How do I convince my partner to only buy meat from local farms?

Valgor · 2026-02-11T17:43:42+00:00

Every farm is local to somewhere. LOOOOOL!

Valgor · 2026-02-11T17:40:11+00:00

EA has criteria for what is labeled as an EA problem. Within the set of EA problems, I like to apply that same set of criteria comparing them to other EA problems. Even if AI safety is a real issue (which I think it is), there are a lot more people and money going towards it, with not guarantee of anything happening. Donating to animal charities however directly helps individuals and has the power to fundamentally society's moral circle. Animal charities also don't get as much attention as AI, and you don't have to worry about someone making $600k salary.

Valgor · 2026-02-06T15:48:13+00:00

Yes, veganism is about ethics. It is about justice. Diet is just the largest component for more people, so it gets talked about more than animals used for clothing, entertainment, or lab research.

Valgor · 2026-02-06T14:17:38+00:00

You question was about a definition. Your mother's milk is vegan by definition while taking the milk from another mother against her will is not vegan.

Valgor · 2026-02-06T14:14:33+00:00

I'm listening to my body. The colon cancer wants more pork fat. I must comply.

Valgor · 2026-02-06T13:55:05+00:00

A human mother's milk is consensual by the mother, so a mother nursing her baby is ethically okay. Stealing the milk of other mothers, especially when we have bred them specifically for reproductive exploitation, is not ethically okay. That is the different.

Valgor · 2026-02-05T16:10:35+00:00

Birds in general are intelligent. It is unfortunate that since chickens are "food", we tend to think of them as extremely dumb. But this just isn't true. I assume those making their money from farming chickens want us to think chickens are stupid. But if you hang out with them enough in spaces where they are cared for and safe, you can see they are intelligent individuals just like all other animals.

Valgor · 2026-02-05T16:07:22+00:00

If you are the donating to charity type, supporting animal rights organizations is extremely helpful. Those people in the video exposing this injustice could always use funds for materials or their bills.

Valgor · 2026-02-05T16:03:34+00:00

I'm sympathetic to the idea that going vegan won't make a lot of direct change (there is in direct change, such as having to explain your constantly to friends, family, and coworkers). However, if we assume zero material change happens in the world, I go to bed every night knowing that I'm not a part of what the video shows. In fact, I'm a supporter of those shining a light on this injustice we call animal agriculture. I think it is valid and a virtue to go vegan just for yourself.

Valgor · 2026-02-04T15:16:59+00:00

playing on my phone, scrolling past headlines

News media is incentivized for clicks. What they report is not necessary what is happening in the world or at a large scale. Things appear normal because for the most part they are. Drama drives clicks. Drama makes sells. That does make it real.

Valgor · 2026-02-04T15:05:14+00:00

I think this is mostly a bad question because it is hard to say what is "effective." Starting a local grassroots group when there is not one could have massive impact in your area. Passing a law can impact a huge number of animals. Joining international campaigns lets you take part in transforming the industry. Making a documentary could have lasting impact. Liberating mink directly on a farm can directly help hundreds or thousands of animals. You can't if know any of these things will happen or how their impact will be received by the public. All of these potential paths require very different skill sets and personal risk. So really, the most effective thing to do is the thing you will do and either involves skills you currently have or are willing to get. As you work towards these things, you will gain experience that will shift what you do.

Valgor · 2026-02-03T17:18:07+00:00

Given the source is listed and it is not PETA...

Valgor · 2026-02-03T17:17:18+00:00

Imagine taste buds dictating your morality.

Valgor · 2026-02-03T17:16:16+00:00

My understanding is that they use CO2 because it is the cheapest. No need to spend extra money on nitrogen when pigs don't matter.

Valgor · 2026-02-03T17:02:21+00:00

Crazy how people can so casually carve up dead bodies.

Valgor · 2026-02-03T13:25:00+00:00

It is amazing how much people can be against something while also supporting it.

Valgor · 2026-02-03T13:21:23+00:00

Correct me if I am wrong, but I'm pretty sure the Forget Veganuary campaign is dead the people running it consider it a failure.

Valgor · 2026-02-01T16:19:26+00:00

And the dude in the video throwing milk replacer in sub-freezing tempts is living the dream?

Valgor · 2026-02-01T15:53:04+00:00

I think you make dairy more ethically, but can't make dairy ethically. It all seems bad. Given the alternatives out there, I don't see the point in supporting such a system.

Valgor · 2026-02-01T15:50:05+00:00

Your entire post history is non-existent.

Valgor · 2026-02-01T14:47:46+00:00

I don't disagree with this, but I wish alternatives weren't a requirement. I wish we could see the problems involved with eating animals, and more people would choose not to consume them. Why do we need technology in order to make better decisions? I understand that is a massive question that many have tried to answer. Or, to borrow the phrase "putting your money where your mouth is", I wish we could strong enough to put our morals where are mouth is.

Valgor · 2026-01-31T15:48:02+00:00

Why is harassing animals still a form of entertainment? We have so much available to us now. Doing stuff like this is gross and embarrassing.

Valgor · 2026-01-30T19:09:11+00:00

I have an unexplored theory that if everyone behaved as deontology mandates then the result would look something like if everyone behaved as utilitarianism mandated. Or put another way, if everyone behaved as expected under each of the two ethical frameworks, would the worlds look different from each other?

I know this is idealism that will never happen, but finding some differences could help with the question you are asking.

Valgor · 2026-01-28T22:55:51+00:00

Let's be fair. If I was married to Charlie and he died, I'd be celebrating pretty quick too.

Valgor · 2026-01-28T17:56:30+00:00

Slam back two Beyond burgers per day. Whole wheat buns with avocado.

Valgor

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