It is natural for us to eat meat and it is one of the reasons, as a species, that we managed to survive the ice age and other threats to our existence. The ability to adapt and not be fixed to a single source of food is hugely beneficial in evolutionary terms. If we were to stop eating meat altogether initially there would be millions of animals whose lives would be made far worse as they would no longer be fed by us and would have to fend for themselves. But after they perished and a natural equilibrium was reached those wild cows and pigs would not find a utopian existence, they would be forced to compete with each other, and existing wildlife, for resources (which arguably we would also require in order to replace the meat in our diet).

To be clear I have no issue with people who cannot eat meat or other foods for medical reasons, but to do it under the guise of compassion for the animals is misguided and, in my current understanding, warrants proper investigation – I am happy to be pointed to information to the contrary. For the moment I hold the same view as Eriq Nelson, that of making the lives of the animals I eat as natural and ‘happy’ as is reasonable and to ‘honour’ them by eating as much of them as possible, an attitude I have in common with Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall

You are a bigger and better person than I am for forgiving and offering a hug – I accept. Sorry for making you so upset with my views and the manner in which I expressed them. I hope your anger towards me finds a release and that you feel better. All the best to you.

You are right. I’m angry, upset and think you a jerk. To overly use the article “you” and pretending to know how I feel and think tend to do that to me. Nevertheless, I forgive you, give you a big hug and you’re welcome to come to my land so we can continue the exchanges.

He is not an advocate of becoming a vegetarian and actually warns of the detrimental effect on the welfare of millions of animals if we were all to cease to eat meat.

I agree with many of his ideas and minimising animal suffering is something that resonates with me, I have no desire to cause any sentient being any discomfort or pain.

In the UK we are currently in the middle of “The Great British food fight” in which celebrity chefs such as Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver campaign for a better life for animals. I am pleased to say that there seems to be pretty good support for their campaigns which shows a lot of people also feel the same way.

I’m glad that your friend has succeeded in taking you to a vegan restarurant. You are angry, you see, because you are taking this personally. The “higher choice” being made by those who don’t eat animals is my opinion. My question to you, and others like you (who respond with anger etc), is that why would such an opinion get under your skin so much? It’s an opinion isn’t it? Why react so strongly to a simple opinion?

Why? Because you think “your way” is better? Because no one can suggest that you might be making an inferior choice to them? Because your way of life, whatever that may be, is coming under attack? Because you are the hottest thing that ever happend to this planet?

Personally, I am not looking for any “victory” in trying to convert you. In fact, I am sure that more I try to “convert” you, the less likely you will convert. And I know that because too much of your ego has been invested in telling people like me to “screw you.”

The things I write is more for the people who are sitting on the fence – there 85000 subscribers here – and not so emotionally invested as you are. My hope is not that they will convert, but that they will give this idea a rational thought. And if that happens, it could bring a little more compassion on this planet and I will have achieved my purpose.

As for compassion having nothing to do with vegetarianism, I disagree. Choosing a non-vegetarian life-style means that you support killing of an animal, directly or indirectly. That means, to me, that you are not exercising compassion towards animals. Simple, straight forward logic.

As for eating human flesh, why wait till “it’s needed?” Why not do it now? Go ahead. On the other hand, why aren’t you eating animals as a “last resort?”

As for an Indian hunter showing dignity, honor etc for his prey, 99% of hunting today is for recreational reasons. It’s the hypocisy of the worst kind to say that people actually care for the honor and dignity of its prey while they could be easily entertaining themselves by playing tennis.

The thirst for blood is perhaps thrilling and exciting to them. Blood sport has done that for humans for centuries. And they are enitiled to it. All I am saying is that those of who choose a roller-coaster ride for a thrill are making a higher choice than them because it’s a more compassionate choice.

You are angry because, within the context of being compassionate, you are on the wrong side of the argument. You are trying to make make your actions guilt-free by using reason – which is actually working against you. Pure and simple.

As a vegan, I am soooooo sick and tired of people’s ridiculous notions about our need for another animals flesh or the milk they produce for their offspring. If people would just stop for ONE SECOND and look into what they are eating and their real needs, maybe the would see the inaccuracies in their statements. We need more people speaking out about compassion towards animals, not less so thank you for making this post.

Thank you for saying that! I’ve been trying to stay out of this dogmatic discussion, but I couldn’t figure out how to say what I wanted to without coming off as intolerant. You took the words out of my mouth. I subscribe 100% to what you wrote.

I just don’t understand how the people who bring their religion in here think that it has ANYTHING to do with Zen. Learn to respect other people’s religions, and never use your own religion as a way to settle a discussion.

I believe that one day, cheescake will rain from the sky. That proves that God wants us to eat dairy products. Now the burden is on you people to prove me wrong.

This discussion is about compassion regarding animals. Not veganism/vegetarism.
I do consider that a native american asking his prey to allow him to kill it so he can feed himself and his family to be most compassionate. The hunter is also showing respect, honor, dignity and that he understand the cycles of nature.