To ask why people are so against giving up meat?

[NewCracker]

Just that really, why are people so against giving up meat?
Without a doubt we know it's better for the environment, we know it's better for our health, we know it's better for animal welfare and it's actually quite expensive. But still as soon as you mention to the greater public about cutting their meat consumption, they get defensive and almost offended.
Would you ever consider giving it up, if you do consume it now? If not, why not?
I'm expecting some hate, this is MN after all, but I am genuinely just curious. Not trying to rattle feathers.

@HadalyEve thanks for those links. I scanned them but they seem to be referring to crops and arable farming for the most part.

Good to hear that farms are focusing on improving the sustainability of our plant consumption though!

I think we can all concede that @Thebestwaytoscareatory ’s comment was superb. Having said that, I don’t get why you and @fernbreeze are so mad at vegans for contributing positively to what we all seem to agree is a problem? Help me out here…

No, we do understand you don’t care. We’re just explaining that we do care, and that’s why we don’t do it.

I don’t think it makes you a better person because you couldn’t care less about killing animals for your dinner.

Interesting correlation between people who don’t feel empathy for animals and those who couldn’t give a shit about people either.

@Fernbreeze is so disgusted that there are people out there who care about the planet we live on and the animals that inhabit it that she has been on this thread since last night wallowing in her "superiority". Rather than accept facts that are presented she will deflect onto something else.
Veganism will never occur overnight. We will never be in a situation where overnight there are billions of livestock suddenly redundant.
However factory farming is rife and like it or not Fernbreeze agriculture is the major cause of destruction on this earth.
You can throw as many snide arguments out there but this is fact.
Maybe just maybe 🤔 you should step aside and give others the chance to have an actual discussion and ponder what offends you so much about a human being who has empathy and wishes for a better future for their children. Adios!

Most crops are grown to feed animals for them to then be killed and eaten.

Globally we would need fewer crops if people just ate plants rather than feeding the animals crops and then eating their bodies.

Great points!

I’m out too - 7 pages in and the same old ‘arguments’ with not a lot of common sense.

Because there seems to be a large contingent of people who claim all meat is bad. I don't honestly care what others consume or put into their mouth but I do have a strong issue when they quite vocally claim all meat consumption is bad and we are hypocrites and murderers.

Believe it or not I work in the environment industry and fight quite vigorously to protect our ecosystems and wildlife. But there are a lot of situations where by habitats are only conserved and managed with the assistance of people who farm game and raise animals for food. That's the catch 22 situation of our country.

Most people who protest at meat eaters, do not fully understand the full ecological systems and nuances and focus purely on the immediate end life of animals and completely ignore the fact there is very complex layer to this all this and if you stop all meat production they are very dangerous unintended consequences for much of our biodiversity and habitats, which would include the economical and social impact on those in the immediate areas.

I know a lot of landowners who are very passionate about the animals they raise and the ecosystems they support, calling them evil is just ignorant of how complex this is.

I have personally no issue with people who do not eat meat, as long as they educate themselves on the larger picture there is no black and white in this fight.

Well to say that that is my job perhaps you should read my above comment. Also who the hell do you think you are to tell me to stop posting, buzz off you nobody.

Why bang on about why so much, why can you just not stop at ‘I prefer & choose not to eat meat’ I don’t care why you don’t it makes no difference to me. I do care about animals but I also understand that they need to be slaughtered for my consumption which I am fine with

Shooo 😴 Offf you pop petal.

Me? I am vegetarian, though. And I don't have a British diet. I have an Asian diet.

I've been vegetarian a few times, even tried being vegan briefly, but I always come back to meat at some point. I don't eat lots of meat, in fact we eat veggie meals quite a lot, but I just feel better having a small amount of meat in my diet. It's my choice. I don't do a lot of the other 'bad' things when it comes to the environment - I rarely fly, use the car sparingly, don't waste food/water, don't often buy fast fashion and so on. If it works for you great, I am happy for you, but nobody should be forcing their choices on others.

Also every vegan vegetarian I’ve ever known personally seemed a bit depressed and I always wondered if it’s because they’re missing something vital in their diet which impacts their mental health.

Mentioned at least 5 times on this thread, the miasma of gloom that people merely not eating meat bring to the room😁

I'm not vegan but cook plenty of things that taste great and are vegan or veggie (Asian-style noodle soups with fish or tofu, veg and a miso base; Thai and Indian curries full of spices and flavour; roast spiced vegetables served with feta, pickles and fresh herbs...).

When did eating fish become veggie?

Or feta cheese come to that?

@MarkWithaC (just explaining - honestly!)

I can't have soy.

I can't have noodles if they aren't gluten free.

I can't eat fish it makes me vomit

I can't have tofu

I can't have feta (texture issues)

For some of us it really isn't easy

You're quite right about the fish thing; I didn't mean to put that in, just 'tofu'!

Most feta is veggie.

I know, I understand; as I said before, I'm not talking about people with medical/health issues.
I was responding to the question about whether people who eat meat-free think what they eat tastes great.

https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/eating-meat-bad-for-environment

Some for and against points that many of you may find interesting.

@Fernbreeze You agree that we need to eat less meat, but when someone suggest we eat zero meat, you lose your shit because they haven’t considered grouse moors.

it just doesn’t make sense to me. It sounds like you have much more in common with the veggies than with the bulk of people who don’t care where their meat comes from and whose irresponsibility is causing the actual problems we have now, rather than the hypothetical problems vegans might cause if they had any actual power (which they don’t).

Grouse moors was only one example I have plenty more if you like, that one is a good example as it is easy to convey the message.

So sorry I cannot help you any more, if it does not make sense to you that I point out are pointing out the faults in many of the arguments anti meat eaters have have put forward. Obviously you don't like differing opinions and you find it hard to conceive some one who protects the environment consumes meat.

Nature in its very basic level is violent and harsh, people who decided to become vegetation on ethical reasons and who refuse to understand that life is harsh in its very nature are burring their heads and life in a fantasy land.

Its not about taking sides its about understanding the harsh realities of our natural world and life an how we choose to fit in.

You also claim the bulk of people who don’t care where their meat comes from and whose irresponsibility is causing the actual problems we have now. Well in due respect to that you obviously don't equally care where all the materials come from for the electronic device you are currently using or the amount carbon is being wasted with your every reply on this forum. The same can apply for every material possession you own and the house you currently live in.

@Fernbreeze I really like differing opinions which is why I’m talking to you and asking you questions. We seem to have a similar viewpoint when it comes to sustainability, but your anger at vegans seems bizarre to me and I wanted to learn more about why you were so upset.

Really sorry but I don’t understand what point you’re making on mobile phone materials. For the avoidance of doubt, I was trying to say it was a bad thing that most of us don’t care about the provenance of our meat.

@Scrummage have you see her anger at people who manage chalk escarpments?

Why are people so against giving up meat?

Maybe Google the ingredients of a good quality beef burger from a supermarket, then Google a plant-based alternative, and you'll get your answer.

Because it gives me mouthgasm.