Quote:
Originally posted by greatwhitenorthchick
I would say the same thing except I would say that it is codified convention, rather than respect. I think it is just a convention of our society that we don't eat certain domesticated animals. No real rhyme or reason to it other than that. We also read from left to right, rather than from top to bottom or from bottom to top or from right to left. We nod our heads to convey Yes. (I could go on) Just something we do.
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1. The taboos against cannibalism also relate to health.
2. Domestication as a distinction fails because sheep, cows, goats, yaks, have all been domesticated.
3. Companionship as a distinction is purely cultural. Dogs and horses are companions in other parts of the world, but eaten there too. Plus, many animals that are not companions (or domesticated) are disfavored as food here - see e.g. rats, which are widely eaten in Vietnam.
4. Intelligence as a distinction fails because we eat many animals which are smarter than dogs, such as pigs, and is also cultural, such as the Inuit who eat whale.
5. I eat it all.
6. As an aside, Bulgarians nod their head to indicate no, and shake for yes. It is very confusing, and resulted in the beggars thinking I was overjoyed to help them out.
