5 ms·

I wish there was some way to require meat eaters to at least visit a slaughterhouse every year to witness the animals that they eat getting slaughtered. Even b

I wish there was some way to require meat eaters to at least visit a slaughterhouse every year to witness the animals that they eat getting slaughtered. Even better would be if they had to slaughter some animals themselves rather than simply paying people to do it for them. Farmers and slaughterhouse workers get desensitized to the slaughter of animals, but I suspect that if people didn't do it all the time but just, say, once or twice a year and saw what actually goes on in slaughterhouses most people would be horrified and many of them would turn vegetarian. Even a single field trip to a slaughterhouse as a kid would probably make lifetime vegetarians out of a lot of people. Most people don't want to think about what they're doing to animals (and certainly not witness, much less directly participate in it), though, so it would probably never happen.

rantwasp 5y ago
I got where you’re coming from but meat is one of the most nutrients packed food you can eat. Also, evolutionary people did not become the top of the food chain by eating plants. Yes, it’s terrible how animals are being treated and yes mass consumption of meat has some terrible side effects. With that being said: do you think that in the wild a predator will think twice about killing and eating their pray? do you think that every person on Earth could turn vegetarian and be able to get a healthy diet tomorrow?
- Nbox9 5y ago
  > do you think that every person on Earth could turn vegetarian and be able to get a healthy diet tomorrow? That’s an unrealistically high bar to set. Almost anyone can turn vegetarian and have a healthy diet today. Our agricultural sector regularly adjusts for changing tastes of the population, and while this adjustment doesn’t happen overnight it happens regularly.
  - rantwasp 5y ago
    I strongly disagree. I would also like you to point me to resources that show you how to build such a diet. Don’t get me wrong. Eating a mostly-plant based diet is okay and doable but I’m talking the last 5-10% territory.
MarcScott 5y ago
I've often argued this. I'm a meat eater, but have in the past slaughtered pigs and chickens myself. I've told people this, and they often express disgust, while happily munching on a hamburger or chicken wing. As far as I'm concerned, if you're not willing to face up to the fact that you're killing a sentient animal to feed yourself, then you shouldn't be eating meat.
- rantwasp 5y ago
  i would soften this a bit. If you’re not willing to delegate the killing (fully understanding what it is) you should not eat meat.
amanaplanacanal 5y ago
I’ve had the same thought about capital punishment: it should be televised so that people can see what they are supporting. It might not turn out the way you or I wish, though.
- bserge 5y ago
  On that one, I argue for giving the convicted person a choice - death or life in prison. It's a simple change. Now most people ask "who would choose death?". We'd be surprised.
bserge 5y ago
Yeah, it would be a good idea for school trips. I've watched and slaughtered animals since I was little and still eat meat, but others could change.
tomjen3 5y ago
That would be a strong, compelling argument, but it would be emotional only. Logically we gain nothing from improving animal rights, except insofar as the meat may be healthier/tastier or that we don't feel so bad. The first may be worth it, the second can be achieved by hiding factory farming more efficiently. Of course if you think animal suffering is bad, that is a different pov, but why should you?
geofft 5y ago
I support this, and I suspect a more practical thing is that humane slaughterhouses will gain in popularity. A lot of the problem in our current era is how thoroughly you can outsource the job - but humanity has a large history of farmers/ranchers/hunters and their community being entirely willing to eat meat. Also, this is what kosher/halal rules about slaughtering are trying to do. (There is some debate about how effective those specific rules are.)

rantwasp 5y ago

I got where you’re coming from but meat is one of the most nutrients packed food you can eat. Also, evolutionary people did not become the top of the food chain by eating plants. Yes, it’s terrible how animals are being treated and yes mass consumption of meat has some terrible side effects. With that being said: do you think that in the wild a predator will think twice about killing and eating their pray? do you think that every person on Earth could turn vegetarian and be able to get a healthy diet tomorrow?

Nbox9 5y ago
> do you think that every person on Earth could turn vegetarian and be able to get a healthy diet tomorrow? That’s an unrealistically high bar to set. Almost anyone can turn vegetarian and have a healthy diet today. Our agricultural sector regularly adjusts for changing tastes of the population, and while this adjustment doesn’t happen overnight it happens regularly.
- rantwasp 5y ago
  I strongly disagree. I would also like you to point me to resources that show you how to build such a diet. Don’t get me wrong. Eating a mostly-plant based diet is okay and doable but I’m talking the last 5-10% territory.

MarcScott 5y ago

I've often argued this. I'm a meat eater, but have in the past slaughtered pigs and chickens myself. I've told people this, and they often express disgust, while happily munching on a hamburger or chicken wing. As far as I'm concerned, if you're not willing to face up to the fact that you're killing a sentient animal to feed yourself, then you shouldn't be eating meat.

rantwasp 5y ago
i would soften this a bit. If you’re not willing to delegate the killing (fully understanding what it is) you should not eat meat.

amanaplanacanal 5y ago

I’ve had the same thought about capital punishment: it should be televised so that people can see what they are supporting. It might not turn out the way you or I wish, though.

bserge 5y ago
On that one, I argue for giving the convicted person a choice - death or life in prison. It's a simple change. Now most people ask "who would choose death?". We'd be surprised.

bserge 5y ago

Yeah, it would be a good idea for school trips. I've watched and slaughtered animals since I was little and still eat meat, but others could change.

tomjen3 5y ago

That would be a strong, compelling argument, but it would be emotional only. Logically we gain nothing from improving animal rights, except insofar as the meat may be healthier/tastier or that we don't feel so bad. The first may be worth it, the second can be achieved by hiding factory farming more efficiently. Of course if you think animal suffering is bad, that is a different pov, but why should you?

geofft 5y ago

I support this, and I suspect a more practical thing is that humane slaughterhouses will gain in popularity. A lot of the problem in our current era is how thoroughly you can outsource the job - but humanity has a large history of farmers/ranchers/hunters and their community being entirely willing to eat meat. Also, this is what kosher/halal rules about slaughtering are trying to do. (There is some debate about how effective those specific rules are.)