If it's OK to eat animals because they're not sentient, don't experience emotion etc. Is it ok to eat retards?

Question

For the love of Christ. I'm a vegetarian making an argument for vegetarianism - I'm not not arguing that we should eat the retarded!!

And yes, there's different kinds of impairment and different kinds of mental function. But that's hardly the point of the question.

Answer 1

I have to agree with Margie! I am sorry, but for the record, I do not eat animals.

Answer 2

It is not clear that animals are not sentient. Especially mammals, which seem to even have emotions.
It is also clear that retards, as you put it, also experience emotion.

So I don't think that it has anything to do with emotion or even the capacity for suffering. I think that it is just cultural convention.

If people grew up in a culture within which canibalism was the norm then they would have some argument why it was okay to eat they people that they hunt, kill, and eat. They would justify it by saying they are subhuman or that they are being honoured or something like that.

People eat animals because they have had carrion stuffed into their faces since they were babies. They just don't think about it or if they do then they just don't care.

I think that you question should have been:
If you are not a retard and are sentient then how can you eat animals without feeling emotional about it?

Answer 3

History has shown people are capably of eating perfectly normal human beings, so why pick on mentally disabled people. Having lived with animals all my life it is obvious that they to are capable of showing emotions, anger, fear, happiness, love and care for their young. many years ago i watched a scientific experiment which showed a change in electrical energy in a plant that was threatened with violence, do they have feelings? At the end of the day we are at the top of the food chain and until a time comes when we can process food out of thin air we are going to have to kill to eat, whether its a poor lil carrot or beef cattle. Human beings didn't have any say in the making of the Universe or the Laws of Nature, we just have to live with it. Hopefully we can attend to the business of collecting our food with what we call " A little Humanity"

Answer 4

I don't think that thousand of years ago humans really put much thought into whether is was ok or not. It was a matter of survival. No it is not ok to eat retards, they are still human. I also don't think that animals eat thier own kind, so it is little different. If a tiger cub was born missing a leg I'm not so sure the others would eat him.

Answer 5

'Life feeds on life' That being re-said, I think you should consider the source of anything you put in your body. Eating vegetarian does not eliminate suffering, or energy consumed at the expense of others. I read an article a year ago about giving thanks to the whole chain of providers of your food, therefore giving credit to all who've helped nourish you. If you live in the city, and you buy an apple, or some tofu, how many people and animals,and plants and machines were involved in the process? Say thankyou.

Answer 6

Humans evolved as omnivores, eating plants along with hunting and fishing.

The paleolithic diet:

http://www.earth360.com/diet_paleodiet_balzer.html

They say that even plants have emotions, so vegetarianism is not the pure non-violent existence that people claim.

We find ourseves in a catch 22 situation. Life feeds on life.

Perhaps humans will one day become beings of pure energy, no longer needing to consume material things in order to survive.

Answer 7

Animals do experience emotion - fear, comfort, etc. And your use of the word "retards" is totally despicable. If you are a vegetarian, why are you asking a question about meat, in any way, shape, fashion, or form. Your question sounds as though you are the one sentient and "dim-witted".

Answer 8

is it OK to eat animals because they are not PC don't think so sure they do experience emotions and is it OK to eat retards are you com pairing humans re retards(actually no human is a retard how insulting are you would never refer to anyone as a retard that is sick ) to animals being human should I apologise no don't thinks so unfortunately I have to eat but as I have great affinity to the plant life of this planet I feel a greater affinity to plants do you think I should stop eating vegetables as a carnivore what do you suggest live on air oh my gosh there are microbes in the air were do we stop death

Answer 9

Your question shows a lack of understanding of other peoples sensibilities.

Oh and I'm a vegitarian too. There are better ways of suggesting to people they eat vegitables than using an insulting slang term to make your point coupled with an insulting implication.

Answer 10

As the parent of a handicapped child, I am offended by your question. But in the hopes that you are capable of cognizant thought, try this:

RETARD: vt. to hinder, delay, or slow the advance or progress of --vi. to be delayed or undergo retardation --n. 1. a retarding; delay 2. [slang] 2a. a retarded person (an OFFENSIVE term of contempt) 2b. a stupid or foolish person

According to your question, and only by that quantification - as per 2b - when are you serving yourself for supper?

Answer 11

Animals don't experience emotion?

*Note* People do not generally eat other people because it is detrimental to our survival as a species. We have been ingrained through evolution to do what best benefits ourselves and our species. Eating animals is generally accepted because this does not hinder our growth as a species.