General Discussion

malthaussen

(18,089 posts)

248. Trees, however, absolutely hate you.

Reply to Luminous Animal (Original post)

Sun Mar 6, 2016, 04:18 PM

Mar 2016

One query I have for vegetarians, what if it became reasonably certain that plants have feelings, too? Then you can no longer assert that your survival is not dependent on the pain of other sentient beings. I find this question interesting, because in many ways your survival already depends on the pain and exploitation of other sentient beings, whether you would have it so or not. We can, it appears, compartmentalize or ignore this fact, and clearly if plants suffer, we must also accept that we live on their pain as well. Arguably, all we can do is lessen our footprint as much as possible, and thus abstaining from inflicting suffering on animals is a way of doing so; but in any case, suffering will be inflicted for your convenience, and all we come down to is what suffering we are prepared to inflict, and what not.

-- Mal

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So glad that I gave up eating meat. So glad that I can look in any animal's eye and say... [View all] Luminous Animal Mar 2016 OP

I look them in the eye Press Virginia Mar 2016 #1

Do you take pliers and pull out their teeth, do you cut their tails off, do you knife off their Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #2

Only if I'm making soup Press Virginia Mar 2016 #3

Then. No. You do not. You cede horrors for things that you will not do. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #5

The only horror is the thought of an unfinished steak Press Virginia Mar 2016 #6

.... Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #8

Of course you did, dear. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #9

Oh snap!!! GGJohn Mar 2016 #13

Brought this to mind... TipTok Mar 2016 #46

If meat is murder Press Virginia Mar 2016 #60

Bless your little heart... LanternWaste Mar 2016 #52

Oh no. Bless the brave men and women whose jobs make it possible Press Virginia Mar 2016 #59

The people who work in slaughterhouses have crappy jobs Nevernose Mar 2016 #123

I respect and appreciate their work Press Virginia Mar 2016 #124

How about this, then..... A HERETIC I AM Mar 2016 #244

Ding! Winnah! Raster Mar 2016 #65

I hunted antelope in New Mexico. They tasted great. Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #159

I too can look at an animal Separation Mar 2016 #229

"I look them in the eye" Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2016 #72

Ha Press Virginia Mar 2016 #115

LOOK ME IN THE EYES! snooper2 Mar 2016 #79

That is disturbing Press Virginia Mar 2016 #114

Don't they call that a star nosed mole? Probably tastes earthy. Hekate Mar 2016 #129

KILL IT!!!! KILL IT DEAD!!!!! Quackers Mar 2016 #231

Why join this post except to be a jerk? nt Logical Mar 2016 #120

It was a joke, Francis. Lighten up. Press Virginia Mar 2016 #121

Hey Logical, GGJohn Mar 2016 #135

I can see this post going down a road you don't want.. Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #4

This post will go down pretty much that I expect. A celebration of cruelty. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #7

I grew up on a family farm... Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #17

Agree. Drahthaardogs Mar 2016 #86

We cut tails and pulled teeth on piglets on our farm. NickB79 Mar 2016 #125

We had friends who raised swine... Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #131

I wish we used castration bands NickB79 Mar 2016 #210

The pulling teeth I have never heard of?! Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #132

But also a celebration of your moral rectitude in the face of those who eat meat right? el_bryanto Mar 2016 #163

Of course it's the point. n/t A HERETIC I AM Mar 2016 #245

Have you given up drink? nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #10

Water is great. Thanks for asking. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #19

I'm going to suggest water, aspirin, and bed. nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #22

Why? Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #27

You bad. But maybe this is just a symptom of boredom. Look at all the replies! Hekate Mar 2016 #130

This is as good as the thread where LA threatened to tell the Internet I was plagarizing..... msanthrope Mar 2016 #155

Don't refer to people with their initials. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #178

Welcome to DU. I like the cut of your jib. nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #180

TY. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #185

Sure, just like LBJ, JFK, FDR, ... Major Nikon Mar 2016 #246

There you have it Hekate Mar 2016 #181

Interesting that you asked that. If my OP had said that I had given up drink and that I Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #218

I'd raise me glass to you, LA. nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #226

We are all animals. nt Agnosticsherbet Mar 2016 #11

I don't kill my sister for sustenance. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #14

Neither do I, though fought like crazy as kids. Agnosticsherbet Mar 2016 #15

And? Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #18

We evolved as omnivores. Agnosticsherbet Mar 2016 #21

There is omnivore and there is contributing to massive cruelty and suffering. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #23

Not to mention the environmental devastation caused by animal agriculture. nt Svafa Mar 2016 #103

Every type of farming leads to some environmental devestation. mac56 Mar 2016 #190

Right, but not only do the animals themselves Svafa Mar 2016 #191

I seriously doubt that Major Nikon Mar 2016 #173

Excellent post. Thanks...I will have to use this later on down the road. Hope that's ok. Kang Colby Mar 2016 #186

Here's some other fun points to kick around Major Nikon Mar 2016 #192

I look at them through a scope mounted to my .308 GGJohn Mar 2016 #12

Indeed. When it comes to killing, everybody turns into a philanthropist on DU. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #16

Think what you will, GGJohn Mar 2016 #20

GGJohn Thank you for your service... Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #24

Thank you. GGJohn Mar 2016 #29

Yes was stationed at Ft Hood... Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #32

Yes. I grew up on a farm and you damn well know factory farms have ZERO to do Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #25

Except I'm not defending factory farms, GGJohn Mar 2016 #26

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #28

Yet. Most of the U.S. gets their food from factory farms. If you aren't defending factory farms... Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #31

We eat only what we hunt and raise, I refuse to buy meat from supermarkets just GGJohn Mar 2016 #33

Exactly. And I live in a city where the most of the meat available is packaged from factory Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #34

But your OP is not about factory farms. Not at all. Bluenorthwest Mar 2016 #49

"raised by people whose names I know" melman Mar 2016 #126

For you..... msanthrope Mar 2016 #150

Sorry, but your post reminded me of this.... msanthrope Mar 2016 #156

I first learned to shoot in the Navy. Mainly shotguns and sidearms. Ended up on Admirals staff 2nd f Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #160

Admiral's staff? GGJohn Mar 2016 #162

I think your right its about the same thing. In the boat with you Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #164

Yeah it was prestigious, but hell piloting helicopters would have been wicked. Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #165

It did get interesting and terrifying at times, GGJohn Mar 2016 #166

There was desert storm but otherwise lots of coffee drinking and fleet logistics Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #167

I commanded a squadron of Apache's during Desert Storm, GGJohn Mar 2016 #168

Very cool! Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #174

Creative story. LanternWaste Mar 2016 #53

No idea what you're talking about, GGJohn Mar 2016 #58

Wow, I knew you would have to post something just to insult the OP. Wow, you are a tough guy. nt Logical Mar 2016 #122

Wow, a bunch of others doing the same thing and you single me out? GGJohn Mar 2016 #133

Quit whining, you were the first one I saw. And had to describe the gun.... Logical Mar 2016 #136

Stating a fact isn't whining. GGJohn Mar 2016 #137

I think you meant "couldn't care less" nt Logical Mar 2016 #139

Ooh ooh... Pick me! TipTok Mar 2016 #138

Do you have a gun story to tell? Nt Logical Mar 2016 #140

I've never shot at animals... TipTok Mar 2016 #141

Definitely takes courage! I cannot imagine. Nt Logical Mar 2016 #142

... GGJohn Mar 2016 #143

Playing the odds... TipTok Mar 2016 #144

You should visit Las Vegas with those odds. GGJohn Mar 2016 #145

I'm sad hollograham Mar 2016 #30

Even if people *ate less* of it -- or just were careful how their meat animals were raised villager Mar 2016 #36

right hollograham Mar 2016 #38

I'm Jewish, and you might be better off getting free-range, cruelty-free, rather than Kosher villager Mar 2016 #39

you tried hard... you shouldn't feel bad renate Mar 2016 #98

People like to laud their callousness and cruelty in threads like this. Part of the dissonance villager Mar 2016 #35

+1 Svafa Mar 2016 #105

it seems a little strange to me renate Mar 2016 #117

It's akin to the bluster and put-downs of the gun-toters villager Mar 2016 #118

That's a bad comparison. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #183

welcome to DU! renate Mar 2016 #206

Being Vegetarian or Vegan is a choice Bettie Mar 2016 #253

Veggies are mute. Because they don't safeinOhio Mar 2016 #37

Vegetables don't have a central nervous system. CrispyQ Mar 2016 #81

This is a ridiculous argument. They have no nervous system; they can not feel pain. Svafa Mar 2016 #106

How would we know safeinOhio Mar 2016 #119

Because they don't have a nervous system. Animals Svafa Mar 2016 #158

Are you vegan or vegetarian? I'm just curious. nt Quackers Mar 2016 #40

Now i can look at you in peace.... restorefreedom Mar 2016 #41

Kick. nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #42

Congratulations! It does feel good to live in accordance with your values. femmedem Mar 2016 #43

Regarding beef consumption, I would also encourage people to read "Mad Cowboy" CrispyQ Mar 2016 #90

Soy production is arguably worse Major Nikon Mar 2016 #194

Reading Mad Cowboy was the break for me, Mendocino Mar 2016 #208

All power to you but your veganism makes no difference to global warming. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #188

See what GM soy does to do. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #44

There's plenty to eat without eating meat - LiberalElite Mar 2016 #45

Do you wear leather shoes? Nye Bevan Mar 2016 #47

I eschew leather shoes Doremus Mar 2016 #71

Dumb comment. many or most people who are veggie for ethical reasons do not wear animal products. HERVEPA Mar 2016 #251

Living according to your moral code is great FLPanhandle Mar 2016 #48

very true Duckhunter935 Mar 2016 #64

Where is the OP trying to make… dhill926 Mar 2016 #228

This is a bit sanctimonious. Deadshot Mar 2016 #50

If I said that I was happy to stop drinking alcohol but it made my life better... Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #213

Are you also so glad you can look down your nose in condescension at others? cleanhippie Mar 2016 #51

I didn't take the OP as sanctimonious at all. cwydro Mar 2016 #80

I bet if it came down to it linuxman Mar 2016 #54

Question Travis_0004 Mar 2016 #55

I have never thought of an animal as a sibling. N/t gollygee Mar 2016 #56

Gives a whole new meaning to Mom having a cow. KentuckyWoman Mar 2016 #66

You are right. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #189

Right on target GulfCoast66 Mar 2016 #225

I'm a meat eater. bigwillq Mar 2016 #57

Mmm, delicious siblings. Om nom nom! Jester Messiah Mar 2016 #61

I am so glad I am going to have a thick Duckhunter935 Mar 2016 #62

Do you look a cat in the eye? A dog? rjsquirrel Mar 2016 #63

Dogs can and do eat vegetarian diets. Cats cannot. KamaAina Mar 2016 #96

I haven't ran across too many vegans that weren't cat owners Major Nikon Mar 2016 #198

My favorite vegan happens to be a dog person KamaAina Mar 2016 #199

I'm not sure what they put in Friskies and Meow Mix Major Nikon Mar 2016 #200

Ah. I see. KamaAina Mar 2016 #209

Vegetables are alive too. panader0 Mar 2016 #67

Yes, but they do not have a nervous system. They have no brain, so they are not conscious, Svafa Mar 2016 #107

I suggesy you read 'The Secret Life of Plants' panader0 Mar 2016 #111

No less absurd than equating all animals Major Nikon Mar 2016 #249

True not all animals fit that description, but when we're talking about Svafa Mar 2016 #250

Even in those instances, comparing them directly with humans just isn't that great of an idea Major Nikon Mar 2016 #252

I can do that too tazkcmo Mar 2016 #68

Pack your bags everyone! B2G Mar 2016 #69

I'm packing a lunch. pintobean Mar 2016 #70

"You are my sister. You are my brother." Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2016 #73

My brother is kind of a dick. zappaman Mar 2016 #259

My wife is entirely vegetarian, I don't regularly eat meat. We have dogs in the family. hunter Mar 2016 #74

I am not a vegetarian. fleur-de-lisa Mar 2016 #75

It's the sanctimonious and holier than thou tone... TipTok Mar 2016 #82

Umm, okay? fleur-de-lisa Mar 2016 #83

Maybe you wouldn't find it odd... TipTok Mar 2016 #84

I'm not sure what you mean by 'your group' . . . fleur-de-lisa Mar 2016 #87

Imagine if you were standing in a group of peers... TipTok Mar 2016 #88

Okay, but I would have just ignored it if I didn't agree. fleur-de-lisa Mar 2016 #89

Self inflicted wound... TipTok Mar 2016 #91

Perhaps . . . fleur-de-lisa Mar 2016 #92

Good luck... TipTok Mar 2016 #93

If I posted that I had was proud to give up alcohol. That giving up alcohol made my life better... Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #214

Only if you implied... TipTok Mar 2016 #216

Never implied anything. Just stated where I am at. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #217

Tell yourself whatever helps... TipTok Mar 2016 #232

It's exactly the same anywhere on the Internet with regards to vegetarianism. kentauros Mar 2016 #220

But... your animal has to eat meat. It's a law of nature. nt thereismore Mar 2016 #76

Guessing the animal hasn't industrialized the process to the point it's wrecking the climate, or villager Mar 2016 #109

anthropomorphising animals is amusing. Javaman Mar 2016 #77

This. nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #154

Feel better patting yourself on the back? TexasMommaWithAHat Mar 2016 #78

aww. are you having a low self-esteem day and the internet to tell you how wonderful you are? La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2016 #85

good for you... dhill926 Mar 2016 #94

"agree to disagree, but don't be dicks about it..." renate Mar 2016 #99

Yeah, I am surprised at the callousness here. I guess I expected better from progressives. Svafa Mar 2016 #108

They know you are right. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2016 #172

Give up eating meat? GGJohn Mar 2016 #243

I'm not the least bit surprised. kentauros Mar 2016 #221

Great seeing your post. n/t Judi Lynn Mar 2016 #149

I guess I'll have my popcorn without butter KamaAina Mar 2016 #95

remember kids, cheesecake's vegetarian and rum's vegan MisterP Mar 2016 #97

However, beer is not necessarily vegan KamaAina Mar 2016 #101

Yeah, I had to give up Bass Ale because of that. kentauros Mar 2016 #222

And in poetry. KamaAina Mar 2016 #257

You got me on that one! kentauros Mar 2016 #261

You know what is funny about this? nadinbrzezinski Mar 2016 #100

You are awesome! peace13 Mar 2016 #102

Consumption is part of nature.[n/t] Maedhros Mar 2016 #104

And if humans were still hunter-gatherers, maybe you'd have a point. Svafa Mar 2016 #110

We are not separate from nature, just because of our techology.[n/t] Maedhros Mar 2016 #116

Whatever. I am an enthusiastic carnivore, though closeupready Mar 2016 #112

You realize that if Mr. Fluffypaws was 10 times bigger than he is, he'd eat you in a hot minute. Warren DeMontague Mar 2016 #113

I love that picture NobodyHere Mar 2016 #148

If properly prepared, he'd eat you anyway Major Nikon Mar 2016 #238

Dogs, I think, love us. Cats view us as large pieces of meat which bring them smaller pieces of meat Warren DeMontague Mar 2016 #247

Esther the Wonder Pig made me give up bacon. ScreamingMeemie Mar 2016 #127

I thought bacon would be hard. I thought it was the one thing that would defeat me. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #146

How long have you been a vegan? Was it a gradual thing, or did you go cold turkey? Tanuki Mar 2016 #171

I do get some of what you are saying. I work in animal rescue...though it is mainly michaz Mar 2016 #128

I can look in my cats eyes Glamrock Mar 2016 #134

So glad I gave up eating radishes. So glad that I can look in any radish's eye and say... pablo_marmol Mar 2016 #147

So many refuse to recognize animals are conscious beings. Awareness is hard. Many won't make it. n/t Judi Lynn Mar 2016 #151

Animals are as conscious as we are. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2016 #170

How many animals died to put your meal on the table? Major Nikon Mar 2016 #177

the responses handmade34 Mar 2016 #152

Yea Turin_C3PO Mar 2016 #175

Do you eat eggs or dairy products? oberliner Mar 2016 #153

Whoop dee friggen doo doo. DinahMoeHum Mar 2016 #157

No, I don't eat fish. kentauros Mar 2016 #223

Like I said: whoop dee friggen doo doo DinahMoeHum Mar 2016 #241

You posted something that encouraged a reply. kentauros Mar 2016 #242

Everybody gets to hold their own beliefs in this life. GliderGuider Mar 2016 #161

Researchers Have Found That Plants Know They Are Being Eaten hobbit709 Mar 2016 #169

Sending you hugs! mucifer Mar 2016 #176

Well, you made your dietary choice Bettie Mar 2016 #179

I once stumbled upon a coyote in northwest Pennsylvania Orrex Mar 2016 #182

The coyotes around here seem to eat mostly house cats Major Nikon Mar 2016 #193

Hmm... fullautohotdog Mar 2016 #255

Know how you can tell if someone's a vegan? Marr Mar 2016 #184

Actually, that's only true of the ones that are -new- vegans. kentauros Mar 2016 #224

Nothing turns DUers into asshats faster than this topic. yewberry Mar 2016 #187

It didn't come up in casual conversation. pintobean Mar 2016 #195

Did you fail to read my last sentence? yewberry Mar 2016 #203

Looks pretty good... TipTok Mar 2016 #239

Thereby proving my point. yewberry Mar 2016 #254

I couldn't care less about your choices... TipTok Mar 2016 #256

You decided to post something offensive to me yewberry Mar 2016 #258

I like this photo better Quackers Mar 2016 #234

!!! zappaman Mar 2016 #260

Sure, unless you think too much about that soyburger Major Nikon Mar 2016 #196

Animals do not look at you and say "You are my brother (or sister)." shrike Mar 2016 #197

I'm so glad this forum has a "Trash this thread" feature... eom Purveyor Mar 2016 #201

I gave up meat 30 years ago... marew Mar 2016 #202

Fear not the path of truth Mendocino Mar 2016 #204

Wow some people are very committed to meat gwheezie Mar 2016 #205

or sanctimony Major Nikon Mar 2016 #207

If I a had posted that I had given up alcohol and that doing so made be feel better would Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #215

Depends on whether you tried to lay a guilt trip on everyone who still drinks Major Nikon Mar 2016 #235

It is actually about the sanctimony Bettie Mar 2016 #211

So, if I said I am glad that I stopped drinking because it made my life better Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #212

If you spoke of how it affected you personally without Bettie Mar 2016 #219

+1 nt jonno99 Mar 2016 #227

The great thing about analogies is they can make complicated subjects simpler Major Nikon Mar 2016 #237

Their animals eat meat too, who could have guessed? Rex Mar 2016 #265

I grow and raise my own food. OkSustainAg Mar 2016 #230

Other than human animals who eat meat you mean? nt greyl Mar 2016 #233

Just like my animals, I like meat! B Calm Mar 2016 #236

meat is murder! ileus Mar 2016 #240

Trees, however, absolutely hate you. malthaussen Mar 2016 #248

I live my from what I know. Do you live your life from what you know? Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #263

That last paragraph is ridiculous. GaYellowDawg Mar 2016 #266

Olive Garden eleny Mar 2016 #262

My animals all eat meat, they are omnivores so I don't feel bad about Rex Mar 2016 #264