Comments on: Be a Man - Eat Meat http://blog.4d2.org/2008/08/27/be-a-man-eat-meat/ Because everyone else already has one Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:24:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Dankoozy http://blog.4d2.org/2008/08/27/be-a-man-eat-meat/#comment-1240 Dankoozy Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:40:38 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=572#comment-1240 I dunno if it makes you more of a man,but dead animal sure tastes good I dunno if it makes you more of a man,but dead animal sure tastes good

]]> By: Kara http://blog.4d2.org/2008/08/27/be-a-man-eat-meat/#comment-1238 Kara Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:09:55 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=572#comment-1238 I don't know if he liked it, but dad ate primarily vegetarian Indian food a couple times. I still haven't been able to find a killer lentil soup like the one I had at his friend's house... or fried paneer that was as tasty. *sigh* Maybe steamed pork buns are the only food good for picky eaters at dim-sum? Like me, a few years ago that's all I would have eaten. I don’t know if he liked it, but dad ate primarily vegetarian Indian food a couple times. I still haven’t been able to find a killer lentil soup like the one I had at his friend’s house… or fried paneer that was as tasty. *sigh*

Maybe steamed pork buns are the only food good for picky eaters at dim-sum? Like me, a few years ago that’s all I would have eaten.

]]> By: jess http://blog.4d2.org/2008/08/27/be-a-man-eat-meat/#comment-1237 jess Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:58:52 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=572#comment-1237 We weren't arguing with your point, but I think almost all of the men + meat = manly thing does stem from the perception that men need (and prefer) a more a calorie dense, carb and protein dense and produce lean diet. I meant to mention that it is a preference perception. Think about Dad: he really didn't like vegetables much, I would say that he DID prefer meat+potatoes. I am sure some of that initially stemmed from growing up when he did in a large family (canned produce = cheap). But then I think about it, and he never really liked the stuff he tried that was less bland and less meat+potatoes. I will say that one of the things that makes my life easier cooking at home is that N LOVES vegetables and if I make a meal that is mostly vegetarian, that's not a problem. In fact, one of the first times I hung out with him at lunch at work, we had dim sum with a bunch of coworkers. Of the ten people, only two people aside from me ate the tofu and the chinese broccoli: N and one of our mutual friends. One of the guys only ate the pork buns. Are steamed pork buns the only manly food at dim sum? ;) We weren’t arguing with your point, but I think almost all of the men + meat = manly thing does stem from the perception that men need (and prefer) a more a calorie dense, carb and protein dense and produce lean diet.

I meant to mention that it is a preference perception. Think about Dad: he really didn’t like vegetables much, I would say that he DID prefer meat+potatoes. I am sure some of that initially stemmed from growing up when he did in a large family (canned produce = cheap). But then I think about it, and he never really liked the stuff he tried that was less bland and less meat+potatoes.

I will say that one of the things that makes my life easier cooking at home is that N LOVES vegetables and if I make a meal that is mostly vegetarian, that’s not a problem. In fact, one of the first times I hung out with him at lunch at work, we had dim sum with a bunch of coworkers. Of the ten people, only two people aside from me ate the tofu and the chinese broccoli: N and one of our mutual friends. One of the guys only ate the pork buns. Are steamed pork buns the only manly food at dim sum? ;)

]]> By: Kara http://blog.4d2.org/2008/08/27/be-a-man-eat-meat/#comment-1235 Kara Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:00:05 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=572#comment-1235 Okay, I obviously made an oversight not touching on the 'men need calorically dense protein' school of thought. I didn't touch on it because nobody in modern-day America should be worrying about whether or not they're getting enough protein. I guess I take it for granted that most people know that, or know how easy it is to get vegetable proteins that aren't heavily processed soy patties. The fact of the matter is that Michael isn't starving for protein when he eats vegan, so the argument of that image or theory falters. It's less tangible than being about nutrition. Okay, I obviously made an oversight not touching on the ‘men need calorically dense protein’ school of thought. I didn’t touch on it because nobody in modern-day America should be worrying about whether or not they’re getting enough protein. I guess I take it for granted that most people know that, or know how easy it is to get vegetable proteins that aren’t heavily processed soy patties.

The fact of the matter is that Michael isn’t starving for protein when he eats vegan, so the argument of that image or theory falters. It’s less tangible than being about nutrition.

]]> By: Dad http://blog.4d2.org/2008/08/27/be-a-man-eat-meat/#comment-1234 Dad Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:33:32 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=572#comment-1234 I think Jess is on to the why. Traditionally, manly men needed lots of fuel to do all those manly picking up of things and putting them down and meat provides some pretty dense calories. We've mechanized and automated most of that work. Bulldozers, like rifles, are gender neutral machines. But that mechanization only occurred fairly recently, like in the last 100 years or so. So our food choices get associated with our deeply held beliefs about gender roles. I think any tradition is slow to change, but those related to gender roles are probably the slowest. Bottom line; we're homophobic carnivores. I think Jess is on to the why. Traditionally, manly men needed lots of fuel to do all those manly picking up of things and putting them down and meat provides some pretty dense calories. We’ve mechanized and automated most of that work. Bulldozers, like rifles, are gender neutral machines. But that mechanization only occurred fairly recently, like in the last 100 years or so. So our food choices get associated with our deeply held beliefs about gender roles. I think any tradition is slow to change, but those related to gender roles are probably the slowest. Bottom line; we’re homophobic carnivores.

]]> By: Melissa JG http://blog.4d2.org/2008/08/27/be-a-man-eat-meat/#comment-1233 Melissa JG Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:19:48 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=572#comment-1233 Excellent post. Funnily enough, I saw this today: <a href="http://wordie.org/lists/15522" rel="nofollow">Mandles, candles for men</a>. The most telling is fear, but it would be more accurate if it was "fear of fear." Excellent post.

Funnily enough, I saw this today: Mandles, candles for men. The most telling is fear, but it would be more accurate if it was “fear of fear.”

]]> By: Michael http://blog.4d2.org/2008/08/27/be-a-man-eat-meat/#comment-1232 Michael Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:40:47 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=572#comment-1232 I've been eating vegan again for a little over a week now and I've realized a couple of things: 1. I can pretty much eat whatever I want that isn't obviously junk and not gain weight. 2. I really, really hate talking to people about it. People either react in some stupid ignorant way that assumes I'm doing this out of a love for cute fluffy cows, or they go out of their way to accommodate me, to an extent that's just embarrassing. I guess veganism shocks like vegetarianism used to. So I downplay the ethical component, but the truth is that it's there for me. Try as I might, I can't actually reconcile my personal moral compass with consuming animal products, and I bet there are a lot of other people who can't and who just don't want to think about it. I’ve been eating vegan again for a little over a week now and I’ve realized a couple of things:

1. I can pretty much eat whatever I want that isn’t obviously junk and not gain weight.
2. I really, really hate talking to people about it.

People either react in some stupid ignorant way that assumes I’m doing this out of a love for cute fluffy cows, or they go out of their way to accommodate me, to an extent that’s just embarrassing. I guess veganism shocks like vegetarianism used to.

So I downplay the ethical component, but the truth is that it’s there for me. Try as I might, I can’t actually reconcile my personal moral compass with consuming animal products, and I bet there are a lot of other people who can’t and who just don’t want to think about it.

]]> By: jess http://blog.4d2.org/2008/08/27/be-a-man-eat-meat/#comment-1230 jess Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:00:22 +0000 http://blog.4d2.org/?p=572#comment-1230 I fish! I actually think it's the perception that men need more fatty proteins than women do. So like, women are expected to diet and therefore eat lean meats/fish/vegetables and men are supposed to be bulky and not worried about weight (ha) and eat fatty meats and potatoes. Clearly that is not true at all, but I do think that's a big part of it. When I was a vegetarian (for 8 years straight and then another 2 later), it has nothing to do with cute animals and everything to do with how meat tasted to me and how it made my body feel physically. I still find that I eat mostly vegetarian or fish (no other meat) when it is just me I'm cooking for. Again, that's just what I prefer from a taste point of view. I fish!

I actually think it’s the perception that men need more fatty proteins than women do. So like, women are expected to diet and therefore eat lean meats/fish/vegetables and men are supposed to be bulky and not worried about weight (ha) and eat fatty meats and potatoes. Clearly that is not true at all, but I do think that’s a big part of it.

When I was a vegetarian (for 8 years straight and then another 2 later), it has nothing to do with cute animals and everything to do with how meat tasted to me and how it made my body feel physically. I still find that I eat mostly vegetarian or fish (no other meat) when it is just me I’m cooking for. Again, that’s just what I prefer from a taste point of view.

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