I assume you're talking about the meat industry, which is definitely not ethical, but let's not pretend killing stuff for food is the same as killing stuff to pass the time

[–] SmoothOperator@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I guess it gets somewhat blurred when you don't need to kill stuff to eat, but you do it anyway because you like the taste better. That's arguably some version of killing for fun?

[–] EddoWagt@feddit.nl 4 points 2 months ago

I think it's still different, as killing is an unfortunate means rather than an endgoal. I'd love to eat lab grown meat, that'd satisfy my needs without killing animals. But that wouldn't satisfy a hunter who is killing for fun.

[–] NaevaTheRat@vegantheoryclub.org 0 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Why not? It's not necessary, right, healthy, or environmentally friendly. What reason is left but pleasure? you eat steak instead of tofu to pass the time more pleasantly, no different from someone whaling or shooting rhinos

[–] Katzastrophe 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

There is very much a problem with a lot of people simply refusing to accept what butchering actually entails.

There was a public experiment done by a reputable German science magazine where they asked a farmer to set up a stand for freshly butchered geese at a nearby city's outdoor market. The catch was that the geese were still alive and they'd be killed and butchered at the location. So many people reacted with outrage, and in the end only one goose got slaughtered, because the buyers themselves were more than aware of the butchering process. The rest of the geese were rescued by an animal rights advocate who bought them all to be kept at a rescue farm.

Here's the video, obviously fully in German, but you can see pedestrian reactions: https://youtu.be/9AXt-6mAVEo

[–] NaevaTheRat@vegantheoryclub.org 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

And yet almost everyone I've ever shown slaughterhouse footage to did not change at all.

I think that has more to do with being seen to do a thing or not. Nobody is actually stupid enough to just forget what is involved from one moment to the next.

[–] Katzastrophe 5 points 2 months ago

I think a big difference is how seeing it happen in real life is much more impactful than on a video.

I grew up around butchering animals, and even got to visit a nearby family-owned slaughterhouse on occasion, for me slaughtering and butchering animals is something that I'm much more aware of due to these experiences, I've even been taught how to slaughter animals, and though I would never advocate to have everyone who wishes to eat meat slaughter an animal themselves, I think it's absolutely important to see the process in person and not just on video.

Something that happens a lot in my experience is that specific animal parts are considered "gross", entrails and such are usually the most common parts considered as such. That's probably the easiest way to figure out if someone is aware of what butchering means or not, no, considering them gross is not directly a problem, but going all "eek" and stuff is a great way of telling me that the other person is ignorant of the meat industry.

[–] EddoWagt@feddit.nl 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I'd recommend not judging others based on merit. I for one have an eating disorder which makes it really difficult for me to eat, let alone enjoy most vegetables or meat alternatives. So yes, meat pretty much is a necessity for me, even if I would like to eat less of it. So does that make me a killer, doing it to enjoy my freetime or make a profit? Or does that mean I'm just trying to live my life without starving?

[–] Korrok@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago

Yeah, a friend of mine tried to be vegetarian and then found out that she's fructose intolerant.

[–] NaevaTheRat@vegantheoryclub.org 1 points 2 months ago

Yep. They have just as much right to live as you. Find other options, I'm sure you can.