Desensitized

I've come to the conclusion that people are twats and desensitization is a good thing. This is not to be confused with bastardification.

Let me give you an example. We eat me, or at least a lot of us do. That meat comes from a living, breathing, and yes, thinking and feeling animal. It wants to live and hurts when it is killed. This is a fact of life. It's the food chain. We kill things and we eat them. Being humane isn't about not doing what we're designed to do because something gets hurt. Being humane is about being respectful for the life that ended to keep yours going. Look at most wild animals. A dog will shake the bejesus out of its prey to break its neck. A cat will go for the jugular to bleed it out as fast as possible. Given the tools that they have, this is a very good way to do it. It is the humane way to do it.

So understanding that animals are killed, bled out, cut into pieces and shipped to your grocer is something that I think is positive quality. Being able to see it and watch it and understand its necessity (for what portion of the process is entirely necessary. I do understand that a degree of slaughtering animals is a cost/time analysis) makes us better people because it keeps us from being ignorant. Enjoying it is another story. That's being a bastard.

That being said, if watching that sort of thing turns you off meat all together, then you're appropriately sensitive. What bothers me is the people who are bothered by killing animals but are comfortable eating them. It's the cold truth about the world that allows us to demand to make it better. If you disagree with killing animals but want to eat them then I urge you to tell someone how to kill animals without it being uncomfortable for you. The fact is, you can't do it. And if you say, "oh, just wait for them to die on their own" be prepared for less meat to cost way more. Animals that die on their own die in one of 4 ways, in order of likelihood:

1. killed by another animal
2. get sick and die
3. die in an accident,
4. or die of old age.

The maximum yield of meat from these events is thus

1. none (another animal ate it)
2. none (it's diseased. Unless you want to eat "we think we cooked what killed it out of it" beef)
3. variable (depends when you find it)
4. about half of what it could be (ever notice how old people are a lot skinnier than younger people?)

So stop whining about how we have to kill animals while you're busy grilling up another delicious steak. It's the circle of life.

If you don't like the meat debate, how about the encouraged desensitization we go through constantly? What about war? You can't watch an animal be killed for food but you can support the slaughter of a nation of people who aren't even necessarily fighting a cause, but are defending their country? How about our desensitization toward our fellow man? We hear about countless violent crimes every day and all we do is lock our doors. If you gave a shit about "humanity" you'd do something to stop it. If you cared about every life you wouldn't only be looking out for yourself. Start a neighbourhood watch. Investigate the crime. Make sure these criminals are put away. Feed the hungry. House the homeless. Hell, start small and give those cold bastards waiting for the bus a lift in your toasty 8 seater SUV.

Oh, I forgot you're doing your part by having a "fuel efficient" SUV. You're a real humanitarian.

Pro-Meat is Pro-Life

I don't think animal rights activists really get it sometimes. Like any good cause, there are some people that take it too far. I think that people that want to have humanity abandon their meat-eating ways don't quite understand what they're asking.

Most livestock isn't bred for its resilience in the natural world. Cows specifically have a difficult time not being eaten, whether it be by people or by wild animals. It is, in fact, people that keep cows alive by protecting them from the real world. Sure, it's just so we can murder them later, but at least they get to live their lives. Cows would soon become extinct if they were abandoned as livestock because they no longer fit into the outside eco-system.

Yes, cows were at one point capable of surviving the wild. But so were people. People wouldn't last a week in the wild without technology. What about those survival guys on the Discovery Channel, you ask? One word: Gortex. Just because they don't have an SUV doesn't mean they are separate from technology. Man would die without shelter, clothing and weapons. Cows would die without fences.

Things do, however, need to change. Just because the purpose of breeding cows is to eat doesn't mean that they should suffer in feed lots. At least try and simulate a naturally safe world. This is what we should be striving for. As for all of you hardcore "meat is murder" people, just be thankful that we don't domesticate more animals to eat. We totally could.

I understand now!

I don't know how it took me so long to associate these two things, but it seems to me a perfect comparison.

I am an expressive vegetarian.

I feel sorry for those guys now. It's really not easy. People always giving you that look, everyone always saying "it's natural." It's bullshit is what it is.

Sorry, that was out of line. But it's ridiculous to assume that there is a natural human program.

Dancing. Why does everyone have to dance? Why does everyone have to want to dance? I understand it is an expression and I understand that it's healthy; physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. But so is meat! With all its iron and protein and tasty, tasty glory. But there are other ways to get all of those things without meat, just like there are other ways to enjoy life without dancing.

Here's an example. You like baked potatoes, right? And peas and carrots and green beans and a thick slice of tomato with cheese melted on? You like creamy mushroom bearnaise sauce, don't you? Of course you do (if you don't, quit reading my blog. Just kidding, keep reading). So what does it matter that there is chicken on your plate instead of steak (other than, I suppose, the bearnaise, which could easily be replaced by another equally delicious white sauce)?

I know I ridiculed people who didn't like what I like earlier, but I'm making a point. Once is fine. But to hold it against someone is completely different. Another example: you're clearly not human if you don't like ska. Everyone likes ska. It's the most agreeable music ever. But when someone says they don't like it, you don't ostracize them. You ask, "Really?" Maybe you add a few comments about what you like about ska, but you always finish with, "well, what do you listen to then?"

Now, before I move on to my next segment, I want to make sure we're all clear here. I don't like to dance. I have big feet, gangly limbs, no rhythm, and am poor at linear improvisation. When I fuck up dancing, the fuck up is nonunfuckuppable. Now, this is not to say that I don't like dance itself. Dancing is pretty. It's like any art form. I can view it, but I can't do it. And I've tried. I played piano for 4 years, spent 4 years in art school, and I've tried dancing. Not only do I suck, but I don't enjoy it. In fact, even if I was good, I would only do it to fit in. But that's not to say that you shouldn't dance. Please dance. I want you to dance. I want to see you dance like I want to hear you sing or look at everything you draw. I don't want you to think I'm on the outside. I'm right here.