freeflybella

Me, too! I actually LOVE scary/horror flicks. Went to see this one in the theater when it opened and walked out about 3/4 of the way through. It wasn't so much scary (it was gory, though) as it was full of despair and hopelessness. I wanted to cry - I walked out because had an overwhelming need to get out and look at the blue sky and feel life around me. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Point taken about the lists.

Zennie and peacefuljeffrey - You both are making statements about experiences - that while they may have seemed true to you (except for the surgery/fragility thing) - may not be or have been what you thought they were. I can't really comment further except to say that unless you're super focused on nutrition and exercise - it seems exaggerated to say one day of not eating meat made someone weak. Or even, 2 years really - maybe you were lacking in omega-3 which - when I supplement with flax, gives me TONS of energy! Or that suggesting eating meat is the solution to a nutritional deficiency that results in fatigue. You may have been vitamin deficient, but again, there is nothing in meat that you can't get from a veg diet. (B12?) I'd guess if you're an avid meat-eater (once a day), you'd need to give your body some time to adjust to a new diet. But those changes aren't drastic, or even terribly noticeable right away. And honestly, it's a pretty wonderful thing to experience. VEGETARIAN ATHLETES: Carl Lewis, “Olympian of the Century,” Olympic medalist in track Ruth Heidrich, Ironman triathlete, age-group record holder Martina Navratilova, tennis champion Desmond Howard, Heisman trophy winner Stan Price, world-record holder in bench press Bill Walton, NBA Hall of Famer Phoebe Mills, Olympic medal-winning gymnast Billie Jean King, tennis champion Bill Manetti, powerlifting champion Bill Pearl, four-time Mr. Universe and bodybuilder Al Oerter, discus thrower and winner of four Olympic gold medals Keith Holmes, WBC World Middleweight Champion Robert Parish, one of the NBA’s “50 Greatest Players” Jack LaLanne, fitness legend and media star Edwin Moses, two-time Olympic Gold medalist in hurdles (Source: Vegetarian Times Magazine) If you get tired and weak from a veg diet - I'd suggest there is something more going on than just not eating meat. And the surgery thing - NEVER heard that claim made EVER! I'll check with my best friend - an orthopedic surgeon - and get back to you!

Face it, darling. You're an animal rights activist. If you really believe you're not - why tell anyone you're vegan? Why not just eat what you want - rather than making that statement or giving that explanation. Either way, to discount the good done by animal activists by citing the radical actions of a few - and - to discount the good because those few cause you momentary inconvenience (I'm assuming you're a good guy and that people like you when they get to know you) seems to me to be at odds with compassion for the suffering of animals in the modern form of agribusiness. But again, that's your gig. And your particular brand of activism. It's not for me to question. I'm grateful for it as I believe every little bit helps.

Agree! Disagree!

The WACK is in da ZONE Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Yup. Again, it's "multi-pronged" approach, if you will. Campaign against puppymills. Campaign for adopting/rescuing already abandoned animals Campaign for responsible pet ownership. (neutering, spaying, remembering that animals are alive and you can't just move and drop them in the alley, etc.) All of which create awareness. All of which educate people. All of which benefit the animals. Yes, their ultimate goal is total non-use. It's not going to happen overnight, in our lifetime or ever. The point is to give relief to those animals that are suffering in the meantime and to not create any more suffering. If you're looking for a pure, one-step solution to this or any issue - you're not being realistic. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Is this really about you? And what people think of you? And are the humane treatment laws they get passed lame, too? Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Actually, that was MY post. It was NOT a contradiction from PETA. This is another area where I agree with PETA and disagree with them. While I don't agree that having animals as pets or 'companions' is a bad thing, I do agree that puppymill type businesses are awful, and there are too many irresponsible animal owners who allow their pets to become strays and also who don't neuter or spay their pets. Again, the 'pet one's pet' suggestion was MINE. PETA advocates rescuing animals as companions from shelters and research labs. Toward an end of total non-companion animal usage. Just like they advocate eating at Burger King - the new vegan burger - toward an end of total non-animal consumption. To say all or nothing is simply ridiculous and impossible. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

As a creative director in advertising, I can almost guarantee you their goal is not to directly change that demographic's mind with this ad. (Or most of their campaigns for that matter.) The humor (and vehicle - porn) allows the message to seep in - however subtley. It's called top-of-mind advertising. It creates awareness. It gets talked about. That helps the cause. I call BS on that. There are too many types of people in the world and too many reasons to go or not to go veg. Nothing changes as a result of leaving people alone. Some input is required to cause change. PETA, just like you and I, offer various perspectives and avenues to the (almost) same goal. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Blue GUMBIES ??!! NO!!! NO!!! NO!!! Blue and GROOOVIES!!!!! (Then again......those SHOES...!!!!!) Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

No! There are vegan alternatives to just about everything these days! Give it a try!

Boo. You're no fun. Besides, if you don't look at it from a totally selfish point of view - you'll see it has nothing to do with how good you look or how great you feel. More that it has everything to do with compassion. Thank you for this (and the other) discussion. It's been interesting, challenging and a pleasure.

Fine. Fuck you.

Jeffrey please, For a small moment inside you - a small thing - something called, something cried. Don't dismiss it. I'm not asking you to change who you are - just to listen to a small voice inside that you may have ignored before now. That is all. This issue can NOT go head to head. It HAS to go heart and heart and spirit to spirit. The absolute point is that no one needs to eat meat. We do it because we like it - or we're used to it - or it's what our parents and grandparents do. That doesn't mean it's right for all of us. Of that it's right for agribusiness to get rich from. Or that we have to accept the horrid conditions from which our food comes from (so that others make money), Just sit quietly and don't rage. Pet your dog or cat. Fill your head with thoughts of love and compassion for animals and just watch your pets respond. It's magical and natural.

I know a guy who parties regularly with Bam and Johnny Knoxville. I had dinner next to Billy Bragg and G Love - seperately. I made a skydive with the cute girl from Dead Poet's Society Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Banned Super Bowl ad Funny, not scary.

OK, for anyone still reading/interested: Regarding the Meat Causes Impotence claim: Researchers have established that though erections can be inspired by everything under the sun, ultimately they depend on blood flow. And, just as blockages in the arteries to the heart can cause a heart attack and choked-off blood to the brain can lead to a stroke, when the arteries to the genitals are clogged, that part of the body will not work so well either. When the arteries are impeded only slightly, it takes longer to get an erection. As the obstruction worsens, complete impotence occurs. By age 60, this affects one in four American men. The bad news is that artery blockages, a major cause of erectile dysfunction, are strongly linked to one of America's most popular food categories — meat. The good news is that such blockages can be prevented, and even reversed, by changes in diet and lifestyle. And regarding the argument: The differences between correlation and causation. In almost every issue, there is not a single cause that leads to a single effect. Rather, there is a multitude of factors to differing degrees that lead to a certain effect. That's why most issues are considered multifactorial issues. The easiest way to disprove a claim for causation is by finding one single exception. If the claim truly stood up that "eating meat causes impotence", then everyone who consumed meat would be impotent. Clearly that is not the case, therefore this is not a causally related issue. Rather, it's a correlationally related one. There are many other factors outside of diet involved in becoming impotent. ***** Either way, PETA is making the claim unchallenged by the meat industry. Why do you think that is? Again, not standing behind this point - rather doing research for the sake of discussion. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

The Howard Dean part of that video is the BEST! !!! What a great piece of art! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Yay! But let's not tell either of the 'Blue and Groovies' where the idea came from! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

I did a photoshoot in the apartment where Antonio Banderas' and Tom Hanks' characters lived in the movie Philadephia. (Across the street from my apartment) This thread cracks me up! Love it... Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

It really could've been an honest mistake. Someone with that much very important information to pour over for a very important reason - that's alot of pressure. Just like I might be able to understand the whole "Bush-reads-to-kids-while-towers-burn" thing was a stunned/confused reaction. When it comes down to it - no matter how important you think you are - or others think you are, we're all just human. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Everything doesn't have to be black and white. Just because someone's argument isn't pure, or because they don't have an answer to to your questions doesn't mean their cause is invalid. Wouldn't you agree? These are ads you're critiquing - not the cause. They're meant to raise awareness. Re: the impotence thing. I don't know about that claim. Obviously they aren't saying everyone who eats meat will become impotent - just like everyone who smokes will not get cancer. But again, it's one point among many that might cause you to question your food supply. Research their claim on your own. Re: the slaughterhouse workers. Why would you think anyone would want that job? It's extremely messy and dangerous, full of killing, low-pay. Can you imagine having an assembly-line of killing animals - something like 10 cows per minute? All day long, seven days a week? For practically minimum wage? That isn't counting the 'farm' workers - which honestly, factory farms make it their goal to have to employ as few people as possible. It's mechanized. Ever wonder why agribusiness doesn't release it's own video's countering PETA's claims of suffering by these animals? Because the truth - while it may not have monsters beating defenseless animals for pleasure or quota - is just as ugly. It's grey and concrete. It's machines and hooks. It's injections and stun guns. It's crying and loneliness. It's truly lifeless. I'd bet that video wouldn't make a single person happier about where their food is coming from. That's what hurts. And, you can thank PETA for exposing these atrocities. They aren't all about shocking ad campaigns and pithy remarks. Just like they aren't all radical activists. While they are always aiming for complete and total non-use of animals - they are making great strides in creating a more humane environment for them and raising awareness of the issue across the board. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Here's what I do believe. NSF Anyone NSF or Anything (Second video is, in my opinion, 'over the top' on the music/lyrics for emotional appeal but non-the-less vile.) Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi