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Never heard of Slaughterhouse though. Of course, if Fast Food Nation bored me to tears, I don't know if I'd be able to stand yet another exposé on slaughterhouses.

Well, it isn't in the same writing style as Fast Food Nation and it isn't as boring either. In the edition I got (which was hardcover), the print was much larger than in Fast Food Nation so it was easier to read. The chapters are shorter, and there's a human interest aspect to the story as well (as to the personal lives of the people who work at slaughterhouses and also the events in the writers' life as she wrote the book). It also doesn't just focus on the food safety aspect of it (although it does go into that issue), it also focuses on the welfare of the workers and the animals. It was written in 1995 by the way. It isn't a book that says "OMG it's sooooo wrong to eat animals!!!!", it lets you make your own opinion.
I for one had a hard time putting it down.
Here's the link to it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1573921661/qid=1111553318/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/102-0439622-1361740

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I understand the reasons for doing it undercover, but is PETA so desparate to turn people away from meat?

They care about the animals, that's why.

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And people are vegetarians because they can't stand the fact that animals are hurt in order to make beef, chicken, pork, etc. So, should we ban hyperdermic shots? Should we forbid exercise? Should ear piercing be outlawed? Those all cause pain. And pain to humans, no less. Yet we sit here and worry about the well-being of domesticated animals that are specifically bred for food.

The thing is that, when you put it in those terms, this isn't really about pain. It's about suffering. This isn't about short term pain here. An improperly stunned animal in a slaughterhouse suffers much more than a person getting their ears pierced. Pigs have their tails cut off and chunks cut out of their ears, egg laying hens often have a portion of their beaks cut off and cattle are branded and castrated all without any painkillers whatsoever. If someone cut off your finger and gave you no painkillers, it would hurt like hell, wouldn't it?

Honey, have you ever seen this site? http://www.animalsentience.com/ Because I'm sick to death of you using that mirror theory as an excuse to abuse animals.

If anyone's clueless as to what we're talking about, here's the link to the video: www.meetyourmeat.com

I'm with you Maya, I'm furious that PETA probably stole most of that 12 minute footage from the faces of death videos... those evil *******s.

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I'll tell you this; there is a right way to do things - including the killing of animals. Sadly, the mainstream meat industries fail miserably at doing what is right.

Well said Bogey! For once, you and I, agree on something.

The Jungle, while it still may apply in some places, is horribly outdated, having been written in the '30s, unless my memory fails me. It's a good book otherwise, in a purely fictional sense. As for Fast Food Nation, which I've also read, Schlosser concentrates more on the hazards and poor conditions of fast food, hence the title. I don't think I ever got to the slaughterhouse bit, or else I'd remember it. Never heard of Slaughterhouse though. Of course, if Fast Food Nation bored me to tears, I don't know if I'd be able to stand yet another exposé on slaughterhouses.

I suggest reading Slaughterhouse by Gail Eisnitz along with The Jungle, it discusses the condictions of slaughterhouses today. (and the working condictions as well) Also Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser has a detailed chapter on the working condictions in slaughterhouses.

This may be a fish out of water but if you want to really know how the meat industry was up until proper and very high standard food regulations were developed than read a book called "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair.

[quote] May I ask how you know this? [quote]

What else are they there for? To look pretty? Think about it. Meat is tasty, meat is all right to eat, and above all, it has neccessary nutrients. Yes, they can be procured through vitamins and whatnot. Meat is also one of the few places that a human can get fat from, aside from sugary products. And fat, although distasteful to some, is also needed for proper human operation. Also, I know for a fact that the appendix, a completely unneeded organ, used to be the main organ for digesting plant material. It corresponds to a similar organ in horses. However, the appendix has become a vestigial organ, not needed because humans are omnivores, not herbivores.

As for the movie, no, I was not grossed out. Anything but. I've seen worse in movies and video games. A spatter of blood on a tile floor is nothing. I didn't like it for a number of reasons. First, the movie was almost completely made 'undercover'. That's somewhat illegal. It's called industrial espionage. I understand the reasons for doing it undercover, but is PETA so desparate to turn people away from meat? The other reasons are more along the lines of "I don't like PETA" and "vegetarians are stupid" so I won't take up your time with explaining them.

Also, why do people care so much about how animals are killed? Do people care when humans are slaughtered for a 'good' cause? That sounds wrong, but it's called war in polite conversation. And I even know pro-war vegetarians. Sounds a bit contradictory to me. The point here is that animals are animals. They are not self-aware. They do not look in a mirror and say "Wow, I should probably get that cold sore looked at." Yes, they feel pain, I'll be the first to admit that. And people are vegetarians because they can't stand the fact that animals are hurt in order to make beef, chicken, pork, etc. So, should we ban hyperdermic shots? Should we forbid exercise? Should ear piercing be outlawed? Those all cause pain. And pain to humans, no less. Yet we sit here and worry about the well-being of domesticated animals that are specifically bred for food.

"I didn't work may way to the top of the food chain to eat carrots." -Ron White

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Animals are meant for consumption.

May I ask how you know this?

Secondly, may I ask why you didn't like the video? You said that animals are made for human consumption, so what do you have against the movie? It just shows what is done - you chose to watch it. If you felt grossed out by it, that may be an indication that your o' so precious meat is being produced in a wrong way, no? You couldn't be grossed out by animal blood, could you? I mean, they are just dumb, measly animals. The only reason one would be grossed out/disgusted is if their conscience told them that these practices are not right in human conduct. I'll tell you this; there is a right way to do things - including the killing of animals. Sadly, the mainstream meat industries fail miserably at doing what is right.