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This is a valid argument and not at all reductive. Obviously grass is the only plant available to humans to eat. /s

by 2024throwaway 2y ago

slowmovintarget 2y ago
"...eating what the animal would eat..." There's reason that life on Earth exists in a food chain. In this case many of the animals humans eat consume and digest things we cannot. This particular discussion was about cattle and humans deriving nutrition from the milk they produce and the meat they yield. From that perspective, cows and steers as intermediaries provide such a distinct advantage that genetic mutation that allows some humans to digest cow milk drove the flourishing of those civilizations. Grazing animals, properly fed (this is what we need to fix), eat mostly grass. We need that middle step. Just like we need the intermediate steps of plants extracting nutrients from the soil and turning sunlight into usable calories for us. We can't eat dirt and drink sunshine, either. Of course those aren't the only things to eat. But that's the argument I was responding to. The "cut out the middle man" argument really doesn't work. The argument should be "here are better alternatives."
- 2024throwaway 2y ago
  Alright, fair. But this last comment was far more insightful and thoughtful than your initial flippant dismissal.
  - Izkata 2y ago
    Didn't look flippant to me, it was a very direct response to the other person saying we should eat what cows eat instead. I guess it could be seen that way to someone who doesn't know cows mostly eat grass?
    - 2024throwaway 2y ago
      The original comment specifically mentioned soy and edamame. The reply only mentioned grass. HN guidelines say: Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith.
      - Izkata 2y ago
        In that case, right back at you on "strongest possible interpretation" - The focus of that first comment wasn't "soy", it was "what the animal eats". That response was both responding to the important portion while correcting them on cow diets.
        2024throwaway 2y ago
        Cows don’t only eat grass.
        Izkata 2y ago
        I know. > > > > cows mostly eat grass

This is a valid argument and not at all reductive. Obviously grass is the only plant available to humans to eat. /s

"...eating what the animal would eat..." There's reason that life on Earth exists in a food chain. In this case many of the animals humans eat consume and digest things we cannot. This particular discussion was about cattle and humans deriving nutrition from the milk they produce and the meat they yield. From that perspective, cows and steers as intermediaries provide such a distinct advantage that genetic mutation that allows some humans to digest cow milk drove the flourishing of those civilizations. Grazing animals, properly fed (this is what we need to fix), eat mostly grass. We need that middle step. Just like we need the intermediate steps of plants extracting nutrients from the soil and turning sunlight into usable calories for us. We can't eat dirt and drink sunshine, either. Of course those aren't the only things to eat. But that's the argument I was responding to. The "cut out the middle man" argument really doesn't work. The argument should be "here are better alternatives."

2024throwaway 2y ago
Alright, fair. But this last comment was far more insightful and thoughtful than your initial flippant dismissal.
- Izkata 2y ago
  Didn't look flippant to me, it was a very direct response to the other person saying we should eat what cows eat instead. I guess it could be seen that way to someone who doesn't know cows mostly eat grass?
  - 2024throwaway 2y ago
    The original comment specifically mentioned soy and edamame. The reply only mentioned grass. HN guidelines say: Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith.
    - Izkata 2y ago
      In that case, right back at you on "strongest possible interpretation" - The focus of that first comment wasn't "soy", it was "what the animal eats". That response was both responding to the important portion while correcting them on cow diets.
      - 2024throwaway 2y ago
        Cows don’t only eat grass.
        Izkata 2y ago
        I know. > > > > cows mostly eat grass