Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask why people are so against giving up meat?

1000 replies

NewCracker · 04/07/2023 21:12

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
18
Isis1981uk · 05/07/2023 17:41

For me it's a combination of:

  • I really love the taste of meat
  • I really hate the taste of most vegetables, and many other meat-alternatives such as pasta, rice, cheese etc
  • Apathy regarding animals being killed for meat, it doesn't bother me like it probably should.
Fernbreeze · 05/07/2023 17:42

BlinkAndYouMissedMe · 05/07/2023 17:33

@Fernbreeze well I surely don't know what you do want then. Your hostility oozes out on to the page. You clearly don't have any respect for any of the posters on this thread who don't agree with you. You asked for vegan arguments yet it comes across that you are trying to superciliously ridicule anyone who doesn't agree with you. Maybe ask one of your vegan colleagues to explain and actually listen openly to their response.

Aww you upset that I dismissed some one with a film and tv degree, who is a self taught vegan activist, Ooooo please.

Also I quite clearly agreed with previous posters, and we reached a compromise but yet again that obviously did not register. You seem to be obsessed with me why don't you talk about the subject at hand rather than hollow insults.

I posted plenty of questions earlier today, that have gone unanswered. How about answer those if you intend to stalk me 😂

ElizabethBest · 05/07/2023 17:42

I'm coeliac, and have IBS, and get flare ups from too much dairy. There's not too much else left for me to eat!!

Scrummage · 05/07/2023 17:44

@Wanderingowl we have very different experiences then. For me, the average vegan I meet seems much, much less in denial about their diet and it’s impact than your typical omnivore.

BlinkAndYouMissedMe · 05/07/2023 17:48

@Fernbreeze wow - goady or what! Sorry I don't believe you are being sincere. But if you are - please do go and ask one of those vegan colleagues you say you have.

Anyway, I'm off to stroke a cow. 🌱

Fernbreeze · 05/07/2023 17:48

BlinkAndYouMissedMe · 05/07/2023 17:48

@Fernbreeze wow - goady or what! Sorry I don't believe you are being sincere. But if you are - please do go and ask one of those vegan colleagues you say you have.

Anyway, I'm off to stroke a cow. 🌱

Oh so you cannot answer my questions then, better ask that cow if your stuck 😂😂😂

LuckySantangelo35 · 05/07/2023 17:51

@Fernbreeze

why u being so antagonistic?

Fernbreeze · 05/07/2023 17:58

LuckySantangelo35 · 05/07/2023 17:51

@Fernbreeze

why u being so antagonistic?

Do you actually have anything to add to this thread or are you just tagging me because your bored? Never mind don't answer I'm not interested and wont be replying to you again.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 05/07/2023 18:01

Because it's really tasty and I like it.

Quorn gives me a bad tummy ache and the other meat alternatives seem to be full of loads of weird ingredients.

Itisyourturntowashthebath · 05/07/2023 18:10

Given that the average Brit can't be persuaded to eat healthily, I doubt they will be persuaded to reduce meat intake much let alone give it up.

If they do reduce meat consumption, what are they going to replace it with? Pizza?

Our countryside looks how it does due to farming and grazing. I think most people would be in for a shock with the changes if we stopped grazing animals. I have a reasonably idea about the local area but we are such a wonderfully diverse country that I've no idea of the issues that would be caused in other areas.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 05/07/2023 19:10

Thebestwaytoscareatory · 05/07/2023 14:07

The UK one was from the guardian, the US one was just an aerial photo I found but, that doesn't detract from the wider point does it? And there's plenty of narrative if you read through the posts.

But to summarise;

Industrial scale animal agriculture is always worse for the environment than industrial scale arable farming, partly due to idustrial scale animal agriculture requiring industrial scale arable agriculture to support it.

Industrial scale arable farming is generally worse for the environment than low intensity animal agriculture, but low intensity animal agriculture cannot be the default when the majority of the population consume meat most days.

So encouraging people to eat a plant-based or plant-rich diet, supplemented by very occasional low intensity, high welfare meat would be the best solution for the environment (and for health).

What you are missing is the industrial scale horticulture required for fruit and vegetable production, which is largely under vast swathes of poly tunnels and glass houses around the world, some heated, generating vast amounts of CO2 in their manufacture and construction, as well as ongoing running, with no real way of recycling them yet.

Then you have to consider the huge amounts of water consumed, often in 3rd or developing works countries that already struggle with water. The export, airfreight cash is too much to ignore. But the privileged few in the developed world see no harm in exporting that problem.

And then there’s the way that the vast amounts of people that are needed in this system are treated. The lucky ones are transported to Europe, the US and the UK to work on farms doing back breaking work for minimum wage, staying in caravans or worse, with no guarantee of work day in day out. The unlucky ones do the same job for a 10th of the money or less in their own country. Treated not so differently to those on plantations in bygone years really.

All so we have avocados, strawberrys, beans, peas, flowers, you name it 365 days a week on a supermarket shelf. And for nearly a third of what’s grown and imported to end up as good waste. Give me local, seasonal produce, including meat, game and fish, any day over the industrial scale abuse of people any day.

LuckySantangelo35 · 05/07/2023 19:15

Fernbreeze · 05/07/2023 17:58

Do you actually have anything to add to this thread or are you just tagging me because your bored? Never mind don't answer I'm not interested and wont be replying to you again.

@Fernbreeze
haha ok Hun

fyn · 05/07/2023 19:15

@BlinkAndYouMissedMe I would like to recommend to you, the book Wilding by Isabella Tree. What they have accomplished at Knepp is really amazing.

Popworld · 05/07/2023 19:25

Isis1981uk · 05/07/2023 17:41

For me it's a combination of:

  • I really love the taste of meat
  • I really hate the taste of most vegetables, and many other meat-alternatives such as pasta, rice, cheese etc
  • Apathy regarding animals being killed for meat, it doesn't bother me like it probably should.

Is pasta ,rice and cheese meat alternatives?

Anyway I actually dont care about an animal being killed so I can eat meat. Being top of the food chain means lower animals die for your food. It's the way it is

Isis1981uk · 05/07/2023 19:28

Popworld · 05/07/2023 19:25

Is pasta ,rice and cheese meat alternatives?

Anyway I actually dont care about an animal being killed so I can eat meat. Being top of the food chain means lower animals die for your food. It's the way it is

I meant 'alternative foods to meat' rather than 'meat alternatives' - poor wording on my part.

Ofashynessthatiscriminallyvulgar · 05/07/2023 19:31

I admit I really enjoy a cheeseburger, or a chicken burger. If I could have a vegetarian substitute that tastes exactly the same, I'd happily eat them and not eat meat again, but I haven't been able to find anything.

paulmccartneysbagel · 05/07/2023 19:39

JudgeAnderson · 05/07/2023 17:24

Yes I do try and honour evolution, not for no particular reason but for my health. We've not physiologically evolved since we were hunter-gatherers. We are not, as you say, evolved to be obese and sedentary. We are certainly not evolved to constantly eat ultra-processed food, sugar, refined carbohydrates and seed oils.

Eating meat is a great, easy way to consume very nutritious,very digestible protein.

I came to this realisation recently, after being vegan for three years.

SherbetDips · 05/07/2023 19:58

@RoyalGala Great that’s your choice and your allowed that choice,
I love meat and will continue eating it.

umpaumpajumps · 05/07/2023 20:14

Wow the vegetarians and vegans on this thread have been riled up today haven't they. I eat what I want when I want and its nothing to do with them.

Your food kills animals also just in a slightly different way. They wont be happy until were all in mud huts sucking grass.

mrlistersgelfbride · 05/07/2023 20:14

This thread! People dress up eating meat as you like but it is certainly not healthier, cheaper or natural. People eat meat because they like the taste, are afraid or change or plain can't be bothered.
I've been veggie (including spells as a vegan and pescie) for nearly 9 years. I ate meat for 30 years before that.
I have a huge omni extended family and partner and child who eats meat.
I go to barbecues, social events and all sorts.
I get a drink and like takeaway food. It would be very easy to quit.

Being a vegetarian is really really easy! I feel healthily. I save money on meat! Skin is better than it was in my 20s.
And guess what? I'm an avid runner and have ran 3 marathons as a vegetarian. I lift weights. Get gone with all this protein stuff! Getting protein in a vegetarian diet is VERY EASY!

The mass generalisations about vegetarians on his thread are unfair. Leftie, unhealthy, narrow minded?
Although while we are on the subject ...I don't know many overweight tories vegetarians or vegans 🤐

umpaumpajumps · 05/07/2023 20:19

@mrlistersgelfbride Question? you said eating meat is not natural. Care to explain that to an omnivore please.

JudgeAnderson · 05/07/2023 20:28

I don't understand how anyone can claim eating meat is not natural? It's hardly a recent thing.

mrlistersgelfbride · 05/07/2023 20:32

@umpaumpajumps I didn't mean meat is not natural in itself. Of course it is!
I mean that people argue a reason to keep eating meat is because it's the natural thing to do. I disagree. This seems a lazy arguement.

Someone earlier mentioned that there are no vegetarians saying they love the taste of eating vegetables and fake meat.
I love all vegetables and fake meat so I don't see how I'm missing out at all.
Yes fake meat contains soy and other things. However I'd rather eat that, than animal flesh.

I have loads of omni friends and family so I'm used to this debate. What gets me is the vast majority of meat eaters say they won't try vegetarianism as they are worried they'll be hungry, are afraid of change or because 'humans need to eat meat'.

None of the above seem valid.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is not accepting new messages.