Raising vegetarian children

[UglyCasanova]

I'm starting to get why you think everyone is out to get you. You're very hostile.

I just, like you, didn't feel like wasting time. If you want to get caught up on me slamming two terms together for the sake of not wasting time, as they relate to eating meat and being homophobic in different ways, I don't want to go down that particular rabbit hole with you. I did not mean to trigger you.

And I thought all the cool kids vaped.

[DADGBD]

(raises hand)

Here! We are.

Our family is vegetarian. My wife and I (separately) adopted a veg diet in '87-'88, or so? So... long enough, that we're not really part of the culture that rams it down your throat and tells people how bad they are, every chance they get. We don't offend easily, either. Hahaha. I swear... I've been working at the same place for 14 years and there are people who've worked in my office just as long, who don't have a clue I don't eat meat. But really... why should they give a shit? The Mrs. and I don't expect to be catered-to. If we're at somebody's house for dinner and there's no veg option, we'll just eat all the sides, LOL I dunno. It's just not a big deal. We do our thing and let others do theirs. Coming over for dinner? I'll cook you meat - I don't care. It's not a problem. We try to take that stance on all things. Religious? Cool. Do your thing. Are you of another Ethnicity? Gay? Meat eater? Cool. Whatever. Do your thing. Just don't hurt other people or be a shit; and if you don't make a big deal out of how I wipe, i won't bother you at your most intimate.

When our kids were little, my parents fed them chicken and the kids liked it. They ate turkey and fish until they were about 3 or so... old enough to start to understand the differences between what was going on at home, vs what was going on in the other parts of their worlds. Naturally, they started asking questions and we answered them honestly. "Yep. Those were animals". After about a year or so of this, they decided they no longer wanted to eat things with faces. Cool. As much as being their parents and living in the same house influenced them, we feel it was as much their decision as it possibly could be. If they wanted to keep eating meat, they would - and I'd make it for them. But they don't. They have had issues with other people (kids) foisting their opinions of what's what on them... but they're pretty smart kids and they take up for themselves, hahaha. They're 10 and 12 now; and their biggest thing is that they get upset when they see other vegetarians going after people with shit-face on, basically telling them they're bad people. Anyway...

Mostly, we spend a lot of time learning about foods and how to cook and maintain a healthy diet. I think that's the most important thing to focus on - because while it's easier to be vegetarian than any other point in recent history... it's still a challenge to eat well. And if you can cook really well... the other things become a lot less attractive (convenience and all). If you guys wanna swap cooking resources some time, we should do that up. There are lots of great sources out there, now. My current, long-standing challenge is learning how to cook decent Indian food. The spicing is so sophistocated and complex.

[SPACERITUAL]

I'm starting to get why you think everyone is out to get you. You're very hostile.

I just, like you, didn't feel like wasting time. If you want to get caught up on me slamming two terms together for the sake of not wasting time, as they relate to eating meat and being homophobic in different ways, I don't want to go down that particular rabbit hole with you. I did not mean to trigger you.

And I thought all the cool kids vaped.

So basically what you're saying is that even though you definitely didn't want to have this conversation at all, you just popped your head in to attempt to totally invalidate what i said on the first page with a sloppily thrown together argument that veered like a drunk driver in between two differing concepts which you admittedly don't understand, but when I have any objection to it, even on a logic level, I am "hostile" and "triggered" and honestly lol who do i even think i am because I'm like TOTALLY INSIGNIFICANT TO YOU LOL

[Gone Fission]

So that really is a thing. https://teespring.com/en-GB/shop/childr ... &sid=front Not sure I can get one delivered before the next trip to the organic market.

[UglyCasanova]

I'm starting to get why you think everyone is out to get you. You're very hostile.

I just, like you, didn't feel like wasting time. If you want to get caught up on me slamming two terms together for the sake of not wasting time, as they relate to eating meat and being homophobic in different ways, I don't want to go down that particular rabbit hole with you. I did not mean to trigger you.

And I thought all the cool kids vaped.

So basically what you're saying is that even though you definitely didn't want to have this conversation at all, you just popped your head in to attempt to totally invalidate what i said on the first page with a sloppily thrown together argument that veered like a drunk driver in between two differing concepts which you admittedly don't understand, but when I have any objection to it, even on a logic level, I am "hostile" and "triggered" and honestly lol who do i even think i am because I'm like TOTALLY INSIGNIFICANT TO YOU LOL

I initially did want to have the conversation, but then you turned out to be a total dick of a person to interact with, starting off with complete aggressive paranoia and moving on to getting caught up on me not splitting two concepts (which are both relevant to to conversation) instead of my argument, where you, so far, have thought it most fruitful to compare a religious or homophobic upbringing with one of vegetarianism. That doesn't make much sense unless you're into moral relativism, the random LFO of philosophical inquiry. Talk about not understanding the concept of different concepts.

[Disarm D'arcy]

Good ol space.

How are you doing lately man?

Also legumes.

[Jwar]

I'd tell both you guys to eat a dick, but it's against the vibe of the thread. Dicks are meat right? haha

[coldbrightsunlight]

[ritz]

Dick: no animals were harmed in the eating of this meat

[Chankgeez]

I'd tell both you guys to eat a dick, but it's against the vibe of the thread. Dicks are meat right? haha

Not if you don't swallow. :surprise:

[goroth]

UC's point, regardless of whether it raises ethical or moral issues, is that many fairly basic decisions that a parent must face with regard to their children can be boiled down to, if you want to be reductionist about it, indoctrination. But it is your responsibility as a parent to give your children a framework through which they can understand their world, and I'll be fucked if I'm going to trust someone else to give them that framework. Diet, for all parents, is a part of that. Whether it is to do with meat/veg, fast food/home made, whether you can put tomato ketchup on your bolognese or not, artificial sweetners/sugar... It is unavoidable, and it is unavoidable that you will transfer, or "indoctrinate" your children after your own behaviour and philosophical ideals. And some children will get a more nuanced picture, and some will get dogma.

Good parents will pause and reflect over whether they are feeding their children dogma or giving them some latitude for free thinking, and I assume I'm not alone in worrying about veering too far to either side, questioning what things I am consciously and subconsciously imparting. That's why I think that the mere fact that this thread exists is reason enough to believe that the children in question will end up with a pretty healthy attitude to dietary choices.

Slight sidetrack: I don't think it is reasonable to equate the eating of meat to the infliction of suffering upon animals. There's an awful difference in terms of welfare and also suffering in the final moments of life when comparing a Belgian Blue bred on a Dutch mega farm, to an animal raised on a small scale farm and slaughtered on site.

[actual]

I still read the title as "Raising vegetarian chicken" cause that's what I thought it said when I first saw it.

[jrfox92]

InB4: Name checks out.

[actual]

I think it's time for your nap.

[jrfox92]

I think it's time for your nap.

I've been driving for an hour, so probably.