Should we eat meat?

Poll Start Date: 4th November 2003

Do you?

Have you ever thought about becoming vegetarian? Is it a health thing or an ethical decision? Or are you a committed carnivore?

What Do You Think?

Have you ever considered becoming a vegetarian?

Version 2.02

Your Comments

Posted by: James
8-Nov-2003 14:40
Hi, I've just joined today, and what a perfect topic to introduce myself!
I have been vegetarian for a total of almost 16 years, with the last 12 spent as a vegan. The reason for this is purely one of ethics. Without wanting to go into details, I suppose the best way I can describe my reasoning is that I wouldn't expect someone else to do for me, something which I could never even consider, nor could I consume the end result of that act.

I'm not a stereotypical vegan, with long hair, hand woven Tibetan clothes and Birkenstocks, and neither do I like to lecture people on the subject. Obviously, if anyone would like to ask, feel free, but I'm much more interesting than that alone!

Posted by: Daisy
8-Nov-2003 10:31
In the poll there wasn't a category for those of us who used to be veggie but have given it up. I was veggie for most of my life as I didn't like the taste. I now eat fish and chicken as I have discovered that as an adult I do now like these tastes. However, I do try to eat free range and organic produce wherever possible for health and animal welfare reasons. Still can't bear the idea of red meat thought, too...meaty!

Posted by: Janice
8-Nov-2003 07:36
I've been 99% vegetarian for 26 years now. The 1% of the time I have eaten flesh it has usually been because I get an overwhelming craving for oily fish - I think it must be my body's way of telling me that I am lacking in a vitamin or some such thing. I guess the survival instinct takes over and I just give in to this craving.

I have chosen not to eat animals as I don't wish to cause suffering to another sentient being. I also think animal farming has had an adverse effect on the environment. It takes more land to feed cattle than it does to grow crops. Rainforests have been chopped down to make way for animal farming which feed relatively few people. Crop growing uses less land and feeds more people.