• primbin@lemmy.one
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      10 months ago

      I tried for a while to make those small changes, but I always found it too hard to do, until I finally just decided to cut out all animal products one night, and I never really went back.

      I think the difference was how I framed it, mentally. I always saw it as an act of willpower to not eat animal products, like I have to overcome my cravings in the same way I would if I was cutting calories. But quitting animal products altogether allowed me to frame it differently for myself – instead of telling myself “I shouldn’t eat this”, I can just say “I don’t eat this.” Like, it’s not on the table as something I have to consider. I don’t even have to recognize animal products as food.

      Maybe if you cut things out one at a time you could do a similar thing. Though one problem is that it’s a series of changes and commitments you have to make, instead of just one thing. I feel like that could be harder, depending on who you are.

    • nova@lemm.ee
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      10 months ago

      The biggest hurdle from me going vegan was I thought it would be difficult, so I did something similar. Turns out, however, that it’s SUPER EASY to cut out all meat and dairy. Seriously it blew my mind. Just look up a couple recipes, make sure you read ingredient lists on products, and you’re done. That’s all it takes.

      The key is to just commit. Jump off the high board and take the plunge. Sure the water may shock you at first but you’ll quickly adapt. Quicker than you’d expect.

    • neuralnerd@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago
      • Cut out meat from large animals that have the most environmental impact
      • Work your way down from number 2 until all you eat is poultry

      On the other hand cutting out smaller animals first would have a bigger impact on suffering because you need more beings for the same amount of meat. So I’d just say to just reduce meat, whichever is easier first.

        • jerkface@lemmy.ca
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          10 months ago

          It doesn’t. What makes it easy is making an emotional connection with animals and engaging your empathy. When you finally recognize on an emotional level what you have been working so hard maintain denial over all your life, it changes EVERYTHING. You can no more eat a hamburger than you could rip the face off a child.

          Of course, empathy HURTS. Experiencing the suffering that everyone thoughtlessly inflicts on animals is fucking AGONY. That’s the real reason people don’t fucking do it. They’re cowards.

          • Azzu@lemm.ee
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            10 months ago

            I mean plants do seem to also feel some sort of pain, not exactly like animals do, but at least something. Time to engage empathy for that as well? It’s impossible to not kill something for survival, that’s why humans have the ability to turn off empathy for life they have to end.

            • jerkface@lemmy.ca
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              10 months ago

              But yeah yeah yeah. Another plants rights activist. Funny how you guys always show up when animal rights are discussed, and NEVER ANY OTHER FUCKING TIME.

              If you believe that plants suffer, then you should eat plants, because it takes TEN TIMES MORE FUCKING PLANTS to raise livestock. So go vegan, you fucking plants right activist.

            • jerkface@lemmy.ca
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              10 months ago

              You cannot have empathy for plants. You can project feelings over plants, but you cannot have empathy for them. Do you even know what the word means? I mean, I’m sure you do deep down, but you’re not allowing yourself to connect with thoughts like that, because they hurt and you’re a coward.