[quote name='javeryh']
There is logic to being a vegetarian, but in order to follow that logic and arrive at the same conclusion, you would have to begin with the same premise -- If you do not believe that animals have the right to live without being tortured and killed, and you are unwilling to even accept that as a possibility, then there is no way you would be able to understand why someone would choose to be vegetarian.
Have you ever killed a spider? What about eating "free range" animals? - there is no torture involved whatsoever (unless you equate torture with just plain killing - I can't help you there).[/quote]
Well, killing isn't exactly the friendliest thing you can do to someone.
First, while I do agree that many meats taste good, I do know people who don't care for the taste. You should get out and meet more people.
I've got plenty of vegetarian friends - in fact, two of my very best friends are vegetarians. That doesn't mean I like their eating habits. Every one of them is "grossed out" by the concept of meat but they won't deny it tastes and smells pretty good.
As stated, I do agree that meat tasted (and can smell) good to me. I also stated that I know people who don't like the smell and taste of meat. It doesn't matter how many people you find who like it, my point was merely that there are exceptions.
Second, being vegetarian and examining one's diet is a lot healthier than eating at McDonalds.
Being a vegetarian is not "examining one's diet" - it's just an irrational response to the thought of poor cute little animals being bred and killed for food. Boo hoo. I'm pretty sure a bear wouldn't think twice about eating you. Oh yeah, I forgot... you're enlightened.

FYI, I haven't been to McDonalds in over 10 years and I don't plan on ever going back. I'm a very healthy eater (and so are a lot of meat eaters, believe it or not) - I'm just not crazy.
Being vegetarian is not "examining one's diet", but it requires examining one's diet, something which most meat eaters do not do. I did not mean to imply that all meat eaters have unhealthy eating habits -- good for you that you are a healthy eater. Note: add "boo hoo", "you're enlightened.

", and "crazy" to ignorance list.
Third, yes, being a vegetarian can be a pain in the ass both to the vegetarian and to those around them. This is more of a societal issue, however. Ignorant (and, I mean that in a non-disparaging way) people who do not understand that vegetarians have a right to eat can be a real pain in the ass. At an old job, my coworkers and I would go out for lunch together on many occasions. They didn't like trying anything new, and would basically only eat at places like O'Charley's and Ruby Tuesday, which meant a lot of pretty bland salads for me. However, according to most of society, I was the pain in the ass when I wanted something other than salad at a restaurant that they were unwilling to try (Thai, Indian, Middle Eastern, etc.). That is BS. Being vegetarian is not the same as being picky. There is a big difference. Asking me to eat meat would be similar to asking you to kill a human and eat it.
You have the right to eat whatever you want - and so do your co-workers. You shouldn't be going out to lunch with them though if you don't like where they are going. You chose to eat like that not them. I would feel the exact same way if you had 50 other vegetarian co-workers and the meat eaters were complaining about where you guys were always eating. Don't be a pain in the ass - either go where the group wants to go or don't. What's BS is that they have to put up with your whining.
Also, your analogy about eating me humans is completely flawed. I'm sure we taste delicious (if cooked properly, of course) but it is illegal to kill and eat a human in our society. We don't eat dogs and cats and other household pets either because there are laws against that too. I get that you don't eat meat and I'm not saying you should - I really don't care. I just think it is dumb.
I don't think I wrote anything indicative of whining. I was the only vegetarian, but there were other people who liked the same restaurants I did. But the few who were unwilling to eat at non-American style restaurants dictated where we would go when we all went out together. Being an office environment, there were many occasions when not going was not an option. My statement about eating humans had nothing to do with legality. Add "pain in the ass" and it is "dumb".
Fourth, your fourth argument(s) are some of the stupidest I have seen, and I have seen them before. You are reasoning that the food industry isn't cruel to animals because some "vegetarians" eat fish? In my opinion, "vegetarians" who eat fish are not vegetarians (hence the quotes). But even if they are hypocrites does not mean they are wrong. And, yes, plants are living. Did someone tell you that a vegetarian won't eat living things? You have been misinformed.
You are misunderstanding my point. Most "vegetarians" don't eat meat because they believe it is cruel to animals yet they eat fish with no problem. That is just insane. Also, I know vegetarians eat living things (duh) - I was just making the point that where they draw the line as to what living things they will or won't eat makes absolutely no sense.
I agreed with you that it is "insane" to call oneself a vegetarian and still eat fish. And you bring up a good point that it is all about where one draws the line, for there must be a line, otherwise one would eat nothing and die. But do you really believe there is no difference between eating plants and eating animals? I am not trying to convince you to become a vegetarian, but seriously, you don't think animals exhibit more intelligence and ability to reason than plants?
Finally, I am a "psycho vegan". What an open-minded way of putting it. Perhaps I can have T-shirts made up. Clearly, in spite of your protests to the contrary, vegetarians do offend you, or you would not have mocked us and told us to "just go away". And most people are grossed out when they find out what Jello is, btw.
Oh, yes. T-shirts. That would be a great idea. Then I wouldn't have to worry about asking someone out only to find out that she is a vegan on our first date and dump her on the spot (true story). Look, I don't have a problem with vegetarians (I could never date one though - what a pain in the ass that would be). I will admit I just don't "get" vegans - it does seem a little strange to me although "psycho" probably wasn't the right word - I just think it is a dumb thing to do to oneself.
Was it like "Oh, you're a vegan, take a cab home"? Or were you more tactful than that? Also, and I know this is a longshot, but, do you still have her number? Could you PM me with it? Finding a vegan woman isn't easy.
What you had meant to post initially is "It would be dumb for me (javeryh) to choose to be vegetarian".
This is true.
"*sigh* ... being a vegetarian is dumb ... huge pain in the ass ... dumb vegetarian ... really really really stupid ... psycho vegans ... blah, blah, blah. Just go away." -- Condensed ignorance.

Saying I'm "ignorant" is completely off the mark. I'm informed as to how vegetarians eat and (most of) the reasons behind it. I've gathered available information and formed an
opinion - being a vegetarian is dumb. I'm certainly not ignorant just because I don't agree with you.
I'm done discussing this. My
opinion is that it is dumb to be a vegetarian. You don't have to agree with me and I'm not asking you to. I don't have anything against vegetarians or the way they choose to live their lives. Some of my best friends are vegetarians and I'm sure that there are things I'm passionate about that they think are dumb and that's fine with me. We can agree to disagree.
I never called you ignorant. I never did any name calling (you did, btw). Your statements were ignorant. Once again, you have stated that "it is dumb to be a vegetarian". This is a rude and ignorant statement. "It would be dumb for me (javeryh) to be a vegetarian" is what you meant to write -- I believe we covered that. Prefacing an offensive statement with "it is my opinion that..." doesn't make it less offensive -- go up to someone and say "I'm not saying you are an asshole, but it is my opinion that you are an asshole", and see if they notice the subtle difference. You claim to have nothing against vegetarians, yet almost every statement you make about them is rude or intentionally offensive. And "I'm done discussing this" is one of the most ignorant statements a person can make -- it shows an unwillingness to open one's mind and listen to reason. Surely you don't think you have gathered all the possible information on the subject, I know I haven't -- no one has. I understand that there are other things with which you would rather occupy your time, and that is fine, but stating that you are unwilling to read any more about a subject which you have been discussing is like a child covering one's ears and saying "lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala" to block out the sound of anyone trying to get through.