During the three years I was a vegetarian I always continued to serve meat to my family and guests, so there goes that premise. And if I visited people, I either ate everything except the meat, or on those occasions when I felt the host would be offended, I took a small serving.
On the other hand, had I been a vegetarian because of a belief that other creatures should not be killed and cooked for the benefit of humans, I imagine I would have had philosophical reasons for not serving meat to people.
Guess it all goes to the premise of your question, Tom -- that all vegetarians do anything.
I applaud your manners and your thoughtfulness, Judi. But if we wait until every last member of a particular group does a particular thing, we'll have to abandon ALL premises. I stand by my wanton generalization, and admit that there may be exceptions out there. I just have never met them.
I see no reason why a belief that "creatures should not be killed and cooked for the benefit of humans" should trump the belief that they should. When the vegetarians visit, the meat-eaters think, "What can I serve them that doesn't have meat?" When the carnivores visit the vegetarians, the veggies never think, "What can I cook for them that has meat in it?" One group is solicitous and accomodating, and the other is, well, self-involved.
Judi, you have quotes around "all vegetarians". I never used the word "all".
I don't "expect" anything except to eat what is put in front of me. I'm merely commenting on the phenomenon of non-vegetarians making something "special" for the vegetarians, while the vegetarians don't make something "special" (I'd be afraid to ask!) for the nons. It strikes me as odd. And telling.
When I tried to post my second comment I received a message the site was down, so I was somewhat surprised to see it eventaully got there.
When it comes to food, I guess the older I get, the more I believe in personal responsibility -- eat what you like or likes you, but don't make it other people's problem. Unless you have one of those allergies where you kiss someone that has eaten a peanut and die of yoru peanut allergy . . .
Glad to see we're both believers in personal responsibility. I'll be careful who I kiss after I eat peanuts. In your case, then, don't kiss any monkeys. They got problems enough as it is.
(Flight of the Conchords reference. Which you will get if you've watched the tape I made for you. It's banana-free.)
6 comments:
During the three years I was a vegetarian I always continued to serve meat to my family and guests, so there goes that premise. And if I visited people, I either ate everything except the meat, or on those occasions when I felt the host would be offended, I took a small serving.
On the other hand, had I been a vegetarian because of a belief that other creatures should not be killed and cooked for the benefit of humans, I imagine I would have had philosophical reasons for not serving meat to people.
Guess it all goes to the premise of your question, Tom -- that all vegetarians do anything.
I applaud your manners and your thoughtfulness, Judi. But if we wait until every last member of a particular group does a particular thing, we'll have to abandon ALL premises. I stand by my wanton generalization, and admit that there may be exceptions out there. I just have never met them.
I see no reason why a belief that "creatures should not be killed and cooked for the benefit of humans" should trump the belief that they should. When the vegetarians visit, the meat-eaters think, "What can I serve them that doesn't have meat?" When the carnivores visit the vegetarians, the veggies never think, "What can I cook for them that has meat in it?" One group is solicitous and accomodating, and the other is, well, self-involved.
Didn't see your second response, Judi. My comment is to your first. No flies on you, eh?
Catching up to Judi:
Judi, you have quotes around "all vegetarians". I never used the word "all".
I don't "expect" anything except to eat what is put in front of me. I'm merely commenting on the phenomenon of non-vegetarians making something "special" for the vegetarians, while the vegetarians don't make something "special" (I'd be afraid to ask!) for the nons. It strikes me as odd. And telling.
And I left an "m" out of accommodating.
I thought it a "m"eatless accommdation . . .
When I tried to post my second comment I received a message the site was down, so I was somewhat surprised to see it eventaully got there.
When it comes to food, I guess the older I get, the more I believe in personal responsibility -- eat what you like or likes you, but don't make it other people's problem. Unless you have one of those allergies where you kiss someone that has eaten a peanut and die of yoru peanut allergy . . .
Glad to see we're both believers in personal responsibility. I'll be careful who I kiss after I eat peanuts. In your case, then, don't kiss any monkeys. They got problems enough as it is.
(Flight of the Conchords reference. Which you will get if you've watched the tape I made for you. It's banana-free.)
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