels in the killing of little creatures n thinks it is funny to brag about it is just a horror.

I accept snails/slugs can be a pest n people may feel the need to deal with that but there r humane ways to do things.