Having Major Problems

[Veggie_Queen]

I have wanted to become vegetarian for a long time and have even tried it for a while, but I always fall off the wagon. I've seen the videos like meat your meat and they sicken me, but I always feel as if I'm watching some horror movie that isn't real.

I've never actually seen a pig or cow or chicken up close before. So I find it hard to really cut them out from my diet. I don't want to kill a living thing, and I don't want to make them suffer like they do for me. It's not worth it, but I need to really find a way to actually see an animal or feel an actual closeness to them.

I am probably going to get bashed for this post but I really need some help and a way to actually feel like I have a relationship with the animals.

[chryssiie718]

If you would like to meet animals "in person", maybe you could find a "petting zoo." Or go to the Fair, if your area has them. Fairs usually have farm animals that you can get up close to. Good luck on your journey to vegetarianism. :)

[smalleah]

I know what you mean. Most of us live our lives in cities away from farms and, of course, farm animals. I didn't see chickens and cows in person until I was 9 or 10. And I've never seen one slaughtered in person (thankfully).
I was going to suggest carnivals, fairs or petting zoos also. That's the only interaction I've had with any farm animals.

[Perditax]

We're taught to ignore the connection between animal and meat. We're taught to dissociate. It's not surprising that you're having trouble making the connection. Sometimes for me, it feels the same. I can watch bits of Meet Your Meat and feel like I am just watching some fake scene in a Hollywood spectacle. I also suggest petting zoos, and also, to just think about it a lot. It is difficult to wrap your head around the grim reality of it all, but keep trying. We've been conditioned not to. It takes a lot sometimes to break through that conditioning.

[Poppy]

I've never actually seen a pig or cow or chicken up close before. So I find it hard to really cut them out from my diet. I don't want to kill a living thing, and I don't want to make them suffer like they do for me. It's not worth it, but I need to really find a way to actually see an animal or feel an actual closeness to them.




Farm Sanctuary (www.farmsanctuary.org) does a great job in bringing the farm animals up close and personal. Just look at the adoptions - and if you can, visit one of the farms!

[Fona]

Go to an open farm thing to see them close up. Even though I could never imagine never seeing these animals in real life, I can see why it means you can easily disassociate them from the meat on your plate.

[ShellyT]

If you can't see them in person, how about a photo on your dining table. Do you have a pet? All animals are the same really. Just like all people are the same. People are animals too.

Maybe thinking about the health reasons would help you. There is also the environmental impact. You could think about all the antibiotics and other drugs you are eating in animal products. You could thing about the pus in milk and cheese. That really grossed me out.

It is easier to go veg gradually. It took a whole year for my family to go through the process. The last step was to not allow meat in the house, but eat it out.

Hope you figure out what works for you.

[Veggie_Queen]

Thank you for understanding. All of your ideas are great. I am so glad that this board is such an understanding place.

[michael2]

I've never actually seen a pig or cow or chicken up close before. So I find it hard to really cut them out from my diet. I don't want to kill a living thing, and I don't want to make them suffer like they do for me. It's not worth it, but I need to really find a way to actually see an animal or feel an actual closeness to them.

I am probably going to get bashed for this post but I really need some help and a way to actually feel like I have a relationship with the animals.

i think thats normal. in the same way you would be alot more emotional about x/y happening to your (family member) than 'a guy from japan' or somewhere across the world. same for your dog with a name a personality etc over 'a pig', a nameless, faceless, generic description so theres no emotional attachement for you.

but think about it like that. maybe like its been suggested, visit a sanctuary, or anywhere really and just spend a couple hours in the company of cows, horses, pigs, sheep etc, and you see up close that they are just as vulnerable and sensetive as your cat or dog.

[hooligan]

I agree with everyone else on here about trying to find a sanctuary, farm or petting zoo so you can get close to these animals. You might try looking on Petfinder to see ifthere is one for adoption in your area and go to visit them.
I have pet chickens and I live in the heart of my city. They can be sweet, onery, mischevious, loving, jealous, comical...everything ANY other animal can be.
I grew up with my grand parents having pigs, rabbits, chickens, cows, horses and all but the horses were killed for food. When I made the association that the same animals I was going to play with when I went to visit them would later end up on the table I refused to eat meat (at my grand parents house) but I didn't make the distinction between them and the store bought stuff (I was very young) so I ate supermarket meat.
I know exactly what you are saying though, for some it can be very hard to associate with something you have never touched or even seen in real life. I wish you the best of luck in your veggie lifestyle change. I am trying to "make the change" myself. :)

[Lynnbug]

I agree with everyone else on here about trying to find a sanctuary, farm or petting zoo so you can get close to these animals. You might try looking on Petfinder to see ifthere is one for adoption in your area and go to visit them.
I have pet chickens and I live in the heart of my city. They can be sweet, onery, mischevious, loving, jealous, comical...everything ANY other animal can be.
I grew up with my grand parents having pigs, rabbits, chickens, cows, horses and all but the horses were killed for food. When I made the association that the same animals I was going to play with when I went to visit them would later end up on the table I refused to eat meat (at my grand parents house) but I didn't make the distinction between them and the store bought stuff (I was very young) so I ate supermarket meat.
I know exactly what you are saying though, for some it can be very hard to associate with something you have never touched or even seen in real life. I wish you the best of luck in your veggie lifestyle change. I am trying to "make the change" myself. :)

It wsa the same way for me when I was young. My grandfather raised chickens and once my dad raised two pigs. I fed the chickens and the pigs. When they pigs were slaughtered I cried and could not eat the meat. However, it was not hard to eat supermarket meat. The same with the chickens. I could not eat chicken unless I knew it came from the supermarket. I became vegetarian for health reasons and now it is about the animals also. Just keep trying. Go about it gradually. I think a petting zoo is a great idea. To pet these animals and interact with them is so much fun and to look into their eyes helps to understand them as living beings. Good luck.

[Tom]

I have wanted to become vegetarian for a long time and have even tried it for a while, but I always fall off the wagon. I've seen the videos like meat your meat and they sicken me, but I always feel as if I'm watching some horror movie that isn't real.

I've never actually seen a pig or cow or chicken up close before....

I am probably going to get bashed for this post but I really need some help and a way to actually feel like I have a relationship with the animals.

Almost everyone learns to dissociate the food they eat from the animals it is made from. You're actually making an effort to fight this. There'll be no bashing from me!

Are you satisfied by the food you eat? It would be great, and easier for you, if you could find a variety healthy, tasty vegetarian foods that would keep you from craving meat.

[Willowriver]

Do you have a pet? Maybe you could try picturing your pet going through what farmed animals do. Sometimes I need to do that. It is very hard to make that connection, especially when you haven't interacted much with the type of animal you are eating.
If you have a dog or cat, I can see it being hard to try and make the connection between them and a food animal as well. We don't usually eat carnivores. Maybe visiting an animal shelter or volunteering for a rescue organization would help. I'm pretty sure the shelters are inundated with baby chickens and ducks, as well as rabbits, right after Easter. If you interact with these "dumber" animals which are often used for food, you come to realize that they're not dumb at all, and they really have interesting personalities.

[iceblueken]

Someone told me once that animals have no souls..and that is a load of boohocky because animals feel emotions and share experiences like any human. A connection with an animal is one of the most important things in life. Why? because humans are also animals. Don't feel ashamed that a connection doesn't just pop up and you are able to feel sorry. Think about a pet that you love... I bet you couldn't stand to see them killed and served to you to eat. All animals have connections ( humans included) which bind them to each other.

[MrsKey]

I think it is also important to remember that even when you've met some of these animals face-to-face it can still be hard to overcome that disassociation. We are trained (even if unintentionally) to make that disconnect, and the indoctrination begins at a very early age.

Went to Wendy's the other day to grab a soda. Saw a little tyke eating his kids' meal ... chicken nuggets and fries. He was sitting with his mom who was eating a bacon cheeseburger. The bag his food came in was a Charlotte's Web themed bag.

So there's this kid eating chunks of chicken from a bag with playful pictures of farm animals all over it.

Neither child nor mother made the connection.

20, 30 (or more) years of conditioning to make that disconnect can be really hard for people to overcome. I'm one of those people who has a really hard time with that.

So if you meet the animals and you still find it hard to make the connection between the cow with the soulful eyes and the t-bone in the grocery store ... cut yourself some slack and know that you aren't alone.

It took a long time to learn the food/animal disconnect. It can take a long time to unlearn it for some as well.

[heidiny77]

I've seen the animals I used to eat up close and personal at farms, zoos, etc. and that didn't do it for me. I read "Fast Food Nation" and that really opened my eyes to how terrible the fast food industry is, how cruelly meat is produced and how disgusting the meat industry is in how is raises and feeds these animals. After that, no more meat! And then I started reading anything I could get my hands on. The pictures and stories in the books I've read break my heart. I can't imagine ever eating meat again. I'm still struggling with cheese and eggs in desserts as well as "hidden" animal byproducts. My goal is to become vegan and I take it one day at a time and do my best. I guess what I'm really saying is that seeing the live animal wouldn't make it real for me; it's what happens to them after I've left the zoo that bothers me.

[leminchyl]

i just bought a book called "the emotional lives of animals." im gonna start reading it tonight and you might want to look into it, too.

[Beachbnny]

I was just coming to suggest that you pick up a book :) ^ Beat me to it!

I went vegan straight from omni because I was picking out a pumpkin to carve for halloween with my (vegan) BF at the time. We walked by the petting zoo part of the farm and I was ooh'ing and aaawww'ing over all the cute sweet animals. I stopped in front of this one pen where there were a few cows and chickens together. I thought they were so cute! My BF leans into my ear and whispers,

"You eat them."

And *POOF* a vegan was born. I haven't eaten meat since. That was 6 years ago and I remember the feeling vividly. If you can, try and make the connection. It is tough and everything that everyone has said is correct. But try. Try and see their suffering and take yourself out of the equation.

:hug: You can do it.

ETA: I just glanced at your profile. You're 13 and doing a fabulous job! Be proud of yourself, I know it's hard :)

[AbigailH]

I too have fallen off the veggie wagon, just put one foot in front of the other. I grew up on a ranch and have seen the entire process of raising cattle, branding and slaughtering. It was a normal way of life in the country. I do this for my health, please forgive me, as I love the taste of seered cow. Again I do it for my health and the health of my child, that's what keeps me going. I feel stronger and more alert without meat and I love it. You will adjust and also feel this way soon. Good luck.

[michael2]

I do this for my health, please forgive me, as I love the taste of seered cow.

health or taste?


Again I do it for my health and the health of my child, that's what keeps me going.

anything specific?

[vegstrength]

Does it have to be an animal reason?

There are lots of people who became Vegan to help Stop Global Warming or protect the environment.

Knowing that I'm not contributing the suffering of animals makes me feel good too, but it was not my driving force.

I became Vegan when I read several articles that showed that becoming Vegan would do more for the environment and climate change (and a million times faster) than if everyone were to go out and buy a Prius tomorrow.

It becomes easier when you make a conscious choice to live for others and the future of your children and not just for yourself. Lets face it, there are Vegan alternatives that taste as good, and in fact better than meat and dairy, so its just a matter of breaking the habit of what you've previously known as food.

You can't put a price on feeling really good about yourself, knowing that you're doing everything possible to protect the planet and ensure its future.

[hooligan]

Have you watched the movie Earthlings? It was put out by Peta and even though I am pretty anti-Peta its very good and it left my bf in tears last night (and he's not a cry'er) If you'd like a copy, let me know and I'll send you one :)

http://www.amazon.com/EARTHLINGS/dp/B000QX0LE6

[Bios]

Most cities have a livestock market where they auction off lots of 'meat' animals. Look for livestock market or livestock auction in Google or yellow pages or whatever. It makes a vivid connection between the confused, frightened animals and the 'meat' they are destined to become.

We have one a couple of blocks from my house. It is not run by evil people who intend to hurt the animals that they run through the sale barn. But it is so clearly turning life into a commodity ... it always gladdens my heart to remember as I walk by that I am not supporting that.