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.

@AdidasGirl
Of course, I get that.
I guess we just see it differently. I see eating animals as wrong no matter your way of life.

@Curiousmoi Eating meat is a standard way of eating for many people across the globe. I do think that we need to move towards eating less meat, farmed and raised in a more natural way, and slaughtered humanely, but you'll never get to the point of a completely meatless society.

@Curiousmoi Thank you.
I just wanted to clarify that's all.
The other good thing about living on a farm..Lots and lots of lovely mushrooms.

I've worked (briefly) in an abattoir so yeah. It was not nice but good money.

I'd certainly be able to kill any animal I wanted to eat, but nowadays it's frowned upon.

YABU. people would just get less squeamish and get used to killing the animals. It’s how it’s been done since the dawn of time. We’re meat eaters. Plenty of people still do kill their own meat.

Some of the lowest paid jobs in our society are in abbatoirs /chicken factories. Most people only work in these places through lack of choice /desperation. I would have Ptsd after one say working in an abbatoir. Killing animals to eat them harms humans who are less fortunate than you and of course inflicts needless pain and suffering on animals. I hate humans tbh.so selfish.

I agree with you op, I recently started watching joey carbstrong and learnt so much about the meat and dairy industry and their practices, I realised alot goes on that I didnt realise and that I wouldnt be happy to sit by and watch.
Changed my view on the whole process.

I don't fish anymore.

I've caught 2 fish and couldn't kill them. The catch is thrilling the killing not so great.

I caught a mouse in a trap 15 years ago. Never again. I didn't eat it though. 😂

I'm happy to outsource the killing.

No I don’t think I would. In terms of fish albeit that I dare say it isn’t any better an experience for the fish itself, at least it dies “passively” in a way once it’s out of water as opposed to having to more actively slaughter it?

I have no issues with my stance really other people do all sorts of things that impact on my life that I couldn’t or wouldn’t do myself.

I think everybody should try rearing and dispatching their own meat.

Yeah that is really going to work well in urban areas.

You just posted to criticise and goad

I eat meat. I have killed a fish before but to pts for humane reasons. And held 2 ponies for pts with humane bolt. So can in theory participate in the killing.

But I couldn't eat something I had looked after or something I had seen killed. I worked in a butchers so not squeamish about carcasses or butchery just the killing to eat bit.

I grew up on a farm too. We regularly used to help catch, kill and pluck chickens. But even my mam refused to 'do' the clutch of duckling we raised from hatchlings.

But we have pet sheep we have had since lambs and am looking forwards to the leg of lamb on sunday. Not from our sheep tho.

I work as a Vet so spent time in training on farms and in abbatoirs...the whole farm to fork experience. I eat very little pork and try to minimise chicken as they have a poor quality of life in my eyes.....but lamb and beef...I have no issues or guilt consuming either!
I wouldn't eat as much meat if I had to kill it myself as its a time consuming(we are incredibly lucky to have such easy availability to food in the era)My parents both grew up on Irish farms...they told us the stories of killing pigs, chicken,turkeys etc on farm and eating them! theres no vegetarians in my family lol and we all know exactly where food comes from..i also grew up eating homegrown veg half the year round as my dad loved to have a garden....one of my longterm dreams is to have enough space to raise my own food meat and veg! So no.....less meat yes....changing to vegetarianism instead...nope,not going to happen. I think its a shame more people dont understand where their food comes from though and that needs to change!

I dig up my own potatoes :)
I am lazy though and often eat out/buy convenience foods.But I don't eat meat. I couldn't. I have killed animals in other circumstances (to end suffering mainly). I wouldn't do it now but that isn't the reason I don't eat meat.

We are a developed society. There are people who are skilled to do the killing for us. Just like there are people skilled to build our houses for us. Swings and roundabouts as long as we’re all contributing some way towards our society.

If I had to clean the sewer myself, I wouldn’t poo.

For examples, I am happy for to eat the meat a farmer has provided for me, he is happy for my to teach his children

I’ve done that recently shirt and it was shitty! (Excuse the pun).... I made copius amounts of tea for the water guys when they finally came out! Lots of respect for them.

I expect the first few would be tough but after that easily

I don't know if I'd be happy for you to teach my child Daffodillia!

I do assist in emptying our septic tank. It's dirty and smelly. Nothing dies though.

No I couldn’t do it.

I’ve visited slaughterhouses I’m almost vegan (in moments of stress I’ve been known to consume vast quantities of Galaxy)

There are people who are skilled to do the killing for us.
This is an important point. Killing an animal quickly and with the minimum of suffering is a skilled job and not everybody is suited to it. One of my children is much too sensitive to try to learn (farming family, we don't kill stuff for fun!) and my husband flatly refused to teach his nephew, because the nephew enjoys killing things. Not the skill, or the end result, or just the satisfaction of doing a job well, he actively enjoys making creatures die. He should never be allowed to kill anything, much less compelled to.

I don't know if I'd be happy for you to teach my child Daffodillia!

You don't think children should be taught where food comes from? I teach a cooking elective, and some of the children had no idea what 'mince' really was the other week. Next term they are getting lessons in exactly what they are eating and where it comes from, and will see some (carefully selected) videos about it.