Guest guest Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 What would people say is the youngest age at which such a, possibly disturbing, should book be offered? Is it OK to shatter the psyche of a child in order to instill the goodness of vegetarianism in them for their own health and the well-being of our fellow Earthlings? I recall reading some other posts in this group of kids crying after learning about the cruelty involved in the Standard American Diet. Yes, they changed their eating habits instantly, but it still struck me that maybe there is a time and a place (or rather, way) for educating the young about these things. Or maybe just the age- appropriate methods change over time. Just pondering and throwing this out there as a topic for discussion. Thanks, -Erin www.zenpawn.com/vegblog , jplynch <jplynch wrote: > > Great! Thanks!! I've heard of the book, got a copy for my daughter and > haven't been able to get it away from her to read it!! (but you've > inspired me to try again! or get my own copy!). > > sammythingy wrote: > > > , jplynch <jplynch@> wrote: > > > > > > uh, and the book was............?? > > > > Fast Food Nation. Eric Schlosser. Despite all the other literature out > > there, this particular book inspried me to rethink what I'm eating, as > > well as where I spend my hard earned dollars. I don't want to get too > > politcal, (I'm pretty moderate) but if I could reccomend one book to > > the nation, this would be it....the fost food industry would go > > under.... > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Personally, I think you have to be very carefull with kids. I found the book to be disturbing (enough so that I'm making some major lifestyle changes). Would I want my 12 year old reading it? No. Again, I don't want to get too political, but for her, having not grown up vegetarian, and being a sensitive soul, I think the book would be inapropriate. While I avoid fast food, I don't condem a burrito at Taco Bell once in a while. I guess my rule of thumb (and what I'm trying to instill in my family) is to do more good than harm. I would not want my daughter to become a vegetarin untill I knew that both she and I were able to make sure that she gets all the nutrition she needs. I also want her to be respectfull of animals, but also to find her own path to where she's going. I think that it's a very personal decision. As I've grown in to this, she's trying new foods, and eating less meat in general. I have a hard time thinking about the animal rights issues myself, and don't feel ready to get too far in to it with her untill I have sorted my own ideas out. We just choose other places to eat, and eat at home more. It's healthier and cheaper, and I don't think she's noticed. BUT-I digress. As far as FFN goes, I don't reccomend it for kids. I think that there are likely more suitable, age appropriate avenues of literature. I still am trying to grasp what I've read and some of the more graphic writing stays with me. I do apologize if this is too political for this site. I'm quite moderate, and hope I haven't said anything of offense. , " Erin " <truepatriot wrote: > > What would people say is the youngest age at which such a, possibly > disturbing, should book be offered? Is it OK to shatter the psyche > of a child in order to instill the goodness of vegetarianism in them > for their own health and the well-being of our fellow Earthlings? I > recall reading some other posts in this group of kids crying after > learning about the cruelty involved in the Standard American Diet. > Yes, they changed their eating habits instantly, but it still struck > me that maybe there is a time and a place (or rather, way) for > educating the young about these things. Or maybe just the age- > appropriate methods change over time. Just pondering and throwing > this out there as a topic for discussion. > > Thanks, > -Erin > www.zenpawn.com/vegblog > > > , jplynch <jplynch@> wrote: > > > > Great! Thanks!! I've heard of the book, got a copy for my > daughter and > > haven't been able to get it away from her to read it!! (but you've > > inspired me to try again! or get my own copy!). > > > > sammythingy wrote: > > > > > , jplynch <jplynch@> wrote: > > > > > > > > uh, and the book was............?? > > > > > > Fast Food Nation. Eric Schlosser. Despite all the other > literature out > > > there, this particular book inspried me to rethink what I'm > eating, as > > > well as where I spend my hard earned dollars. I don't want to get > too > > > politcal, (I'm pretty moderate) but if I could reccomend one book > to > > > the nation, this would be it....the fost food industry would go > > > under.... > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 I agree with you. Everyone is different. I used to cry my eyes out if my Grandpa caught a mouse in the pet shop trap he set and my sister was terrified of them and was happy to see it in the trap. My niece was 7 years old and always told me she would grow up to be a doctor, she loved to watch surgeries on TV as a child, I would almost pass right out seeing her watch those, she would beg to watch the lab tech draw my blood if I took her with me for my yearly physical. I'm not kidding, she really creeped me out sometimes. Well, she is an OB/GYN at UCLA Hospital right now, I don't think there is any certain rule, you have to follow your instincts and do what you feel is right. We are all vegetarians in my family but all of us look at things differently. My Mom has been a vegetarian for all of her 83 tears but she never forced it on us, she would grit her teeth when we had a burger and she would tell us, one day you two will wise up just watch and see. She was right. Donna --- sammythingy <sammything wrote: > Personally, I think you have to be very carefull > with kids. I found > the book to be disturbing (enough so that I'm making > some major > lifestyle changes). Would I want my 12 year old > reading it? No. > Again, I don't want to get too political, but for > her, having not > grown up vegetarian, and being a sensitive soul, I > think the book > would be inapropriate. > > While I avoid fast food, I don't condem a burrito at > Taco Bell once > in a while. I guess my rule of thumb (and what I'm > trying to instill > in my family) is to do more good than harm. > > I would not want my daughter to become a vegetarin > untill I knew > that both she and I were able to make sure that she > gets all the > nutrition she needs. I also want her to be > respectfull of animals, > but also to find her own path to where she's going. > I think that > it's a very personal decision. As I've grown in to > this, she's > trying new foods, and eating less meat in general. I > have a hard > time thinking about the animal rights issues myself, > and don't feel > ready to get too far in to it with her untill I have > sorted my own > ideas out. > > We just choose other places to eat, and eat at home > more. It's > healthier and cheaper, and I don't think she's > noticed. > > BUT-I digress. As far as FFN goes, I don't reccomend > it for kids. I > think that there are likely more suitable, age > appropriate avenues > of literature. I still am trying to grasp what I've > read and some of > the more graphic writing stays with me. > > I do apologize if this is too political for this > site. I'm quite > moderate, and hope I haven't said anything of > offense. > > > > , " Erin " > <truepatriot > wrote: > > > > What would people say is the youngest age at which > such a, > possibly > > disturbing, should book be offered? Is it OK to > shatter the > psyche > > of a child in order to instill the goodness of > vegetarianism in > them > > for their own health and the well-being of our > fellow Earthlings? > I > > recall reading some other posts in this group of > kids crying after > > learning about the cruelty involved in the > Standard American > Diet. > > Yes, they changed their eating habits instantly, > but it still > struck > > me that maybe there is a time and a place (or > rather, way) for > > educating the young about these things. Or maybe > just the age- > > appropriate methods change over time. Just > pondering and throwing > > this out there as a topic for discussion. > > > > Thanks, > > -Erin > > www.zenpawn.com/vegblog > > > > > > , jplynch > <jplynch@> wrote: > > > > > > Great! Thanks!! I've heard of the book, got a > copy for my > > daughter and > > > haven't been able to get it away from her to > read it!! (but > you've > > > inspired me to try again! or get my own copy!). > > > > > > sammythingy wrote: > > > > > > > , > jplynch <jplynch@> > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > uh, and the book was............?? > > > > > > > > Fast Food Nation. Eric Schlosser. Despite all > the other > > literature out > > > > there, this particular book inspried me to > rethink what I'm > > eating, as > > > > well as where I spend my hard earned dollars. > I don't want to > get > > too > > > > politcal, (I'm pretty moderate) but if I could > reccomend one > book > > to > > > > the nation, this would be it....the fost food > industry would go > > > > under.... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Yes, everyone is different and I find it fascinating. That is really interesting about your family, Donna. I decided early on not to even talk about being vegetarian when my kids were very little. My then-husband ate some meat, but not at home. When my eldest was about 4 she caught on somehow (probably the in-laws) and she asked me, " Mama, why don't you eat the fish? It's already dead! " I laughed and that was that. That child, now almost 14, is an avowed carnivore. (Who doesn't eat fast food, by the way, except for the occasional In and Out Burger. But she loves beef and chicken.) My youngest, did eat some meat when young. I remember once she was about 4 or 5, she was enjoying a hamburger. She asked me where it came from and I said a cow. (That's it, I didn't elaborate at all.) Then she asked me, " Does it kill the cow? " I answered " yes " , again with no attitude at all. She looked at me in horror and said " No it doesn't! " I said " OK! " But she never looked at meat the same after that. Now, at 11 and a half, she's almost a complete vegetarian. Now, my ex-husband is a food extremist, which happened after our divorce. He read Fast Food Nation and told my girls all about it. So my girls are quite happy to not eat fast food (except for In and Out Burger, which dad has OK'd). I'm fine with that since I don't care for fast food at all. Well, except for pizza, but even that is from a local place, not a big chain. :-) I would not expose my kids to Fast Food Nation. Why? It's too harsh for me. I haven't read the book and don't plan to. I'm the type who faints in movies. (More than once.) But some kids would be fine with it. My youngest would never forgive me - she's extremely sensitive/suggestive also. Folks like us have a hard time shaking off that sort of experience. After my mother died, I almost gave up movies altogether for years. Sharon Donnalilacflower wrote: > I agree with you. Everyone is different. I used to > cry my eyes out if my Grandpa caught a mouse in the > pet shop trap he set and my sister was terrified of > them and was happy to see it in the trap. My niece > was 7 years old and always told me she would grow up > to be a doctor, she loved to watch surgeries on TV as > a child, I would almost pass right out seeing her > watch those, she would beg to watch the lab tech draw > my blood if I took her with me for my yearly physical. > I'm not kidding, she really creeped me out sometimes. > Well, she is an OB/GYN at UCLA Hospital right now, I > don't think there is any certain rule, you have to > follow your instincts and do what you feel is right. > We are all vegetarians in my family but all of us look > at things differently. My Mom has been a vegetarian > for all of her 83 tears but she never forced it on us, > she would grit her teeth when we had a burger and she > would tell us, one day you two will wise up just watch > and see. She was right. > Donna > > > --- sammythingy <sammything wrote: > > >> Personally, I think you have to be very carefull >> with kids. I found >> the book to be disturbing (enough so that I'm making >> some major >> lifestyle changes). Would I want my 12 year old >> reading it? No. >> Again, I don't want to get too political, but for >> her, having not >> grown up vegetarian, and being a sensitive soul, I >> think the book >> would be inapropriate. >> >> While I avoid fast food, I don't condem a burrito at >> Taco Bell once >> in a while. I guess my rule of thumb (and what I'm >> trying to instill >> in my family) is to do more good than harm. >> >> I would not want my daughter to become a vegetarin >> untill I knew >> that both she and I were able to make sure that she >> gets all the >> nutrition she needs. I also want her to be >> respectfull of animals, >> but also to find her own path to where she's going. >> I think that >> it's a very personal decision. As I've grown in to >> this, she's >> trying new foods, and eating less meat in general. I >> have a hard >> time thinking about the animal rights issues myself, >> and don't feel >> ready to get too far in to it with her untill I have >> sorted my own >> ideas out. >> >> We just choose other places to eat, and eat at home >> more. It's >> healthier and cheaper, and I don't think she's >> noticed. >> >> BUT-I digress. As far as FFN goes, I don't reccomend >> it for kids. I >> think that there are likely more suitable, age >> appropriate avenues >> of literature. I still am trying to grasp what I've >> read and some of >> the more graphic writing stays with me. >> >> I do apologize if this is too political for this >> site. I'm quite >> moderate, and hope I haven't said anything of >> offense. >> >> >> >> , " Erin " >> <truepatriot >> wrote: >> >>> What would people say is the youngest age at which >>> >> such a, >> possibly >> >>> disturbing, should book be offered? Is it OK to >>> >> shatter the >> psyche >> >>> of a child in order to instill the goodness of >>> >> vegetarianism in >> them >> >>> for their own health and the well-being of our >>> >> fellow Earthlings? >> I >> >>> recall reading some other posts in this group of >>> >> kids crying after >> >>> learning about the cruelty involved in the >>> >> Standard American >> Diet. >> >>> Yes, they changed their eating habits instantly, >>> >> but it still >> struck >> >>> me that maybe there is a time and a place (or >>> >> rather, way) for >> >>> educating the young about these things. Or maybe >>> >> just the age- >> >>> appropriate methods change over time. Just >>> >> pondering and throwing >> >>> this out there as a topic for discussion. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> -Erin >>> www.zenpawn.com/vegblog >>> >>> >>> , jplynch >>> >> <jplynch@> wrote: >> >>>> Great! Thanks!! I've heard of the book, got a >>>> >> copy for my >> >>> daughter and >>> >>>> haven't been able to get it away from her to >>>> >> read it!! (but >> you've >> >>>> inspired me to try again! or get my own copy!). >>>> >>>> sammythingy wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>>> , >>>>> >> jplynch <jplynch@> >> wrote: >> >>>>>> uh, and the book was............?? >>>>>> >>>>> Fast Food Nation. Eric Schlosser. Despite all >>>>> >> the other >> >>> literature out >>> >>>>> there, this particular book inspried me to >>>>> >> rethink what I'm >> >>> eating, as >>> >>>>> well as where I spend my hard earned dollars. >>>>> >> I don't want to >> get >> >>> too >>> >>>>> politcal, (I'm pretty moderate) but if I could >>>>> >> reccomend one >> book >> >>> to >>> >>>>> the nation, this would be it....the fost food >>>>> >> industry would go >> >>>>> under.... >>>>> >>>>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 Eric Schlosser has a book geared towards kids called " chew on this " . How low will we go? Check out Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 In a message dated 10/9/2006 3:59:47 PM Pacific Standard Time, truepatriot writes: > What would people say is the youngest age at which such a, possibly > disturbing, should book be offered? Is it OK to shatter the psyche > of a child in order to instill the goodness of vegetarianism in them > for their own health and the well-being of our fellow Earthlings? I > recall reading some other posts in this group of kids crying after > learning about the cruelty involved in the Standard American Diet. > Yes, they changed their eating habits instantly, but it still struck > me that maybe there is a time and a place (or rather, way) for > educating the young about these things. Or maybe just the age- > appropriate methods change over time. Just pondering and throwing > this out there as a topic for discussion. > I was taught stewardship by my mother. It takes much less land and water to feed a vegetarian than a meat eater. Nearly all the food waste from a vegetarian household can be composted and returned to the earth. Organic, sustainable gardening is better for the soil and the people fed from the growing plants than using chemicals. She taught us to eat to feed the body not to feed the appetite. To exercise so we could work harder, longer with less discomfort not only now but less pain in later years. I consider my mother to have been a wise woman and as I get older (58 now) I realise that I should have spent more time discussing all things with her. My mom logged with my grandfather for several years from the time I was three till I started second grade. I went with them until I was six and saw how they logged and I remember mom showing me how they would choose a tree and cut it down, skid it out with a horse so it would not cause as much damage to the forest. Nowdays they just go in with huge equipment and rip the trees out of the ground and bulldoze everything up into huge piles of brush and burn it. I hate clearcutting with a passion. Right now I have two acres that the blackberries are trying to take over and I am cutting them and digging out the roots rather than get a brush hog in there that rips up the ground and causes so much damage to the earth. I am hoping to salvge the thornless raspberries and the salal that is growing under the blackberries. I will take me the rest of my life to try to get the blackberries under control but I refuse to not do it the " earth " way. Lisa stepping off soap box now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 my daughter's father and I had the same conversation. He was a bit peeved that I showed her a film, she is 9. In my most always humble opinion <cough> I think they are never to young to learn the truth about some things. hugs, Chanda - kelownabc Wednesday, October 11, 2006 5:52 AM Re: Fast Food Nation and children In a message dated 10/9/2006 3:59:47 PM Pacific Standard Time, truepatriot writes: > What would people say is the youngest age at which such a, possibly > disturbing, should book be offered? Is it OK to shatter the psyche > of a child in order to instill the goodness of vegetarianism in them > for their own health and the well-being of our fellow Earthlings? I > recall reading some other posts in this group of kids crying after > learning about the cruelty involved in the Standard American Diet. > Yes, they changed their eating habits instantly, but it still struck > me that maybe there is a time and a place (or rather, way) for > educating the young about these things. Or maybe just the age- > appropriate methods change over time. Just pondering and throwing > this out there as a topic for discussion. > I was taught stewardship by my mother. It takes much less land and water to feed a vegetarian than a meat eater. Nearly all the food waste from a vegetarian household can be composted and returned to the earth. Organic, sustainable gardening is better for the soil and the people fed from the growing plants than using chemicals. She taught us to eat to feed the body not to feed the appetite. To exercise so we could work harder, longer with less discomfort not only now but less pain in later years. I consider my mother to have been a wise woman and as I get older (58 now) I realise that I should have spent more time discussing all things with her. My mom logged with my grandfather for several years from the time I was three till I started second grade. I went with them until I was six and saw how they logged and I remember mom showing me how they would choose a tree and cut it down, skid it out with a horse so it would not cause as much damage to the forest. Nowdays they just go in with huge equipment and rip the trees out of the ground and bulldoze everything up into huge piles of brush and burn it. I hate clearcutting with a passion. Right now I have two acres that the blackberries are trying to take over and I am cutting them and digging out the roots rather than get a brush hog in there that rips up the ground and causes so much damage to the earth. I am hoping to salvge the thornless raspberries and the salal that is growing under the blackberries. I will take me the rest of my life to try to get the blackberries under control but I refuse to not do it the " earth " way. Lisa stepping off soap box now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 The truth is fine but if it's too graphic that's a whole different story. I know I faint at a drop of blood and Mya (niece) is right there to wipe it up and clean your wound. I had nightmares as a kid if I saw anything graphic. It depends on the child and what they can handle. Donna --- PuterWitch <puterwitch wrote: > my daughter's father and I had the same > conversation. He was a bit peeved that I showed her > a film, she is 9. > > In my most always humble opinion <cough> I think > they are never to young to learn the truth about > some things. > > hugs, > Chanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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