Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - Ate meat for the first time in over a year

rei · 11-08-2009, 07:20 AM

i agree with Michelle. there are people with incredible compassion for all life who eat animals. it's actually impossible to avoid all forms of murder, whether we allow our windshield to harm insects (or the windshield of mass transit), or even by walking around we step on countless microorganisms and i doubt they survive.

i did become a vegetarian at one point, compassion was a motivator in my decision. but i have compassion for all animals, and that includes humans. i ended up in a different living situation and it became a great strain in the environment for me to maintain my choice. now i eat meat occasionally but i always give my thanks to the animal for giving its life. i also thank animals that give a part of themselves (such as for making dairy products).

i don't really like to eat animals, but i wouldn't say i feel guilty about it (though i did at one time). guilt trips are not the most conscious way to influence people, they often end up encouraging someone to make a choice for less skillful/affirming reasons. talking AT people (preaching) instead of talking TO them does not seem to show much respect for the equality of human animals either.

11-08-2009, 07:20 AM	#38 (permalink)
rei Family Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: earth, everywhere and nowhere Posts: 9,713	i agree with Michelle. there are people with incredible compassion for all life who eat animals. it's actually impossible to avoid all forms of murder, whether we allow our windshield to harm insects (or the windshield of mass transit), or even by walking around we step on countless microorganisms and i doubt they survive. i did become a vegetarian at one point, compassion was a motivator in my decision. but i have compassion for all animals, and that includes humans. i ended up in a different living situation and it became a great strain in the environment for me to maintain my choice. now i eat meat occasionally but i always give my thanks to the animal for giving its life. i also thank animals that give a part of themselves (such as for making dairy products). i don't really like to eat animals, but i wouldn't say i feel guilty about it (though i did at one time). guilt trips are not the most conscious way to influence people, they often end up encouraging someone to make a choice for less skillful/affirming reasons. talking AT people (preaching) instead of talking TO them does not seem to show much respect for the equality of human animals either.