Update on vegetarianism as culture
May. 2nd, 2012 10:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jackOver the last few years, I have more been coming to the conclusion that I don't think there's anything ethically wrong with eating meat from ethically raised and slaughtered animals[1], but that I have no intention or desire of ever doing so myself[4].
[1] And as a practical matter, I suspect abstaining from milk is as important as abstaining from meat, although I don't know the practicalities of it as much as I'd like, and ashamedly haven't acted on that yet.[2][3]
[2] And caring about human suffering in the production of goods is much more important even though not always as conveniently written on the packet.
[3] In brighter news, I still think that reducing one's meat intake counts for vegetarian-ethical purposes, whether or not one is able or willing to take a stricter stance of no animal products at all.
[4] It is as if it's purely cultural -- the way expatriate British celebrate Christmas, and non-observant Jews celebrate passover, it has completely snuck up on me that being vegetarian is such a big part of who I am that I don't want to change it, whether it seems an eccentric habit or not.
[1] And as a practical matter, I suspect abstaining from milk is as important as abstaining from meat, although I don't know the practicalities of it as much as I'd like, and ashamedly haven't acted on that yet.[2][3]
[2] And caring about human suffering in the production of goods is much more important even though not always as conveniently written on the packet.
[3] In brighter news, I still think that reducing one's meat intake counts for vegetarian-ethical purposes, whether or not one is able or willing to take a stricter stance of no animal products at all.
[4] It is as if it's purely cultural -- the way expatriate British celebrate Christmas, and non-observant Jews celebrate passover, it has completely snuck up on me that being vegetarian is such a big part of who I am that I don't want to change it, whether it seems an eccentric habit or not.