Comments on: Have Some Bacon! You and I, We Are Going to Die http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die Seriously, this could not be more beta Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:20:54 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: southernboy http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40716 southernboy Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:41:32 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40716 I never understand why people get so defensive whenever the words vegetarian/vegan come up. It's like the simple act of declaring, "I'm vegetarian" is somehow slapping a meat-eater in the face. Which I'm not! I'm going to be at a Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey which has been so overbred until it has no flavor and must be brined for a day in plants in order to taste good. :-) The only time I ever feel really militant about eating meat at all is when I think about the factory farming and all of the clear and obvious health problems involved. It's ok to be a little enlightened and still eat meat! It's not inherently wrong in and of itself, but we've certainly created a gross, unsustainable process when there are other ways to get your fatback fix. I never understand why people get so defensive whenever the words vegetarian/vegan come up. It's like the simple act of declaring, "I'm vegetarian" is somehow slapping a meat-eater in the face.
Which I'm not! I'm going to be at a Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey which has been so overbred until it has no flavor and must be brined for a day in plants in order to taste good. :-)
The only time I ever feel really militant about eating meat at all is when I think about the factory farming and all of the clear and obvious health problems involved. It's ok to be a little enlightened and still eat meat! It's not inherently wrong in and of itself, but we've certainly created a gross, unsustainable process when there are other ways to get your fatback fix.

]]> By: Tulletilsynet http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40684 Tulletilsynet Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:15:32 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40684 How to fry bacon is go to Balk's fucking store and ask his mother for a bunch of fresh spinach the size of an intelligent man's head, advertised as "washed three times," as all spinach is advertised. Rinse it leaf by leaf in a large bowl, by hand, until there is no more feces on it. Fry as many sliced-up rashers of bacon as you can afford on motherfucking medium low in a high-walled skillet and fucking throw the dripping wet washed spinach in on top of the fucking frying bacon. The fucking heap of fucking dripping spinach is fucking going to fucking wilt, so it doesn't matter that it is twice as high as the skillet, because you are a fuckhead. When the spinach is wilted, fuck you and remove it from the skillet along with the bacon pieces and salt it and eat it. Go swimmin' with bare-nekkid vegan wimmin and recite the poem by Swinburne that begins, "Swallow, my sister, O sister swallow," and see how long they stay vegan after that. How to fry bacon is go to Balk's fucking store and ask his mother for a bunch of fresh spinach the size of an intelligent man's head, advertised as "washed three times," as all spinach is advertised. Rinse it leaf by leaf in a large bowl, by hand, until there is no more feces on it. Fry as many sliced-up rashers of bacon as you can afford on motherfucking medium low in a high-walled skillet and fucking throw the dripping wet washed spinach in on top of the fucking frying bacon. The fucking heap of fucking dripping spinach is fucking going to fucking wilt, so it doesn't matter that it is twice as high as the skillet, because you are a fuckhead. When the spinach is wilted, fuck you and remove it from the skillet along with the bacon pieces and salt it and eat it. Go swimmin' with bare-nekkid vegan wimmin and recite the poem by Swinburne that begins, "Swallow, my sister, O sister swallow," and see how long they stay vegan after that.

]]> By: bananasplit http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40680 bananasplit Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:30:17 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40680 well, Kiwis are an exceptionalism unto themselves, sometimes, bless'em. well, Kiwis are an exceptionalism unto themselves, sometimes, bless'em.

]]> By: Setec Astrology http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40678 Setec Astrology Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:38:24 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40678 @FlipperBaby: He is, after all, the <a href="http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Kwisatz_Haderach" rel="nofollow"><i>Kwisatz Haderach</i></a>. @FlipperBaby: He is, after all, the Kwisatz Haderach.

]]> By: mgmt. http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40662 mgmt. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:24:21 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40662 what types of pets? in the case of reptiles, birds, rabbits, etc., the naturalist would agree with you. then again, most vegetarians are not naturalists, in fact, far from it, as any intelligent vegetarian would concur that humans are omnivores. that said, any intelligent naturalist knows that the evolution of dogs depended solely on their co-habitation with humans. thus, the pet dog. secondary thinking! what types of pets? in the case of reptiles, birds, rabbits, etc., the naturalist would agree with you. then again, most vegetarians are not naturalists, in fact, far from it, as any intelligent vegetarian would concur that humans are omnivores. that said, any intelligent naturalist knows that the evolution of dogs depended solely on their co-habitation with humans. thus, the pet dog.

secondary thinking!

]]> By: mgmt. http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40661 mgmt. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:15:53 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40661 *thinks *thinks

]]> By: mgmt. http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40660 mgmt. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:15:14 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40660 thanks for telling all vegetarians what they are like! good thing you're not one of those subtle, complex assholes who things people are individuals within groups! WHAT'S THAT ABOUT, AMIRITE? thanks for telling all vegetarians what they are like! good thing you're not one of those subtle, complex assholes who things people are individuals within groups! WHAT'S THAT ABOUT, AMIRITE?

]]> By: ljnd http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40619 ljnd Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:47:35 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40619 mmmm, grass-fed vegans. mmmm, grass-fed vegans.

]]> By: poisonville http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40598 poisonville Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:15:58 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40598 Would I could stand outside a JSF reading holding up the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico and yelling, "Here's the rest of your veggie burger!" Would I could stand outside a JSF reading holding up the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico and yelling, "Here's the rest of your veggie burger!"

]]> By: Bittersweet http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40594 Bittersweet Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:11:16 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40594 Could we pay the pets, and then they'd be more like live-in servants? Could we pay the pets, and then they'd be more like live-in servants?

]]> By: oudemia http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40583 oudemia Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:42:57 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40583 Jonah Goldberg is from New Zealand? And "not unintelligent"?! Jonah Goldberg is from New Zealand? And "not unintelligent"?!

]]> By: oudemia http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40579 oudemia Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:37:07 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40579 The circles! They bring me round and round! The circles! They bring me round and round!

]]> By: oudemia http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40578 oudemia Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:36:21 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40578 We could totally eat our young out of boredom or non-attachment. Pretty common. We could totally eat our young out of boredom or non-attachment. Pretty common.

]]> By: djfreshie http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40577 djfreshie Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:35:36 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40577 Sentience just makes things more delicious. Think about it. Air - Not at all salty, and wholly unsatisfying Water - Still no sentience, and it shows. Lettuce - BO-Ring. Insects - even with chocolate, not something I would enjoy Escargots - Yeah, but with a LOT of garlic and butter. Because FYI not great. Birds - YESDELICIOUS Pigs/cows -YESMOREDELICIOUS Humans - obviously, the sweetest plum. There. Sentience just makes things more delicious. Think about it.

Air – Not at all salty, and wholly unsatisfying
Water – Still no sentience, and it shows.
Lettuce – BO-Ring.
Insects – even with chocolate, not something I would enjoy
Escargots – Yeah, but with a LOT of garlic and butter. Because FYI not great.
Birds – YESDELICIOUS
Pigs/cows -YESMOREDELICIOUS
Humans – obviously, the sweetest plum.

There.

]]> By: withelectrolytes http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40563 withelectrolytes Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:21:55 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40563 I think most vertebrates resort to cannibalism only in cases of extreme resource shortage. Humans included! I think most vertebrates resort to cannibalism only in cases of extreme resource shortage. Humans included!

]]> By: withelectrolytes http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40560 withelectrolytes Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:20:25 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40560 Much of human culture is exceptional with respect to other animals, but framing veganism/vegetarianism as a moral obligation and disregarding animals who eat meat on the grounds that humans are uniquely morally endowed is an exceptionalism. To my mind the weakest part of the argument is the assumption that anthropocentrism prevents a deep ecological mindset shift. Couldn't we be vegan exceptionalists who also deeply recognize our animality? Much of human culture is exceptional with respect to other animals, but framing veganism/vegetarianism as a moral obligation and disregarding animals who eat meat on the grounds that humans are uniquely morally endowed is an exceptionalism. To my mind the weakest part of the argument is the assumption that anthropocentrism prevents a deep ecological mindset shift. Couldn't we be vegan exceptionalists who also deeply recognize our animality?

]]> By: HiredGoons http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40559 HiredGoons Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:20:06 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40559 Needs more cursing. Needs more cursing.

]]> By: mathnet http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40558 mathnet Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:19:22 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40558 It's slavery. It's slavery.

]]> By: P.G.O.A.T. http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40556 P.G.O.A.T. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:16:00 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40556 Thank you for "freeganism." That's much cleverer and more succinct than my current "I'm a vegetarian but not really" explanation of my eating habits. Thank you for "freeganism." That's much cleverer and more succinct than my current "I'm a vegetarian but not really" explanation of my eating habits.

]]> By: garge http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40552 garge Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:04:19 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40552 We called this "freeganism," except we were less smart about it and only applied it to dairy on dumpster dived Pappa John's and Entenmann's. Which, in hindsight, gross. We called this "freeganism," except we were less smart about it and only applied it to dairy on dumpster dived Pappa John's and Entenmann's. Which, in hindsight, gross.

]]> By: Ralphie http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40551 Ralphie Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:03:39 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40551 It's not like all those mistreated pigs and what-not were plucked from nature -- were it not for meat mills they would never have been born. Given how little life the universe seems to throw off, who is to say that even partial sentience under even circumstances as grim as Foer describes isn't a gift of incalculable value and a thing of near-unimaginable beauty, in the scheme of things? Also he can't possibly really care about these animals because they aren't him. It's not like all those mistreated pigs and what-not were plucked from nature — were it not for meat mills they would never have been born.

Given how little life the universe seems to throw off, who is to say that even partial sentience under even circumstances as grim as Foer describes isn't a gift of incalculable value and a thing of near-unimaginable beauty, in the scheme of things?

Also he can't possibly really care about these animals because they aren't him.

]]> By: SweetnessIWasOnlyJoking http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40544 SweetnessIWasOnlyJoking Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:51:57 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40544 I like the idea that if you scratched a hippie it would make him scream and a jack-booted, leather-wearing fascist would come running up to defend him, because the one thing a fascist hates more than a hippie is you. I like the idea that if you scratched a hippie it would make him scream and a jack-booted, leather-wearing fascist would come running up to defend him, because the one thing a fascist hates more than a hippie is you.

]]> By: bananasplit http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40542 bananasplit Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:48:04 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40542 As a not unintelligent New Zealander once said - 'scratch a hippy, find a fascist'. As a not unintelligent New Zealander once said – 'scratch a hippy, find a fascist'.

]]> By: kneetoe http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40539 kneetoe Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:40:07 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40539 If we ate the meat of things that eat meat, the whole problem would be (somehow) solved, but since we eat the meat of things that eat plants, we compound the problem. Meantime, I would die in two days if I couldn't eat meat. If we ate the meat of things that eat meat, the whole problem would be (somehow) solved, but since we eat the meat of things that eat plants, we compound the problem.

Meantime, I would die in two days if I couldn't eat meat.

]]> By: brilliantmistake http://www.theawl.com/2009/11/have-some-bacon-you-and-i-we-are-going-to-die#comment-40537 brilliantmistake Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:36:09 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=19482#comment-40537 Isn't this an argument for cannibalism? Isn't this an argument for cannibalism?

]]>