do vegans have a problem with animals getting killed, animals getting killed and eaten, or both?

Question

cause i know if were in the forest and some snake jumped out and wanted to attack me, i'd try to kill it. it'd have no problem killing me, why would i have a problem killing it? we'll be killing each other for the same reason---self defense.

do you guys think killing animals is wrong all together or just killing them for food? or both?

Answer 1

I think it depends on the vegetarian...while I know some vegetarians who are concerned with issues like those listed, I also know other vegetarians (myself included) who are vegetarians b/c of health reasons...I'm a competitive runner, and I feel much more energized when on a vegetarian diet...I believe God put animals on Earth for a reason (to eat them-for those who like that), but I get grossed out by the thought of all the stuff they do to animal products b/f it gets to the table/supermarket...vegetarian food is also easier to digest b/f hard workouts...I think if some of the obese people walking around everywhere today cut out the majority of processed foods/meat (not saying everyone should go veggie), we would have a lot fewer health problems as a society...

Answer 2

I'm not a vegan. But I wanted to comment on the snake thing. If any animal attacked me in the "forest" I'd sure as all hell try to kill it. It's kill or be killed in this world. Ever hear of a little thing called the food chain? As far as the first question though...I don't like the fact that some people kill animals just for fun. At least eat it. It's survival.

Answer 3

I have a problem with animals getting killed in general, food or not. I especially have a problem with animals getting killed for no reason. At least when they are eaten they are being used for some good purpose. However I do not tell anyone else what to eat or not eat because I don't appreciate it when they do that to me. What's on your plate is no one's business but your own and if you can live with having a dead animal there, then that's your decision.

As for your hypothetical snake situation, most snakes that you see in broad daylight are not venemous and it's very easy to tell which ones are dangerous and which ones aren't. And snakes will not jump out and attack you. If you watch where you're going and don't get in their way they won't bother you. Not to mention that unless you have a gun you haven't a very good chance of killing it anyway and it will more than likely bite you if you try.

Answer 4

Well,l I cannot speak for all vegans or all vegetarians, but I can speak for myself.
Personally, I have a problem with the way animals are treated in general - especially when it comes to the slaughtering process. It's cruel and unusual. Period. I also don't believe humans are necesarialy designed to eat meat, so the eating part baffles me like crazy.
I do think that defending yoruself is an entirely different story...those situations would happen when a human is in the animals' natural habitat and it feels threatened (as you said). Rarely do animals kill us to eat us (we're too bony); whereas we oftentimes kill animals for fun and/or for food.
In the self-defense aregument, I think it's only natural that a creature of reason would do whatever it takes to preserve its own life. I don't have a problem with that. But when humans go into nature just to hunt something for bragging rights, that's completely uncool with me.

Answer 5

Any sensible person will do what they have to do if they are in danger or have no other choice, so most vegans would kill a snake (or a person) if necessary. But most thoughtful people, not just vegans, will not kill something unless it is necessary.

Vegans just don't see killing animals for food as necessary.

Answer 6

Defensive meat eaters like to play the "natural" card, in the belief that because vegos eat plants then it must be because we crave a natural existence and that we've misunderstood what constitutes "natural". As omnivores, our bodies are physically able to extract nutrients from animal foods but that doesn't mean that we have to. As evolved beings, we are able to make choices. The modern western diet that includes daily (often at all three main meals) intake of meat is not natural and has caused humans to farm animals at an unsustainable level, which involves causing gross suffering to the animals - by far the main motivation for people choosing not to eat them.

Answer 7

It depends on if it is necessary or not, not whether you are using it for food or not. If you thought your life was in danger (I'm assuming this is a rational person and not an extremely paranoid person) and you killed in self defense, I would have no problem. If you killed to eat meat, because otherwise you would starve to death, or killed for fur because otherwise you would freeze to death, I don't have a problem either. The reason I am vegan is because I *don't* have to kill to survive... in fact, I can live quite comfortably without it.

Answer 8

Vegans are more towards "domesticated" animals, like pigs, cows, turkeys, fish, chickens, ducks/geese, and dairy-products from cows. PETA is more of protection of animals, so as far as eating a snake...i don't know, but killing, yes, PETA will get upset.

Answer 9

I'm not a vegan, but am a "semi-vegetarian". My personal response to your question is that I have a problem with killing for sport, especially then showing the heads like trophies! Killing for food I can live with because I understand it.

Answer 10

...both, duh.

if a snake tried to attack me, id run. someone else might try to kill it, but that person probably has no compassion for animals.