User talk:Kevin.Schneider

Carnism is the belief system, or ideology, in which it’s considered ethical to consume (certain) animals. Carnism is essentially the opposite of vegetarianism or veganism.

Carnism was coined by social psychologist Dr. Melanie Joy in 2001. Dr. Joy claims that because carnism is a dominant, violent ideology it has remained unnamed and invisible so that meat eating has seemed a given rather than a choice; according to Joy, when eating meat isn’t a necessity for survival, it’s a choice, and choices always stem from beliefs. Joy maintains that because of the violence inherent in carnism (modern meat production requires intensive and extensive violence toward animals), the system uses a set of social and psychological defense mechanisms to distort people’s perceptions and block their awareness and empathy when they eat meat, enabling humane people to participate in inhumane practices without realizing what they’re doing.

Joy suggests that carnism exists across cultures where eating meat is a choice rather than a necessity. In meat-eating cultures around the world people tend to find a small handful out of thousands of animal species edible and view the rest as disgusting. According to Joy, though the type of animal consumed may change, the belief system itself does not. And, Joy argues, in modern, meat-eating societies, the species a culture deems edible is not based on logic or economics but simply on conditioning.

Joy distinguishes carnists (those who eat meat) from carnivores—which are animals, human or nonhuman, that need to ingest flesh to survive—and also from omnivores—which are animals that can survive ingesting both plant and animal matter. “Carnivore” and “omnivore” refer to one’s biological predisposition, but when eating meat is a choice this behavior is based on ideology, not biology. Joy also says that the term “meat eater” is inaccurate in that it presents the behavior as though it were divorced from a belief system—which is why, for example, vegetarians are not referred to as “plant eaters”. Joy also explains that the term “carnist” is meant to be descriptive, not pejorative, just as, for instance, Buddhist, capitalist, or socialist simply describe a person who acts in accordance with a particular belief system.

Carnism versus Speciesism

Speciesism is the ideology in which it is considered appropriate to value some animals over others (with humans at the top of the hierarchy). Carnism is the ideology in which it’s considered appropriate to eat some of the animals on the lower rungs of the speciesist hierarchy. Carnism is a “subideology” of speciesism, just as anti-Semitism, for instance, is a subideology of racism. Carnism, like anti-Semitism, is a specific expression of a broader ideology.Kevin.Schneider (talk) 19:11, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

Nomination of Carnism for deletion
A discussion is taking place as to whether the article Carnism is suitable for inclusion in Wikipedia according to Wikipedia's policies and guidelines or whether it should be deleted.

The article will be discussed at Articles for deletion/Carnism (2nd nomination) until a consensus is reached, and anyone is welcome to contribute to the discussion. The nomination will explain the policies and guidelines which are of concern. The discussion focuses on good quality evidence, and our policies and guidelines.

Users may edit the article during the discussion, including to improve the article to address concerns raised in the discussion. However, do not remove the article-for-deletion template from the top of the article. Drmies (talk) 03:23, 14 October 2011 (UTC)