You can want a perfect world, but it will never exist.
Like it or don't, solving meat consumption and its effects on the planet is something we'll have to do. That probably involves a meaty substitute for meat.
I wouldn't be too dismissive of the potential here.
An ideal situation only exists in a textbook, and dealing with reality is what we should do, was sort of my point.
Listen to yourself.
I'm not being dismissive of the use of mushrooms as a meat argument. But I was being dismissive of the moral superiority based, "you should do this because it's right" argument being made framed by mushrooms.
I hope that's more clear.
The effects on the planet can be completely eliminated with massive expansion of nuclear and/or space-based electricity generation to power vertical farms that a) don't displace natural habitats and b) capture and recycle livestock's methane emissions along with other waste products.
Salt and spices taste good.
The resolution, which has always been obvious to everyone (except hackernews, apparently) is that flavour is the result of the combination of ingredients. That you typically eat X and Y together doesn’t mean X is tasteless and Y is tasty (or the reverse). It just means X and Y combine to make a good dish.
Of course, there are also people who don't like the taste of meat at all. But to claim people who like meat actually like the spices is patently ridiculous, not interesting.
I like meat. In fact, I really like it.
No shame in that.
The answer is in the fact that I (we) like a lot of other stuff!
Maximize that and meat consumption will be reduced.
Adding more ingredients only enhances the flavor, but it’s not necessary if your taste buds aren’t hyperstimulated. Meat tastes good.
But Indians still eat meat, the majority in fact.
Do salt and spices actually taste good though? When has anyone ordered only salt and spices?
Need both (or salt, spices and vegetables/lentils/beans etc), and a skilled cook for delicious meal.
When cooked, most meats have the necessary fats needed to bring out great flavor. Anyone who has done primitive camping can tell you just how good meat cooked in various ways is!
It does to me -- but I think there's a good point here (even if unintentional):
Meats have _textures_ that vegetables don't have. Someone else mentioned how the Impossible Burger replicates "the bloody meat texture". For many folks, that's going to be as important as the taste.
I love vegetables but sometimes I just want a hamburger -- or kung pao chicken, or lamb kadhi, or many other dishes where I _like_ the taste and texture of the meat, and I don't have a better replacement.
You can want one thing, but you have to live with the real thing.
Some people think meat tastes good, regardless of seasoning. Drawing attention to seasoning is just a red herring.
We need to figure out low-co2 meat. And seasonings.