That would make sense, since GP said:
> If lacking life is what's cruel, then vegetarianism doesn't really solve that problem.
So if vegetarians used the argument that lacking life is cruel, then vegetarianism would be cruel, right? It makes perfect sense (given GP's point) that they don't use that argument.
You're the third replyer that writes as if they disagree about this while making the same point. I'm wondering if I'm reading this wrong, or if GP edited their comment just before I loaded the page.
How do you measure this? How do you know for certain that what you're eating had no idea it was about to die when it did?
How do you know animals don't experience existential suffering, similar to how humans experience it? Why do you believe that humans are in control of their livestock's emotional state, even when they provide the best environment for them?
You can observe animal behavior and say, "They appear not to be suffering from existential dread beyond what they would in the wild", you may be able to measure cortisol levels in the meat. But you'll never know for sure.
Nobody's arguing this, are they?
If you do believe this, then I hope you're breeding rats, rabbits, and insects as fast as possible!
I'm saying it's a pointless statement and trying to demonstrate its ridiculousness.