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The Price We Pay for Cheap Meat

rollingstone.com

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Re: The Price We Pay for Cheap Meat

#11

Post by r0h1n »

randyrand wrote: post #8

Its hard for me to seriously consider changing my opinion from an article that shows its biases so clearly. You show me the worst case scenario, but what is the average case? Also, what are the alternatives to these techniques? If you don't like cattle prodding, what do you suggest instead? Not eating meat or drinking milk is not going to be an acceptable answer. Edit: Not going to be acceptable as an alternative to…

The article was about large-scale production of animals by multi-billion dollar conglomerates, not about veganism or vegetarianism (though there is of course a connection). Thus, it owes readers no alternative lifestyle choices.

If you are disgusted by the reality presented in the article, then its incumbent upon you to find an alternative you find more humane.

Cruelty to animals/non-vegetarianism/humane treatment of animals etc. are all highly subjective and personal choices. You won't find all the easy answers in one article.

Re: The Price We Pay for Cheap Meat

#12

Post by astalwick »

dagw wrote: post #5
rooster8 wrote: post #2

I've never seen a more compelling reason to become a vegetarian.

There are farms that aren't like that. If you truly care about animal welfare make a point of only buying meat from these farms and be willing to pay the higher price.

This is true, and you're absolutely right, however: This is way less convenient than it should be. Buying meat from individual farms is impractical on a day-to-day basis for most people.

The problem is the anonymity of meat that is sold in grocery stores. You literally have no idea where your meat came from, how it was treated, how it was raised. Organic/free-range labels give you a little bit more info, but not a lot.

Improved labelling would go a long way toward solving this problem for me. Perfect world: I'd like to be able to scan a barcode or QR code or something and see a basic chain of custody. Where the animal was raised, where it was slaughtered, where the meat was packed, etc.

* EDIT: typo.

Re: The Price We Pay for Cheap Meat

#13

Post by pickleport »

randyrand wrote: post #8

Its hard for me to seriously consider changing my opinion from an article that shows its biases so clearly. You show me the worst case scenario, but what is the average case? Also, what are the alternatives to these techniques? If you don't like cattle prodding, what do you suggest instead? Not eating meat or drinking milk is not going to be an acceptable answer. Edit: Not going to be acceptable as an alternative to…

Two questions:

1. What makes you think this is the worst case? (That is, not comparable to the average case.)

2. Why is it unacceptable to stop eating meat or drinking milk?

Re: The Price We Pay for Cheap Meat

#14

Post by beaker52 »

randyrand wrote: post #8

Its hard for me to seriously consider changing my opinion from an article that shows its biases so clearly. You show me the worst case scenario, but what is the average case? Also, what are the alternatives to these techniques? If you don't like cattle prodding, what do you suggest instead? Not eating meat or drinking milk is not going to be an acceptable answer. Edit: Not going to be acceptable as an alternative to…

It's not about worst case, best case or average case.

The fact that in all cases, animals are born (without choice) into captivity, for the purpose of having their life exploited or ended, is one of the most compelling reasons you should consider your consumption of meat and whether it's really worth it.

Re: The Price We Pay for Cheap Meat

#15

Post by logjam »

randyrand wrote: post #8

Its hard for me to seriously consider changing my opinion from an article that shows its biases so clearly. You show me the worst case scenario, but what is the average case? Also, what are the alternatives to these techniques? If you don't like cattle prodding, what do you suggest instead? Not eating meat or drinking milk is not going to be an acceptable answer. Edit: Not going to be acceptable as an alternative to…

Really. It's "not an acceptable answer." Really. And you were saying something about "bias"?

Kindly explain to us all how "eating meat" and the suffering that inevitably accompanies it is necessary or even desirable.

Re: The Price We Pay for Cheap Meat

#16

Post by gmisra »

randyrand wrote: post #8

Its hard for me to seriously consider changing my opinion from an article that shows its biases so clearly. You show me the worst case scenario, but what is the average case? Also, what are the alternatives to these techniques? If you don't like cattle prodding, what do you suggest instead? Not eating meat or drinking milk is not going to be an acceptable answer. Edit: Not going to be acceptable as an alternative to…

One of the biggest issues with mass-produced meat in this country is the total lack of transparency between the average case and worst case scenario. If all you take away from this is starting to believe in and supporting better food labeling practices, and perhaps actually having a conversation about your meat's provenance with your butcher, I'd consider that to be progress.

Re: The Price We Pay for Cheap Meat

#17

Post by judk »

dagw wrote: post #5
rooster8 wrote: post #2

I've never seen a more compelling reason to become a vegetarian.

There are farms that aren't like that. If you truly care about animal welfare make a point of only buying meat from these farms and be willing to pay the higher price.

If everyone did that, there would not be enough meat to around. Something has to lose, either the animals or our meat diet.

Re: The Price We Pay for Cheap Meat

#19

Post by davidjhamp »

randyrand wrote: post #8

Its hard for me to seriously consider changing my opinion from an article that shows its biases so clearly. You show me the worst case scenario, but what is the average case? Also, what are the alternatives to these techniques? If you don't like cattle prodding, what do you suggest instead? Not eating meat or drinking milk is not going to be an acceptable answer. Edit: Not going to be acceptable as an alternative to…

Love this comment. The biased pointing fingers at the biased.

Re: The Price We Pay for Cheap Meat

#20

Post by judk »

twoodfin wrote: post #3

Infotainment! I know it's considered a failing of hn that commenters tend to attack the style rather than the content, but here the style is aggressively designed to provoke a particular reaction. I find that pretty insulting to the readers: "Don't bother to make up your own mind, let the sounds of dripping shit do it for you!" It's the multimedia equivalent of Taibbi's expletive-laced purple prose.

s/meat/NodeJS/g and it is a rather standard front-page article.
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