[Robwen]

This video is what made me realize after thinking for a long long time about changing to veggies, that to do it "just" for me wasnt the only reason.<br><br><br><br>
Im sure alot of you have seen this. Its very very graphic, so dont watch it if you think it will well you know..... <a href="http://www.meat.org" target="_blank">www.meat.org</a> If this post is a repeat im sorry im just joined and if im breaking a rule please let me know. Thanks.

 

[CherBear]

Welcome to VB robwen! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/hi.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":hi:"><br><br><br><br>
Actually, I can't watch that video - I attempted to a while ago but only made it until it showed a chicken being beat with a stick <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/bigcry.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> It's waaayyy too much for me. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sick.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
I was raised in a household with both parents being hunters. I remember as a little girl eating the animals my parents killed and to this day a deer head hangs on one of their walls. I learned at an early age where meat came from although I lived in denial (especially concerning dairy/eggs). I chose to be lacto-ovo vegetarian (eat eggs & cheese but no meat) in 1998.<br><br><br><br>
When I joined here very recently I began reading posts on the dairy/egg industries. I never realized what those poor cows/calves go through just so I can pour milk over my cereal or eat my mac-n-cheese. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/no.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":no:"> I disagree with animal cruelty yet here I was chowing down on dairy/eggs which most definitely causes harm to animals. Doesn't make sense, does it?<br><br><br><br>
So, now I've chosen to go vegan and I feel like I'm contributing to the welfare of ALL animals. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/broccoli.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":bobo:">

 

[Robwen]

I totally understand about not being able to watch that video. Thats the very first one i ever saw and it not only really made me sick but broke my heart!!! Im getting into this way of life later than some im almost 34 but yeah my parents were and still are Major Meat eaters and growing up i never saw anything wrong with it. Then i went through a "well God gave animals to us to "use"" phase and now Im at the point where my head and heart are thinking. "OH MY GOD, Look at what happens to animals because i have a craving for fried chicken or a double cheeseburger" Its my fault!!!! KWIM?

 

[CherBear]

Yup, I know what you mean. Congrats on going veg by the way!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/carrot.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":vebo:"> I recently went grocery shopping and out to eat with my mom. We got on the topic of my decision to give up dairy/eggs. My mom used that statement as well... "God gave us animals to use". <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/no.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":no:">

 

[Robwen]

Also i wanted to add that ive always "known" that eating animals was bad and yeah it killed the animals and stuff BUT when i actually saw how graphic it all was.........I knew i had to do something. IM a late learner but at least im here

 

[lilac wine]

congrats and welcome, robwen.<br><br><br><br>
i'm so glad that video footage you linked is out there. i've met a lot of people whose lives have been affected by that. (and who have chosen as a result to do something to affect change for others, like you.).

 

[Robwen]

thank you for the welcome

 

[thatoneguy]

I learned in my high school nutrition class that vegetarians are healthy, so I started to research and became vegetarian.

 

[HandcuffedAngel]

I have loved animals all my life and I started reading <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy</span>. As I was reading it it started talking about factory farms. I started doing research and decided to go vegetarian.<br><br><br><br>
I was talking to some vegetarian MySpacers and a meat-eater called me a hypocrite and mentioned how badly dairy cows are treated. I figured it was a challenge from the omnivore and took it in stride. I went vegan cold tofurky as a New Year's Resolution and I believe it has been the best decision of my life.

 

[GoodLifeSean]

My Fianceé sent me a link to KFC Cruelty sponsered by PETA, over the course of that day I sat and watched every video on every site PETA owns, that I could find(The streets were flooded and I had nothing better to do I thouhgt.) Let's just say I had a strong enough stomach not to womit... but I decided I didn't want to fuel into that kind of animal abuse. The final straw that convinced me was my ecology class when we discussed the characteristics of carnivores and herbivores, and I felt we just aren't meant to eat meat.

 

[bobdylan]

Hey I just wanna say I used to live on a farm and raise animals and none of our animals were treated cruelly. Although that film was very enlightening to how some people can mistreat animals. Nothing deserves to be hurt that way

 

[faded_amaranth]

I always knew I would be a vegetarian on day, once I was out on my own though. Well 2 years ago I gave up almost all animal products (not honey) for Lent. A couple of weeks into it I found out about factory farming from Vegan Outreach. I looked into it further and was horrified by what I found, and I never even saw the PETA stuff. Once Resurrection Sunday rolled around I announced to my family that I wasn't going back. My parents weren't particularly thrilled about me doing Lent, so their reaction was what I expected, but they were supportive.<br><br>
\tI live among the Amish and other types of farmers, so I no that factory farming isn't the only way. I don't agree with separating calves from their mothers, so dairy was out. I know where I could get real free range meat and game meat from but I can live without eating dead animals, so why go through the hassle. And eggs, well I think that egg-laying chickens get the worst treatment out of all the animals used for food in America. Even here, amidst rolling green pastures of farm land, almost all chickens used for their eggs are factory farmed.<br><br>
\tI think the dominion God gives us over animals kind of parallels the relationship between humans and God. Since I know how they are treated, I know I can live healthy without the food we get from them, and I can afford to live that way, how can I expect mercy from God if I can't show it to the animals God also created? I know my life style will still cause harm to animals, but every little bit helps.

 

[Robwen]

Thanks yall for your answers

 

[kpickell]

That video is Meet Your Meat. You can get a free CD copy from PETA, or the DVD is a couple dollars, oh and they encourage pirating. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/wink3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br><br><br>
To answer the question in your subject line.... It was the website <a href="http://www.whyvegan.com" target="_blank">www.whyvegan.com</a> that ultimately led to my decision to stop eating meat.

 

[elibrown]

I was 18 or 19, various minor health problems were starting to run my life...IBS mostly, also acne and fatigue. One day I just woke up and said, "I'm not going to live this way anymore". Started reading books and learned that you can't go to Taco Bell twice a day and have clear skin and calm bowels.<br><br><br><br>
Meat is just one of the many bad habits I gave up.

 

[CherBear]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>faded_amaranth</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I think the dominion God gives us over animals kind of parallels the relationship between humans and God. Since I know how they are treated, I know I can live healthy without the food we get from them, and I can afford to live that way, how can I expect mercy from God if I can't show it to the animals God also created? I know my life style will still cause harm to animals, but every little bit helps.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
I agree soooo much with your statement! I was talking to my mother on Saturday about my decision to give up dairy/eggs (I was already LO veggie). My parents are Christian (Mennonite) and my mother said that God gave us animals to use. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/undecided.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":-/"> I explained that I doubt God's plan was for animals to be locked in cages and forced to produce dairy/eggs and ultimately lose their life just so we can consume their flesh. It just doesn't mesh well with my personal beliefs.

 

[LoonyLuna]

The reason I gave up meat was because I just couldn't see the point of killing and eating animals when you can live healthily, and sometimes even healthier, without it. So I gave up all meat. Then when I learned about the way the animals are slaughted for food, then that just disgusted me and made me more determined to stick with my vegetarianism. It's the same now that I know about all that crap that goes into meat - the antibiotics and dyes - it just grosses me out and I can't understand why anyone would want to put that crap into their own bodies, though I can't talk because I used to <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thumbsdown.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":down:">

 

[CherBear]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>LoonyLuna</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I know about all that crap that goes into meat - the antibiotics and dyes - it just grosses me out and I can't understand why anyone would want to put that crap into their own bodies, though I can't talk because I used to <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thumbsdown.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":down:"></div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
But you don't anymore, and that's what is important.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[asp3]

The main reason I stopped eating meat was because my wife went back to being vegetarian. She had first stopped eating meat because her brother stopped because he was appalled by the amount of tax money that went to the meat and dairy councils. He was voting with his dollars by not supporting those industries. She started feeling healthier after being vegetarian and then went back to omni after her son was born.<br><br><br><br>
I had already given up most beef because of the hormones and other negative health affects before I met her. Then after she went back to being vegetarian I gave up poultry over time and finally seafood. It was easier to give them up as I learned more about the health and environmental effects of meat production. So for me learning more caused me to choose a vegetarian diet. Although I do have some compassion for animals, my motivation was never animal based.<br><br><br><br>
Edited to make it more understandable.

 

[ketivnilloc]

I had a speech class, and decided to do my speach on slaughter houses...at that point i didn't eat beef or pork. The more i read, the more i couldn't eat it anymore.