Any other vegans?

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I was a vegetarian for about 8 years, but never a vegan. I admire your dedication and commitment for your belief. It is a lot of hard work to be a vegan.
 
[quote1206154923=Purple.Huskies]
I was a vegetarian for about 8 years, but never a vegan. I admire your dedication and commitment for your belief. It is a lot of hard work to be a vegan.
[/quote1206154923]
??!!? %-6 whats the difference?
 
[quote1206226828=Noobkiller]
[quote1206154923=Purple.Huskies]
I was a vegetarian for about 8 years, but never a vegan. I admire your dedication and commitment for your belief. It is a lot of hard work to be a vegan.
[/quote1206154923]
??!!? %-6 whats the difference?
[/quote1206226828]

Vegetarian is just what it sounds like. Don't eat meat. Vegan is much more strict, where you don't eat anything that comes from an animal, such as cheese, milk, butter, eggs... things like that. Something about animal cruelty while getting these animal products, which I don't quite understand.
 
I'd just like to bring in two points
a) Natural selection: If they can't survive then they don't deserve to, only the strong live, the weak die
b) How is eating vegetables any different than eating meat? Plants are mass grown for consumption, sprayed with all sorts of chemicals, then ripped out of the ground and die, then are processed avrious ways depending on the vegetables/fruit. Plants are living things too, and who knows? Plants may have a vast intelligence, and we are just raising a bunch of them to the slaughter. All I'm trying to say by that in the end, we eat things that are living, that in the end we have to follow a natural cycle that yes while it may seem disgusting and wrong to some in the end just provides for one of our very basic needs.
 
Vegetarian...old indian word for 'bad hunter'

I saw that on a bumper sticker today.
 
[quote1206241268=The Shape]
Vegetarian...old indian word for 'bad hunter'

I saw that on a bumper sticker today.
[/quote1206241268]
o man thank you shape for reminding me that saying
 
Ok... gotta get a few things out of the way.

First off, I'm NOT from texas, my father is. I'm hawai'ian, born and raised, and a lot of hawai'ian cuisine is vegetarian already.

Vegetarian /=/ bad hunter, that's not even clever!!! The word vegetarian, coined by the founders of the British Vegetarian Society in 1842, comes from the Latin word vegetus, meaning "whole, sound, fresh, or lively," as in homo vegetus-a mentally and physically vigorous person.

Vegans don't eat any animal products (this was mentioned earlier) so eggs, dairy, honey (sometimes) are all out. Most vegans, me included, also avoid any animal products in cosmetics, vitamins, body care products, cleaners etc etc.

Humans are the only animal specifically designed to eat both meat and plants, with very few exceptions. Our teeth vary in shape, canines for ripping meat namely, but our mouths are mostly made up of molar-like teeth used for grinding plant matter and grains.
Our single stomach is definitely carnivorous but our vast intestinal tract is designed for long-term digestion to break down cell walls in plant matter, why do you think cows have 4 stomachs?
And lastly just look at our faces. Eyes in front for carnivores, but instead of having ears face front too, ours are to the sides; a telltale herbivore sign, alert to predators while our faces are down gnawing on the grass.
If you fed your cat only lettuce, he would die. No question about that, he's a carnivore. Humans can't eat only meat, we'll die. However we've got a plan B, we can thrive on a no-meat diet. The trick is being educated; you can't just eat potato chips all day long. You need to read, find out what your body needs, and make sure that your meals are balanced (something everyone should do anyway).
Secondly, you have to be willing to let go of the meat-eating traditions so apparent our lives, and especially in the American culture. Most cuisine in the world is vegetarian, with meat dishes being served as sides and sparingly at that, this includes pescatarians (vegetarians who eat fish).

[quote1206259556=SubArtic]
I'd just like to bring in two points
a) Natural selection: If they can't survive then they don't deserve to, only the strong live, the weak die
b) How is eating vegetables any different than eating meat? Plants are mass grown for consumption, sprayed with all sorts of chemicals, then ripped out of the ground and die, then are processed avrious ways depending on the vegetables/fruit. Plants are living things too, and who knows? Plants may have a vast intelligence, and we are just raising a bunch of them to the slaughter. All I'm trying to say by that in the end, we eat things that are living, that in the end we have to follow a natural cycle that yes while it may seem disgusting and wrong to some in the end just provides for one of our very basic needs.
[/quote1206259556]

1) natural selection has nothing to do with being vegan. We didn't grow to become the dominant species because we're inherently good at eating other things. We are dominant because our brains have a large capacity to learn and adapt and our bodies more than capable enough and suited to a wide variety of motions and stress.
2) Plants do not have a vast intelligence, intelligence is a trait which is attributed to having a brain. Vegetables don't have a brain, they don't even have a central nervous system. No nerves = no pain, no consciousness, no awareness. You're defining "die" in terms to which self-aware animals are held to, this cannot possibly carry over to plantae in any way. carrot /=/ cow.

Oh, and meat doesn't build muscle, protein builds muscle. So it only makes sense that meat proteins (which is muscle) begets (your) muscles. However, you can get more than enough protein from non-animal sources which in the body synthesizes the same (sometimes better) than animal sources.
Soy, legumes, drupes (nuts), beans are all amazing protein powerhouses. If you don't like that, there are a vast array of veggies that are bulky in protein and when combined make up more than enough required for optimum cell usage.

And for the record, i DON'T think it's wrong for humans to eat animals, in fact, we're designed for it. HOWEVER, not only are we overdoing it, but we're overlooking the very "living" nature of the animals and treating them horribly.

I'm a vegan for ethical reasons... the way we treat food animals now is abhorrent, not to mention dangerous and disgusting. Don't believe me? Watch a movie called Earthlings... in fact, i'll mail you a copy if you PM me your addy and you can see for yourself. All bs aside, if you knew what really went into those packaged beef containers at the store, you'd probably ralph all over yourself.

I'm not trying to turn anyone vegan, i have a lot of omni friends and you all can do what you want. It's MY choice and i'm really happy with it. And it turned me into a better reader. I had to read A LOT. At first, i didn't know what i was doing, i felt tired, sickly, weak, and then i read and found out that i wasn't eating the right things. You can eat salads for DAYS as a vegan and feel like poop. You need you educate yourself and luckily there are oodles of places to do so just on the web.

Anyways, I just wanted to know if there were any other ego vegans 'cause it's something i'm passionate about. If you're just going to post about how much you LOOOOOOVE meat, then i'll ask an admin to lock the thread 'cause it's silly and i mean, it's kinda disrespectful when you already know i'm vegan.

P.S. I have a MA in bio with an emphasis on genetics. So, not to be rude, but i DO know what i'm talking about. :)
 
Yes, the meat industry is entirely devoid of ethics. Oh well. It's corporate interest, and there's nothing any of us can do to stop that. Put that garbage aside (and it is just that, corporations are nothing more than large collections of filth and greed), and I have no problem eating meat. It's something I enjoy. Really, a juicy steak with the family is a pleasant experience.

I intend to enjoy little things like this, even if they aren't the greatest. A dull life is not a life worth living.

I don't care what someone else thinks. Just let me do my thing, and you do yours. You will not be forcing your ideals down my throat. I don't mean that to be accusatory, I'm just saying it's how I think. I'm going to do what I'm used to, and trying to change that may really throw me for a loop. I'll stay in my safe zone here. :)
 
Wow, getting a bit heated in here. :)

I should probably clarify something as well, I'm not so much a vegan as a total vegetarian. I eat no meat, dairy, fish, or eggs. I do it completely for healthy reasons. I've tried really hard to care about the well being of the chickens and cows, but I just can't. There are so many other issues in the world that I feel more passionate about. And, quite frankly, I'm a bit too selfish and self-centered to care if or why other people choose to eat meat or not. I'd rather just pwn you and move on. :)

My body just runs better on veggies and grains. And, being a former overweight little band geek, vegetarianism has completely changed my life. (still a little bank geek at heart, though! ;) ) I feel like crap if I have so much as a sip of milk.

Although, I'd encourage anyone to try something new, you might like it. Rather than that same old medium rare porterhouse you get every time you go out, ask the chef ahead of time to prepare you something with no meat or dairy. You will have one of the best, most flavorful, creative meals you've ever had. You can actually taste the basil and the oregano with no meat to overpower it. All those different types of lettuce actually taste different with no chicken taste to take over.

In conclusion, to each his/her own. Even though we approach it from different angle, it works for me and it sounds like it works for yeaaahtoast.

Oh, and I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals, I just HATE vegetables! ;)
 
I mean I have no problem with vegetarians, but to deny the fact eating other creatures was part of our ascent to superiority is pretty silly. Health wise, meat is healthy if used responsibly. Meat contains not only proteins, but also amino acids that are very beneficial to the bodys growth and development. On the downside, people generally eat way too much meat. If used in moderation it is very good for you.
 
Ok

1) The part about meat building muscle was a joke and not meant to put anybody down but rather for everybody to see another angle.

2) God put all animals on the earth for our consumption as human beings.

3) We are not to mistreat animals, but then again we are a huge world requiring large amounts of food to sustain the population, so meat farms are a necessary.

4) Animals are a lower animal than we are and though have feelings and are important as they are creations of God, THEY ARE NOT to be given the same rights or be judged in the same way as humans.

5) Humans were made in the image of God, given free will, chose to disobey, and now are fallen, but still retain the essence that makes us different...the spirit. Animals do not have these traits.

6) Moderation, I believe, is the key to maintaining a healthy body, not extremes, be it either a straight up meat guy or a vegan.

7) But, everybody has a choice in the matter of what they consume. There are all views and different ideas, none are necessarily wrong that do not hurt the body. For example, Daniel in the Bible, ate vegetables only.

"Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead."


So there is just cause for the vegan view so let us use these different views to enrich us rather rather than make it a point of contention

Peace out
 
Moderation is definitely the key here. If humans ate meat and plants in moderation, we wouldn't be obese or highly diseased.

From a non-religious view, no one PUT animals here for us to eat or made them spiritless and less intelligent for us to overpower and use. And given the chance, a cow would gladly run away from someone trying to slit its throat just as much as a human would because a cow has the capacity for self-awareness. I was raised as a catholic, so i know what you're referring to, but just as you want people to see other angles, i'm offering an atheistic one.

Everyone's gotta do what's best for them, but i will say that there IS something we can do about the way we're treating animals. Choosing to make a life without animal products is a prominent statement and it DOES make a difference, especially when done en masse.

If anyone wants to try some vegan food i can point to in the right direction, or if you're in los angeles i'll cook for you! May not turn you vegan, i'm not trying to, but it's damn fine food!
 
[quote1206364837=PurpleNurple]
Wow, getting a bit heated in here. :)
[/quote1206364837]
Agreed. I'm all for healthy discourse, but it's also critical to keep things on a respectful plane here.

I understand that many of you are passionate about your dietary choices, because it forms a strong part of our identity, but just try to be civil. You guys are doing okay right now, but you're pushing the envelope here, so please, please keep it respectful.
 
It is very, very had to get complete proteins eating vegetable matter only. You have to be truly dedicated to the idea to do the research and make it happen on a regular basis. We're designed whether you believe by God or by evolution (or both, as the ideas are not mutually exclusive) as omnivores. As has been pointed out, moderation is the key. Also, I don't like the idea of cruelty to animals. If you want to be careful about that, you can always limit meat intake to animals with very primitive central nervous systems, like fish.

If you eat too much meat, it's going to kill you. However, if you eat too much peanut butter, it's going to kill you.

Shockingly, the advice I believe arose from Greek philosophy, and which even they didn't practice very well is tremendously relevant today: Moderation in all things.

Edit: By the way, hats off to those vegans who are truly dedicated to avoiding eating animals to the point that they do the required research to do it right and keep themselves healthy. I may not agree with you entirely, but respect the effort involved.
 
On reviewing the thread, I'm going to lock this one. You guys did a great job of keeping it civil, but we absolutely want to avoid divisive topics within the clan, which is why we avoid politics and religion. Veganism is a way of life and a passion. If you believe in it strongly enough to keep with it, it's as strong a belief as you find in politics and religion. I think everything meaningful has been said on the subject and an excellent job was done by everyone. Discussion closed. Thanks, everyone.
 
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