I have something I'd like to share.?

Question

I was raised in Pakistan for 16 years (after which I moved to the US). During my stay there, I'd accompany my grandmother to the open market to buy fruits, veggies, grains and meat. And it always fascinated me, the meat stalls especially. I'd see a chicken being slaughtered in front of my own eyes (the butcher slit its throat and tossed it into a large barrel, letting it die on its own before getting it out and plucking the feather with its own hands). This other time, I saw a butcher pick up a chicken's head and pushed it inside out to reveal its brain *gag*. And I'd see goat's head lined up on a table, although I have no idea how people could eat that, really.

And despite seeing all that, although I felt sick I never felt sorry for the animals. Don't get me wrong. I'm a pretty emotional person. Suffering really gets to me. But why don't factory farmed animal make me feel bad for them? Why can I just go on and eat meat like nothing's wrong while so many people are so affected by it?

Cristy, I don't care much for your comment. I've seen a few of your questions and comments on other topics and I've noticed you're bitter and extremely judgemental to a lot of people. You feel the need to be rude to people just because they don't agree with you. I even removed my post from your question because I thought it's not worth a fight. I don't care if you don't believe that I, too, can be sympathetic. I won't go into great detail about how I help certain causes and what not because that's not my style.

Even if you don't like somebody else's opinion, learn to deal with it. I don';t agree with a lot of your beliefs. But that doesn't give me the right to insult you all the time. Same goes for you.

The reason I posted this was to understand why I couldn't relate to suffering of animals. And maybe most of you are right. Maybe I am desensitized.

Answer 1

It must affect you to some degree or else you wouldn't be writing about it here.

Answer 2

Although i grew up in the city, there was a market that I went to with my mother occasionally that sold live chickens. They would slaughter and clean them for you if you desired. My mother sometimes brought the live chicken home and did the deed herself. Whenever this happened, I could not eat the chicken. It seemed as though I still smell the blood even after the chicken was cleaned and thoroughly cooked and it made me sick to my stomach. Any other time eating chicken never bothered me at all. I don't know why.

Answer 3

Without knowing you I can't say why it doesn't affect you, but hazarding a guess maybe you've become conditioned into thinking it's normal to kill farm animals for meat, and hence it doesn't bother you? If you're emotional in other areas of your life then it's safe to assume you've only got an emotional block when it comes to farm animals. Sadly a lot of people are the same but not many of them realise it or even care.

Answer 4

When you are exposed to such suffering and horror as a young child you see it as normal. Nobody around you was getting upset. It's like child soldiers who see death and suffering every day and don't even think about it. People who grew up in Kosher households say that mixing meat and dairy in the same dish makes them disgusted because their attuned to it. We can all become desensitised to the atrocities of the world and that's what's happened to you.

Answer 5

i undestand how you feel. I can't stand the thought of an animal suffering anything but I eat meat. I know animals are sentient, are curious, thoughtful, compassionate creatures yet, ... i know i will give up meat one day, when i can't separate my conditioning from my sentiment any longer.

Sounds like you are there already, even though you say you differently.

Answer 6

it's a puzzle but not one I would take too much time and effort trying to solve. thousands of people grew up on farms and watched chickens, cows, pigs and other animals being slaughtered and were as ambivalent as you about it. There are those who believe that if people could see how animals are killed it would turn them against eating meat. You and millions of others prove that theory false. Our heavenly Father gave animals to mankind as food after the flood of Noah's day. (Genesis 9:3-4) This does not cause animals unnecessary suffering and is healthy for mankind when used properly.

Answer 7

I'm the opposite. It really upsets me to see the conditions of factory farms and the way the animals are treated there.

I think it's just because I'm a really sensitive, compassionate person, and it carries over in all areas of life.

This video really disturbs me:

http://www.kfccruelty.com/anderson-vid.asp

Answer 8

many people feel like if they saw/know the animal that has been killed it worse than if they just get a hotdog. i dont reallly understand that, but u are honest and ur not the only one so ur ok by that concept of mental health, i agree cristy was harsh.

Answer 9

I don't know you are affected by it but in a different way you shouldn't care about what other people think. I know it is cruel to see animals dead but maybe their life just isn't good their probably cooped up in small cages but if you're just not happy eating it then you should become a vegetarian

Answer 10

You have been desensitized, basically. It happens to many people. If you are exposed to the same things repeatedly, they lose their power over you. This isn't always a bad thing, IMO, though I will admit it really depends on the situation.

~Morg~

Answer 11

maybe because you feel close to the environment. its where you and your closed one (in this case your grandma) go to. more over, you mentioned that you love the smell. (i do too.. but i dont think the blood smell fascinates me..) so you dont look at the things you see as something horrible. because you understand. its the supermarket. no supermarket, no food. then everyone needs to grow their own crops.