Does an image like this make you more likely to stop eating meat?

[MoonRiver]

[link:|

32 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Yes
	2 (6%)
	No
	23 (72%)
	Maybe
	2 (6%)
	I already don't eat meat.
	5 (16%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[sasha031]

1. stopped eating eat in 1989 out of guilt & compassion, never looked back

such a cute baby

[MoonRiver]

4. It was about 1992 for me.

I'm not even tempted to go back.

[sasha031]

9. Understand how you feel Moonriver

I guess some of us are more sensitive to the suffering of others.

[NoOneMan]

10. What do you eat instead to avoid perpetrating suffering?

[nobodyspecial]

17. Let me guess

Plants feel pain and insects and mice get hurt during harvest. Therefore, you simply shouldn't eat.

[NoOneMan]

23. No, clearing out vast forests to create agricultural lands you pour poison on kills animals

Agriculture leads to a direct, measurable loss on habitat and biodiversity. Ironically, it is a foraging approach (which includes killing) that preserves land that can support animal life in addition to humans.

Therefore, you simply shouldn't eat.

If one is worried about all suffering aside from yours, sure. But in reality, suffering is a part of life. Its a part of the natural system when it is in balance and healthy. That does not make increasing its magnitude permissible, as that would destroy the balance that supports all life.

[villager]

27. So your solution is to eat even higher on the food chain, requiring ever more agriculture?

The point is, given the food production systems we have, short of entirely harvesting our own, the goal is to support a teetering, cruel -- poisonous -- system as little as realistically possible.

[NoOneMan]

37. Um, no. Thats not my "solution"

I don't have a solution. Earth does. That solution is climate change. Billions upon billions will die of famine by the century's end.

Now, when that happens, I have a new approach (which is an old approach). Get out there and get your own damn meat if you want it, in such a way that your children will have a chance at that meat as well. Otherwise, get your own veggies and fruit without tilling up the land to do it. We need to figure out how to support what is left of us without destroying the earth to do it--if that takes killing off agriculture in its current form, Im good with that (there are some viable horticultural approaches we could always implement).

Either we will figure it out upon the reboot or we wont. We likely wont.

[sasha031]

33. can't one comment to another DU on this board?

I wasn't speaking to you or nobodyspecial

For years I practiced Buddhism, it is my choice to become a vegan, & as said earlier never looked backed.

[NoOneMan]

42. Sure, but everyone is welcome to reply!

For years I practiced Buddhism, it is my choice to become a vegan, & as said earlier never looked backed.

That's great for you. I'm still not sure how that avoids perpetrating suffering and harm. Wouldn't ascribing to ahimsa deter one from any practice that either directly or indirectly contributes to harm? Or is our agricultural system not harming other life?

And by no means is this a personal attack...sure, you may have developed some non-carbon, organic, biodiversity enhancing method of developing food with a positive impact on all living creatures around you. Many simply head to the grocery store. I bring this up to invoke thought into the grocery store hunters.

[sasha031]

61. I stay away from all meat departments

" Wouldn't ascribing to ahimsa deter one from any practice that either directly or indirectly contributes to harm? Or is our agricultural system not harming other life?"
That's a very good point and I have thought it that, suppose that we all take something away from someone or something else in order to survive. But to me all animals are sentient in nature (probably all life) The carbon footprint thought came later, as well the knowledge of the horrors of factory farming.




Sorry if I was on the defensive on one of my posts, think I've become a bit of a kneejerker at times.

[NoOneMan]

63. I've never been to a meat department

But I understand that when I goto the veggie department, those veggies don't come from a fairy's wand. They come from a piece of land animals used to live at.

I have many thoughts on animals, and I find them incredible and very beautiful; they are probably far more sentient than we give them credit for. More often than not, I will hold a 35 pound chinook in my hands, pet it, look it into the eyes, and let it spawn. Occasionally I will finish it quickly, and be thankful that I don't have to supplement my family' meals with food created through environmental devastation. Understanding the beauty of such an animal doesn't stop me from killing it, but rather practicing safe angling habits and trying to promote their habitat through conservation practices. Its a complicated line to tread, being part of this system. In any case, nature is going to work out this problem soon enough

No prob on the defensive bit.

[MoonRiver]

38. Vegetables WANT to be eaten.

Not to get gross, but that's how their seed, aka offspring, are spread.

[NoOneMan]

45. And trees want to be cut down to make fields for carrots?

And deer want to die from loss of habitat?

How do we know pigs don't want to be eaten, so that humans find them tasty and spread them around everywhere?

[MoonRiver]

47. Oh, please. Those examples are ridiculous.

Trees aren't eaten when they are cut down, nor can they consciously sacrifice themselves for carrots.
You think pigs or any other sentient being should willingly let themselves be slaughtered to provide a good meal for complete strangers? Then why don't you volunteer first to set that example?

[NoOneMan]

49. I think you are missing the forest through the trees here

This is reality, and it isn't ridiculous. Trees support life. They support life of deer, of wolves, of foxes, of squirrels, of everything in the entire ecosystem (including mycelium, insects and worms).

When you destroy forests for monocropping, to feed humans, you destroy all life that those forests support. I don't give a damn if you think trees aren't conscious enough to care about. They are an important part of the ecosystem that gives our planet life. Deforestation for agricultural purposes has create a real amount of suffering among life you deem important enough to care about.

You think pigs or any other sentient being should willingly let themselves be slaughtered to provide a good meal for complete strangers

In my opinion, not so much. They should be allowed to fight for their freedom in the wild. Whoever wins, wins.

[MoonRiver]

53. I don't agree with deforestation, so we have something in common.

Also, would agree with your last statement, except it's not a fair fight anymore. No animal has a chance in the wild unless the hunter uses a bow and arrow. And factory farms are just plain evil.

[NoOneMan]

62. Humans have been amazingly skilled and efficient hunters for tens of thousands of years

Rifles aren't really as revolutionary--for the purposes of hunting--as many may believe. Rather, they may have simply allowed humans to focus on other skill development by giving them an easy aid in this one focus. Its never been a fair fight...a gazelle does not have a "fair" fight against a cheeta, nor does a snake against an eagle. System balance is not dependent upon balance in every creature, but from the interaction of all creatures.

But we have gotten to a bad place now...agriculture allowed mass overshoot and loss of wildlife. We have too many people, and not enough game. Thats the real situation...there is no sustainable path forward, and most certainly not in the face of climate change, which will reduce both wild game and crop yields.

And factory farms are just plain evil.

I don't really ascribe to the term "evil", but they are most incredibly unsustainable and devastating for the environment. Though, all farming is to one degree or another.

[MoonRiver]

36. Sasha, I think that is true.

When I was a child in Texas, long before "fake" meats existed I wanted to stop eating meat. All I had to learn was that animals I loved were being killed for dinner. Unfortunately, an all vegetable diet was just too hard in my carnivorous family and community. But I'm there now!

[sasha031]

41. It started with me too as a child always adored all animals

Forever feeling this deep seeded guilt at dinner time. I'm sorry it took so long to realize some of us are meant to be vegan

[MoonRiver]

48. It's a lot easier now.

There are so many non-meat choices that are truly delicious.

[sasha031]

81. Yes Moonriver the alternatives are so much better

meat eater have no idea, how many choices there are. They're are clueless on how unhealthy it is to be a carnivore.

[MoonRiver]

84. That is really amazing considering how many doctors recommend that we not eat red meat.

Seafood is the only "meat" that modern medicine recognizes to be not potentially lethal.

[JaneyVee]

13. I don't eat beef/red meat or pork. But I do poultry & fish.

[NoOneMan]

2. No.

While I don't eat land animals, I don't think dressing them up as humans would make me any less likely.

Dress a gazelle up as a anything, and a cheeta will be sure to chase it down and eat it anyway.

Eating those below you on the food chain in somewhat natural. Raising them for slaughter is not in my opinion.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. It makes me more likely to go...cuteness squee!

Vegetarian already. Thanks for the darling pic though.

[MoonRiver]

7. Don't you just want to hug that little guy!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. He's too precious!

I'd not be able to resist snuggles and kisses.

[KansDem]

14. Looks like you could use a trip to...

CUTE OVERLOAD!!!

http://cuteoverload.com/

[MoonRiver]

26. OMG, adorable pics!

Thanks for the link!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

28. Be honest, did my "squee" make you think of them?

I'm a longtime Cute Overload fan.

[KansDem]

54. .

[p align="right"][font size="1"]...yes

[Lone_Star_Dem]

64. Ha! Great minds!

I only asked because as soon a I posted it I thought of them too!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

5. Yes, you bastard!! :-P

[quinnox]

6. no, it doesn't

even the most gruesome and stomach turning images, usually posted by PETA people, have not turned me against eating meat.

[customerserviceguy]

79. Same here

And I don't have any problem with others who eat animals that I won't eat because I find them cute.

[Angry Dragon]

8. Is that Miss Piggy??

[Fla_Democrat]

87. Not sure about the face.. but the outfit...

is all Flashdance.

[NutmegYankee]

12. No. But it's wicked cute.

When it grows up, not so much.

[MoonRiver]

18. Here's some grown-up ones in Farm Sanctuary. I think they are still cute!

Just look at those happy faces!

[link:|

[lame54]

15. Pass the mustard

[unblock]

16. all i see is, MMM, BACON!

actually, i don't eat meat (well, fish is ok), but i have no problem with the idea of eating other animals, and i have no objections or reservations whatsoever about other people doing it. i don't mind watching them eat it; hell, i wouldn't even mind cooking it for them.


i don't eat meat primarily for health reasons, and secondarily due to doubts about the way most meat is raised and processed.

if i were to eat go back to eating meat, i would actually prefer to eat the cuter animals rather than the gross-looking animals....

[OldDem2012]

19. Bacon! Bacon! BACON!!! PORK CHOPS!!!!! HAM!!!!!!! Here little piggy!....

....I know, I know...that was cruel.

[MoonRiver]

21. Yeah, it was...

but I'm used to it.

[earthside]

20. I stopped eating vegetables after seeing this:

[OldDem2012]

22. HA!! nt.

[NoOneMan]

30. Awwww...how cute!

[immoderate]

50. Oh god! You should post a warning!

I'll never eat Brussels sprouts again! Couldn't stand 'em before, either.

--imm

[stklurker]

24. not with this problem...

Not at all... http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/A-Plague-of-Pigs-in-Texas.html

[graywarrior]

25. Awwwwwww!

I haven't had meat since I was 16 over a hundred years ago.

[mike_c]

29. I understand the eating meat involves some degree of necessary cruelty...

...and I believe we MUST do all we can to minimize the suffering of animals raised for food, but a cute photo isn't going to undo millions of years of dietary evolution, I'm afraid.

[legaleagle_45]

31. Baby Back Ribs

[Travis_0004]

32. Nope-In fact I'm eating a ham sandwich now.

And I've even got a little bit of bacon in my cobb salad.

[Robb]

34. Quoth Homer Simpson:

"You can't kill him if he's wearing people clothes!!"

[dballance]

35. Nope. All Cute Right Now

But 200-300 pounds later when it's rolling in the mud it just looks like ham, bacon, and pork chops to me.

[NickB79]

39. I raised thousands of those bastards as a kid on the farm

And I know that in a year that cute little piggy is going to be a big, mean, loud, smelly, ornery son of a bitch that would probably try to take a bite out of your leg if you turned your back on him/her.

God I hate pigs.

[quinnox]

40. interesting...

[MoonRiver]

44. Well, I LOVE pigs. Even have a pig collection all over my house.

So there!

[Sissyk]

66. Does that get messy?

Where do they waller??? lol!

[NoOneMan]

51. Yeah, definitely are some nasty creatures

My friend used to raise them, so I was around them quite a bit as a child. Disgusting and mean little things by my standards. But you might be pissed being couped up in a shitty pen most of your life.

[kenny blankenship]

77. I blame society

those big, mean, loud, smelly, ornery son(s) of a bitch just weren't being raised in a nurturing, loving environment. Tell the truth now, did you ever really tell them that you loved them?

And dude please, the preferred nomenclature is sow. The B word is unacceptable!

[aikoaiko]

43. I have both reactions. Cute! And I'd eat it!

I won't put up pics, but suckling pig is darn good eating.

[Motown_Johnny]

46. Looks Delicious

[Sheepshank]

52. I wonder what bacon would look like, from this little cutie n/t

[Deep13]

55. I guess I never doubted that it is possible to make pig sweaters. nt

[MoonRiver]

56. If they can make them for these guys,

they can definitely make them for piglets.

[link:|

[Liberal_in_LA]

57. sweet piggy

[Deep13]

59. Sour, too.

[OmahaBlueDog]

58. I adore pigs, and if I get a pet pig, I will give up pork

However, nothing will induce me to give up beef. No cow is that cute.

[Crepuscular]

60. Yum, roast pork!

They taste better if you take the clothes off them before cooking.

[IMG][/IMG]

[greytdemocrat]

65. They are so tender at that age!!!! n/t

[bobclark86]

67. Like Elmer, the pig who grew up on my farm when I was a kid...

this little piggy will be mighty tasty come the middle of winter .

No, this won't stop me. Ever cut a chicken's head off at 20 below zero and then gut it with the steam pouring out? We were poor when I was in elementary school, and the eggs from the chickens were are primary source of protein one winter... when one stopped laying, it went in the pressure cooker. Hell, one time, I remember a deer was hit out front of our house in the middle of the night. A trooper showed up, gave us a tag, and at 2 a.m., we were cutting it up.

If that didn't stop me from eating meat, not much will.

[MoonRiver]

69. Actually,

that was a lot more than I wanted to know.

[bowens43]

68. if animals arent meant to be eaten

Why are they made out of meat?

[MoonRiver]

70. Are you meant to be eaten?

just asking

[legaleagle_45]

71. Yep

But being on the top of the food chain means we get eaten by those predators at the very bottom of the food chain... bacteria, maggots and similarly unsavory beasties.

[MoonRiver]

73. Alright then!

[link:|

[liberal_at_heart]

98. bacteria and viruses can bring down and kill the healthiest person on Earth

All living things die. As Simba and Mufasa would say and Elton John would sing, it is the circle of life.

[FarCenter]

72. With care it will finish out at 240 to 280 lbs market weight in about 6 months.

Dressed and cut, it should provide about 130 lbs of excellent pork.

[MoonRiver]

82. That piggy is a pet. It will never end up on your heart unhealthy plate.

[FarCenter]

85. Pet? What breed is it?

[Burma Jones]

74. Sandy Hook made me stop eating meat

[Deep13]

89. Seriously? You're going with that? nt

[Llewlladdwr]

92. Makes as much sense as most vegans. nt

[Deep13]

97. Pretty much, sad to say...

...since some folks that I like and hold in high esteem are vegans. Of course I can say the same thing about Evangelicals and adherents of astrology.

[SidDithers]

75. Makes me think of spiral ham...nt

Sid

[EastKYLiberal]

76. Not enough meat yet. Fatten it up and get back to me. nt

[gollygee]

78. A little pig goes a long way

I'm not a big fan of pork actually, but I do eat meat.

[Xipe Totec]

80. What the Aztecs called "The Other White Meat" nt

[longship]

83. Or does this one?

Or course, there's even video:

[RedCappedBandit]

86. Certain images of factory conditions etc

definitely do make me less likely to eat meat. I am not a vegetarian, nor do I really want to be, but I definitely try to limit my consumption of dead animals. If such images have zero impact on you I think that's pretty strange.

The picture in the OP, though, is just cute and I don't really connect it to food.

[Demo_Chris]

88. Nope, he looks like bacon to me

[Llewlladdwr]

90. I find animals wearing clothing disturbing.

A pig is not a person no matter how much one pretends otherwise

[MrSlayer]

91. He'll grow up to provide a nice pork belly.

Everyone has their place.

[cherokeeprogressive]

93. Nnnnnnope, and that looks like a tender morsel right there...

[flvegan]

94. Why would you ask stupid people that question?

Ego is a funny thing. Thinking is something else aside.

Emotion. LOL.

[cali196lib99]

95. Not a chance, mate

I love eating meat. And that cute little piggy would make for a fantastic meal. No offense to any vegetarians.

[HipChick]

96. Nope...those trotters would make some kick ass souse right now..