So according to the BBC, a recent study suggests that children with high IQs are more likely to become Vegetarians in later life. As if Vegetarians needed another reason to feel smug and morally above everyone else. Liz O’Neill of the Vegetarian Society even says, “We’ve always known that vegetarianism is an intelligent, compassionate choice benefiting animals, people and the environment.”
I don’t hoenstly think there’s anythign compassionate about vegetarianian. Let’s take a moment to think about the lives of animals raised solely for the purpose of being eaten. They live their lives, being fed and looked after. Depending on the source, the animals may be able to walk around freely, or they may be stuck in horrible boxes, incapable of movement. But at least their lives have purpose. When they die, as all things do, their bodies will be processed, drained, packaged and sold to the public, who will then cook and eat the animals. All except for Vegetarians, of course, who walk past the packaged meat looking rather disgusted and feeling pretty smug about it.
But wait. Think about it for a moment. By walking past that meat, that Vegetarian is denying the animal the dignity of a meaningful death. They’ve robbed the poor creature of purpose. Because of their Vegetarianism, that’s one less chicken that’s going to get roasted, one less lamb that’s going to get chopped, one less rib that’s going to get spared. Which means that if the meat is still there come the display date, it will simply be disposed of. What a waste - not just of good food, but of honour and dignity. That poor animal.
It’s also interesting to see a related article stating that avoiding meat helps you to keep your weight down. Well of course - there’s bugger-all else worth eating.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:33 am
Ben, you know that’s the terrible kind of argument that lets vegetarians stay smug, right? ;p
August 29th, 2007 at 7:19 am
Which is exactly why I used it. I put that argument forward with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek.
When all said and done though, I don’t like Smug Vegetarians. It’s like they feel they’re better than us because they don’t eat particular things. I don’t like eggs. Or Marmite. Or most types of cheese. Or tomatoes. Or Peanut M&Ms. Or Bassetts Jelly Babies (I prefer the cheap Jelly Babies you can get from Aldi). I don’t get smug about not eating them, though.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Fair enough. Do they have Aldi in the US, btw?
August 29th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Nope. They also don’t have Jelly Babies. Calamity!
August 29th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
A good couple of arguements there, Ben. Thought-provoking stuff.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:37 pm
What’s always struck me as a interesting contrary “food philosophy” is trying to live without killing *anything*, animal or vegetable.
It’s kinda possible. Dairy products and fruit would be the cornerstones of such a diet, and you could get away with water and salt too. Maybe herbs as well, as long as you just eat the leaves and not the core plant. It’s a bit silly, yes, but it’s worth considering as an alternative to deciding you can kill plants but not animals.
I used to be a vegetarian (of sorts), but then I discovered I liked ham. And with my already limited diet, I can’t really stop eating foods I like on principle. It’s a pity, because pigs are my favourite farm animal on the whole (having read too much Dick King-Smith). But there we go.
September 10th, 2007 at 9:03 am
Hi I’d like to correct Ben again the quote ” i don’t eat anything with a face” or “if it has a face i don’t eat it ” is actually a vegan quote not a veggie one.
We aren’t smug at all vegans any way we are just happy and compassionate people, i choose not to eat animals or animals products because I don’t agree with killing anything living things human or animals and i Don’t agree with the way the animals are reared as well. i also do it because of the dietary benefits you can life a healthy diet with out dairy and meat i have done so for four years nearly. To say a vegan or a veggie isn’t compassionate is down right rude to be honest when we do not contribute to mass animal suffering where as a meat eater do. an Animals purpose is not for us to eat they do not belong to us. it is also wrong to kill them for your own benefit when you do not need to eat meat or dairy to live. oh and i can it jelly babies ok most of them if they are from the health food shop rant over
Charlie x
September 10th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Hey Charlie!
This blog entry was in itself mostly tongue-in-cheek. I’m not a vegetarian myself, and I’m unlikely to become one myself in the future, but I respect the decision many vegetarians and vegans choose to make. You are right, of course, that not all vegetarians and vegans are smug, but there are a fair few smug ones out there.
Also, I didn’t know that the “I don’t eat anythign with a face” quote was one that people actually used. I ripped it wholesale from an episode of Friends…
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