I stopped eating meat this week. What are you eating?
Well, the link Azure introduced this time focused around animals. I clicked the link and saw that a video, almost around 2 hours long, start playing on a site titled “EARTHLINGS.” I immediately clicked the main home page link on that site to check summarized info somewhere so that I could know what was playing instead of watching the entire thing first. Well, the home page itself started playing a short trailer. The trailer was around 2 minutes long, I think. 1 minute and 24 seconds into the trailer, if I remember correctly, I made the most drastic decision of my life. It was June 8th, 2010.
I decided to stop eating meat.
Why I Stopped Eating Meat This Week?
For a few years now I have sometimes thought of not eating any meat and becoming what the society calls a “vegetarian.” Every time, the simple idea of not having a juicy Burger King burger, any steak or some yummy sushi made me simply laugh at the idea of vegetarianism. I also always laughed at the idea of ridiculing meat eaters and ridiculing veggie eaters. Well, another thing I always thought of was that the vegetarians, who eat no meat, and vegans, who eat no meat and no meat derivatives, should realize that eating any kind of plant is also killing the plant life, which have been scientifically proven to have life, breathe air and feel pain.
The video I saw was a trailer for EARTHLINGS simply showed different kinds of animals being killed, tortured, dissected and other similar things in the name of food, experimentation, pets, clothing and entertainment. I only saw part of the trailer. I did not see anything else, nor did I see the main 2 hour video itself. However, the trailer itself is so strong for me, that I actually saw in visualizations many of the things I have been thinking, tweeting and writing about over the years about the way we live life and how we can simply justify almost anything as long as it serves our needs.
Following is the exact video trailer for the documentary EARTHLINGS that I saw which shows animals being killed, tortured and butchered slowly while alive. You can decide whether or not you want to view this video.
The cruelty we see happening to animals, also reflected lately in my several tweets of how we treat certain animals with kindness, like cats, and other animals with no emotions, like chickens, is something that bothers me a lot when I start thinking of ways to be human, or to be myself in a manner that I want to be. That “bothering” is probably the focus of many of my efforts. I feel very sad to think of the harm that comes to animals, whether it is through torture by humans or by the “ethical killing” of animals like chickens and pigs. Death is death, and pain is pain. How can it be all right to kill certain animals while loving others when none of them have ever harmed us intentionally or for pleasure? Does killing something for food or other purpose, whether through pain and torture or without supposed pain and instantly, justify the killing itself? I have wondered about such things all my life, and the above trailer made me realize I will simply stop eating meat in order to satisfy my emotions.
And one animal in particular that I saw in the trailer, who was still alive and blinking after being skinned alive, made me cry and still makes me cry whenever I think of him/her. Whenever I think of that animal, I realize I have probably made the best and purest decision in my life.
One of the most important things I had to ask myself from the moment I made my decision: Is this just an impulse decision? So many decisions are made simply based on emotional outbursts that later one more harm is done than we can actually realize. It is now day 4 today, and I have not even thought back as to whether or not my decision was made in haste.
Things for me to avoid eating when not eating meat
It is actually very complex and interesting to start eating things that do not contain any dead meat. I say “dead meat” because for me things like eggs and things made from milk are perfectly fine. And labeling something as dead meat sounds more logical to me, at least for my cause, than meat at the time being. Meat, or Dead Meat as I call it for this article and for my view of all of this, the very simple beginning for me is the following:
- No animal of any kind. Mammals, fish and birds can now feel 100% safe hanging around me now.
- No products which may contain gelato or similar things that are derived from animal fats. Jello is probably an example of this.
No more burgers. No more steaks. No more sushi. No more chicken nuggets. And almost no more fast food drive-thrus and food adventures that I had before, at least in the meat department probably.
Things to think about when not eating meat
- I love eating meat. I like the idea of eating meat. It is simply some images and ideas that go through my head now when I think of eating meat or the food industry which involves dead animals. Thus, I think I will not criticize the idea of eating meat itself. I made a personal choice based on what I think I should do in my life to be able to feel associated with the animals, realize how they should be treated, and be able to do something whcih gives another main purpose to my life.
- I will not criticize meat eaters. The most annoying thing the “vegetarian” class does is to start an all-out assault on meat eaters. As you may have learnt from my articles before, I avoid things which criticize the existence of something else solely based on personal preference. So meat eaters, eat away and be proud like the veggie eaters! I will continue to point out any illogical reasoning in either meat eaters or vegetarians when it comes to criticizing their opponents.
- Die veggies die! Vegetables suck! Or most of them do! There must be a fast food category for non-meat eaters. I must find it!
- I do not want to be in the Vegetarian class. No new cult to own and no new labels to label myself with. I had rather be called a “No meat eater” than a “Vegetarian.” I am not entirely sure why: it could be because of all the bad and negative images I have about the concept of labeling and the idea of many, if not most, vegetarians criticizing all meat eaters. It may also be because I just stopped eating meat and I still feel associated with it more than other kinds of food. I will figure it out soon or eventually, hopefully in an organized time frame.
- Plants and all vegetables have been scientifically proven to have life, breathe, have emotions, and feel pain. So at this time, even though I am not eating meat, I am still eating some things which were once alive. Is there something I can eat that was never alive?
- How it affects my views about other people and things. My best friend Katie is the only person I think about when I am thinking of situations where my thinking or actions may have a resounding affect on my life. And since I live with her, how do my decisions or actions affect her? I actually told Katie about my decision to not eat meat about 10 minutes after I stopped watching the video. And the resulting impact has been greater than I ever expect. My entire blogging about Vegetarianism and not eating meat will include highly coveted topics of how eating or not eating certain foods can affect not only your own life style but the life style of people you know.
Has not eating meat impacted my life?
Yes. So many years of eating steaks, burgers, sushi and other yummy things does have a big influence on how things are viewed or how things can be viewed. Even last month I bought a brand new domain name to start an all new website dedicated to reviewing the awesome food I taste every day, for I almost eat out daily. Or maybe “ate out daily” may be a better word now. It is actually very strange, or mind boggling, to realize that I will have to give up my dream of start a new website dedicated to reviewing good food. At this moment, I cannot think of any major replacements for the elements that prompted me to love food the way I did before and to review all different kinds of meat.
There have been so many changes from myself, people around me and the way I deal with life itself because of having to eat food everyday that I have now started a whole new category on this site called “Vegetarian.” I would like to call it “No Meat” instead, though Vegetarian, in terms of actually reading about the topic, serves a better purpose here. How long will this continue? Will I always remain a non-meat eater? Only time will tell, I suppose? So The Reasoner will now also showcase the life of a vegetarian. Hmmm.
What do you think? What did you eat today?
What do you think about this? Do you eat meat? Do you eat vegetables and non-meats? What do you think of people who eat meat? What do you think of people who do not eat any meat? Have you seen EARTHLINGS?
This article has indeed been very enlightening for me, as I had to think a lot in order to realize what I was feeling and how I was feeling it. It seems like I have started a new journey, and it may very well be a year or two, or even more, before a single day goes by where I do not have to think what to eat or realize the difference that not eating meat 4 or 5 times a day is bringing into my life and into the people and elements around me, including you.
Thanks for reading. I now have to stop here and go eat my vegetable pizza. 
:O
I love my meat and I will honestly never change that opinion. But one thing vegetarians don't seem to think about is the number of insects, reptiles, amphibians, or even small animals that are killed in the process of getting those vegetables or greens or whatever to their table. Not to mention the plants themselves. Something dies no matter what you eat. It's the chain of life, I will eat the meat that ate the smaller animal that ate the smaller one that ate the bug that ate this or that and when I die eventually something will feed on me.
Not to say you can't make that decision for yourself, you can and I hope whatever you do makes you happy. However, be sure you are getting plenty of supplements to account for your loss in protein, we don't need you being unhealthy.
Oh, and you're not allowed to start a new food reviewing website anyway, you have to contribute to the one that already exists… ahem!
Hey Valerie!
Yes, something always seems to die in order to feed some other species. So weird that there is probably not a single thing we can make or eat that does not involve something that was never alive [gum? hmmm].
Do you think stopping eating meat can result in deficiency or maybe even things like withdrawals? I do feel some different things these days, though I'm still figuring out if it's related to not eating any meats.
What's your favorite food? lol
lol @ food review website! Maybe that's why I couldn't start one – got jinxed? :p
Even if gum is free of animal or plant or bug or whatever products, it doesn't count because you can't live off of it.
I guess it is possible to go through withdrawal but I don't really know. It would make sense, though, that if your body is used to something and you suddenly take it away, that you would suffer some consequences.
Do you consider eggs to be meat? They have protein. Or peanut butter?
I can't live without food of meat. Because the suggestion from my doctor is that my blood is so thin that I should depend on high hot food.
Hey Larry, what kind of meat do you eat? Hmmm, so your doctor recommends things like hot steak or something warm with meat to help with your blood levels?
It would be very hard for me to stop eating dead meat.
Like others, what kind of meat, or dead meat [lol], do you like eating? Do you think a substitute like fake meat can work?
Your protein loss, we do not need you is unhealthy.
Hey Keith. lol – non-meat foods also have proteins, yes? And do you mean that you [and other meat eaters] do not need someone like me who is unhealthy because you [and other meat eaters] consider non-meat eaters to be unhealthy?
i am not addicted to eating meat. I can easily live without it, but sometimes i feel the need to eat some juicy pork steak and i can't stop it! That's why I can't diet
) I am too craving:)
Hey Jenny! Thanks for commenting. What kind of food do you usually like eating? lol do you eat fast food a lot? And the elemental question: do you like eating salads? 0_0
be-aware to eaten meat of dead animals because dead animals has alot of germs in his body.
Please try to leave it.
Nice share .
Not necessarily true. This is, however, why we cook things…
Cooking does help kill a lot of germs, though some people have told me in the past to eat raw things like minced beef, as cooking kills a lot of proteins or original elements. Anyone know about that?
Do non-meats generally have fewer problems or germs than meats?
I'm on a pure identifiable foods diet. I have tons of veggie and fruit smoothies. I'll eat meat too if it is organic and fresh. Hard to eat well on the road though.
I don't think I could ever give up eating meat. A meal just doesn't feel like a meal without meat in it.
Thanks for the reply! How about breakfast: do you always have meat in breakfast?
Dear Bes,
I am really intrigued by the questions you ask. And I have a few questions for you.
In terms of killing for purpose, one side of me feels as though killing to survive is treating animals more equally than not. And besides, we are omnivores and are biological designed to be able to eat meat. Bonobos, the apes that are closest to humans genetically, eat meat.
The other side of me, however wonders I'm actually ignoring what make humans so unique and if humans can even identify with the animal kingdom in that way. I don't know, what other animal would have the rational thought and the empathy to stop eating animals because of morality. I'm still on the fence…
Anyway, I was wondering if you felt as though not eating meat helps save the animals you're concerned for and how you feel about eating animals locally raised or free range chicken?
Do you think that debating about vegetarian vs. meat eater might overweigh the suffering of animals by humans and potentially underweigh the suffering of humans by humans?
I think that the title needs a slight modification. There is no need for the "dead". I am not able to go along with your reasoning/logic.
Unfortunately, you can't eat anything that isn't alive – or at least, live off it for the rest of your life. If it's not alive, it won't have any proteins or nutrients at all as these chemicals come from cells. Unless you're a plant, you'll have to kill or take away something.
If you're really trying to eat something guilt free, then go for anything with seeds in them. For example, fruits. Plants feel pain and all, except you'll be doing them a favor. That's what fruits and some veggies only purposes are. Of course, the how they harvest them can be questionable.
Or you can be a raccoon and eat garbage.
I really have learned a lot from you.Thanks for sharing.
So many people have come to your blog.
Can you consume something that was not once alive. Actually, you can. Milk was not once alive. Neither is egg white. The yolk is, in fact it is one of the chicken's biggest cells.
Milk was not once alive, although the cow provided it. It is certainly not wrong to consume what the cow provides. Good for the calf, good for the farmer. Hindus understand that. They forbid eating cows, because cows are sacred to Hindus, but they do not forbid drinking milk. So add that to another thing you have against Vegans. Their stretch too far and forbid more than is necessary on false pretenses.
By the way, I am not a vegan myself. I do eat meat. But since this is an issue for you, I just gave you something else to think about.
Studies have shown that animal protein increases blood cholesterol levels, while plant protein reduces it… Avoiding meat is one of the best and simplest ways to cut down your fat consumption. Modern farm animals are deliberately fattened up to increase profits. Eating fatty meat increases your chances of having a heart attack or developing cancer. These are just my reasons. I am also a vegetarian. Thank you for the info. You have an interesting discussion here:)
In reading your blog post, I was shocked at how much it reminded me of myself. Three years ago, on the 28th of June 2007, I decided to stop eating meat after 17 years of avid carnivorism. I was pushed to this decision when I was made aware of the unbelievable cruelty present in the meat industry, much like yourself (although through PETA). Over 3 years later I do not regret my decision at all. I agree with your points about not ridiculing meat eaters, for exactly the same reasons as you. In fact, this is why i have since turned my back on PETA, as I feel they get a bit militant about it.
I read a comment saying that there is no way to eat something that was never alive. True, but if we are going to eat something, why make it suffer so much?
Also, to anyone wondering about the nutritional deficits brought on by vegetarianism, they don't exist. There is one nutrient found in meat that cannot be obtained from another natural source, and it is not essential (the name always escapes me).
Be careful, though. If you do not want to consume anything that an animal is killed to obtain (this is my personal boundary) it goes a lot deeper than you think. Beer and wine are sometimes not vegetarian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isinglass)so you may find this website useful: http://www.enchant.me.uk/Vegetarian_beers.html
Wearing leather is a whole other side to it, I'll leave that up to you.
Well done on your decision, I hope you still feel that you're doing the right thing in three years.
I think this is good, I am a vegetarian, I also agree not to eat meat on our bodies have been affected, but I do not think nothing wrong to eat meat, insist on it.
"We live only to discover beauty. All else is a form of waiting." ~ Kahlil Gibran
Who cares about you, Bes Zaine . i m a vegetarian and as long as i dont eat the green in your garden , you shouldn’t care too.
” i stopped eating dead meat”
hahahahahahahah the title makes me go crazy , some people are really retards !
I don’t get it. lol. Explain a bit more? And who’s this “Zaine”?
shut up and eat your carrots, leave the real humans eat meat.
lol
I’m not even sure how I stumbled across your page, and I’m coming in really late on this, but I had to reply. A few months ago I made the exact same decision for the exact same reason…the trailer for Earthlings. It stopped me in my tracks and I haven’t eaten meat since. I’m on no crusade and am also very uncomfortable with any labels being slapped on me. I haven’t told one single person the reason that I quit meat–I just tell them that it was a personal decision. I must say that I don’t particularly miss it and have really enjoyed discovering new foods. Not that I ever felt bad as a meat eater (I’ve been a relatively healthy eater for a few years now), but I’ve felt great without meat in my diet. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I get it.
Kelly, thanks for the comment!
Yeah, Earthlings did it for me, or it at least started to make me not stop thinking about what I was doing. Great to hear that you ran through the same situation (even though it was a sad situation!).
How is it going on for you now? Have you switched to non-meat stuff completely? Do you go through troubles trying to not miss meat?
I’m so touched that you would try giving up something you love just because of seeing the pain of animals. Though I didn’t grow up eating meat, and am not one to cry easily, I still cry when I occasionally see videos about the animal cruelty that goes on on farms (happened to see one about foie gras last week, absolutely horrifying, I felt sick inside for nearly 2 days). I will only eat eggs from free-range hens because of that, which I believe is fairly healthy and it’s a natural phenomenon for chickens to lay unfertilized eggs. I have given up dairy, though (dairy and cheese were my favorite foods growing up), because of animal cruelty and disease issues (unless I could guarantee that they take good care of the cows and don’t club to death their calves just to keep the lactation for human consumption, etc.- best case scenario is to have your own happy cow, which isn’t feasible for most people, of course, but I actually don’t feel I even need it much any more. On rare occasion I will buy a tub of organic cottage cheese, but that’s about it) . That being said, I’m sure it’s not easy making a huge change like that. A lot of people go back and forth a lot when trying to do something like this. I read recently that meat has the compound hypoxanthine in it, which is structurally similar to caffeine, so it probably is actually addictive and could create a let down when trying to do something different- which would also explain why it leads to obesity more easily, because as with any addiction you must have more and more in order to get the same feeling. Anyway, take care, I wish you the best.
I gave up red meat and pork about 15 years ago. I hated the texture of it. Then 14 mo. Ago gave up poultry and fish. I feel great for a 60 year old woman. Take a good vitamin supplement eat from all the color groups and lots of beans and peas and you will do fine. I lost both parents to cancer and now my sister is fighting cancer for the second time. My brother has diabetes , there both younger than me and I’m very healthy. I will do what ever it takes to live a long life.
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