I've never seen this group before

[Duer 157099]

Is there a necessary connection between eating and animal rights?

I'm not a vegetarian nor a vegan, and yet I believe that I'm supportive of animal rights.

Or am I just a rationalizing hypocrite?

(this is a serious question for a serious discussion, truly)

[LeftyMom]

1. I would say so.

Once you recognize non-human animals as beings with their own inherent interests, it's difficult to reconcile that with their use for the gain of others. Some people manage to do so by accepting what they regard as less harmful uses (less inhumane farming methods, or vegetarians eating animal reproductive byproducts but not flesh) but the basic argument behind veganism is that the primary method of impacting animal welfare and promoting animal rights available to the vast majority of us is to avoid the use of animals for human purposes.

edit: However, people who are neither vegan nor vegetarian are welcome to post about animal rights issues in this group.

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. No, there is not

Folks who support animal rights are likely to make vegetarian and vegan dietary choices. The dietary choice is consistent with and logically follows the committment to animal rights and animal welfare.

On the flip side, there are many who pursue vegetarian and vegan dietary choices for reasons that have nothing to do with animal rights and welfare. Often these folks are concerned with protecting their health or addressing particular medical concerns. They may have no interest in animal rights and may take issue with the actions of many animal rights activists and organizations.

There is also the issue whether animal welfare and animal rights issues are identical. Some say yes and some say no. Some say there are only incremental differences. Some distinguish between the two based on whether they accept the concept that an animal can be property. Others make the distinction based n whether they think animals are sentient beings.

Dietary choices do not necessarily refect a support for animal rights activism and issues. Those who are committed to and support animal rights ought to encourage vegetarian and vegan dietary choices regardless of their motivation.

[HopeHoops]

3. Rationalizing hypocracy. But that's okay, I did it too.

I used to think hunters were cruel. I respect them now because they are taking responsibility for what they are killing. Buying a plastic tray with ground slime in shrink wrap isn't taking responsibility. You don't have to be vegetarian to respect animal rights, but we've got some recipes that will make you want to spank yourself for eating meat. My three daughters (20, 18, and 16) are life-long vegetarians, all 2nd degree black belts, all slender and strong, and I say fuck anyone who says you need meat to build muscle.

By the way, I like your avatar. That's my alter ego.

Welcome.

[HopeHoops]

4. It is a good question. All are welcome. Vegetarians and vegans go at it. Animal rights is diet...

...neutral. Hunting issues don't belong in here as an argument, but they can certainly be discussed. It isn't a simple subject. For example, McD's just broke off a relationship with an egg supplier after a damning hidden camera clip hit YouTube showing them debeaking chicks and tossing male chicks into a plastic garbage bag. The exact same thing was described by John Robbins (heir to Baskin Robbins and a vegan) in his book "Diet for a New America" in the mid/late 80s. I'm sure McD's was COMPLETELY unaware that such things happened.

[iris27]

5. As an omnivore AR supporter myself - yes, folks like us are absolutely hypocrites.

Basically for all the reasons already mentioned.

I have tried several times in the past to go vegan, and it's worked about as well as the times I've tried to start eating healthier in order to bring my BMI down from over 35. I know both are the right thing to do (and would actually go hand-in-hand), but for whatever reason I can't stick to it.

However, I seriously doubt that we'll ever convince the whole world to stop eating animal products, so I think it's very important to advocate for more humane methods of raising and slaughtering food animals and companion animals (puppy mills). Factory farms are horrific. The hunters in my family bother me a bit with their dead mounted trophies, but the animals they've killed lived better lives than the ones whose deaths were paid for by my grocery purchases.