The Foreign Vegetarian Trend Has Caught the Attention of Chinese Netizens

Article excerpted from Yisujie, a vegetarian media information platform.

While you are still hesitating over "what to eat next," netizens have nearly argued themselves into a frenzy over the question of "what to eat" - is the foreign vegetarian trend true compassion or false morality?

Originally, online vegetarian topics, after years of back-and-forth between the two sides, had calmed down. Until a large number of foreign friends flooded into Xiaohongshu, bringing with them the foreign vegetarian trend.

Image from Xiaohongshu

Why are there so many foreign vegetarians? The existence of vegetarians has sparked discussion among netizens. From environmentalists' carbon emission bills, to the anthropocentric "limited animal protection theory," from the foodie youth who "surrender" to braised pork late at night, to the "unsolved mystery" of "why monks do not lack nutrition"... We have excerpted some related discussions from the internet, but make no judgment. Perhaps the world is more varied than you originally imagined, and more real than chicken-soup platitudes.

Here are some accounts from foreign netizens:

I am a vegetarian and have been one since I was 10 years old. It is my choice, because of my preferences and the way American slaughterhouses treat animals. But everyone's reasons for becoming a vegetarian are different. Most reasons include health factors, ethical or environmental reasons.

In California where I live, eating vegetarian is extremely easy. Unless someone brings it up, I do not think about eating vegetarian most of the time. I like to think that if a person is not used to eating a certain food, they will not notice its absence. You may have never eaten snake meat, so you will not miss it. I have not eaten meat since I was 10, and I neither miss it nor want to eat it. I am content with this.

- By: Toyish

I used to be a vegetarian because I sympathized with animals.

In addition, many studies show that animal agriculture accounts for 20% of carbon dioxide emissions.

Some people can eat this way for life, but I gave it up because staying healthy was too difficult. Even though I took supplements and changed my eating habits, I was always vitamin-deficient.

Now, I am grateful to the animals that gave their lives, and I do not waste any meat. I eat a lot of vegetables, a small amount of meat, and not too much beef. Beef is said to be the most harmful to the environment (deforestation).

Also, remember, Westerners eat too much meat. Our diet is very different from the Chinese diet.

- By: Illykitty

Here are some views of Chinese netizens on the foreign vegetarian trend:

The phenomenon of more and more vegetarians is certainly related to current trends; too many young people choose vegetarianism. After coming abroad, I rarely eat meat, and even for a long time ate only eggs, but I do not want to say I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian just to gain peer recognition - it feels hypocritical, and even they themselves know it just makes them feel morally happy. The ones who contribute most to the environment are people who are childless by choice; having one fewer child saves so much carbon emission and living beings.

- By: Eva

Personally, I feel ordinary meat-eating has nothing to do with environmental protection. And to put it bluntly, even if such livestock were released into the wild, they would not necessarily survive... What really reduces the number of wild animals is the squeezing of living space plus the harsh environment. As long as there are so many humans not truly protecting the environment, it is impossible to fundamentally solve the problem; relying solely on not eating meat is a bit too utopian. I can accept vegetarian reasons based on faith or physical health, but this kind, never mind.

- By: Siweiniao

Of course I understand and sympathize with vegetarians. Although I do not eat vegetarian, I am also a person who supports animal protection and animal welfare.

But at the same time, as a fish lover, I really cannot accept the pescatarian group (referring to those who, for the reason of protecting animals, eat only fish and vegetarian food). Dividing animals into ranks and thinking fish are lower than other creatures so they can be eaten - this is contrary to the logic of animal protection.

If the purpose is to protect animals, then either do not be vegetarian, or be lacto-ovo vegetarian or fully vegan. I do not know what the person who invented the pescatarian concept was thinking (of course, those who eat pescatarian only due to physical reasons or taste are understandable).

- By: momo

I am a firm anthropocentrist. I support animal protection behavior consistent with the goals of human survival and development, because this essentially still maintains the overall interests of humanity (such as protecting biological genetic diversity and reserving certain habitat space for animals). Animal protection behavior beyond this I personally do not support; some behaviors even cause great inconvenience to human production and life, which I do not support.

- By: Yezongweiwu

Why only consider mammals?

And actually, dairy products are also very cruel to dairy cows; dairy cows that produce milk have to keep getting pregnant to have milk, and they suffer too. If you consider so many ethical factors, then in the end you can only live on various supplements.

- By: Gugugugu Gu

There is nothing to be done; some people have too strong empathy and may, when eating meat, be unable to suppress thoughts of those animals' suffering, and to relieve this guilt simply stop eating meat. Every time I eat beef I feel uncomfortable, because cattle are really intelligent, but in the end I am still defeated by hunger and craving... So I quite admire people who can persist in not eating meat without affecting others.

- By: Xiao Lin, super vegetarian (Xiaohongshu user)

Maybe the economic base determines the superstructure; their early economic development provided the conditions for the development of these ideas such as vegetarianism, as well as animal protection, environmentalism, and so on.

- By: Xiaohongshu user 669336AF

I have also heard many friends give their personal accounts. Vegetarians each have their own reasons, both religious and environmental. So far no one has persuaded me to be vegetarian, so my impression of this group is still quite good. Everyone eats their own way; isn't it nice not to interfere with each other? Currently I feel that meat-eaters actually attack vegetarians more.

- By: Una

Actually, many vegetarians are not extreme; they just have very strong empathy for animals. Plus, having learned through some channels about the inhumane treatment some food animals suffer, they become very resistant to eating meat and want to do their part for the environment. As for the interest issues behind this, it is not something they can understand. There is no need to talk as if they are all fools and only you are smart.

- By: Xushu

Although today people still argue over whether "vegetarianism is a saint complex or true environmentalism," every thought arising is a re-examination of life.

Some shed tears for dairy cows and switch to oat milk; others admit "I want to be vegetarian, but I get anxious if I do not eat meat for three days." Seemingly varied choices, but essentially similar in nature: all begin to care where each bite on the plate comes from. The foodie youth who self-deprecatingly say "by the third meal I still surrender to steak" - is this not also a clumsy exploration of goodwill?

Perhaps we will eventually understand that vegetarians and non-vegetarians are never enemies, but rather, sharing one world, love the world's lives in different ways.