Quoted from Taxgirl

I dont support vegetarianism at all, people are omnivorous, that's how our body is made, that's how out teeth are structured. We need meet. Plus, you cant 100%ly substitute all the protein, iron, etc. that meat contains.

My girlfriend is of the Jain religion, who do not consume meat because of the violent death it causes to be inflicted on  animals. Her older relatives won't eat in the evening because insects are active and likely to be consumed (this is for the insects sake, not theirs.) Ditto they won't eat root vegetables because it is more likely to contain life from the soil.
There are millions of Janes, who have been practising this for at least a thousand years before the birth of christ. They seem to live as long and as happily as you and I.
Surely if people want to make a difference that's a good thing. Sure it might involve a little hypocracy, but that's no reason not to try. I eat meat, but all the power to those who don't.
My girlfriend can't understand how one moment I can say "look at the cute lamby wambies" and then tuck in to a nice roast lamb. I blame God and Jesus - the bible gives us carte blanche to slaughter our way through the animal world. Her view of life is vastly different (and in the end I have to admit better. Even if she does pray to some blue dude and an elephant.)

Quoted from Sandra

Why are humans the only carnivores expected to give up meat?

Because we're the only canivores blessed with reason and compassion?

Quoted from Kevin

Because we're the only canivores blessed with reason and compassion?

And we're the only one's capable of deciding what we want to eat, rather than what's available. We can grow vegetables in big fields on farms, and decide where those farms are going to be, and what they're growing. We eat partly for pleasure, and we're unique in that.

I'm OK if someone wants to be a vegetarian, as long as it's not pushed on me (I was one for 2 years). What gets me is people who spout on about vegetarianism, and at the same time walk around in leather shoes, and still eat fish (like it isn't an animal!!).

Anyway, Paul usually comes over as naive when he decides to take issue with something. People should stick to what they know best.

Quoted from Kevin

Because we're the only canivores blessed with reason and compassion?

I had a feeling someone was going to say something like that. But still: free will. And just because people eat animals doesn't mean they're not compassionate. I wish people would show as much passion and outrage towards all the children out there who are being abused and neglected. I swear, I don't see as much fire in people about their own species. I can tell you story after story that would horrify you involving children and how impossible it was to get anyone to help them. And I when I say horror story, I'm not exaggerating. You wear a fur coat though, and you get people throwing blood in your face. The masses come out in droves. I love animals, but really, it's natural to eat animals. Sorry.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I'm OK if someone wants to be a vegetarian, as long as it's not pushed on me (I was one for 2 years). What gets me is people who spout on about vegetarianism, and at the same time walk around in leather shoes, and still eat fish (like it isn't an animal!!).

It seems hypocracy is as human as eating meat.  
I am a meat eater, but I'm not bothered by vegetarians. And aren't we all hypocrites - moaning about crime but breaking laws that don't suit us etc etc. Trying for something you believe in is better than doing nothing I think.
I want to point out too that for most humans on this planet meat eating is a luxury, reserved for special occassions. Even for my parents generation "meat" meant the occassional bits of offal (liver, kidneys, stomach lining etc), things like steak were unheard of and the big treat on special occassions was chicken.
Another (I think interesting) point: my girlfriends religion has her believing that all life is equal, she'll never eat meat, but treats all animals as potential bearers of disease. She and her family would be incapable (in fact aghast) at the thought of forming any relationship with an animal. Yet I, who will happily munch through millions of the fuckers, love pets and have bonded very closely with them. Go figure.

I wonder how many of us would eat meat if we had to kill the animal ? when i was a kid i saw a pig been slaughterd it was both horrific and fascinating .I know it's something i could'nt do , but i'm happy to eat the end product  , it's strange how you can disconnect your mind from the horror of the slaughter to the dinner plate .

Quoted from DaveRam

I wonder how many of us would eat meat if we had to kill the animal ? when i was a kid i saw a pig been slaughterd it was both horrific and fascinating .I know it's something i could'nt do , but i'm happy to eat the end product  , it's strange how you can disconnect your mind from the horror of the slaughter to the dinner plate .

same - to the point where I wouldn't go fishing because I felt so guilty. But when I was trekking in Nepal I was sooo hungry that I saw a chicken and if I'd had the means to cook it I would have rung its kneck there and then. So I know I would be capable if need pushed me.

I also don't like the thought of innocent animals being slaughtered - but I tried vegetarianism, and it made me VERY sick, it caused a serious lack of iron and malabsorption. I collapsed every week, I went to sleep @ 7.30-8 every evening cos I was so tired, and my period became very unsettled, I had it every following week. That is just my personal experience, fog God's sake, my body needs meat, and if I have to eat animals to be healthy, I will do that! If someone wants to become vegetarian, so be it, but I'll never become again.

Taxgirl, your poor story shows the difficulty of this choice. We are all very different internally, in terms of how well we process and absorb different foods. One doctor told my sister, if we were as different on the outside as we are on the inside, we wouldn't recognize ourselves as the same species!

I had no problems and excellent health turning vegetarian, you had huge problems. When I did start having problems (probably by becoming a little old lady!) I reverted because, if it's me or the rabbit, I'm going to eat the rabbit! But I still try to be responsible in my meat choices by choosing animals that are grass- or range-grown, that are raised organically and not pumped full of antibiotics and toxic crap (factory farming, in other words-- some countries don't even have it, yay).

i would not do well as a vegitarian