Supply and Demand
Below is the conversation that sparked this entry
paoix: When you eat chicken you kill the chicken
The Girl: No, someone else kills the chicken
paoix: Yes, but you are the cause that the chicken is killed
The Girl: I will not eat the chicken that I kill. The chicken is already dead. Someone else killed it. If no one will kill the chicken I will not eat chicken.
paoix: The reason that the chicken gets killed it’s because you want to buy the chicken to eat it
The Girl: But I only want to buy the chicken that someone else killed
paoix: Which in essence you killed because they wouldn’t have killed if you did not have the desire to buy
This repeats several more times without any resolve. So here it is out there for everyone to continue the discussion and maybe come to a resolve. I am of the camp that because us consumers demand chicken we are the main reason that chickens get killed for food. Because of our need for chicken (the demand) someone will always kill a chicken (the supply). A market is created and because of the demand that’s the reason why chickens get killed. The Girl on the other hand is on the camp that she’s only buying the chicken because it’s already killed. And essentially she’s not the reason for the chickens death because it’s already dead.
Obviously, this can be substituted for any type of meat that we eat. To me this is an interesting discussion because we have been so distanced from our food supply that we have no idea where our food comes from or how it is made. The grocery store is as far back in the lifecycle as we go. We’ve become pretty complacent with accepting that the food in the grocery store is safe (including myself). This ignorance leads to dangerous food borne diseases and to some extent the obesity problem in the US.
Bringing it back to the discussion… are you a chicken killer? so, what say you?
October 19th, 2008 at 7:17 am
I have to agree with Paolo…not just because my hubby is a hunter…but because it makes sense! People would not keep killing chickens if nobody buys them. I think the reason that people say they are not part of the cause is that they love to eat chicken but don’t want to feel guilty thinking that it had to die. Sorry Therese! I love eating chicken too! In reality God gave us animals and plants for us to eat. and yes…plants are living things too. People shouldn’t feel guilty about killing things to eat them. Animals do it all the time. We’re just at the top of the food chain…all part of the “Circle of Life” (sing the Lion King Song” LOL
October 19th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I agree with you both. It seems that people convince themselves of all sorts of things to absolve themselves of any guilt that they might be feeling for whatever reason.
People in America are more or less convinced that Chicken or pork or beef come in a plastic wrapped package, not from a farm, where it was once a living breathing animal. I sometimes tell anyone who will listen that maybe everyone, in order to be allowed to eat meat, should at least one in their life partake in the killing and preparation of an animal for a meal. You conversation related above reinforces my belief.
October 19th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Now, the chicken in question — did IT come first or the egg? AHHH!
Seriously though, I hear what you’re saying. I have to agree that they kill it because they know I’ll buy it, so I guess it’s my fault.
In fact, if I had to kill it myself, I’d be a vegetarian!
October 21st, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I am the chicken killer.
LoL I will eat the chicken weather or not i killed it or not lol Lets just say if im hungry, and no one wants to kill that chicken for me…. i will kill that chicken.. marinate it and BBQ it… lol dont get me wrong i love animals and all that i really do, (would be a zoologist if it paid more lol) but in the event that no one wants to kill animals for me to buy. I will kill an animal that comes across my yard and i will eat it. LOL mmmm jjjummy!
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:56 am
Had a similar conversation recently. It’s amazing how some people think that everything comes shrink wrapped. It had to come from something that used to be alive.
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:33 am
I am looking for some idea and stumble upon your posting
decide to wish you Thanks. Eugene
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
i agree that because you demand the chicken, you are causing its death. ya know?
when i first when vegetarian, people would tell me that they throw away all this food, so i’m only contributing to waste by not eating it (and unnecessary chicken deaths). but, really, as less and less people eat meat, less and less will be produced. so i’m making a difference, one chicken at a time.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:34 am
chicken (meat) or vegetable, either ways we are killing something. We are killing the plant/fruit, just simply by plucking them from their food supply.. so in essence, the leaves and fruits that we eat are also dead, aren’t they? so if we look at it this way, then we all - the entire humanity - is guilty of killing! anyways, i believe that certain animals and fruits were created for humanity’s survival :o) nice post, paoix..
October 29th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I remembered when I was a little girl back in the Phils, my Lola bought a chicken from the market. She then instructed the big boys to kill the chicken and then mark a + on my forehead with the chicken’s blood because it was my birthday. :-0 I had no idea what it was all about! Anyway, I never liked the idea but my Lola insisted. So, there you have it. It’s because of some stupid tradition or belief that the chicken got killed!
December 17th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
For my first birthday in Vietnam I received a turkey which my mom proceeded to chase around the yard and killed with a cleaver. It didn’t die immediately and ran around with it’s head hanging off to the side. I don’t know if I could eat meat if I had been conscious of this as a child so as an experiment, I want to see if I am really a turkey/chicken killer and go hunt to see what it’s all about. Is that strange? I think not. If I can’t, I’ll become a vegetarian. I really hope I can do it because I don’t think I can live without meat!