Explanations?

[Werevegan]

What do you say to people who argue that if you were starving or lost in the woods or caught in a war or whatever ad nauseum that the raw vegan diet would be unsustainable, that sooner or later you'd succumb to eating meat?

I have only a flippant response, which is: "Well, if I were starving or lost in the mountains, I'd probably kill and eat YOU, too. So should I wait til that happens or do you want me start now?" Sometimes they laugh, sometimes they blanch, and sometimes they're offended.

But I'm look for an intellectual response. Have any of you ever been caught in this kind of debate, or reflected on such a situation intuitively on your own? What do you think?

[rawpriestess]

Well, I've actually never heard that question before.

But it sounds like an attack to me, so when I hear that, I may choose to react by either not saying anything and simply smiling. And allowing it to pass, as it isn't my job to argue with them.

But if they are truly curious, and just need info, I will answer all of their questions.

I remember the first time I heard of the raw food lifestyle, I was in a vegan cooking class, and after we all had our taste of the food, there was some left over, and I asked the person sitting next to me, if he wanted to split one of these items, and he said, "No, I don't think so, I think I'm going to start to eat raw."

That was my first ever hearing of this, so I asked him a couple of questions, and he was very friendly and helpful, that was the day I decided I needed to learn more about this lifestyle.

So, if someone is truly interested, I will take my time and answer their questions, but if they are attacking or not very nice, or being snotty, I won't waste my energy in answering them, which is my right.

[Rawkinlocs]

YOU'D (we'd) have a better chance at surviving. How do they know they will have the tools needed to catch and kill any animals? While they're trying to make a weapon and figure out how to go about hunting for wild animals, you'll be foraging and eating wild foods, berries, etc. that will probably give you longer sustainability!

We, by design, weren't meant to hunt and kill animals or else we'd have the claws and the teeth, etc.

So, unless the person asking you these questions is totally sure they'd have access to hunting tools, then they'd probably have just as hard a time if not harder trying to survive such circumstances.

[Doe]

Once they killed an animal how would they get fire to cook it? They would likely become raw vegan due to the circumstances.

Teri S

[autumn4596]

Once they killed an animal how would they get fire to cook it? They would likely become raw vegan due to the circumstances.

Teri S

Exactly, I was just about to say this. If youre in the woods....what would you cook with? Everyone would go raw...as for eating meat, you wouldnt necessarily stay vegan but you'd still be raw.

The hard part about not being raw is going out with friends where all they have to eat is cooked food...there are a few places that dont have salads (most places do now...but I've been to a few that dont). Personally, I'd rather starve until I get home and can get MY food.

But I know what you mean....its hard to answer those question, and its not so much an attack on you as it is...them trying to be a smartass about it. I get these dumb questions all the time.

[Werevegan]

I've read of arguments, and been in a few ... discussions, myself, because of all the various dietary regimens I've tried in the past. One that I hear often is that the calorie expenditure spent gathering food exceeds the amount of calories that can be gathered in a truly wild environment, except in certain areas, e.g. the tropics, so you will eventually HAVE to consume meat.

I realize in my own mind that a raw vegan diet is not optimal for every person in every corner of the planet. It isn't feasible to demand that an eskimo eat this way, or a scientist on expedition to Antartica, or some Kalahari bushmen, either. But for the rest of us, the true threat to our health and well being is fork and spoon, or in this case, should I say oven and stove? :)

Regardless, the liklihood that any of us will ever have to survive in the Andes after a plane crash, or become stranded on a desert island with nothing but penguins, is so remote as to be laughable. On the other hand, the REAL threat to our survival today is closer to home, and invisible: heart disease, cancer, stroke, the true killers of civilized man. Not starvation above the tree line. :P

It makes sense to me that I prepare to defend the most LIKELY of scenarios, instead of the least. Stated another way, their argument is that I should eat hamburgers, steak, and chicken every day in case I crash land in the Gobi somewhere, as opposed to eating fresh fruits and vegetables every day in order to live a long and healthy life in civilizaion?? :confused:

Whatever! :cool:

[Autumn]

I read in "Dear Abby" many, many years ago that no one is obligated to answer a rude or argumentive question.

I do like your initial response, though. :D

[RawTruth]

I agree with RawPriestess and Autumn that the best response is often no response. I personally avoid discussion of the living food lifestyle with anyone who is not interested and open to it. I just try to keep in mind that they're on their own path and discussion/argument will likely not lead them closer to mine.

However, if you wish to have an arsenal of responses, you can always read up on the Boutenkos' adventure when they hiked in the wild for months (can't remember how many) living only off what they foraged -- exactly the scenario that was posed to you -- and then use that information to answer the question. Of course, someone who is so closed and argumentative would (attempt to) shoot holes in that story anyway.

[CAdreamer]

IMO, the person asking the question is baiting you and asking a foolish question. Scenarios are just that...no one knows how he might act until the situation arises. Which woods ? It would depend on where you were and what was available. Personally, I don't plan a trip to the woods and I wouldn't be getting lost....

[SamuelWilson]

Personally, when I encounter "negative energy" from people like that. I am a fruitarian so I get plenty of negative energy directed towards me, trust me. I just ignore them. Do not say one word, I mean NOT ONE WORD. Just walk off without a goodbye or nothing as though they are not even standing there.

When these negative people realize they can not bring you down, they will move onto someone else.

[kel]

A friend I have , who is a lawyer, would respond by saying " that I don't have the answers hypothetical questions." I have always liked that one, and have used against my own family, who one must or should talk to, no matter how flighty they think I am. :rolleyes:

[sport]

It has been pointed out to me in company that it is not "normal" to eat this way. My reply is that at my age it is "normal" to be overweight, have high blood pressure and be at serious risk of getting cancer, stroke or heart attack and that I have no wish to be normal.

[sweetgoddess]

My reply is that at my age it is "normal" to be overweight, have high blood pressure and be at serious risk of getting cancer, stroke or heart attack and that I have no wish to be normal.

Sport, that is GOOD.