Veg*n for ethical reasons? What about selling hay to those who kill cattle?

Question

If you are a vegetarian or vegan for ethical reasons, is it ethical to sell 3000 bales of hay to those who feed it to cattle so they can kill them later for their meat?

Is it ethical to gain huge profit$ at the expense of an animal's life when you can raise some other crop that will NOT support the killing of animals?

When the person was asked to disprove what everybody read about selling 3000 bales of hay to animal killers, he REFUSED to post the links to the RESOLVED question. Instead he "copied" what he said, but we couldn't read it for ourselves via the link to the RESOLVED question.

Why would an innocent person try to hide something that would prove him innocent? Why would someone who is so judgmental of others do things to promote the killing of animals?

How do vegans and vegetarians that are true to their ethical convictions respond to a moral fraud?

I like the diversity of answers but there seems to be a basic agreement for the most part that he is unethical and a moral fraud.

Answer 1

There is no way to avoid supporting animal usage. Merely participating in the economy is supporting animal usage. The point is to minimize the support of it. Those of us who do this draw our lines in different places. We are not moral frauds- We are simply choosing what we feel are the most reasonable, realistic, logical choices for us to make.

Answer 2

Im not a vegetarian and also respect the rights of those that wish to be and are one...

I was thinking about your question.. I would say that a vegetarian has the right to be a vegetarian as long as that right does not impose on others, If someone wants to sell hay to a farm or animal compound to make money (which lets face it helps make the world go round) then that makes him no less a vegetarian than before providing that he does not eat the meat.. On the ethical side I would say that a vegetarian that promots the slaughter of animals is slightly hypocritical..
It may also be noted however that there are different reasons why one might be a Vegetarian not just because one feels that animals should not be harmed.

Answer 3

Are you serious? You really think that all these animals are here by chance? We breed these animals. They're in factory farms, we're feeding them as well.

It's a very unethical cycle. Sure if they're alive we should feed them, but if we're not going to be breeding more creatures we'll have less of them to feed.

Going vegan is the most ethical way of life for animals and humans.

To me its all about supporting these people. People get angry when animal rights activists go into fur shops and destroy the fur coats, because then those life's were "wasted". You know having them as a coat is pretty much a waste for them, because they need their coats more than we do. And you know what, if it gets the people out of business or makes them lose money- its worth it.

Answer 4

I'm a vegan, and I have absolutely no idea where someone like that learned logic.

Someone who is an ethical vegan or vegetarian goes out of their way to AVOID contributing to ANY part of an industry of animal cruelty. I mean, it wouldn't make sense if I refused to consume animal products, and yet sold dozens of meat-filled sandwiches at Subway every day, right?

People like that make it easy for obnoxious omnis to stereotype veggers as hypocritical.

Answer 5

The innocent do not need to hide simple as that. This guy is guilty of being moral corrupt. He is probably also a liar, a cheat and snivelling coward.He probably doesnt have the intellectual coconuts to understand how corrupt and vile his ranting are to all but the young and innocent. But that is probably how he gets his thrils. We should all feel very sorry for this poor person he doesn't realise he is an idiot and that he really isn't capable of defending himself properly except by resorting to threatening comments which have no substance or basis in his capability.

Answer 6

As a vegan I can only be what "I" am. I police only myself with knowledge and reasoning, and do not force my views on others. If they are interested and are willing to listen to what I say, then I will do so.

In my view, selling hay/feed to cattle owners is not ethical. But is selling the hay to a dairy farmer who is only milking the cows, not killing them, and it is a humane organic dairy farm (if there is such a place :-)) somehow OK? Or how about selling the hay to someone who has horses? a caged animal that is there only to provide entertainment for the owner. Or how about circus elephants and other circus animals? Is it ethical then?

Is it just about killing of animals? or do you go so far as to the suffering of animals? and who judges them as suffering or not? Many questions on ethical convictions for a vegan.

I just say that I like not having to depend on animals to live my life.

Answer 7

I'm new here, but I saw a question about some guy asking about hay bales, but it seemed like he's some kind of ethical vegetarian and sold a load of hay to a slaughter house.

As an old retired attorney, you asked "Why would an innocent person try to hide something that would prove him innocent?"

The answer is, "They wouldn't." So if what you say is true, that poor fellow is guilty as hell.

Your values must be reflected in your actions. Otherwise they are just words. You don't "respond" to moral frauds, you ignore them as irrelevant liars.

Answer 8

ok maybe if it was going to a beef herd.
but what about a dairy herd surely it would not be as bad or maybe it is going to horses?


but. just by taking part in society you are contributing to the killing of animals. if you live in a city and pay rates you are contributing to animal control, pest control etc

if you buy food produced by one of the big food companies you are paying into a company that kills animals.

if you pay into a pension some of the money is invested in the stock market some of this money is bound to end up in food companies as well.

you cannot really escape it.

Answer 9

What about those firms which make huge profits out of killing rats, mice and cockroaches? Why does no-one campaign to stop the killing of those creatures? Is it because we don't eat them or use them for making clothes and shoes?

Answer 10

Personally as a vegan I wouldn't sell hay to the meat or dairy industry but I wouldn't put so much energy into condemning someone who does either. I doubt the person in question has ever personally attacked you for your actions. If he wants to do this then leave him be... there are far worse things he could be doing and he does more good things for the vegetarian cause then he does bad.