Why do vegans think it's wrong to eat and use some animal products?

Question

First of all this is not to start some big argument. And I'm not trying to offend anyone here, because a lot of people might take it that way.
As someone who eats meat but all the same love animals (and yes, that is possible- some people would argue with this), I'm just trying to understand Vegan reasons.

Some things I am extremely against- fur, killing for only a few parts, some circuses and other performances and how they treat their animals, etc.

But why do some vegans think it's wrong to use some animal products, mainly food?
After all, many animals (aside from humans) will kill and eat prey. We do not view this as wrong, so I'm curious as to why is it wrong for us to eat meat?

And there are other things that I have heard not necessarily from vegans but big-time animal activist. One said that neutering pets and riding horses was wrong. And another said owning pets was wrong! Does anyone else feel this way? Why?

Once again I’m not trying to offend anyone.

Answer 1

There are two big differences between humans and other animals who eat meat.
1) Humans can reason out our decisions, and we have a body that is capable of living as a vegetarian, so we have the *choice* to eat meat, or not eat meat. Obligate carnivores like lions, for example, do not have this choice.
2) Most of the meat people eat in developed countries is from factory farms which are unnecessarily cruel to the animals. Using lions as an example again, they will kill their prey fairly quickly compared to the prolonged torture we do to caged animals for reasons of "efficiency". (Example: Less space for animal = more animals crammed into small cage = more profit.) People who are against the prolonged suffering but think a quick death is okay sometimes only eat meat that they hunt... since I am against unnecessary suffering *and* killing, I am vegetarian instead.

As for pets and horses, the people who are against these are looking at veganism from a rights/freedom perspective, that even if, say, a cat were loose in an area it could fend for itself, but had a shorter, more difficult life than if it were a well-treated pet, it is better that it was free to roam. It is a viewpoint I can understand and respect (just as I can understand/respect your view that you can love animals and eat meat at the same time... maybe you love some animals more than others, or maybe you love animals but you love eating meat more, I don't know.) But neither are viewpoints that I share, since my veganism comes from a suffering perspective. I don't have any pets, but I would have them neutered because of the risks of pregnancy (overpopulation) and their extreme frustration when they go into heat. I don't eat meat, eggs, milk, wear leather, etc., any animal products, because of the suffering the industries cause, but I don't think it's wrong to share a home or farm with pets, cows, etc. or even drink your cow's milk (though you wouldn't be vegan if you did that), as long as the animals are well-cared for, happy, and never sold to be killed. I don't speak for all vegans though, there are many different perspectives in our group.

Answer 2

Well, I think most vegans believe that animals can feel pain, and that we should not cause them pain and suffering unless we absolutely have to, which we very rarely do. How animals are treated for food on modern factory farms causes them a lot of suffering. If you do not believe me, you can investigate it yourself.

I have no doubt that you love animals, but I would question how much you actually know about how they are treated. And what animals do you love? Do you mean just dogs and cats? Or all animals?

I really have to ask why you are against fur? Is it because the animals are treated cruelly for some commodity that we do not actually need? If so, then your logic points straight toward veganism, you just haven't realized it yet.

Regarding your point about other animals, you are right that we do not consider them moral or immoral. But we do not compare our other actions with animals, do we? A tiger who has killed and eaten a small child is not morally responsible (although he will likely be killed), but a person who did so obviously is. Most humans possess the capacity for morality, while most, if not all, non-humans do not. This is why it is silly to claim that because an animal does something that we do not condemn, it must be ok for a person to do the same thing.

As for neutering pets, almost all animal activists are in favor of it. It causes the animal no pain, and helps to prevent a pet population explosion which would result in a lot of animal suffering. As for owning pets, it would really depend on the pet, not all pets are equal. If your pet is an endangered species you bought while you were in Africa, it is almost certainly wrong. If your pet is a dog you adopted from the local shelter, you have not only done no wrong, but have done a good thing, since his or her life would otherwise have been very miserable.

Riding horses I don't know enough about. If breaking the horse really causes them pain, then that is a good reason to not ride horses. On the other hand if they do not mind so much, then it is probably ok. Just try to think about the effects your actions have on everybody (human and animal) involved, and go with what will likely cause the least amount of suffering.

I am happy that you are taking the time to look seriously at this. An open mind is a rare thing today.

Answer 3

It is true that animals kill and eat prey in the wild. That's because that's what they need to survive. Humans do not need meat to survive and some vegetarians and vegans feel that if they can survive without killing or hurting an animal, why not do it?

Also, animals that are killed and eaten in the wild are not made to suffer small and inhumane conditions and cruel treatment before a predator eats them.


As far as the pets and riding horses thing, you'll find that there's many different ideals when it comes to veganism as a moral choice. I don't see these things as wrong, but others might. As for any group, you'll find the ones with the most radical ideas are the ones that get the most attention. People remember the veg*n that pours blood over people wearing fur and denounces all meat-eaters as sinners, but they don't remember the moderate veg*n who does what they can and doesn't try to convert if it's not wanted.

Answer 4

For extreme situations, and for survival purposes, it is very wise to use the 'Excellent' and "Unique" gift of self awareness humans have, to modify anything that can become a food stuff and eat it! But with modern facilities of storage and transportation, is it not wise to not only eat but also try to produce more & more of what our human physiology (the body & digestive structure) is actually designed for ? That way, we would be doing a very great service to posterity in many & unimaginable ways! For example, 1. Producing vegetable supports & creates more awareness about vegetation, ecology, environement. 2. Eating more of vegetables nourishes all the components of this 'human' machinery to give peak levels of performance! Not just enough to feed the cylinders with gasoline, we need to grease & oil other parts, the brain, eyes etc. for which animal products as food does not help much. 3. And then, the family genes, get bettered when a chain of generations keep evolving into intelligent thinking, living, etc, eating more of vegetarian food. (An example would be, there are certain communities in India, who are having sort of monopoly in most types of businesses, and who also happen to be strict vegetarians! This is no coincidence, or a silly thing to be discarded, if intelligence really matters in our life!). 4. Most important of all, the structure of teeth, the extra-long digestive canal (compared to meat-eating animals), the digestive juices secreted right from mouth, etc, .... all these speak out tooo loudly in support of vegetarian food to be preferable for human constitution for a longer, and healthy life.... not just a disease free life!) 5. The only support from meat eating humans is that they make vegetables more easily & economically available to vegetarian people, keeping away from the vegetable market! This is not really a good thing, because the entire mankind should 'team-up' like a global family. 6. Vegetarian diet supports peaceful attitudes & tendencies. This point is not so important when a person is basically stabilised in peaceful type of attitudes, but a person who is short tempered, and of violent 'inclination' would do well to keep away from meat (spicy meat, in particular). Please verify and then try to get convinced , if the above points are practically correct/true!

Answer 5

There are extremists in everything. Just like there are environmentalists who want to ban cars and put weird stuff in the ocean to stop global warming. The extremists are not the majority but they speak loud enough sometimes for it to seem that way. I think that factory farming is very wrong but I know a lot of people don't realize it. I'm not going to rail at someone for eating a hamburger though; it's their choice. I don't really see a problem with hunting (though I wouldn't do it myself) since hunting is part of the natural ecosystem and helps control wildlife overpopulation. I also don't see a problem with using milk, eggs, or honey from ethical sources or raising cows, chickens, bees for your own use. I avoid these things more for health reasons than ethical reasons.

I have pets myself and I have them spayed/neutered. Pets are far more content when you have them "fixed." If you don't do this they will get stressed out when they come into heat if they don't get to breed.

I also go horseback riding when I'm back home in Oklahoma where my dad has two horses. The real problem, as I see it, is factory farming and other things that blatantly abuse animals, like rodeos. A lot of people who are against things like riding horses just don't really know much about it or they've only seen places on tv where they abuse horses and turn them into dog food when they grow old.

Answer 6

Alice Walker once said that the animals of the world exist for their own reasons, that they were not made for humans any more than blacks were made for whites or women were made for men.

I will echo the point about the lioness or tiger hunting for her food. These animals are carnivores and must hunt and kill to survive. My cat is a carnivore and needs me to feed her meat to survive. As a human being, I do not need meat (or cows' milk or chickens' eggs) to survive, therefore I avoid those products. And this is why I loathe hunting--the person hunting often does not need the flesh of the animal he kills to survive. And if he's killing for a trophy or for "sport," well...

I do not believe pet guardianship is wrong. Many cats and dogs are so far removed from their natural states that they rely on humans. I believe spaying/neutering is necessary so fewer animals languish in shelters or are euthanized because they have no home. I don't believe riding horses is wrong--it's one form of communion between humans and animals. Horse racing, on the other hand, is very cruel.

Put simply, raising animals for food is exploitative, and I oppose exploitation of animals. You already oppose some forms of animal exploitation--animals used in entertainment and fur--so hopefully you will realize that the worst form of animal exploitation comes from the meat, dairy, and egg industries.

Answer 7

It's a philosophical idea; how far somebody wants to take it is up to them.

I don't like the idea of killing animals, and it's not necessary to do so for me to live, so I don't eat meat.

I know some animals eat other animals, but that is the natural order of things for them. A human being has free will and does not have to follow instinct alone.

Answer 8

Some animals would eat people if given the chance. MAybe we should eat people as well. Yes?

Some animals eat their own young. That sounds fun.

Some animals (bonobos) have sex all the time and don't care what age or sex their partner is. You must be jealous. Don't worry, if they do it, it's OK for you to have orgies with children too.

Some animals love to fling poo at each other. That's sanitary.

That's basically what you just said.

Answer 9

No need . . . you can't offend vegans ... no one is more offensive than a vegan. They are real pains . . . anti-everything. Black and white thinking. Just nutters.

Answer 10

how about keying it up in google.com

do your research.


http://www.google.com/search?q=vegan&btnG=Search&hl=en&safe=off