Does eating meat mean you have no morals?

Question

I was enjoying a pulled pork rib sandwich last week during my lunch break on the construction site. One of the building inspectors who was checking my work is a vegetarian. She needed to go over some building codes with me but refused to speak to me while I was still holding my sandwich. I asked her if it really bothered her that much and she said, "I have morals and I choose not to eat dead animals".

Is it just me or does this lady have a bad attitude? Was it right for her to make that remark to me?

Tina T and ausblue, you sound just like that lady. You think you can judge me just because I eat meat. Eating meat is normal, I shouldn't have to feel ashamed of something that is perfectly normal.

Answer 1

She's entitled to her opinion and if she finds your dead pig sandwich offensive, she has a right to make that known to you.

I expect she didn't want little bits of dead pig spluttered all over her nice building codes.

Answer 2

That was out of order for her to say. I don't harp on at people i know for eating meat. It's a personal choice and people who moan about others eating meat are the equivalent of shouting 'look at me look at me, i'm so important i have morals you're all vile murderers' and is just showing off. You should have asked her if she had leather shoes - funnily enough i know very few vegetarians who do not possess anything made from animal products. You could also ask her if she banks with a bank that has an ethical investment policy - i.e. not investing in the arms trade, which kill numerous HUMAN BEINGS each year. I would bet good money that she doesn't.

Answer 3

Look chum if you get your kicks from eating the flesh and blood of other animals then thats your affair.

Certainly it does not take an Einstein to see that in a few hundred years time there will be less people eating meat and more vegetarians about. This is because as time goes by we are becoming more civilised as a society.

For example, we do not still burn people at the stake for heresy anymore, or disembowel traitors. However, three hundred years ago this behavious was deemed appropriate and parents would take their children along to enjoy the spectacle.

Of course you are entitled to enjoy your pork sandwich but posterity will probably be revolted by you and your kind.

Answer 4

I think Hitler was a vegetarian. Hmmm did he have 'morals'? Well he probably did:

Morality refers to the concept of human ethics which pertains to matters of good and evil.

To have 'no morals' is to say that you have no understanding of right or wrong and I'm not sure i know of anyone, meat eaters and vegetarians alike who are like this. So Hitler had morals too, they were just very misplaced.

I'm a vegetarian of some 10 years, I think she was stirring it. She was being unprofessional to do this. If there was a problem that came about and say the building collapsed I would say she have to answer some serious questions if it came down to her not having confirmed some details with you.

Having said that, if you were baiting her, "hmm this lovely dead pig tastes so good" then that would be a different question, but still not a question of morals, but more of behaviour and tolerance.

This would be a good question for the philosophy section

Answer 5

Hey, it's our Foxie -- the vegetarian and vegan magnet! How're things in Veganville these days? Wife and kiddies doing OK? I mean, other than having to fend off all the attacks by those vicious, nasty vegetarians, that is.

Foxie, honey, give it up. Move out of Veganville, change your identity, and go into the anti-vegetarian witness protection program. You'll be a lot happier when you don't have to deal with the hundreds of vegetarians with rotten attitudes that cross your path on a daily basis.

But until you can get yourself and the clan into the program, you might want to develop a slightly thicker skin. I realize that it may be difficult for you, but give it a try. Just ignore all those savage, insulting vegetarians who single you out from among the dozens and dozens of other guys eating baloney and salami sandwiches on their lunch break at the site.

Finish your meal, belch loudly, and then go over the codes with the lady. Believe me, she'll understand EXACTLY where you're coming from after that. . .just like the rest of us regulars here at the "Vegetarian and Vegan" section already do.

Problem solved.

Happy New Year, Foxie. You're the best show on Yahoo Answers. :-)

Answer 6

Sounds like she wants attention if your asking me.

The reality of being vegetarian or vegan for moral reasons is that not everyone is going to agree with that point of view. Historically meat has been on the menu for survival purposes.

If she does it again I would make a point of being discriminated against because you choose a different life style. Her beliefs need to be set aside at the work place. After she is off the clock she can avoid meat eaters all she wants. During the work day that kind of behavior can be viewed as discrimination if you were both on the clock.

That pisses me off that people who claim to be vegan or vegetarian turn their noses at people. I have been a vegetarian for some time. As a matter of fact I got the third degree from a PETA member because, I was just vegetarian and not vegan. That really peaved me off. It was like I was considered less of a moral person because, I chose to have some dairy products in my diet. It's a real kick in the teeth when you were doing expensive volunteer work.

Any how, I would just observe whether or not you guys are on the clock and file a complaint if she continues to give you the third degree. People who do that have to realize that is really going to far. You don't change people's opinions by being unreasonable and rude.

Answer 7

No! U don't seem to understand Vegetarianism! Have U Heard U ARE WHAT U EAT? I bet U have. Well what is meat.. it is dead animal! So it is Dead. What is dead is caused by death. So If U eat meat U are eating death. Vegetarians don't want to eat death &that's why they are vegetarians. Vegetables that are picked these do not die right away. When a vegetable dies it is spoiled it is no longer edible! Note there are vegetarians because they are animal lovers & those that merely don't like the sight of blood. I'm vegetarian 4 all these reasons not just one reason. If U want to eat Pork that's you're choice...that's up to U! Whatever works 4 U! I prefer to be vegetarian.. also I use to be a meat eater only because 's what I was served. I never really cared for taste of meat..it's gross to me...I don't see what's so great about it.. but my not liking taste of meat that's a minor reason 4 my being a vegetarian.. I told U reasons above. It was natural & right for me to become vegetarian! Vegetarianism works 4 me.. It's not 4 everyone!

Answer 8

It is bad attitude and you should not have been spoken to in that manner. Being a vegetarian is not a question of morals, it is a choice based on the love of animals and the decision not to eat them as part of their diet. My partner is a long time vegetarian and I respect her decision not to eat meat. She also respects my diet as a meat eater and will even buy and cook meat for me. She just chooses not to eat it. She does not pressurise me into becoming a vegetarian either. Your building inspector is displaying signs of vegetarian fascism, and what you could have done was to say to your inspector 'if my sandwich offends you please wait until I have eaten it and I will be right with you.' Vegetarians have got a bad name off attitude such as this, and don't do their cause justice. Anyway, she can't have any morals - she's a building inspector!

Answer 9

What if she were a smoker and blew smoke in your face. You wouldn't keep quiet would you (being the retiring , shrinking violet sort that I know you are). Besides even if you were eating a plain salad sandwich without meat it would be manners to put it away in your lunch box whilst talking to someone wouldn't it??? It is a bit harsh to say no morals, no manners and maybe diverse morals but they are your look out!!

You know I always pictured you as a builder but not a real one. I pictured you with a Cowboy, a Sailor, an Indian, a leather clad biker-dude and a policeman showing people how to make giant letters up on Stage!!!

Answer 10

No the woman had no right to say that to you. That's like saying that you have morals because you have a certain religious belief and all others that do not have that belief are not moral.

If you look up the definition of morals "of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong", the woman holds her belief of not eating meat as to be "right". This is only her belief. Although she may have the right to determine what she considers moral she does not have the right to judge you or anyone else.

I am a vegetarian but I don't believe I have the right to force my beliefs onto anyone else. Although personally it is for health reasons... and not because I'm an animal activist.

Sometimes people swing too far to the right or the left in their beliefs and unfortunately you ran into a woman like this. You will find people in all walks of life who hold certain beliefs and standards and expect all of society to follow them. Thank goodness we are a society that can think and act for ourselves and that's exactly what you did.

Answer 11

Eating meat doesn't mean you have no morals. It means you have different morals than someone who chooses not to eat it for the sake of morality. Some vegetarians feel the need to have an elitist attitude and make others feel bad. It's a personal choice and you shouldn't have been insulted like that. I'd file a complaint.