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> Why on earth would anyone listen to a vegetarian about what makes a good meat alternative. Because most vegetarians have likely tried a lot more meat substit

> Why on earth would anyone listen to a vegetarian about what makes a good meat alternative. Because most vegetarians have likely tried a lot more meat substitutes than a meat eater, and most of them have eaten meat at some point? It seems that any story about meat-eating brings out all the reactionary commenters and switches off critical thinking skills on HN.

rob74 4y ago
True - but OTOH, most serious vegetarians haven't eaten any meat-based products in a long time. And after a long time of not eating meat, I can imagine that your preferences adjust and you actually think that the alternatives taste better than "real" meat? I mean, I only tried a vegetarian/vegan diet for a few weeks (thanks to my wife insisting we do it), and even after this short time, I started being slightly disgusted by products oozing with animal fat - especially when having to clean the frying pan after preparing some burgers...
nottorp 4y ago
> Because most vegetarians have likely tried a lot more meat substitutes than a meat eater Tried, maybe. The vegetarians I know don't do veggie burgers or steaks. They eat the actual vegetables.
sirsinsalot 4y ago
I wouldn't take driving advice off someone that hasn't driven for 10 years, even if they passed their test. I wouldn't take health advice on faith from someone who has a medical degree but never practices medicine. It's about relative interest. My point wasn't that vegetarians can't know, but that their advice isn't as valuable to me as a recommendation from a current meat eater. The meat eater has less agenda and more recent experience to base their recommendation on. > If a steak chef says an alternative to steak is X, I'll listen.
- chimprich 4y ago
  > I wouldn't take driving advice off someone that hasn't driven for 10 years, even if they passed their test. That's a faulty analogy. The equivalent would be getting advice on alternatives to driving from someone who no longer drives. I don't think I'd request advice on the best form of public transport from someone who drives everywhere and has taken the train once or twice. > The meat eater has less agenda Ha! Really? Everyone has an agenda. Meat eaters / car drivers / vegetarians / non-drivers have all emotionally committed to their decision. It's naive to think otherwise. Everyone likes to assume their choice is the sensible one and the "other side" has an irrational militaristic agenda.
  - sirsinsalot 4y ago
    > I don't think I'd request advice on the best form of public transport from someone who drives everywhere and has taken the train once or twice. My point exactly.

rob74 4y ago

True - but OTOH, most serious vegetarians haven't eaten any meat-based products in a long time. And after a long time of not eating meat, I can imagine that your preferences adjust and you actually think that the alternatives taste better than "real" meat? I mean, I only tried a vegetarian/vegan diet for a few weeks (thanks to my wife insisting we do it), and even after this short time, I started being slightly disgusted by products oozing with animal fat - especially when having to clean the frying pan after preparing some burgers...

nottorp 4y ago

> Because most vegetarians have likely tried a lot more meat substitutes than a meat eater Tried, maybe. The vegetarians I know don't do veggie burgers or steaks. They eat the actual vegetables.

sirsinsalot 4y ago

I wouldn't take driving advice off someone that hasn't driven for 10 years, even if they passed their test. I wouldn't take health advice on faith from someone who has a medical degree but never practices medicine. It's about relative interest. My point wasn't that vegetarians can't know, but that their advice isn't as valuable to me as a recommendation from a current meat eater. The meat eater has less agenda and more recent experience to base their recommendation on. > If a steak chef says an alternative to steak is X, I'll listen.

chimprich 4y ago
> I wouldn't take driving advice off someone that hasn't driven for 10 years, even if they passed their test. That's a faulty analogy. The equivalent would be getting advice on alternatives to driving from someone who no longer drives. I don't think I'd request advice on the best form of public transport from someone who drives everywhere and has taken the train once or twice. > The meat eater has less agenda Ha! Really? Everyone has an agenda. Meat eaters / car drivers / vegetarians / non-drivers have all emotionally committed to their decision. It's naive to think otherwise. Everyone likes to assume their choice is the sensible one and the "other side" has an irrational militaristic agenda.
- sirsinsalot 4y ago
  > I don't think I'd request advice on the best form of public transport from someone who drives everywhere and has taken the train once or twice. My point exactly.