: There are two possible scenarios here:: 1) You sincerely believe that plants think as highly, and feel pain as much, as animals. To you, there is no hierarchy in intelligence between a human and a cow and a clam and a carrot; all are equally capable of experiencing emotional and physical pain. If this is the position you take, then there is no point in my arguing with you, as you've rejected both modern scientific knowledge and common sense. It's like trying to argue evolution and the age of the Earth with a creationist who takes a literal interpretation of the Bible, i.e. pointless.
Your lack of respect for others opinions, legitimate opinions, is astounding. How can you ever expect to convince anyone of your position like this?
By the way the suffering of animals never came into the debate until now, of course I dont like the suffering or torture of animals, it was death and vegetables die in the same way as animals, so you make your choice.
: 2) You do not really think that plants and animals are the same in their capacity to suffer. If this is the case, then you are being intellectually dishonest with me for the sake of argument.
So what your essentially saying is that I'm either stupid or a selfish lier? Exactly how many people have you won to your "cause" with attitude?
:Since you know that a cow or pig can suffer far more than a carrot or a bean plant, but continue to eat beef or pork rather than switch to a vegetarian diet, you've obviously made a choice: your taste for flesh outweighs your concern for animal suffering.
Again suffering is another debate altogether.
:Does this mean that you do not care about animals, or worse, are sadistic? No. It means, as I've just said, that all things considered, you are not willing to give up meat, despite what you know about animal suffering. I'm not demonizing you here, Lark, simply saying it as it is.
Oh your not, oh, I appreciate that, seeing as the rest no doubt will and their is an implied accusation of selfish and thoughtless behaviour.
:If this bothers you, perhaps you need to ponder it.
Actually given that the death penalty is still popular, the leaers of the "civilised" world are blackmailing and savagely waging war upon everyone, the world is experiencing an increasingly uncompromising assault by class conscious big money and democracy years after it was first thought up remains a dream it's not a big concern for me, infact it doesnt concern me that much at all.
Does that make me evil? Fine if it does I'll pay for it before God.
: Either way, there's no point in arguing with you, as it's clear that you've made up your mind.
You make your decisions about whether you want to argue or not, I dont believe that the debate stepped outside emotion for nearly long enough to be an argument other than a denounciation of the evil opponents of your position.
