AIBU to think there’s no justification for eating meat and dairy any more?

[AnnoyingVegan]

People are educated now. People know that eating meat and dairy is disastrous for the planet. People know it’s causing an unprecedented climate crisis. People know it causes untold cruelty to animals.

So why are people still doing it? There is a vegan substitute for virtually every meat and dairy product you can think of. What is going on here?

The number of people I’ve seen on social media breaking their hearts over Australia shooting wild camels and horses because they drink too much water while still eating beef blows my mind.

People pretend to hate vegans because we’re annoying and preachy but the real reason is your own guilty consciences.

No sweety. I don't hate you, but yes, you are very annoying, and very preachy. I have many things on my conscience, but enjoying a bloody good steak isn't one of them. Sorry to disappoint.

And yes, I have killed an animal. My cousin was very firm that if I was to eat meat, I had to know where it came from, and be able to do this, so I did. And no, I'm not a psychopath.

I think you need a jolly good drink of a nice herb tea, and a good night's sleep. Sleep well!

ODFOD

Being vegan made me ill. I'd struggle to feed my family too, lots of allergies, intolerances and autoimmune reactions to all these marvellous plants that apparently are the answer to everything.

I've been advised that me and one of my children should eat a diet based on meat, fish, high fat dairy products, lots of live yoghurt, some vegetables, a small amount of beans and pulses, eggs, peanuts (but not tree nuts) and a small amount of grains which are corn and rice based. A very small amount of certain fruits too (but not others). And then I get vegans I barely know (sometimes actual strangers)
trying to tell my that if I have my steak and eat it I'm killing the planet.

Exactly leigh

im off for some cheese

Threads like this make me want to go out and get a big steak!

People are literally going to die because of the climate crisis and you’re like ‘but cheese tastes good’

People need to die out if the planet has a chance to survive. We're a parasite that acts like a virus. The sooner the human race is drastically cut back a bit the better.

So meh.

Everyone has the right to make their own choices and do their bit. I was vegetarian for eight years, vegan for three and now back to omnivore. My veg comes from the local farm shop or farmers market in paper or hessian bags. I recycle what I can, including the PITA trip to the glass bottle bank. Milk and milk products from our local dairy (I drive past them regularly, never seen them uncared for or looking unhappy including when I visit and the farmer is always happy to chat. Meat is again local, either farm shop or market or when the farm my horses are on has a lot for the butcher we always get a couple of trays and freeze. I do drive a 4x4, tbh where we are you genuinely do need it to get in some of the fields & working in health not getting to work means people suffer so it is what it is. Walk where I can to reduce as much as possible. Have flown once in last ten years for work. You do yourself not your cause any favours by being deliberately goady, argumentative and defensive. I have no empirical evidence for this statement and so will make it with the caveat of a common sense approach; we will do far more to help the planet by 99 people doing a little than 1 person doing a lot.

You are correct about margarine, flavoured plastic!

I would kill the animals to eat if I had to. I have killed fish and plucked, gutted, skinned etc.. plenty of intact pheasant and rabbit.

This from farming communities tend to be pretty close to the production of meat. We are aware it doesn’t arrive on earth plastic packed. My DD is fully aware that the bullocks that are no longer in the field nearby are now her burgers and steak.

I’d like to see an improvement in abattoir standards and banning of things like battery egg production. Now that is more achievable and good for animal welfare.

Yes emin perhaps they should grow avocado trees in the Scottish highlands, and the Peak District can start growing pasta plants. Maybe welsh mountain farmers could plant coconut milk bulbs. Obviously the necessary tractors and equipment won't be suitable for all those hillsides so they can use planes.

All the wildlife that currently coexists in those areas with food production will be lovingly rehomed in a sanctuary, just like they do when vast swathes of rainforest are converted to vegan food production.

Get me, I'm an honorary vegan with my complete ignorance of how food is produced.

If you want to be a vegan that's fine but personally, I love meat and dairy and am happy to carry on consuming both. Nothing will change my mind.

People pretend to hate vegans because we’re annoying and preachy but the real reason is your own guilty consciences.

I don't hate vegans. Although I'm not particularly taking to you - you seem quite aggressive.

Most of you couldn’t kill an animal yourself. Most of you would be sickened by a slaughterhouse. Most of you would cry if you were forced to watch chicks being ground up alive, or a dairy calf slaughtered. Most of you couldn’t slit the throat of a lamb, or butcher it’s carcass. The horror of it would sicken you, and you would cry, and you would be haunted by it for months after. You know all of this, and you can’t bear to think of it. So you react defensively. You push your guilt away and pretend that vegans are the extremists, when you’re the ones with blood on your hands. You have to frame vegans as the bad guys, because if you looked to closely at the horror you’re actually paying for you would sicken yourselves.

I spent plenty of time on a farm as a child. I have witnessed humane slaughter and subsequently eaten the meat.

I probably would be haunted by seeing baby chicks ground up, but that's why I buy meat from a butcher I trust, coming from local farms where I know a number of the farmers.

I know it. You know it. You’re all just pretending otherwise

As I've just shown, your "knowledge" is incorrect.

I’m going to bed. Peace out, bloodmouths.

And that kind of unintelligent, unhelpful insult is why I find you a bit irritating. Still fine with the vegans I know

OP lecturing people doesn't work! Live your life how you want to, engage with with people who are open to discussion and who wish to learn about your lifestyle.

Its really frustrating when people don't see what you so passionately believe but you are playing to a frothy stereotype.

I'm vegan and cycle to work and I thought I would absolutely smash a carbon footprint quiz but I only can out as being a bit better than average...but I do have DC and have bought new appliances in the last year.

I think vegan diets are really unhealthy.

Some good quality organic meat and dairy is very good for you together with plenty of veg and some grains.

We are in the middle of the planet’s 6th mass extinction event and it’s entirely man made.
If the population all went vegan surely that will lead to the extinction of many species now farmed for food - cattle, sheep, pigs. Are they worth less than other animals?

So ditch all the sheep grazing the life out of the highlands and reintroduce wolves. Read up on the Yellowstone wolf reintroduction project for the benefits of reintroducing apex predators.
So it is OK for wolves to be carnivores, just not humans. Why is a wolf more worthy of existing than a sheep?

You are having the opposite effect to what you want.

I quite like being a bloodmouth though, I feel like a Harry Potter character now.

Bore off. Vegans represent 0.6 of the population and omnivores don't give a fuck what you think.

Vegan cheese is as appealing to eat as a 6 week old tampon

I reckon the OP is actually Head of Marketing for Bernard Matthews and has played a blinder encouraging everyone to eat more meat.

You know how every so often there are threads asking why people think vegans are irritating?

Do the people asking not read these threads?

(Yes, I know not all vegans are arseholes - unfortunately they are the loudest)

Bore off. Vegans represent 0.6 of the population and omnivores don't give a fuck what you think

This.

I'm sure if push came to shove I could kill my supper. I'd rather not have to and am grateful somebody else does so for me, but I'm confident I would do everything I needed to to feed my family. But I don't need to, so I don't.

I think there is a case for eating less meat and dairy, and better welfare meat (e.g. outdoor reared/ free range/ grass fed / organic etc), but not giving it up. I'm an omnivore. Also our countryside is shaped by grazing animals. I don't want a boring monoculture. Surely buy local outdoor reared lamb is better for the environment than a monoculture of soy/ palm oil/ almonds and avocado shipped across the world.

I am vegetarian and I think you are being ridiculous.

Because I’ve got a nut allergy and it seems like every vegan option has nuts in it somewhere, because a lot of the vegan substitutes are heavily processed and never taste quite right, because it’s a lot more hassle to make sure you get a balanced diet as a vegan and people have busy lives. And on this final point I speak only for myself, I just don’t care about environmental issues enough to want to put that effort in.