PETA are retards. - Page 2

So PETA is glomming onto the Michael Phelps fiasco by promising to post billboards in the vicinity of the University of South Carolina warning students of a substance more dangerous than marijuana.

Meat.

I hope they get eaten by a great white sea kitten.

They may actually be right about that. I say this as a nonsmoking carnivore.

Anyway, I came here to post this.

Oh, those PETA people are a bunch of silly Billies.

It's just that they're taking a situation that has absolutely nothing to do with their cause but that has a lot of light on it and are twisting it to their own ends. There's absolutely no connection between "Michael Phelps smoked a bong" and "Meat is bad".

It's what they do. Peta are self-righteous lunatics, yes, but what they are above all else is attention whores.

I'd like to hear everyone's opinions on Greenpeace. I somehow signed up on my way out of the supermarket (she was cute) and unless I hear otherwise I am assuming they are the PETA of environmentalism and canceling my membership.

Greenpeace is by no means moderate, but they have a substantially better case for their cause than PETA. And yeah, it's full of hot chicks, so there's that.

They're missing a chance to unite with another cause

They should focus their attention on the fact that the University of South Carolina mascot is a "GAMECOCK". That's right. The state university of South Carolina feels that associating itself with cock-fighting is good thing. Every time I think of this it cracks me up.

If PETA joined forces with the NAACP, we could see combined rally in the streets of Columbia. PETA protesting the "Gamecock" mascot and the NAACP rallying against the Confederate flag.

Just for laughs, they could demand that the new mascot be a Sea Kitten!

I used to think that. Then I watched the episode of Penn & Teller's Bullshit on Greenpeace. I highly recommend it.

Yes, they're just as douchey.

Edit:
Actually, it may have been an episode on food fads. I'm trying to remember now. Basically, this humanitarian scientist has genetically engineered a grain that will grow in harsh climates and produce four times the yield, developed specifically for feeding third-world countries. As he was negotiating with said countries to introduce the plants into their agriculture, Greenpeace stepped in and convinced their governments not to go along with it because the plants weren't natural. So essentially, they decided, on their own initiative, that it was better for thousands of people to starve to death than risk genetically engineered food.

So yeah, fuck Greenpeace.

That's where I thought the story was going when I first heard it on the radio. Then they bust out with the anti-meat billboards. PETArds.

I don't know their specific reasons for it, but the problem usually presented with GM food is cross-pollination. I don't remember the details, but basically if a third-world country allows GM crop importation, it contaminates their normal crops which excludes them from trade with most first-world countries. So blame Europe and America. Again.

I doubt that countries whose people are starving to death are worried about trading their food.

When their economic lives depend on it, maybe they do...

Crops does not mean food. Crops can mean cotton, etc.

Not to even mention the potential problems with genetically modified foods. Mutations down the line, the potential for new allergens, etc. And then there's the chance that an American company will get a hold of it and use it to their own ends, like Monsanto has done in central Texas. In a move of twisted genius, they modified several species of plant seeds so that they could only be grown with Monsanto's special fertilizer, then flooded the market with said seeds and bought out the unmodified ones. So yeah, watch out for the whole exploitation thing, even if it is the only way we seem to know how to interact with Africa as a whole.

And you think that people would prefer to starve to death than risk any of that?

Of course not, and I don't necessarily agree with the argument. I'm simply stating the potential risks that GM brings. If they don't mind, then by all means.

Another note...governments are not the same as citizens of a country. ESPECIALLY in third-world countries.

And I'm not saying economy and livelihood trumps hunger or the other way around, just stating the facts I was taught.

Do you think they meant for this to be so funny?

I think it is... I was in tears. I actually had to stop eating my chicken salad sandwich for a moment.

I wholeheartedly enjoy PETA's fear-mongering antics and hijinx, and I apologise in advance if my tirade offends any vegetarian or vegan who reads this...

I enjoy my station in life. Evolution has placed me at the pinnacle of the food pyramid. I do not get squeamish at the thought of chickens being killed to feed me, because I have killed chickens to feed myself... as well as deer, goats, rabbits, and a few other creatures, to include the odd snake or two.

However, I do honor the beliefs of my vegetarian friends. Some are still trying to convert me to this day with subtle hints about my diet... how much healthier I would be if I gave up meat, etc.

I always reply with the argument that Man is omnivorous... and it shuts them up until the next time I see them. I can understand, and even accept, people who are passionate about this cause.

I'd much rather kill an animal during the hunt, than see it restrained and butchered by machinery... but we don't live in that world.

I'd like to see 400 acres of land converted to grow crops that will feed thousands, instead of grass to feed a few hundred head of cattle... but we don't live in that world.

When the PETArds,(love that, by the way!) finally accept that the real world marches to a different drummer than they do, then maybe I might begin considering what they have to say.

Until they do, I'll take mine very rare with horseradish on the side, please.

I'm glad not everyone had your viewpoint when it came to things like slavery and women's rights.

Looking at the awful things in the world and saying 'Well shit, that's just the way things are' is fine if you want to continue living with all the awful things in the world, I guess.

Well, I'm all ready a very miserable person, so the shitty state of everything doesn't get to me anymore.

This seems to assumes, that eating meat is an "awful thing". In & of itself, I disagree. Not trying to come off nasty, mind you. Just sayin' . WWG is one of my favorites.

Why'd you type that like you were EdHocken?

Eating meat in and of itself isn't an awful thing, it's all the issues surrounding it that make it all awful. As Lima pointed out, we could feed a LOT of starving people if we weren't wasting such a huge amount of land for cattle grazing. And there are a plethora of environmental, ethical and health related issues to consider too. Factory farming and all the cruel practices it entails, methane pollution, the obesity epidemic, heart disease, growth hormones etc etc etc

Not trying to start some big debate now or anything, but it came up.

Let's all bond over something we can agree on, PETA are fucking retarded.

WWG keeping things on track. If I ran a campaign, that'd be the slogan.

You can't go wrong with the truth.

Has Richard Dreyfus REALLY been reduced to this?

my god, those are some pretty bad "art school" films..yet funny.

Sorry... but I had my ideological gland removed after 42 years of people not listening to me when I did have it.

Shout from the rooftops all you wish. Individuals are empathic towards others. People as a group are not. People with that much energy (and time on their hands) should be using their voices to better the human condition... not worrying about what I had for supper.

And please don't bring up slavery or women's rights... this is a case of extremists with chronic anthropomorphism.

Er... I believe those are your words up there.

Even ignoring the fact that animals feel pain like we do and have their own unique thoughts and feelings, even ignoring the fact that there is no reason for people to eat meat anymore besides the fact that they want to and it tastes good, even ignoring the environmental and health issues involved; there's still all the HUMAN suffering which you yourself just said we could end if more people started putting down the meat burger and picking up a tasty veggie burrito. Am I an extremist with chronic anthropomorphism or a compassionate person who doesn't want to gorge myself on animal fat while others can't even get a bowl of rice?

I think slavery and women's rights are perfectly comparable examples. Suffering of minorities with no political power being caused by powerful greedy rich people? Check. Willful ignorance and denial from said greedy rich people at every turn? Check.

I was really hoping this wouldn't turn into yet another big heated debate I'd have to plow my way through (I've only been doing it since I was 13...) but I guess that's kind of inevitable with such a touchy subject. People get VERY defensive about their food, probably more so than their right to keep a slave or beat their wife back in the day...

You know I'd never even given much thought to this, but it's absolutely true. My wife and I made a conscious effort this year to reduce the amount of meat in our diet and it has been both challenging, rewarding, and tasty (I now have about 30 awesome Veg recipes for my slow cooker). But to think of the amount of land that could be used to produce staples for the rest of the world really is a road sign that our race needs to examine how we eat and the greater implications of our diet.

Don't get me wrong, I still love me a burger or steak, but in the name of social responsibility I think everyone should modify how they view food.

Nope... no heated debate here. I'm just trying to liven it up a bit.

Seriously, though. If I offended you, I apologise. I envy you for your youthful passion.

Just do me a favor? Don't grow up to be like me.

No offense taken, Lima, livening things up is always good.

And Swicegood, absolutely! It's all about educating yourself and making informed choices. You don't have to stop eating meat to make a difference, and even if you choose not to do anything it's important to know where your food comes from and why the world is the way it is.

Not sure; what's Hocken-like about it?

All of a sudden, I find myself under a weird compulsion to try one...

A cute girl praises a vegetarian lifestyle, it's a natural response.

Nah... I'm just a Mexican food junkie.

I consider myself a carnivore, but I've grown to like alot of vegetarian meals. It's really all about the spices, and I've learned to make alot of very tasty dishes over the past year that fill in nicely as side dishes (usually featuring lentils). I don't ever see myself giving up meat entirely, but I'm not against the idea of replacing alot of what I eat with veggies.

Same here Judas. That's why I eat more chicken.

Martin: Along with red meat, I also eat alot of poultry and fish. It's all about moderation and balance, and I'm trying to introduce alot of new veggie dishes to the fold.

I'm NEVER giving up on grilling New York Strips, though.

Me too! Veggie burritos are gooood, and there are about a zillion ways you can make one.

I'm a total guacamole addict, so my burrito is usually just a ton of guacamole, refried beans, chunky salsa, a few jalapenos, and some chopped lettuce so it's not just a big pile of delicious mush and has some crunch to it. SO GOOD! And deliciously spicy, you can even add hot sauce.

But the possibilities are pretty much endless, you can add sour cream and cheese, grilled veggies, pinto beans, rice, onions, whatever floats your boat.

Yeah, I see what ya did there.

Werewolf Girl: Do you do anything with lentils? You can make AMAZING dishes out of those little bastards.

Although I hate to turn this into a cooking thread( which is not an altogether bad idea! ), I'll offer a helpful tip.

Lettuce tends to wilt under heat. I remedy this with adding chopped cabbage to hot things which would normally contain lettuce, IE; sandwiches, burritos, and the like. It stays crunchy forever. Try it.

Ok... back on topic.

PETA are dicks!

EDIT: lentils rock!

I don't do nearly enough with lentils, I enjoy a good bowl of soup now and then but that's about it.

And cabbage sounds like a good idea, I'll have to give that a try.

Advertising 101.

Try this: Curried Lentils -
ingredients -
Red Lentils, 1 jar spaghetti sauce (vegan if you want), curry powder, coconut milk.

Cook a cup of the lentils (generally takes about 15 minutes in boiling water) and drain. Add in enough of the spaghetti sauce (usually 1/2 of a jar) and a bunch of curry powder. Let it cook and blend together. Add in some coconut milk to cut the curry taste (you won't need alot) and you're done.

I make this all the time. It's a great side dish to almost anything.

I don't know how you people can sit there blithely allowing innocent lentils to die just so you can gorge yourselves. Won't somebody please think of the lentils?!