In regards to eating meat

[Monica]

personally... while i wouldn't go so far as to say that this is displaying sts characteristics, my feeling on this is that 'encouraging' people to feel guilty or uncomfortable with what they choose to eat is not really sto

I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty. Why does my asking questions make anyone feel guilty? I am truly trying to understand why the harming of animals is viewed as ok by those who would ordinarily champion the liberation of humans who are being harmed. I am being open here. Why is the person asking the questions viewed as doing something 'not sto'?

other people cannot contemplate a life without meat,

Respectfully, how do we know that they cannot contemplate it? Did they not make the choice to read this thread? If they weren't interested in contemplating it, then why are they reading and participating in this thread?

it is 'right' for them and who are we to say that other people are wrong, they are following their own path, doing what is right for them

Does that mean we shouldn't speak up against discrimination, slavery, child abuse? Since they are 'doing what is right for them'? (As they ask in ethics classes: "Who are we to say that what Hitler did was wrong?") I'm not intending to be difficult here. I'm trying to understand, from the perspective of our shared spiritual foundation, how this all fits in with the concept of free will and honoring others. How are 'other-selves' defined? Is it based on densities? Are 3D entities to be respected but not 2D entities?

my experience on this issue has led me to conclude that there is nothing to be gained from provoking meat eaters to consider the ethics of eating meat. absolutely nothing.

I agree 100%. I have had the same experience and in everyday life I rarely bring up the issue. I never confront people on the meat issue. I never mention it unless they ask me.

But, this is a thread about eating meat.

is it your role in life to provoke people to change their lifestyles?

No, it's not. Do you really think I am provoking people, by discussing the ethics of eating meat, in a thread about eating meat? If so, I find that very disconcerting. I agree that it would be provoking, if this were a thread about some other topic. But it's a thread about eating meat! Are you saying that I am not allowed to voice my own opinions about eating meat in a thread about eating meat? Don't other people have some of the responsibility to decide for themselves whether they want to participate in this thread or not? Can't we allow them that freedom?

I think your concerns would be entirely valid if I were forcing people to think about the animal rights issue in other threads...if I were turning a thread about recipes into a debate about the ethics of eating animals. But I don't understand why it would be inappropriate to ask questions and discuss this issue in a thread about eating meat.

Here's an analogy: Suppose a vegetarian social group posted their meeting on the bulletin board of a natural foods store. The meeting is held in a private room. At the meeting, a few meat-eaters attend, and ask some questions, and start a discussion. Are the vegetarians provoking the meat-eaters by honestly voicing their own opinions?