I’ve had a certain debate a few times where you might say we argue over the “semantics” of the meat industry.

I am what you would call a vegetarian. While vegetarians won’t eat things that caused harm to produce, a vegan won’t eat anything having to do with an animal. A lot of those who would fall under the latter category hate us because they say anything that remotely resembles someone enjoying an animal product is supporting the meat industry which then kills animals, which means merely eating an animal product makes someone a murderer.

Meanwhile, there’s this concept many call piracy. It’s the idea that, as the meme proverbially puts it, “you can download a car”. The idea here, which I say in the way I do because there’s still an ongoing debate about it, is that it affects nobody. But then there’s the whole industry thing I mentioned. People on the other side of the debate often say “well what about the industry”. I’m not sure where on the scale in this topic you might put me, but I feel like there’s a glaring contradiction here. When it comes to animals, people think of the industry, but otherwise that’s not a factor.

My question is… why?

  • Flyinx@beehaw.org
    English
    4·
    8 months ago

    Responding for the sake of discussion. Also I’m stoned.

    You’re comparing a moral dilemma and an ethical one. They are very different.

    For the meat industry, how do we qualify a humane death? How do we qualify these animals as having a sense of self? What demographics might depend on that meat? How many businesses would crumble without it?

    For piracy, who is the victim? Big artists, small artists, production companies, record labels, radio stations? Maybe it’s SAG-AFTRA?

    Ultimately it doesn’t matter either way. There is someone out there who is violently upset that you are the way you are. Fuck the haters and do what you feel is right.