A question for vegans who don't eat meat because it's cruel...?

Question

There are many wild animals that live off meat. It's the natural way of life for some animals to be eaten by others. We are a part of nature. At least we kill the animals in a humane way, unlike the lion who tears it's prey's throat out.
Our bodies are designed to digest meat. We need the protein and the iron. What are your arguements against eating meat?

Answer 1

I'm not a vegan- heck no, I love my meat!- but I understand where they're coming from. Your argument is that eating animals is natural, hence we should do it. However, there's tons of stuff that happens in nature that isn't right or good to do- animal mothers sometimes eat their babies! Cannibalism occurs in quite a few species, and tons of other behavior that is not passable in humans. So vegans who don't eat meat because it's cruel understand that meat-eating should happen in nature, but not necessarily in human world, or simply not a thing they want to do, but grant others can.

As for our bodies being designed to digest meat- well, yes, they are. And we do need protein and iron. But we can get those from other sources, and our bodies were also designed to digest non-meat products.

Basically, there's nothing irrational about being a vegan, although I do pity them in missing out on steak, burgers, fried chicken, and so on!

Answer 2

I guess you have to look at it from a human standpoint, rather than an animal standpoint, to understand. Animals in the wild survive within the food chain as you describe--their survival depends on it. They have no other choice.

I function biologically as an animal, yes. But because I'm human, I have the ability to choose not to cause suffering or kill. My survival does not depend upon eating the flesh of another living creature. The nutrients I need are available to me in other forms.

You're right that humans evolved as carnivores, and in some parts of the world people are not so fortunate as to be able to pick and choose what they eat. I am, so I do.

Answer 3

I'm not a vegan but I have thought about it before. One thing about wild animals is that typically they are incapable of finding alternative sources of nourishment. Us being both sentient and intelligent, are more than capable of processing plants, beans, etc. into digestible meat substitutes, like a garden burger for instance. Also being sentient, the fact that you even mentioned that we kill animals humanely, suggests that we recognize at least some dignity in other species' existence and that they are capable of feeling pain, which is more than can be said for any lion.

Answer 4

I'm not a vegan either--though I am fairly vegetarian in my diet.

The point is, that people who choose to be vegans can get their protein and iron from other sources--supplements, other foods, powders, etc.

I agree that we usually kill the animals in a humane way--but should we be killing them at all? Additionally, many people have high cholesterol and other health issues--that usually stem from eating too much fat--and that's usually animal fat.

People do have free-will, and can eat the way they choose. This should not be argued about, we should simply live and let live.

Answer 5

I'm not a vegan yet,but I mean would you want to be eaten?Killed,cut,and fried?Its barbaric.We are not animals,so we have no reason to do it.They go through a lot of pain just for our enjoyment.Besides people wouldn't be so fat if people would stop eating them.Its just wrong and cruel.

Answer 6

- First off, we didn't start eating meat until the Ice Age

- Second, there are a lot of diseases and illnesses vegetarians do not have to worry about that us meat eaters do

- Third, many so-called "meat eaters" could never be vegetarians because they have no self-control