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 agree with you op.

I've killed (or if you'd rather, PTS) cows, cats, mice, bats, dogs, fish, various wild birds and frogs. I will at some point be responsible for the deaths of more cats, fish and horses, given that I currently own them. I would kill an animal humanely then eat it. Although perhaps not the cats

Why scottish? Because Inwish for animals to be killed by a skilled hand?... Or that I eat meat fullstop?... Or maybe because I’ve had to shovel shit?

If we had to kill and prep our own meat we'd eat a lot less of it. The amount of meat we consume now in the western world is grotesque and is why our farming techniques are so messed up, we are so detached from it.

I think the whole "if we were hungry/desperate enough" argument should be taken out of the equation though. It's irrelevant. As is the skill.

What we should be asking is, assuming you had the skill would you kill the pig for your bacon sandwich or the hen for your Nandos?

And if the answer is no you should think why that is and whether continuing to eat it is good for you and your wellbeing.

I'm not anti eating meat/dairy etc but I do think people should take responsibility for where the meat and dairy they eat comes from and what happens as part of that chain.

People use cost as an excuse for buying shitty welfare meat which is a steaming pile of bollocks IMO. If you're really skint, don't buy 4 chicken breasts for a fiver - eat less meat or go to the butcher and get some cheap cuts or offal.

Would we eat a lot less veg too pug if we all had to grow it ourselves?
What would we live on?..... History shows us that people took certain roles from very early on, in order to provide for a ‘village’.... blacksmith, childcare, doctor, butchery.

We used to raise hens for meat, we also butchered them ourselves and I cooked them for the family. No problem. We did with Rabbits too. My family would still eat meat, Usually it's meat once a day or less for us.

daffoldilla

I dont eat much veg as it is

Make me work for it and it would be even less

I have shot, prepared, cooked and eaten pheasants and rabbits.

The shooting, cooking and eating bits were fine. The preparing not so much, which is why I leave that to the butcher.

We once had to flush our sewer once (was completely blocked, pushing the drain cover out). DH did most the work, if I'm honest. It stank less than I thought it would.

If I had to plough-sow-water-grow-weed-harvest all my veg (& wheat & chocolate) I'd damn well be eating chickens & small mammals too. Perfect recyclers of the bits of veg we don't much care for. Just like sheep are a good way to make grass into human food. I haven't read up on how to butcher a guinea pig but I think I could get a little enterprise going if I had to.

I've killed fish and chickens, and I've watched my grandfather kill pigs, and although I'm not signing up to do that, I would if I had to, absolutely.

You think wrong. Have killed animals to eat and would happily do so without issue.

Hastalapasta, what's the broomstick method?

@Daffodillia
That's not the point. You can't use the argument "yeah, but what about growing our own vegetables, or cleaning the sewer?".
The point is, if ethically you can't face killing an animal due to it being too upsetting, you shouldn't be eating it. It's not a case of "it's not my job".
Of course, we all have different jobs and that's why we are where we are today, but that's besides the point.
The fact is, killing animals generally is quite upsetting, it's natural to feel this way. That's why we shouldn't be eating them.
True carnivorous/omnivorous beings do not feel emotion when they hunt and kill other animals.

I'm the opposite. I'm a vegetarian but would eat meat if I'd killed it myself and knew where it had come from. The fish I do eat are fish I've caught and killed myself.
It's such a personal thing, I think many people will have different opinions on this.

I'm vegetarian and reluctantly accept that I'm a hypocrit as I still have (limited) dairy products. Milk is a by product of the meat industry.

I try my best, I don't any actual animals, only free range eggs and even though dd is not veggie I get her high welfare meat.

I don't wear leather, sheepskin or wool and wouldn't wear fur even if I could afford it.

I don't use make up toiletries or household products that are tested on animals.

Like a pp where I struggle is with medication, I request gelatine free wherever possible, take as few meds as possible but the few I take literally keep me alive. I regularly petition for animal testing of pharmaceuticals to be stopped.

But - if I or my child were at risk of starvation, especially my child, I would kill to eat. I'd try to do so as humanely and quickly as possible.

I do think many people now are absolutely clueless about where their food comes from especially as in the uk so much of what we eat is so processed it bears no resemblance to the original ingredients.

That fuels

poor animal welfare

the safety of food for human consumption - BSE, salmonella, the e-coli outbreak, horse meat being sold as beef (ethically I see little difference as a veggie BUT consumers had a right to know, plus what if someone allergic/intolerant to horse meat had eaten it)

food waste - because not only is it not appreciated but people no longer trust themselves to judge if food is "off" because the don't KNOW what it should look/smell/taste like.

Out of necessity I do a lot myself. Home maintenance, cut mine and dds hair, repair clothes, make simple garments, grow herbs, I used to grow veggies but no garden here, cook and bake from scratch. Some of which I've only learnt in the last 15 years since splitting with dds dad. But some I was taught by my parents who both grew up VERY poor. Sometimes I've thought I'm stuck due to some item breaking/wearing out and a chat with mum or dad and they say "have you tried doing X y z" and I haven't but hey I may as well cos otherwise the things only fit for the bin anyway... It's quite empowering.

To answer the op I think it would reduce meat consumption not because people aren't up to it but because most have become so detached from the reality.

Applesauce - sorry but if you still eat fish regardless of how it's been killed you're NOT a veggie.

No. As soon as that realisation hit, I stopped eating meat, poultry, fish and seafood. That was 30 years ago. Mainly vegan these days. No health problems. No creature needs to die to feed me. Have no problem with those who think otherwise - that is their choice and they are entitled to it.

I probably would you know. Definitely a chicken.

Same as applesauce

I’ve killed and eaten animals numerous times. If it was realistic to eat wild-caught meat i’d Killed humanely myself in the uk, I probably wouldn’t be vegetarian.

But I have an ethical objection to modern farming methods, transport and slaughter so an a vegetarian

To an extent vegetarianism/vegan is a choice made because of plentiful alternatives, not many would not starve to death for their principles. Therefore I think most people, faced with little alternative would not be a hypocrite and could kill the food they ate.

If I had to kill and eat an animal to survive yes I’d kill it. And skin it and cook it. Sorry!

my parents used to help with killing for the pot (rabbits mainly)

The fact is, killing animals generally is quite upsetting, it's natural to feel this way. That's why we shouldn't be eating them.

I don't think it's natural to feel that way at all. Not when killing for food.
I do wonder for people in Siberia and Eskimos, how far into the hunger that "upset" lasts.

I don't eat me because I don't want to support animals being forced into living just to be killed for our consumption. I struggle to look at meat because it make me feel sick. I don't see it as meat I see it as rotting dead flesh. I wouldn't be able to harm an animal let alone kill one. But it was a sudden change from meat eater to veggie and I don't know what triggered it.

I could adapt, I think, if I suddenly had to. But I don't, so my focus is on other things.

I do try and buy 'ethical' meat but ultimately I am happy with my choice to eat meat even though 99% of the time I don't think about how it got into my plate.