Meat

[Welshwizard]

Why are we fine about eating some animals but discusted at the thought of eating others? It's all meat??? Is it there appearence?

[andy hughes]

It's down to cultural influences. Westerners regard dogs and cats as domestic pets, but plenty of Eastern countries regard them as simply another food source. Appearence may have an effect - I ate a squid omlette in France years ago, and enjoyed it without knowing the contents until afterwards - had I known, it is doubtful I would have touched it! I do wonder about the appeal of oysters, I know about their supposed effects, but come on, they look and smell awful, they can't taste any better ... can they?

[incitatus]

Culture is important. But it should be noted that it is rare for the meat of carnivores to be eaten, even in the wild by other animals. So our distatse for dog and cat meat does have some foundation. Also the meat of carnivores has a very strong, rank flavour when compared to the meat of herbivores. Still, people do eat it. Some things are best left to those who appreciate them. Oysters were originally a peasant food, eaten only by those who could not afford to do otherwise. Indeed the original meat in lancashire hotpot may well have been oyster. As for eating them raw, the hughster is right, it's foul. There may be some folk out there who enjoy swallowing mouthfulls of viscous, salty fluid but I am not one of them.