I’ve had a certain debate a few times where you might say we argue over the “semantics” of the meat industry.

I am what you would call a vegetarian. While vegetarians won’t eat things that caused harm to produce, a vegan won’t eat anything having to do with an animal. A lot of those who would fall under the latter category hate us because they say anything that remotely resembles someone enjoying an animal product is supporting the meat industry which then kills animals, which means merely eating an animal product makes someone a murderer.

Meanwhile, there’s this concept many call piracy. It’s the idea that, as the meme proverbially puts it, “you can download a car”. The idea here, which I say in the way I do because there’s still an ongoing debate about it, is that it affects nobody. But then there’s the whole industry thing I mentioned. People on the other side of the debate often say “well what about the industry”. I’m not sure where on the scale in this topic you might put me, but I feel like there’s a glaring contradiction here. When it comes to animals, people think of the industry, but otherwise that’s not a factor.

My question is… why?

  • MomoTimeToDie
    1·
    1 year ago

    “you wouldn’t download a car” is specifically a parody of a common anti-piracy psa from the early 2000s. It was like “you wouldn’t steal a car, you wouldn’t steal a handbag, you wouldn’t steal a DVD, piracy is theft, don’t do it”. The idea behind the meme is to point out the absurdity of comparing actual, physical theft to downloading an infinitely reproducible digital file. That is to say, it points out the distinct lack of a true victim in piracy.

    I’ve never seen someone complain about vegetarianism by saying “think of the industry” tbh

    Also, you’re likely looking at two distinct groups.