To think if you had to kill the animal yourself you wouldn’t eat meat

[Starchime22]

First off I’m not vegetarian, although I’m starting to lean that way, (as in, I eat fish, and occasionally meat if I’m in a restaurant, but never buy or cook meat myself) so it’s not my intention to criticise or goad omnivores.

But I’ve been thinking about how I’d have no problem killing a fish to eat, (and have) but definitely couldn’t kill a cow or a pig, and probably not a chicken. I’m not sure how many people could, really.

Is it right to eat something you couldn’t bear to kill yourself? Or watch being killed? I’m not saying it isn’t, just interested in what people think.

I kind of get what you're saying, but equally I couldn't be arsed to dig up potatoes, so does that mean I should never eat chips?

I don’t have the skills to kill an animal myself, but I would be prepared to watch an animal that I was going to eat being killed.

I home kill. If I couldn't do it myself I wouldn't eat meat.

I couldn't and wouldn't. I am a massive hypocrite.

I’d dig up potatoes for chips.
I’d kill a pig for chips.
I’m vegetarian

I'm a vegetarian, have been all my life I've never tried any meat. Not by choice, my mother was very strict with us not eating any fish or meat - not that I necessarily would eat it with a choice growing up...

I'm curious why you could kill a fish and not a cow - I'm guessing it's not just down to the size and physicality of it but the emotional side?

I don't like killing fish. I've killed animals that needed killing (I grew up around farms). I don't think I would have fancied eating any of them.

But TBH I think the thing you are missing is that you want to eat an animal that's been humanely killed. There are huge issues with this in terms of the meat we can buy in the supermarket, but there would be even bigger issues if we all decided to give it a go for ourselves. So, of course you feel squeamish about killing an animal - you don't know how to! And you would do it badly and would hurt it.

Have done and eaten the kill, still a meat eater, still eat game.

I agree
I eat meat, although I could happily be around 80% veggie but there’s no way I could kill an animal to eat or see one being killed ( although I have see chickens and fish be killed as a child)
Does that make me a hypocrite? Maybe but that’s the truth

Wouldn’t bother me at all. Killing and eating the animal - as long as the death was a pleasant as it could be.

I don't have the skills, but could learn. Have eaten a chicken I watched DH kill, having hatched it from egg and raised it. Similarly the kids (and I) eat pheasant that they help DH pluck and cook etc.

@Schmonday wtf do you home kill?!

Same as MsMalcontent for me.

I really wish I wasn’t a hypocrite..

I'd have no problem doing that if we were hungry and that was what was needed to get dinner.

Roderick

Not completely sure why I feel ok about killing fish compared to other animals. I just don’t have any emotion towards them I suppose

I have never killed an animal but I have seen it done, and eaten the meat afterwards.

I have no problem with that, and would kill an animal for food if needed.

I think if people were closer to the rearing and killing process it would put an end to shit quality meat wrapped up in plastic in supermarkets, and instead promote high welfare meat.

I don't generally eat meat but I would be more likely to eat an animal I killed myself than an animal that had been intensively farmed. I don't think I'd have a massive problem with killing an animal to eat, although I'd need to be taught how to do it properly.

I'm a massive hypocrite. I strongly believe that we shouldn't consume animal products (I never voice this opinion because it is so hypocritical), but I eat meat, eggs and dairy anyway.

I've done it to fish, and 'put down' a few rabbit and birds after RTAs...

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest. How many thousands of years were our ancestors hunter/gatherers or farmers? (also I was a theatre nurse, blood and guts are no problem).

I've killed, cooked and eaten. I think it's pretty hypocritical to eat meat if you are unwilling to acknowledge where it has come from.

I could only kill an animal in desperate circumstances. Which is why I am glad there are others willing to do it so that I can eat and enjoy meat.

No, I wouldn't, that's why I don't. I don't use household or personal care products tested on animals.
It's not all about willingness to kill to eat though, it's about why on earth would I think it's ok to take the life of a thinking, feeling animal just to eat it. It's ridiculous.
I also can't stand the 'high welfare' argument. There's nothing high welfare about killing a being that doesn't want to die.
I do, however, benefit (as do members of my family) from medical treatments developed due to animal testing.
Therein lies my moral dilemma.

If I had to I would. But I don’t so I won’t.

I wouldn't eat it if I couldn't kill it. But I come from farming stock, goes with the territory. I agree most people are hypocrites though.