I don't think it's a good idea to just name a small lizard who occasionally eats an insect when presented with the option as a reason why carnivorous animals don't need to eat meat!  What about bigger ones that can't subsist on plantlife?  What choice do they have?  If they were even capable of thought to begin with, could they just decide not to eat other animals anymore?  They're not able to think about any of these things because they can't THINK, and that's kind of the point, but another point is that many of them are in the same boat as the people in certain areas of the world; meat is an integral part of their diet, and there's nothing they can do to change that.

I did read the topic, I thought that the idea of "killing unnecessarily" was for instance, eating meat when you could eat vegetables instead. Or does she mean like, killing certain animals just for their fur? I do think this is unnecessary as synthetic fur can be just as good, AND less expensive, so choosing real fur is just a snobby choice. But a lot of people do live by selling these furs though, like the seal clobbers...

I guess it means in general.  You probably shouldn't eat meat when you can eat something else and have it a) not taste like shit, and b) serve the same nutritional purposes, and you probably shouldn't wear leather or fur when cheaper alternatives are available that don't involve killing.  Insects sort of need to be killed because they will ruin entire crops if they aren't and then there won't be enough food to feed the people who depend on said crops, so my point was that no that's not really the same as eating meat when you don't especially need to, or wearing fur when something else would do.

Is it okay to kill an animal because it threatens the food source of a lot of people (not even necessarily a lot, but PEOPLE at all)?  Is that even a serious question?

Yes, but it's not like there aren't other options.  There are relatively inexpensive fences and other long-term measures to counter such problems that don't require animals being killed, and don't require the person killing them to exert constant effort just to keep them from ruining his crops.  If you can avoid killing them that's great, but if it's necessary then I don't really see why you need to ask.

You seem to be trying to apply this ridiculous black and white standard to the issue, and it's not even remotely like that.  I really don't get where you're going with any of this.  You ask IS IT OKAY TO KILL AN ELEPHANT???? like there is a static answer to that question at all.  Do you really have no concept of context?

and also the population would surpass the food supply and then they'd all die is that what you want velfarre??

Well I mean, I think the only people saying it was immoral were me and Jamicus, and that was basing it on the condition that it wasn't necessary or that there was another viable, realistic, accessible alternative.  That's ALWAYS been my view on things.  If you can avoid it then don't do it but if it comes to that then yeah I don't think it should be considered immoral.  I don't think anyone was trying to say that it's just bad to kill in all situations, regardless of circumstances.  I was only arguing because you seemed to be saying that it was never wrong because WE HAVE INTERNET and ANIMALS DO IT and whatever else, but if you weren't then w/e!

The thread was meant to ask if eating meat is appropriate when there are other viable food sources out there with all the nutrients we as humans need to survive.  I wasn't really aiming at leather and fur usage.

I understand that certain people from certain areas of the world have no option and that in order to survive, they must eat meat.  That is not where I'm going with this.  I believe very strongly in the survival of humans, and I wouldn't dream about discussing whether or not it is immoral for them to eat meat.  This goes mainly to those of us who live in countries where plant-based alternatives are readily available.

Okay, so I'm going to start off in a slightly different direction to this, and look at a completely biological standpoint:

Our teeth are structured like omnivorous animals, and our bodies require the nutrients of an omnivorous diet. There ARE substitutes, but there's a reason that they're often referred to as "meat substitutes." Very few of the stuff people eat to replace meat (barring nuts and beans) occurs naturally. Technically, we're making shit up to avoid eating meat, for no reason, considering our mouths and are digestive systems are suited towards eating meat.

Um... I'll be back later maybe.