AIBU to suggest that you aren't really an animal lover if you're not a vegan

[KylieKoKo]

I'm a meateater but I was chatting to a vegan friend of mine about this and I think she has a point. It makes no sense to call yourself an animal lover if you pay others to kill animals or take their milk and eggs when its perfectly possible to live without them. I couldn't help but agree with her, and, as a non-vegan, had to conceed that I don't really love animals. In fact, I'm putting the fact that they taste nice above their lives and well-being on a daily basis.

I thought it would be interesting to see if anyone on here had an argument against this.

Ok good to know..

Eat what you want just don't be a hypocrite.

A vegan diet is no less animal friendly than a meat eating diet.

The energy involved in producing and shipping avocados, Jack fruit, green beans, rice, almond milk etc far outweigh that of high welfare, local and sustainable beef and lamb in the UK.

Most arable farms use the muck from livestock farms to fertilize their crops and put nutrients back into the soil. The two industries complement each other.

Or would the vegans rather chemical fertilizers were used instead?

@Velveteenfruitbowl how are you cooking your leafy greens? If you put them directly into boiling water you get the full iron benefit, it's destroyed by cooler temperatures, so don't have to eat masses of it. I boil nettles & flavour it with mint I have growing as a nice "tea" so not actually eating them that way but getting the benefit.

@PearlsBeforeWine I forgot about marmite! That’s a very good source, maybe that’s why I don’t have B12 issues.

Dog lovers are usually up in arms about the Chinese dog eating festival for example which seems hugely hypocritical if you will gladly eat a cow or pig.

That festival involves the most appalling cruelty and torture. It's that I have an issue with.

@EileenAlanna for some reason I find them harder to eat cooked. Maybe I just end up eating more so that’s why I get sick. I will try the nettle ‘tea’ truck and see if that works, how long do you need to boil them for?

Yep. You can dislike the fact but still know it's the truth. People who get ultra defensive need a reality check..

@RoomR0613 but that's not even true! This is hilarious

All down dear, clutching your pearls takes a lot of energy......

We don't eat a lot of meat but we are certainly not giving up roast chicken , I have often said that if I had the space I would keep chickens for eggs and meat.

@Alyssum34456 what isn't true?

Why is it important to love animals? Hoarders claim they love their animals.
I think its better to understand animals, respect them for what they are, and look after them in the appropriate way.

I don't love animals (apart from ddog).
I am fascinated by lots of wildlife programmes, though I am not tempted to eat any that I've seen so far (wolves, dolphins etc).
I really appreciate farm animals, especially when the fat is cooked extra crispy.

So no, I don't feel hypocritical at all.

A vegan diet is no less animal friendly than a meat eating diet.

What a stupid statement

I get sad when I watch a wildlife program and lions and tigers to for gazelles and such like.

I know it’s what animals do but watching another animal being eaten alive is fucking brutal.

go for gazelles

Well they don't eat them alive. It's a bit of a brutal death but they kill them before they eat them.

Youre right of course

Nope. She isn't!

Your right when you say it’s a brutal death, I get very sad watching it. I am getting far more empathetic the older I get.

When people who eat meat say they love animals it's usually just domestic ones.

In my opinion if you are fine with eating animals you should be fine with dogs and cat being eaten. You don't get to pick and choose and act morally superior because you don't eat domesticated animals. Meat is meat.

Farmers - they love and respect their livestock, care for them and care about the product they produce.

In my opinion if you are fine with eating animals you should be fine with dogs and cat being eaten

Can't really see that flying with the authorities in this country though can you?

In an apocalyptic situation there would be no such thing as being a vegan and any animal would suffice.

Eventually we'd end up eating each other imo.

Farmers - they love and respect their livestock, care for them and care about the product they produce.

You can't love something they consider a product to be slaughtered rather a sentient being imo

A vegan diet is no less animal friendly than a meat eating diet.

What a stupid statement

Do vegans not consider snails, slugs, bees, butterflies, all manner of insects, field mice, rats, caterpillars, voles, rabbits, hares, pigeons, blackbirds, pheasants, crows, geese, frogs, toads and snakes as animals then?

Because I can assure you your friendly local vegetable grower isn't letting them anywhere near his or her crops. In this country or any other.