Poll: Most would not stop eating meat if asked to by their loved one

[davidn3600]

Most people would be willing to relocate, stop smoking, or stop drinking if their loved one asked.

But 3 out of 4 said they would not become a vegetarian if their partner asked.

The poll also showed most would be unwilling to give up a friendship, change religions, or give up a job. Only 23% also said they would be willing to change their appearance for their partner.

https://yougov.co.uk/news/2016/08/01/id-do-anything-love-i-wont-do/

[snooper2]

1. Why you ask.....because....

BACON!

[tonyt53]

9. That does look really, really good!!!!!

[SeattleVet]

64. That's just one of the bacon stacks at Red Mill!

...and it looks like it's about halfway used up.

(Red Mill in Seattle is known for their wonderful quantities of bacon.)

[B Calm]

77. BLT my favorite sandwich!

[tenderfoot]

2. Most people wouldn't eat so much meat if slaughtering the animal yourself was required.

eom

[Nye Bevan]

3. And people would eat fewer apples and potatoes if required to pick them themselves.

Convenience is important.

[tenderfoot]

30. So you make your own bacon? Do you wash off the driveway with the leftover blood

eom

[cherokeeprogressive]

41. That would take an awful lot of blood. Or a driveway only a Smart Car would fit in.

[tonyt53]

8. I grew up in a small farm with six other kids. Yep, I know how, but too damned lazy to do it now.

[cherokeeprogressive]

15. I don't think killing 1 or 2 cows a year would be too traumatic.

Throw in a few pigs and a few fish... no big deal. It's not like my life would be consumed by killing,

[ileus]

26. I cut up and froze 5 Stripers last week.

Placed them in the freezer beside what's left of last falls venison.

[Orrex]

58. You're a freaking monster.

Oh wait. Stripers.

My mistake.

[whatthehey]

73. Beat me to it...

[tenderfoot]

32. Then what's stopping you now?

eom

[cherokeeprogressive]

36. Lack of need. The meat market suits my wants quite nicely.

[Throd]

17. Most people wouldn't drive cars if you had to build 'em yourself.

[tenderfoot]

33. Slaughtered a cow have we?

Did you come on the carcass?

[Throd]

40. I drive my car built by GM to buy meat at Safeway. It's much easier that way.

No bovine necrophilia involved.

[reflection]

43. Well that escalated quickly. n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

45. Read some of tf's posts. They're hilarious. And scary.

[Glassunion]

49. .

[Orrex]

52. Maybe next time, you can watch.

[cwydro]

71. What an unnecessary thing to say.

[cwydro]

81. Dude, you might want to go take a walk.

Deep breaths.

[RobinA]

19. Except...

Plenty of people ate meat when they had to slaughter it themselves..

[tenderfoot]

34. Not nearly as much as with factory farms.

So when did you stop killing your own meat?

[whatthehey]

74. Not as many, but probably a higher ratio

What percentage of people were vegetarian by choice in say 1790's Maine would you think?

[Loki Liesmith]

27. You get over it quick.

[tenderfoot]

29. Killing cattle or people?

eom

[cherokeeprogressive]

37. Both, from what I understand.

[tenderfoot]

38. Chris Kyle would know the ease of killing people.

Too bad he's as dead as everyone he killed - now we'll never know.

[cherokeeprogressive]

39. So would a drone pilot in an air conditioned trailer in Nevada.

And I'm guessing his/her Commander in Chief as well.

What that has to do with this discussion is beyond me. Do feel free to tighten me up though.

[ToxMarz]

44. If meat was the only thing they couldn't get at the grocery store

you might be correct. But meat eating didn't originate with the advent of butcher shops and grocery stores. If you have to do everything by yourself, it is arguably easier than being a vegetarian. How many people have ever grown a soybean.

[uppityperson]

56. Most people wouldn't eat so much bread if growing your own grain was required.

Or soy, or rice.

[Orrex]

57. Most people wouldn't perform surgery on themselves, therefore surgery is bad.

eom

[tenderfoot]

62. So much assholery over one comment.

And I'll say it again. Less meat would be consumed if people were required to slaughter on their own and there would also be a lot less waste.

Have a nice day.



And Peace.

[Orrex]

68. I'm pretty sure everyone here sees where the assholery originated

Less meat would be consumed if people were required to slaughter on their own and there would also be a lot less waste.

But that's so ridiculous that I suspect you're posting some kind of bizarro performance art-piece.

No shit less meat would be consumed. And less clothing would be worn, less bathing would be done, fewer tools would be manufactured, fewer homes would be built or heated or cooled, and fewer diseases & injuries would be successfully treated if we all had to fend for ourselves.

We'd also probably see a few hundred million people die in rather short order as society collapsed under the inefficient weight of sudden and idealistic self-sufficiency.

Good times.

[DustyJoe]

79. And we could all live in Venezuela also

We should be glad to have what we do, an entire country wasted by bad government

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/05/18/venezuela-food-shortages-cause-some-hunt-dogs-cats-pigeons/84547888/

At least we can buy grains and meat, in a total meltdown like Venezuela where there are only scarce grains, vegetables to be found, hunting for meat will always be the next option. If you're starving, you don't find yourself as squeamish.

[liberal N proud]

61. My father worked for 36 years in a slaughter house

It never bothered him to eat meat.

I worked in the same slaughter house while I was going to college, I still eat meat.

[tenderfoot]

63. Look at you.

eom

[Orrex]

69. Obvious troll is obvious.

[hunter]

75. I've eaten animals I've killed, but not for a long, long time.

For the kid named Hunter, I'm now the least likely person in my family to hunt.

[Jim Beard]

78. Maybe some but not as many as one would think......

My parents and grand parents were farmers and routinely slaughtered and butchered hogs and small cattle. The spookiest sight was seeing 20 chickens running around with their head wrung off. Most people get used to it.

[MgtPA]

82. One of my earliest memories is standing in the driveway when a headless chicken

came around the corner heading right for me. It was as big as I was.

I must have been about 3. Good nightmare fodder, that.

[Spider Jerusalem]

85. Clearly you've never been to an Eid Al-Adha celebration (n/t)

[frazzled]

4. Why would anyone ask you to?

I could see if your partner had a heart condition and had been asked by their physician, for instance, to reduce their intake or avoid red meats for health reasons. That would be a reasonable request (though it wouldn't include white meats or fish). But I can't think of a reason for someone to ask you to eliminate your consumption of meat any more than someone asking you to change your appearance.

If asked the other way—would you please stop being a vegetarian—would we think that a reasonable request?

Both my kids are vegetarians, but both their spouses (one male, one female) eat meat, even as they accede to and even cook for their vegetarian spouses. (Both, indeed need to eat meat for health reasons.) It seems to me kind of controlling to request that another person change something that has to do with their own body and/or personal choices.

[Doodley]

10. There is NO need to eat meat for health reasons. But, as a veggie, I agree with all else you say.

[haele]

23. For you, that's true. There are a few health conditions that require animal-based protiens.

Not every body is the same, not every body chemistry reacts the same, not everyone can live on the same diet.

Look, I have anemia and going full-on vegetarian requires that I take supplements that give me all sorts of gastric issues.
I don't eat a lot of meat, and certainly not a lot of red meat, but I generally have to have at least three ounces of animal protein every two - three days, or I start getting all sorts of aches, calcium issues, and general malaise.

My vegan GP admitted to me that finally, after looking over two years of lab work (all the while, she was bugging me to go vegetarian) that I need at least a small amount of animal protein every week to be able to function. I'm just a g-d'ed genetic throw-back...
I don't have the luxury to spend up to a quarter of most typical days "relaxing" with half a dozen cups of ginger tea, catmint and bitters while I wait for the bloat and stomach upset to subside just because I have to take a couple gel-caps every day to stave off the anemia, bone density loss, and potential kidney issues, so the occasional BLT, poultry, or portion of lamb shank is "acceptable". Fish is also good. Probably insects, too. I'm just too much like my Homo-Erectus/Neanderthal ancestors.

Now, my husband can go vegetarian no problem - except he's limited by both the vegetables he's willing to eat and the ones that give him gas (and that's another problem).

Haele

[Doodley]

47. Thanks for the reply. Do you mind if I ask what type of anemia you have?

Did you eat a balanced diet before you developed anemia?

[haele]

48. Aplastic Anemia. Genetic, runs in my mother's family.

I also worked heavy industrial, some of the symptoms are exacerbated by years of heavy metal/hazardous waste exposure.

Basically, in my case, it comes down to the fact that my mother was only several generations away from a Laplander/Siberian aboriginal background. They evolved to be able to thrive off a reindeer meat/fish centered diet for survival up until the 1700/1800's, and her family were still heavy meat eaters when she was growing up. They also tend to have a lot of sensitivities to changes in diet or environment. When my mom, me, or my brother take manufacture medicine, it's medicine on steroids for us. I'm always prescribed a lower starting dose - usually a child's prescription level - instead of the standard dosage for a person of my size and weight.

I'm very familiar with the holistic health view of balanced diet as it's evolved over the past five decades. I've had as much of a balanced diet as I could afford and/or had access to. There's a certain luxury to being able to afford to maintain a truly balanced diet that I haven't had over the years - not when I was in the military, and not when I was solidly in the working urban labor category.
So I'd ask if you'd excuse me for being a bit off-put by the slightly patronizing tone a lot of professional class vegetarians (especially the Dr. Weil converts) will bring to a discussion.

I've seriously tried going vegetarian several times, and I've tried the supplements, and I've come to the conclusion that I would rather eat a small bit of meat on a somewhat daily basis than deal with the bloated or acrid feeling I get trying to supplement what produce I can get based on seasonable availabilities with the suggested glycerin pills, tinctures, or tablets that are available to "help" the more anemic vegans/vegetarians to maintain their chosen diet.

Food is different now than what it was when I was a child. My co-worker who grew up dirt poor on a New Mexican farm ate far healthier growing up than kids do now, even kids who are growing up in rural farming areas.
There are also a lot of things I'm sensitive due to my exposure to toxins, and I'm finding I can't eat as much store-bought produce as I used to without gastro-intestinal distress even without supplements - even if it's from a supposedly healthy natural foods store. Produce like corn, peppers, some leafy greens (I'm looking at you, store bought Kale...), turnips - they have to be grown locally and picked fresh or I pay a price for eating them the next day, be they raw or cooked. And regularly buying at a farmer's market, even with a CSA membership, is something not everyone can afford.

Haele

[frazzled]

25. Sometimes there is

The recommended diet for lupus (one of the illnesses in question) states that "moderate amounts of meats, poultry, and oily fish" should (not can, but should) be included in the diet, along with fruits and vegetables and whole grains. We're talking about severely compromised immune systems here.

For most people, there is also no health reason to follow a fully vegetarian diet. It's a choice, and whatever you choose, as long as you eat wisely (meaning not too much red meat for meat eaters, and for vegetarians not too much pizza), you're on solid ground. Which doesn't mean that either vegetarians or moderate meat eaters will never get ill. We put too much emphasis on food woo in this society, and too little on living wisely and with joy, whatever choices you make. Life is always short (even for people like my dad, who has eaten a lot of meat his whole life and will turn 100 in a few months, still riding his stationary bicycle every day).

I say, different strokes for different folks, and enjoy eating whatever it is you eat, as long as it includes (mostly) healthful options.

[marybourg]

53. "Compromised" is not a good description

for the immune system in lupus. "Overactive" is more accurate.

[marybourg]

51. Completely untrue. I have severe hypoglycemia

(possibly from lupus) and I MUST have animal protein at every meal or coma may result. And I am in good company. No lesser a person than the Dalai Lama must eat animal protein (he told me this IN PERSON, many years ago, but you can google it) due to a liver problem.

[FLPanhandle]

13. +1

Why indeed?

[GreatGazoo]

24. they want it all for themselves ;-)

At least some ask nicely... "hey are you going to finish that? do you mind if I...." (chomp chomp, yum yum....)

[WillowTree]

5. "Willing" and "able" are two entirely different things.

The smoking and drinking are poor examples because those things are addictions, so what we're willing to do for someone else and what we can actually do for someone else are almost always different things. My father desperately wanted me to quit smoking and I wanted so much to please him and put his heart at ease over it. If wanting to do it for him had been enough, it would have happened and G-d knows I tried.......repeatedly. But things like quitting smoking or drinking for those who have a problem with it is demonstrably not something that a person can do for someone else. Those are things that one has to do because we want them enough for ourselves to be successful.

Interestingly, the things that are enumerated as things that people would not be willing to do to please someone else are mostly things that are much more of a choice.

[vi5]

6. I've been married to a vegetarian for 20 years....

I'm not vegetarian and neither are our two kids. It's never even been a discussion as to whether I would or the kids would, unless I chose it for myself or when our kids are old enough they decide to choose it for themselves.

That being said we do eat much less meat than the average family, and actually outright enjoy and sometimes even prefer meat free dishes, meals, and restaurants to their meaty counterparts.

We have conversations about where our food comes from, understand the environmental impact of our choices and in the end I would say as a family we strike a decent balance. Every time we all choose a meal or restaurant that is completely meat free we feel we've at least done something very small for our health and the environment, and animals. And for us personally this approach is likely much more sustainable for us long term than if we all went completely meat free all the time.

[Gabi Hayes]

7. I would, as long as I didn't have to cook. what a pain in the ass to chop vegs and have

to clean up all those scraps.....I used to do that, and save it all for stock, but I'm too frickin lazy now

[Doodley]

11. You eat meat, but are you saying you don't eat (or chop) vegetables?

[KittyWampus]

21. A small, very inexpensive food processor now does all my chopping.

May not be "Culinarily Correct", but it save lots of time.

[SheilaT]

12. We evolved as ominvores.

We really do need to eat at least some meat.

Oh, and we became fully human when we learned how to cook food. We get more nutrients from cooked food than from raw. And we have the sort of digestive system that's suited to cooked foods.

Human evolution continues.

[handmade34]

54. Human evolution...

"We really do need to eat at least some meat" ...NO we really have evolved and meat is more tradition and marketing than necessity

many, many people do not eat meat (myself included) and manage just fine...

a list of just a very few of the world's vegans

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vegans

[SheilaT]

60. Our continued evolution

has not exempted us from the need for protein. And meat protein is by far the most efficient way to get that.

It's an intellectual concept that we don't need meat. Yes, I know plenty of people do without meat, and good for them. For you, too.

But to think we've evolved beyond needing meat is simply not accurate.

The inverse is the Paleo diet, the idea we should be eating exactly as our distant ancestors did, although none of those paleo diets seem to take into account that different ancient ancestors would have eaten very different diets.

[handmade34]

70. possibly

your statement should be, instead of "We really do need to eat at least some meat" "at least some people really do need to eat some meat"... I don't agree but it would be more in keeping with you idea?



we do need some protein; not nearly as much as we get or told we need but that protein easily comes from food sources other than meat... and meat is not necessarily the most efficient way to get protein... and a vegan/vegetarian diets results in less incidence of disease and cancers

Oxford University study... example

"...Vegan protein sources consist of a medley of legumes, grains and vegetables, contrasting with the more uniformed intake of predominantly animal-based products alongside grains in omnivorous and vegetarian diets.10 Plant foods typically contain considerably less protein than animal products (e.g. tempeh/100 g/18 g; refried beans/1 cup(290 g)/16 g vs. flounder/3.5 oz(100 g)/30 g; chicken/3.5 oz(100 g)/31 g).41 An exception is legumes, nuts and seeds, though these are generally eaten in relatively small amounts.

Thus, it is no surprise that on average vegans intake less protein. However, although Table 1 shows an ascending dietary protein intake (vegan ? vegetarian ? omnivorous), it also indicates most diets surpass the reference nutrient intake (RNI) requirements (?50 g/day or 10–15% of total energy intake (men 19–50 years = 55.5 g/day; women 19–50 years = 45.0 g/day; comprised 0.8 g/day/kilo body weight)). The only ‘low’ protein count study (found by Abdulla et al.42) ultimately concluded protein was not deficient due to above adequate essential amino acid levels...

also...
...The most convincing argument is that IGF-1 is significantly linked to colorectal and breast cancer and that increased consumption of milk (most significantly), calcium and protein (to a lesser extent) have been found to factor in the up-regulation of IGF-1, suggesting protein should not be consumed in excess..."

[hunter]

76. Are insect grubs meat?

They're quite tasty.

[hunter]

14. My wife is a vegetarian and so am I most days.

Those who hunt and fish in my family do not understand.

My brother and one of my nephews are masters of the BBQ. I'll enthusiastically eat what they cook.

Nevertheless, by generally avoiding meat I have a much smaller environmental impact than meat eaters.

I've given up jobs and changed religions without blinking. A job is just a job and I'll always be a heretic no matter the religion.

We raised our kids Catholic, which wasn't difficult because we live in a very liberal inclusive parish. My feelings about the Church are very similar to my feelings about the U.S.A.. For better or worse that's the community I have to work within, that's my community. I can accomplish greater good as an insider than as an outsider. There are plenty of days I curse the Church and the U.S.A.. Both are capable of great evil. I've no tolerance for right wing Catholics, but right wing U.S. Americans are even more despicable and longtime champions of murder and mayhem.

When I was a kid my mom got kicked out of several churches. I'm much less volatile, I don't pick fights with clergymen on their own turf.

Anyone who practiced an anti-intellectual fundamentalist creationist religion would run away from me before we'd have any chance of being partners. I'm an amateur evolutionary biologist with quite a bit of formal training in that field. In my own intellectual pursuits, whenever religion and science conflict, the science supersedes. I'm comfortable with very large numbers. I've got no use for small gods presiding over small universes with mankind as some pinnacle of creation.

The universe is very big and the human mind is very small. We humans don't know shit. Best we can do is be kind to one another.

A person doesn't need a religion or a nation to be kind.

[Throd]

16. I would not.

[petronius]

18. LOL at the article title and picture

[OnDoutside]

20. It's just so much easier if both partners either eat meat or don't eat meat. Fortunately my wife

loves eating meat, as I do. My son would eat sausages until it comes out his ears, if he got them !

A Ribeye or Fillet steak with pepper sauce and onions ..... slobber ...

Sausages, Mash and Gravy ..... slobber ....

Southern Fried Chicken ..... slobber ....

I could slobber on ....

One of my wife's nieces is a veggie (from her parents), and is now raising her daughter as a veggie (which I have misgivings about - fine if you choose to do so as a young adult). She also refused immunizations and antibiotics for the child.

[Javaman]

22. I've had this exact discussion with my GF...

I'm not part of the "most".

[Loki Liesmith]

28. Wouldn't change

I don't respond to external attempts to change my behavior, in general.

[Warren DeMontague]

31. My offhand interpretation is, the deciding factor is how much the choice directly impacts others.

Relocate, there are pretty significant reasons why that would be a decision involving not just you, but your partner. Smoking directly impacts those around you, unless you smoke inside a helmet, and even then you stink of cigarettes. Drinking, although a personal choice, can have some fairly significant relationship impacts, particularly when it is taken to the point of other people asking you to stop...


one's religion, who you're friends with, what is on the end of the fork seem to me to reside more in the sphere of "my own personal shit".

[Marr]

35. You know how to tell if someone's a vegan?

They'll tell you every five minutes.

[bigwillq]

42. I would not stop eating meat

Smoking, drinking, sure, although it would be difficult (but something I probably should do, especially smoking).

But, I enjoy my meat.

[Vattel]

46. People should support the elimination of factory farms.

Animals like pigs and cows can suffer physical and psychological harm just like humans. Their well-being matters.

[JesterCS]

50. Sorry I like my protein

Plus, it's tastey. I can't help that my body enjoys it

[Freddie]

55. My husband gets testy if I try to serve a meatless meal

Let alone turn veggie!
My Mom made a fabulous macaroni and cheese. That was dinner, with a hot veggie and maybe a salad or coleslaw. Was one of our family's favorite meals (we were not vegetarian). I make it the same way, it's somewhat labor-intensive and makes several pans dirty. Spouse insists M & C is a "side dish" and their has to be meat for Sunday dinner. Grrrr. I throw in a small ham which requires no work.

[TeddyR]

59. This is a very entertaining thread

My wife is vegetarian and I am not. Not a problem when we eat at home and we are always able to find restaurants that accommodate both eating habits.

[Separation]

65. I slaughter most of my families protein

Normally Ill harvest 2-3 deer a season and what that doesnt cover I go up a ways to my neighbor and will get a half of a cow from his farm. Same with the pigs, normally just one will do. As far as poultry, we have a variety in the back yard to choose from. If you havent had a fresh egg, then you dont know what you are missing. We also are planning next spring to set up 3-4 beehives. Thats about the only thing we are missing. As far as vegetables go, thats probably the biggest pain in the ass we have to insure that they come in properly every year. My grocery bill for a family of 5 is about 100-150 dollars every month, if that.

[whistler162]

66. I would never stop drinking no matter who asked

it would kill you! 2 or 3 liters of water a day and I am all set.

[B2G]

67. Friends don't ask friends to give up bacon cheeseburgers. nt

[roamer65]

80. I would sneak out for a hamburger on the sly.

[applegrove]

83. I'm trying to eat more legumes. I have a lentil recipe we really like.

[Quantess]

84. Begs the question: Would you want a partner who makes demands for you to change?

I wouldn't. Take me as I am.

[yewberry]

86. I tried to ask to ask my dad to change his diet.

He was obese and diabetic. He had several heart attacks. I tried to ask him to change, and he kept telling me that he wanted to live in the way that made him happy. McDougall diet or Ornish diet could have helped. These treat heart damage, but dad wanted to be able to eat his bacon and corned beef hash.

Then he couldn't walk, and lost his foot. Repeated heart attacks. Diabetic incident that required a 9-day induced coma to keep him from hurting himself.

He tried to come back, but never fully made it. Septicemia again. He never walked after that.

Stroke and aphasia. Another stroke, and now dad can't produce or comprehend meaningful speech. Finally Dad throws himself to the floor in the hospital and dies. Think about that please. My dad threw himself from his hospital bed to end his life because of his pain and his inability to understand what was happening to him.

Ask me again if I'd try to ask my dad to cut out meat. I asked but I didn't push.

I should have pushed.