I was thinking (cannibalism)...

[skm4441]

Cannibalism is illegal right? I took a course in Zoology a few years ago... Humans and many kinds of animals are mammals...

Genocide is also illegal... I just feel that slaughterhouses are really no different from genocides, especially the Holocaust...

So if we can eat animals, why can't we eat humans too...? So like it will ever happen, eating animals should be illegal.

I just feel that eating animals is not much different from cannibalism.

[Kiz]

We can't eat humans because we are the same species. It's not socially acceptable to eat for a human being in our society to eat a member of it's own species, not is it healthy. Too many diseases. Like it or not, eating humans is way unhealthier than eating chickens.

The difference between genocide and slaughterhouses is that genocide tends to include the attempt to wipe out certain groups of people, "breeds" of people if you wish. This leads to the annihilation (or close to it) of these breeds of people. Slaughterhouses are not trying to wipe out breeds of cows, for example. The graziers just keep breeding more cows for them, so a slaughterhouse can kill millions of a certain breed of cow without coming even close to the annihilation of that breed.

[Waikikamukau]

I agree with you and I do think that, eventually, this will be a world view.

But it's going to take a long time.

Vegetarianism and veganism are becoming more prevalent. Eventually there will be enough of us in "civilized" countries that our voices will be heard; commercials will be on television decrying the wanton slaughter of animals. People will be made well aware of the amount of torture their food went through. This sort of thing can hopefully cause a chain reaction.

If people become disgusted by what they're eating, they'll stop eating it. Conversation will commence about how wrong it is to do these things to other animals, and how they are as deserving of life as we are.

One day people will look back in shock and revulsion at the idea of eating meat just as we currently look at cultures who have practiced cannibalism.

I hope.

But for now, most people don't see what they're eating as ever having been a unique, sentient life. They don't care that animals might suffer, unless that animal is cute and fluffy; even then it's okay as long as they don't have to know about it.

It's a sad world we live in right now...


We can't eat humans because we are the same species. It's not socially acceptable to eat for a human being in our society to eat a member of it's own species, not is it healthy.

True, an analogy of genocide isn't perfect, and for the most part cannibalism hasn't been a significant part of our development, whereas eating other animals has been. But the willful slaughter involved in both, uncaring for those being killed, does fit pretty well. Now that we're at a point where we can survive without eating animals, we're just doing it for pleasure and convenience...

...I really need to go vegan.

[Animosity]

Our culture does not belive in cannibalism because it's the killing of the same species as themselves, That which has been labled as a sin. Whereas the killing and consuming of animals is still accepted or even advocated as "needed" or "right". It all has to do with what we are taught by our "devine leaders", Figures of insperation and culture. In some cultures i'm sure cannibalism is accepted. It all depends on the teachings of the religion and the culture. In my own opinion.

Genocide is happening with the animals, For no real reason, Sadly. People don't even choose to be humane in their exploitation, All because of the "God complex" many human have unforunately been plagued with. People are in deniel. They choose to belive they come from "happy places" or that it is "needed for survival" or even the extreme of ""God" made them for us, We are the ultimite creation!" All acts of ignorance or possibly even out of guilt.

[Diana]

Getting the anti-speciesist message across is one of the greatest challenges of Animal Rights activists. Most people have never heard of the term "speciesist" and it's time for it to become a household word.

I would advise those who want to get into easy activism to print out some flyers that explain what speciesism is and leave them lying around everywhere they can. Include some links to some vegan websites as well!

[Earthly Delight]

Cannibalism promotes the spread of species-specific pathogens and parasites, so the health implications from eating them are greater than that of eating other species.

Brain-wasting prion disease (aka mad cow disease) is one that explodes when cannibalism comes into play. (Which is how mad cow started anyway..)

This argument should apply to murder too though--because it's perfectly legal to murder animals, but not humans.

Rather than legalize the murder and cannibalism of humans.. can we just make the rest illegal? I'm not really comfortable with the idea that people can kill me without societal reprecussions--it probably won't end well for me.

[skm4441]

I was not saying that cannibalism should be legal... I just don't get it... the government allows chemicals in our food that may be harmful to our healthy... Human bodies might as well as be better than some synthetic chemicals... I am just learning more about meat... Meat isn't always healthy either...

Cannibalism isn't socially acceptable in the U.S. but I believe it is ok in other countries. People in India do not eat cows (correct me if I'm wrong) and it's not socially acceptable when people eat cows...

I am not saying that slaughterhouses and genocides are exactly the same thing... It's just similar concept and I just think it's wrong... Animals don't harm us if we don't do anything stupid towards them... When the government attempt to wipe out a specific population... why do that? that specific population does not harm anybody else right?

So my point is... why can people murder animals without any conscience so we can "survive" while we can't murder people who are a threat to the population?

[hoodedclawjen]

^^ if everything humans did was based on good logic, and sound ethics, the world would be a very different place.

i personally stick to eating vegan gingerbread men. head first. they taste better, and carry way less risk of prion diseases.

[Earthly Delight]

So my point is... why can people murder animals without any conscience so we can "survive" while we can't murder people who are a threat to the population?

Ooooooh. I like that point! Honestly, I think that if you were to formally debate that topic it would be awesome to take the standpoint that overpopulation is threatening to hurt us all--that the 'weak' and 'diseased' are bringing us down, so we if we truly believe killing is OK for survival, we should kill them too--if not, we shouldnt kill anything.

PS Jen--you murderer you.

[AlainWinthrope]

I'll become a meat eater again as soon as human's on the menu--I'm just a vegan because I like to be consistent.

[Sevenseas]

There's someone in my workplace who always responds "bite me", so inspired by this thread, I decided to do what he asked.

[Laine]

When anthropologists first visited New Guinea's highlands a starting 20% of the population was infected by prion diseases "Curo" as it was called by the islanders. Apparently people would fall into cunvolsions and fits of laughter before dying usually a half year later. These symptons to me are frightenly zombie like.

[animall0versist]

I think all types of meat are unhealthy, animal and people.

[greenrunner]

I'll become a meat eater again as soon as human's on the menu--I'm just a vegan because I like to be consistent.

Seriously, I wish we could do something with all that wasted meat. Imagine how tasty prisoners would be who had nothing to do but work out for the last decade. Such tender meat! /jks

[Mrrple]

There's someone in my workplace who always responds "bite me", so inspired by this thread, I decided to do what he asked.

Heheh.

Nom nom nom!

[LovelyPerv]

When anthropologists first visited New Guinea's highlands a starting 20% of the population was infected by prion diseases "Curo" as it was called by the islanders. Apparently people would fall into cunvolsions and fits of laughter before dying usually a half year later. These symptons to me are frightenly zombie like.

Hmm... Anyone else think of a human variation of mad cow disease when they read that?

[Kiz]

If you are referring to the scientists who studied it, yes they, have. It read a whole book about this once - it was quite fascinating stuff. This is not actually a "human variant" of mad cow but yes, it is something very similar, and has the same spongiform (sp?) effect on the brain.

[LJeanne]

In the perfect world... when humans do not eat any animals.....will there be too many animals then?.. overpopulation of animals? .. they would eat each other wouldn't they? Would they try to eat us?

[abroadinSacto]

So my point is... why can people murder animals without any conscience so we can "survive" while we can't murder people who are a threat to the population?

Maybe they should make it legal to kill people if you eat them.

[LJeanne]

letting guilty murderers get natural punishment.... setting them free in the wildlife for animals to fight over..... )ick....

[hoodedclawjen]

In the perfect world... when humans do not eat any animals.....will there be too many animals then?

i doubt it. people aren't all gonna stop eating meat tomorrow. even if they did, we could chip in and look after those animals for their natural lives. beyond that, left to it, wild animals manage their own populations pretty well. if too many of them are born, there isn't enough food to go round, so the weak die out, etc. there can't be more animals (or people) than there is food for. nature kinda looks after that stuff, generally. but i'm sure people would stick their oars in if need be. they could slip contraceptive pills into things if they had to, change the environment, etc.


.. overpopulation of animals? .. they would eat each other wouldn't they?

i don't think the plant eaters would. they'd eat plants. the meat eaters generally do that anyway. its their nature.


Would they try to eat us?

i can't see it being a huge deal. i don't envisage hordes of wild hungry cows and chickens roaming around newyork taking out unwitting tourists and small children. i also think that if we're not smart enough to outwit them, we pretty much deserve it.

eta: i have wicked deja-vous here. its freaking me out.

[guinnesshero]

Seriously, I wish we could do something with all that wasted meat. Imagine how tasty prisoners would be who had nothing to do but work out for the last decade. Such tender meat! /jks

wouldnt they be tough and chewy? isnt that the theory behind viel they keep it fomr moveing too much so it stays tender?

[panthera]

If you are referring to the scientists who studied it, yes they, have. It read a whole book about this once - it was quite fascinating stuff. This is not actually a "human variant" of mad cow but yes, it is something very similar, and has the same spongiform (sp?) effect on the brain.

Creutzfeldt Jakob disease. There seems to be a form of Spongiform Encephalopathy in several different types of animals.


Now that we're at a point where we can survive without eating animals, we're just doing it for pleasure and convenience...

...I really need to go vegan.

I caught that! Why aren't you vegan yet? Can we help you in any way? (besides finding a good vegan cheese!)

[Banana2022]

I basically agree with you.
However, The Others (the omnivores) argue that animals were put on the planet to feed us. Or they argue that humans are superior; any human who eats meat thinks they are superior, that's apparent enough. Plus, most people on the planet who eat animals don't connect with them on the level that we do, you know?
When I'm driving through the country with my family and we see a cow grazing in the field, they go, "God, he's lucky. No work, no chores. Just eating." I go, "He will die. He is not there, like passing a fox on the highway. A fox is free to live. That cow's life will end before it has to, because humans will kill him while he is fat and in his prime."
If omnivores were to visit their friend's farm and see a little piglet, love it, and visit it every once in a while, they would object his murder. But if they don't know the animal, they have a much easier time turning their heads away; being ignorant.
It all comes down to ignorance and feelings of superiority.