vegetarian murder = murder?

1

I have been a vegetarian for 14 years, and while I do my best not to contribute to harming or exploiting animals, one also has to use common sense. My choice to not eat meat helps animals on a large scale (over my lifetime, my lack of demand for animal products will have saved hundreds, if not thousands, from ever being born into cruel conditions). My choice to take in multiple, unwanted (by their prior owners) critters destined to be put down, flushed down the toilet, or released into the wild when they were incapable of surviving (2 newts, a bearded drangon, and a parrot) and care for them in the best way possible made a direct impact in these beautiful animals lives. My decision to opt to take my family to observe animals in nature or a sanctuary VS a zoo or circus reduces the demand for those types of exploitation. However, while I do what is within reason, I really can't prevent hitting a bug on my windshield, or maybe accidentally stepping on an ant or something like that. And because of our higher intelligence, humans DO and MUST come before animals in a situation like "hit a deer or hit a human". It boils down to common sense. Don't go out of your way to harm animals, don't support industries that notoriously exploit/torture animals, and try to help animals, but they can't come before human life, nor can you prevent every being on earth from meeting an unfortunate death.

@Feral- so you would honestly give your life, or sacrifice your child/loved ones life to save, say, a sewer rat or a sand flea? After all, animals come before humans in your opinion. Please, spare me your extremist BS, because when it comes down to it, it's all talk. How long have you even been a vegan? Also, how brainwashed are you that you seriously think that after becoming vegan you have in no way contributed to the harm or death of an animal? Just because you conciously avoid contributing to the industries or personally haven't (noticed) hurting an animal doesn't mean there aren't things you simply don't see. What about the bird that choked in a landfill on that boca burger wrapper YOU threw out? What about the sugar ant YOU stomped on walking down the sidewalk that you never noticed? What about the baby rat down in the sewer that drank the water YOU tainted with dish soap? Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. You have to be realistic about things, and reality says, there is only so much you can do.

Actually no, I probably would hit the person instead of the deer. That might sound heartless but... it's what I'd do.

And I agree with 2. Why should anything be killed by man when it isn't unnecessary?

I don't drive so I can't really answer that...

I try my best not to tread on ants.

As for the skin mites thing, I think that in biology I was taught that invertebrates don't feel pain but there isn't any way on checking that (this might be wrong though so feel free to correct me).

I think that most people just don't understand how cruel the meat industry is and are unaware of other options out there, but if they had the information then they could make there own minds up.

I understand that some people just want to eat meat and aren't going to stop and I respect that- what I'm trying to do is stop the unnecessary suffering in factory farming because I know that in my life time not everyone will be vegan but I can help stop suffering.

I'll take a stab at option number two. "Murder is murder".

I take this stance, because I believe that it is evil to harm another being without the necessity of doing so. Necessary situation (animal): you're being attacked by a bear. Shoot it. ... Necessary situation (human): Someone breaks into your house in an attempt to kill you. Shoot him. ... Unnecessary (animal): Hmmm... a cheeseburger sounds good. Nevermind the vegetarian version, I'll eat the dead animal. Unnecessary (human): that guy cut me off. I think I'll shoot him.

To kill without necessity is indeed "wrong" in my eyes. Why kill, the ultimate form of disservice to life, when there are nonviolent, and much less harmful options available to you?

Choosing meat when the vegetarian equivalent is available is choosing to kill when it is unnecessary. And I don't think that is okay in my life.

As far as the deer vs. human driving scenario? I'd slam on the brakes and hope for the best. How is braking not an option? I have to choose to hit one or the other?? o.O What kind of person would do that?

You cannot murder vegetation or animals. Murder is a pre-meditated malicious act towards human beings. Now not all vegetarians are PETA freaks, so it might be best when you wouldn't generalize.

I think killing anything without any sensible reason is cruel and unnecessary. Those hunter gatherers (Actually of the paleolithic, neolithic was the farming revolution, fyi) and the frontiersman generally were not able to survive without eating animals. Killing anything when not necessary is wrong. I would not say anything is more wrong than anything else.

And in your hypothetical situation, why am I swerving? If I didn't swerve wouldn't I just I go straight and avoid both? :P

2. 'animal = people...killing one is the moral equivalent of killing the other'

and your other questions are ridiculous....... I avoid causing harm to animals if I am able to....... since I do not have control over a bug coming at me nor could I see an ant on the road.... I am not able to actively avoid it.

Nay-sayers LOVE to point out what vegans are UNABLE to do in this animal killing world.... how abou you praise us... JUST ONCE... for what we ARE able to do????????????

I won't even dignify your stupidity about having an animal and a person on the road with an answer. I have, though, stood in the middle of the road many times when I see a car coming and I believe an animal will be hit... so the car will stop. Is that something to be ashamed of? Not in MY world.

@ Stewie - steve, collinsville - once again you are the one coming into the VEGETARIAN/VEGAN section telling vegans that we kill animals..... and once again I will say that vegans STRIVE to do no harm to animals but that is impossible in YOUR animal killing world. Now, scurry back to your hunting forum!

@ Kiwi - sorry, you cannot speak for me or anyone else and say that humans MUST and DO come before animals.... THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS COMMON SENSE.... because everyone thinks differently. You have your beliefs and I have mine.

3. I think harm should be avoided as much as possible.. Humans do not need meat to thrive, it is completely unnecessary to slaughter animals for meat that we don't need. We can avoid causing those animals harm, if only we stopped eating meat. Why choose meat, something that causes so much harm, when we can choose vegetarian?

2.

No, because it is an accident if I do kill bugs on my windshield. When you go and buy meat you know what you're doing, and it's intentional.

I do try to avoid them, some times I walk without thinking about it. Once again though, accident. If you were to accidentally run over a dog does that mean you should go and kill another 100 because you accidentally killed one?

Once again it is not intentional to kill them. I do not go down to the store and buy dead corpses of skin mites.

i can answer your second question.

1s. i do not drive as i don't own a car and i don't want to own a car as many accidents can happen , also the car helps to pollute the air and oxygen which we breath, so i am trying to reduce that risk.

2s. when i walk i always look where i walk on . i never step on the ant or on any other bug .

3rd. not all humans have skin mites at least i don't. i always protect my self from getting mites first and with out killing them .

This is the problem I have with some vegans. The ones that pick number 2. How can they have the viewpoint of number 2 when their diet and lifestyle also kills animals. These vegans preach, condemn, and call others murderers while their doing the same thing.

EDIT

Lol You can strive all you want. But you do kill animals. It has nothing to do with My animal killing world. What does you living in a home. driving, and eating produce have to do with my world? lol You just don't like the FACT that YOU kill animals, period. You are an ignorant hypocrite.