Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by johnnyanmac 1108 days ago
> I can accept that, but there's zero reason for me to torture a live cow and excuses like "well, a lion would have ripped it apart while it was alive" wouldn't justify my actions if I did.

TBH I just see it as false platitudes since there's it's very likely the burger I'm eating wasn't some ethically raised and slaughtered cow. Sure, I didn't do it, so clearly I'm absolved of all fault there.
1 comments
autoexec 1108 days ago
I know others who feel the way you do, and they're vegetarians because of it. I disprove of industrial farming practices, but I do take a lot of comfort in the fact that I, personally, am not inflicting suffering on a live animal. If I had to personally raise and slaughter every animal I ate, I doubt I'd do much meat eating.

When I have the option of choosing meat from a cow raised and slaughtered ethically I'll take that one every time, but usually I have no idea of the provenance of a particular hamburger patty and that likely does wonders for my peace of mind.

link
LinXitoW 1107 days ago
It's really hard for me to understand how you can so clearly understand how unethical all this is, and still choose to participate. You frame it as not having a choice, because there's no Wagyu/organic/"happy" beef available. Yet, almost always, there's the option of NOT eating the beef.

I find most "happy" beef is nothing more than an illusion for lazy rich people to pretend they're not doing a bad thing, but why not AT THE LEAST choose to eat that or not eat meat?

link
merlincorey 1108 days ago
> When I have the option of choosing meat from a cow raised and slaughtered ethically I'll take that one every time, but usually I have no idea of the provenance of a particular hamburger patty and that likely does wonders for my peace of mind.

Kobe and Wagyu beef are raised happily and slaughtered ethically in order to be the quality that they are, in theory.

I believe economics certainly plays a role here.

A pound of Wagyu Chuck costs $160 at a nearby grocery store but I can get Prime Chuck from the local big chain grocery store for just $12 (a 13x price difference).

link