Vegan councillor backs Brighton’s farmers’ markets (From The Argus)

I wonder how Ben Duncan's Vegan principles would stand up if he were stranded in a jungle. Maybe we could do a special TV show and see how long it is before he is eating insects and eyeing up the dog.

Veganism is a form of religion. As with so many others, they want to force their misguided ways on the rest of us.

All lefties Smell wrote:
I wonder how Ben Duncan's Vegan principles would stand up if he were stranded in a jungle. Maybe we could do a special TV show and see how long it is before he is eating insects and eyeing up the dog.

Your puerile posting and nom-de-lume strongly suggests that you have been abusing one piece of meat in particular!

There is no obligation for vegans to buy meat at a market; no more than for devout carnivores to buy vegetables.

Councillor Duncan's waffle about speciesism is an insult to those affected by racism and other discrimination; to trivialise such issues by equating them the choice of the majority of normal people to assert their place in the food chain is just another demonstration of why this man should is not suitable to exercise public office.

And this is from the same councillor who tweeted “I only smoke weed when I'm murdering, raping and looting."
The guy is a complete plonker and best keep his mouth shut.

Can't Cllr Duncan just get on with his job rather than boring everybody with his tiresome dietry preferences and his self important hopes that everybody in the world will model themselves on him. He can eat coal for all I care and if he thinks any fondness for a slab of dead animal is a hate crime then I wouldn't put it past him. He's wrong in the head isn't he?

Big Fido wrote:

All lefties Smell wrote:
I wonder how Ben Duncan's Vegan principles would stand up if he were stranded in a jungle. Maybe we could do a special TV show and see how long it is before he is eating insects and eyeing up the dog.

Your puerile posting and nom-de-lume strongly suggests that you have been abusing one piece of meat in particular!

Hey man, don't become the beast you so despise, don't let the meat eating scum drag you to the lower level, love and flowers man love and flowers.

Convince all your friends and family that you're a vegan this christmas by complaining about your meal before it's even been served to you!

dhamallamafarmer wrote:
Convince all your friends and family that you're a vegan this christmas by complaining about your meal before it's even been served to you!

I do that whenever I am forced to go out with the Wife's 'peasants' (or her 'family' as she calls them) that insist that a Toby Carvery is "a really good meal"

It's genuinely quite frightening that this man holds a position of power. What pathetic and insulting comments. Ben Duncan should just keep his mouth shut if he's got nothing sensible to say.

mustaphaLeeko wrote:
"eating meat is akin to racism and homophobia"... no I think you will find eating meat is what Carnivores do, Omnivores eat animals and vegetables, and Vegans... While they can go eat sh... with a stinky attitude like his!

typo, "well" not "while"...

and u can guess the other letters of one particular word! lol.

Give the guy a break. Ok his comment equating veganism with racism and homophobia was breathtakingly ignorant and mildly offensive, but given his pampered middle class upbringing it was perhaps to be expected. And at least with regard to forcing his views on the rest of us he's learnt his lesson after the fiasco of the 'meat free' days in Council canteens.

wtf!!! A councillor is telling us we are lucky he doesn't impose his views on the whole of the city and will allow people to sell meat at farmers markets. How big of him. If he doesn't like it, jog on and don't attend them.

He made a choice not to eat meat. I made a choice to eat it, so don't start trying to make me feel grateful I don't have to travel to another town or city to buy it.

Such hatred towards vegans, a group of people that opt to lead a cruelty free life is astonishing.

As Chairman of the Licensing Committee he should only decide, on licensing issues, on the facts that his officials put before him, nothing else. Otherwise he is acting illegally.
Did people actually vote for him?

UglyAmerican wrote:
Veganism is a form of religion. As with so many others, they want to force their misguided ways on the rest of us.

Garbage. And your moniker appears apt if you are going to peddle such swagger.

You presumably think that political affiliations are also 'religion'. How would you say not?

As always with this slippery bunch of Green Party jokers you have to read the words they utter very slowly and very carefully. What the Vegan says is 'It is not a priority to rule out farmers' markets'. He does not say, as he could have done, "none of our business' or use the simple phrase 'I will not...'. Oh no! It just isn't one of the Vegan's priorities at the moment. You have been warned!

Ihopenoonehasthisuse
rname wrote:
Such hatred towards vegans, a group of people that opt to lead a cruelty free life is astonishing.

They wouldn't cop so much flak if they just got on with their thing and shut up about it. But they don't, instead they have to lecture, preach and can rarely find much else to talk about.
Haven't the time or the patience for them I'm afraid, tiresome bunch.

The Argus don't have to tell us all what this guy is saying but its easy and cheap for them to do so. They just don't want to bother finding good stuff to print thats why I never buy the paper. The EDP in Norfolk is ten times better and they would never dream of printing rubbish like this.

Would it not be better sited in The Level on the perimeter near the Open Market,then shoppers could compare. Or is the Open Market not going to be like what it was Originally built for?

No wonder he's a vegan, because he's a complete nut.
Shut up Ben, we thought Caroline Lucas had managed to get you to go and be a father instead of a silly child.

Is this some strange comedy sketch that no-one has told me about?

In the olden days there used to be a rule that if you were a councillor you had to declare membership of secret societies, private clubs, weird organizations, cults, witchcraft covens and the like. The rule served a very good purpose. It meant our elected representatives could be held to account and questioned about whether their decisions and behaviour were in any way influenced by their particular and sometimes peculiar affiliations.

I have no idea if this sensible rule still exists. But has Councillor Duncan's adherence to Veganism come under any scrutiny? Indeed has it even been declared as a vested interest? Does he belong to organized groups of practicing Vegans? Or does he feel more comfortable observing his faith on his own? These questions need answers.

If he was transgender would he also be saying that one day he hopes that all people would be the same?

Good to see the Greens focussing on the key issues again. Most hungry animals given half a chance would suck out your eyeballs and eat your liver. Let's do it them before they do it to us. What a spanner.

All he said was that he wishes more people were vegan, but that he has no intention or wish, nor is it with his remit, to enforce his lifestyle on others. So no one is forcing anything on anyone. And his comments on speciesism are his own views which he is entitled to, it's a philosophical argument that has many valid points, but in reality this is a non-story and the usual idiot suspects are getting het up over nothing, precisely what the Argus intended with this non-story. So easy to press your buttons, morons.

KarenT wrote:
All he said was that he wishes more people were vegan, but that he has no intention or wish, nor is it with his remit, to enforce his lifestyle on others. So no one is forcing anything on anyone. And his comments on speciesism are his own views which he is entitled to, it's a philosophical argument that has many valid points, but in reality this is a non-story and the usual idiot suspects are getting het up over nothing, precisely what the Argus intended with this non-story. So easy to press your buttons, morons.

Yes it seems most commenters didn't even read the story.

leobrighton wrote:

KarenT wrote:
All he said was that he wishes more people were vegan, but that he has no intention or wish, nor is it with his remit, to enforce his lifestyle on others. So no one is forcing anything on anyone. And his comments on speciesism are his own views which he is entitled to, it's a philosophical argument that has many valid points, but in reality this is a non-story and the usual idiot suspects are getting het up over nothing, precisely what the Argus intended with this non-story. So easy to press your buttons, morons.

Yes it seems most commenters didn't even read the story.

No, I think most people did. And most of us read it and remembered other stories about Mr Duncan and Green policies. Also it's not a 'non-story' as we are quite rightly on our guard about people trying to use political office and public position to further their own personal agendas.

However it is admittedly much easier to ignore all that and just call people 'morons'.

Jimmy Stewart is spot on. Mr Duncan is almost single handedly destroying the Green Party with sone very mad rantings and tweets and he will probably cost Caroline Lucas her seat.
He has been a walking PR disaster for the party and should be sent on a rural retreat for two years.
PS Ben, while you spout off about your diet choice, many people in the city just want to be able to afford to eat.
Get out of the Regency Square mile, shut your mouth and actually listen you self obsessed man.

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
Jimmy Stewart is spot on. Mr Duncan is almost single handedly destroying the Green Party with sone very mad rantings and tweets and he will probably cost Caroline Lucas her seat.
He has been a walking PR disaster for the party and should be sent on a rural retreat for two years.
PS Ben, while you spout off about your diet choice, many people in the city just want to be able to afford to eat.
Get out of the Regency Square mile, shut your mouth and actually listen you self obsessed man.

Seems odd to make reference to the fact that some people are struggling to pay for food whilst criticising someone who is a vocal proponent of a meat-free diet? Without meat most people's grocery bills would go down by as much as half!

AmboGuy wrote:
It's genuinely quite frightening that this man holds a position of power. What pathetic and insulting comments. Ben Duncan should just keep his mouth shut if he's got nothing sensible to say.

Oh, the irony.

Get over yourself.

Cgull wrote:
As Chairman of the Licensing Committee he should only decide, on licensing issues, on the facts that his officials put before him, nothing else. Otherwise he is acting illegally.
Did people actually vote for him?

Jesus wept - holding a farmers' market IS a licensing issue.

Yes, people voted for him because he is intelligent, progressive and not ignorant - unlike some, its seems.

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:
Give the guy a break. Ok his comment equating veganism with racism and homophobia was breathtakingly ignorant and mildly offensive, but given his pampered middle class upbringing it was perhaps to be expected. And at least with regard to forcing his views on the rest of us he's learnt his lesson after the fiasco of the 'meat free' days in Council canteens.

Ah, another idiot mistaking 'choice' with 'force'.

Typical of the blinkered Argus readership.

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
Jimmy Stewart is spot on. Mr Duncan is almost single handedly destroying the Green Party with sone very mad rantings and tweets and he will probably cost Caroline Lucas her seat.
He has been a walking PR disaster for the party and should be sent on a rural retreat for two years.
PS Ben, while you spout off about your diet choice, many people in the city just want to be able to afford to eat.
Get out of the Regency Square mile, shut your mouth and actually listen you self obsessed man.

... said the idiot who really doesn't know what he's on about, and only ever spouts off about the Green Party because he sits alone - all sad and frightened of the excellent progress being made in the city, leaving him behind in his pisspot of misery.

Still, if he wants to agree with Jimmy Stewart, let him - it only shows his appalling prejudices off for all to see.

I'm a veggie, but anyone who chooses to be a vegan and so not eat cheese needs their head examining

Smartbloke wrote:

Cgull wrote:
As Chairman of the Licensing Committee he should only decide, on licensing issues, on the facts that his officials put before him, nothing else. Otherwise he is acting illegally.
Did people actually vote for him?

Jesus wept - holding a farmers' market IS a licensing issue.

Yes, people voted for him because he is intelligent, progressive and not ignorant - unlike some, its seems.

Are you for real ?

Ben Duncan gives all the appearances of being anything but intelligent, progressive and not ignorant. In fact he always damages his own cause whenever he opens his mouth - which actually makes him pretty stupid.

Irrespective of the subject he seems incapable of saying what he has to say without offending many people.

While he probably doesn't actually mean it, or I hope he doesn't, he seems to align all meat eaters with racists and homophobics - hardlly clever is it ?

perhaps Ben should try a beef sandwich - a little red meat might do him good !

Smartbloke wrote:

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
Jimmy Stewart is spot on. Mr Duncan is almost single handedly destroying the Green Party with sone very mad rantings and tweets and he will probably cost Caroline Lucas her seat.
He has been a walking PR disaster for the party and should be sent on a rural retreat for two years.
PS Ben, while you spout off about your diet choice, many people in the city just want to be able to afford to eat.
Get out of the Regency Square mile, shut your mouth and actually listen you self obsessed man.

... said the idiot who really doesn't know what he's on about, and only ever spouts off about the Green Party because he sits alone - all sad and frightened of the excellent progress being made in the city, leaving him behind in his pisspot of misery.

Still, if he wants to agree with Jimmy Stewart, let him - it only shows his appalling prejudices off for all to see.

Smartbloke !

More like Ben, Jase or Caroline.

Your Green, or should it be BROWN, prejudices are there for all to see and bear no relation to reality.

This motley bunch of comments have to be collectivly the most ignorant and stupid for quite some time. This appears to be a forum for exchanging childish insults and witterings of would be comedians. Grow up.

best thing to do is read the actual letter rather than the spin on it here. I am not a vegan but i feel no fear over the potential threat to my beloved sausage rolls - but it is funny to see the usual frothing at the mouth going on here - i think the argus is bad for some people's health, the effect it has on their blood pressure - probably worse than a bacon sandwich.

spa301 wrote:
This motley bunch of comments have to be collectivly the most ignorant and stupid for quite some time. This appears to be a forum for exchanging childish insults and witterings of would be comedians. Grow up.

Maybe, but you have hardly upped the ante have you - and look at what we had to start with !!

So we elect Councillors so they can tell us what to eat, do we? I missed that part.

Anyway, I hold that the very existence of bacon sarnies is proof positive that God doesn't want me to ba a veggie/vegan

UglyAmerican wrote:
Veganism is a form of religion. As with so many others, they want to force their misguided ways on the rest of us.

Have you actually read the article?? Councillor Duncan actually addresses this exact point, the difference between religion and it's practice and Councillor Duncan's actions is that he doesn't tell people what they should be eating or where they should be shopping!

Smartbloke wrote:

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:
Give the guy a break. Ok his comment equating veganism with racism and homophobia was breathtakingly ignorant and mildly offensive, but given his pampered middle class upbringing it was perhaps to be expected. And at least with regard to forcing his views on the rest of us he's learnt his lesson after the fiasco of the 'meat free' days in Council canteens.

Ah, another idiot mistaking 'choice' with 'force'.

Typical of the blinkered Argus readership.

Er, no. You obviously don't remember 'meat free Monday'. That was an attempt by the new Green administration to force the 'choice' of a meat-free day onto council workers.

Typical blinkered Green. I'd change your username if I were you.

The truth is this man is much more articulate, educated and successful than most of the commentors on these toxic pages, most of whom are happy to shove rancid reconstituted meat down their swollen gullets, sitting in darkened room at home on their bloated torsos typing away on social security funded laptops whilst waiting for their next welfare cheque to arrive. Not having a concept of rational thought, they are happy to parrot-squawk the same narrow minded rhetoric fed to them by the politicians they secretly revere. Fortunately no individual of intelligence or importance pays any heed to the incoherent ramblings on these pages, other than to pour scorn and derision upon these people which they so rightfully deserve.

Fairfax Sakes wrote:
The truth is this man is much more articulate, educated and successful than most of the commentors on these toxic pages, most of whom are happy to shove rancid reconstituted meat down their swollen gullets, sitting in darkened room at home on their bloated torsos typing away on social security funded laptops whilst waiting for their next welfare cheque to arrive. Not having a concept of rational thought, they are happy to parrot-squawk the same narrow minded rhetoric fed to them by the politicians they secretly revere. Fortunately no individual of intelligence or importance pays any heed to the incoherent ramblings on these pages, other than to pour scorn and derision upon these people which they so rightfully deserve.

So says the council employee who should be getting on with some work.

Or are you atrade union offical who just doesn't do any work ?

Fairfax Sakes wrote:
The truth is this man is much more articulate, educated and successful than most of the commentors on these toxic pages, most of whom are happy to shove rancid reconstituted meat down their swollen gullets, sitting in darkened room at home on their bloated torsos typing away on social security funded laptops whilst waiting for their next welfare cheque to arrive. Not having a concept of rational thought, they are happy to parrot-squawk the same narrow minded rhetoric fed to them by the politicians they secretly revere. Fortunately no individual of intelligence or importance pays any heed to the incoherent ramblings on these pages, other than to pour scorn and derision upon these people which they so rightfully deserve.

Quality ranting! I wonder how many people actually match the stereotype you describe? I'm guessing none, but I admire the bile!

BiggerH wrote:
I'm a veggie, but anyone who chooses to be a vegan and so not eat cheese needs their head examining

for a veggie you sure speak out of term. there is very little vegetarian cheese available and the alternative is cruel - so you choose to be cruel?

Smartbloke wrote:

AmboGuy wrote:
It's genuinely quite frightening that this man holds a position of power. What pathetic and insulting comments. Ben Duncan should just keep his mouth shut if he's got nothing sensible to say.

Oh, the irony.

Get over yourself.

Oh the irony of someone calling themselves "Smartbloke" and supporting the Greens. You must be one of the councillors, they are the only people left who actually believe all this crap that they spout.

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:

Smartbloke wrote:

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:
Give the guy a break. Ok his comment equating veganism with racism and homophobia was breathtakingly ignorant and mildly offensive, but given his pampered middle class upbringing it was perhaps to be expected. And at least with regard to forcing his views on the rest of us he's learnt his lesson after the fiasco of the 'meat free' days in Council canteens.

Ah, another idiot mistaking 'choice' with 'force'.

Typical of the blinkered Argus readership.

Er, no. You obviously don't remember 'meat free Monday'. That was an attempt by the new Green administration to force the 'choice' of a meat-free day onto council workers.

Typical blinkered Green. I'd change your username if I were you.

I remember meat-free Monday.

No-one forced anyone to do anything - except put you in a flat spin of fear and self-loathing.

PorkBoat wrote:

Smartbloke wrote:

AmboGuy wrote:
It's genuinely quite frightening that this man holds a position of power. What pathetic and insulting comments. Ben Duncan should just keep his mouth shut if he's got nothing sensible to say.

Oh, the irony.

Get over yourself.

Oh the irony of someone calling themselves "Smartbloke" and supporting the Greens. You must be one of the councillors, they are the only people left who actually believe all this crap that they spout.

'The crap they spout' is another way of saying '... anything the Greens say is crap...' which is prejudicial drivel, and symptomatic of the Argus' readership - 'whine first, and bother understanding later...'. It's also one of the most appalling levels of arrogance you could muster - though I daresay you could top it.

Posting on an internet board what is effectively - '... hey, everyone - look at me, me, me. I haven't got a clue about local politics, but I'm still going to shout my deluded opinion...' is never a good way to get your point across.

And no, I'm not a councillor, I'm not even a member of the party. So, please, get over yourself.

Smartbloke wrote:

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:

Smartbloke wrote:

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:
Give the guy a break. Ok his comment equating veganism with racism and homophobia was breathtakingly ignorant and mildly offensive, but given his pampered middle class upbringing it was perhaps to be expected. And at least with regard to forcing his views on the rest of us he's learnt his lesson after the fiasco of the 'meat free' days in Council canteens.

Ah, another idiot mistaking 'choice' with 'force'.

Typical of the blinkered Argus readership.

Er, no. You obviously don't remember 'meat free Monday'. That was an attempt by the new Green administration to force the 'choice' of a meat-free day onto council workers.

Typical blinkered Green. I'd change your username if I were you.

I remember meat-free Monday.

No-one forced anyone to do anything - except put you in a flat spin of fear and self-loathing.

Jeez, they removed the choice on ideological grounds, in other words one group of people tried to force their views onto another group. I'm sorry, I know you don't like the choice of words as it makes you sound 'nasty', but there you go. However I'm sure you'll agree it's pointless arguing semantics.

Oh, and I'm not in a 'flat spin of self loathing', far from it. It is interesting that I'm the one making the reasoned comments and the personal abuse is all coming from the 'Green' side.

You bozo's (just the ones having a heart attack over Ben Duncan's comments)... you remind me of a bunch of clucking chickens! No, the sky ISN'T falling - nor is Ben Duncan about to sneak into your homes when you're out stuffing your gobs at KFC and fill your fridge full of tofu and lentils. Calm down and get a life.

Just where does he get his mind-bending drugs?

Smartbloke wrote:

PorkBoat wrote:

Smartbloke wrote:

AmboGuy wrote:
It's genuinely quite frightening that this man holds a position of power. What pathetic and insulting comments. Ben Duncan should just keep his mouth shut if he's got nothing sensible to say.

Oh, the irony.

Get over yourself.

Oh the irony of someone calling themselves "Smartbloke" and supporting the Greens. You must be one of the councillors, they are the only people left who actually believe all this crap that they spout.

'The crap they spout' is another way of saying '... anything the Greens say is crap...' which is prejudicial drivel, and symptomatic of the Argus' readership - 'whine first, and bother understanding later...'. It's also one of the most appalling levels of arrogance you could muster - though I daresay you could top it.

Posting on an internet board what is effectively - '... hey, everyone - look at me, me, me. I haven't got a clue about local politics, but I'm still going to shout my deluded opinion...' is never a good way to get your point across.

And no, I'm not a councillor, I'm not even a member of the party. So, please, get over yourself.

It's postjudicial drivel, as my opinion of them is based on research into the origins of this bunch of freaks and misfits. Don't make the mistake of thinking they are just a harmless bunch of cranks. They are a bunch of extremists whose aim is to have us all living out "Animal Farm" in real life.

saveHOVE wrote:

UglyAmerican wrote:
Veganism is a form of religion. As with so many others, they want to force their misguided ways on the rest of us.

Garbage. And your moniker appears apt if you are going to peddle such swagger.

You presumably think that political affiliations are also 'religion'. How would you say not?

You're right on the mark actually. Strong political affiliation competes for the same part of the brain as religion. The same for any other form of fanaticism known to man. Why exactly would someone go shouting on the rooftops what they believe if not to convince others they should believe it too....

PorkBoat wrote:

Smartbloke wrote:

PorkBoat wrote:

Smartbloke wrote:

AmboGuy wrote:
It's genuinely quite frightening that this man holds a position of power. What pathetic and insulting comments. Ben Duncan should just keep his mouth shut if he's got nothing sensible to say.

Oh, the irony.

Get over yourself.

Oh the irony of someone calling themselves "Smartbloke" and supporting the Greens. You must be one of the councillors, they are the only people left who actually believe all this crap that they spout.

'The crap they spout' is another way of saying '... anything the Greens say is crap...' which is prejudicial drivel, and symptomatic of the Argus' readership - 'whine first, and bother understanding later...'. It's also one of the most appalling levels of arrogance you could muster - though I daresay you could top it.

Posting on an internet board what is effectively - '... hey, everyone - look at me, me, me. I haven't got a clue about local politics, but I'm still going to shout my deluded opinion...' is never a good way to get your point across.

And no, I'm not a councillor, I'm not even a member of the party. So, please, get over yourself.

It's postjudicial drivel, as my opinion of them is based on research into the origins of this bunch of freaks and misfits. Don't make the mistake of thinking they are just a harmless bunch of cranks. They are a bunch of extremists whose aim is to have us all living out "Animal Farm" in real life.

So, people who abstain from eating meat are a bunch of extremist freaks and misfits who are going to force the rest of the world into veganism? So are you one of those sad little weirdos that spends his evenings fretting over conspiracy theories? There are some people who hold the view that animals, regardless of the fact that they are lower down the evolutionary scale than us, still have a right to life just as we do. And to place our lives above theirs is tantamount to speciesism, which can, arguably and philosophically, be likened to racism and homophobia. Strong words that are bound to create hysteria amongst the non-thinking mongs of the world, but there is indeed a philosophical argument to be had. Just because you don't hold the same view doesn't mean that those who do are "freaks and misfits". I think those are the words were once used to describe homosexuals and people of other races, again by intolerant idiots. Let the man have his opinion and get over it. Buddhists and Hindus subscribe to this same belief system, the two most peaceful and tolerant religions in the world. Would you call them cranks and freaks as well? If you're going to have an opinion, have an informed one, or you just end up sounding like a moron. Nonetheless, if there weren't any morons in the world who would there be to laugh at?

If you travel the world and live in other countries Karen T you will find your comments about Hindus and Buddhists being the most peaceful and tolerant religions in the world are wholly inaccurate and naive.
And if you check out Mr Duncan's previous history you will discover that Mr Duncan tweeted that a planned faith school in the city was a cult.
That is unacceptable prejudice in a city which promotes equality and that came just before the Cllr Summers issue where she would not vote for gay marriage.
Bigots or baffoons or nasty, devious little right wingers?

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
If you travel the world and live in other countries Karen T you will find your comments about Hindus and Buddhists being the most peaceful and tolerant religions in the world are wholly inaccurate and naive.
And if you check out Mr Duncan's previous history you will discover that Mr Duncan tweeted that a planned faith school in the city was a cult.
That is unacceptable prejudice in a city which promotes equality and that came just before the Cllr Summers issue where she would not vote for gay marriage.
Bigots or baffoons or nasty, devious little right wingers?

All religions have their extremist elements - but certainly the incidence of this will be quite low amongst Hindus and Buddhists, relatively speaking. I don't know anything about the planned faith school that Duncan likened to a cult. Being an atheist I find that all religions have their cultist aspects, some more than others. Again, a matter of opinion. But it's irrelevant really - this thread is about Duncan's views on meat consumption - views which he has been open about but not once has he said anything that implies he would attempt to use his position to try to discriminate against those who don't share his views, or impose his views on others. He actually said, "“Farmers’ markets have a key role to play locally and we should embrace them. I am a vegan and I hope one day that all people will be but I do not want to tell people where they should shop." That sounds pretty tolerant to me. Anyway this debate isn't about the Green Party - hence Cllr Summers' views are irrelevant. I'll say that I definitely do not share her views about gay marriage but she is entitled to her opinion, just as Duncan is. If you don't agree with any political party's agenda or the views that any of their representatives have which may influence the way they operate within a democratic government then all you have to do is not vote for them. It's not about "opinions" - everyone has one. It's about whether or not one's opinions make there position in government untenable. The guy is a vegan and I suspect he believes that the world would be a better place if everyone else was, so what? I think the world would be a better place if there was no such thing as religion (and I suppose you could read that as me saying that I am not a proponent of faith schools generally), and I'm sure there are others in government who share that view. We can all wish!

Atheism is another form of fanatical behavior. Just because I don't believe in fairies doesn't mean I need to go around shouting about it....

Fracking -ists and their -isms....

All lefties Smell wrote:
I wonder how Ben Duncan's Vegan principles would stand up if he were stranded in a jungle. Maybe we could do a special TV show and see how long it is before he is eating insects and eyeing up the dog.

hahahaha like it, yes!!

UglyAmerican wrote:
Atheism is another form of fanatical behavior. Just because I don't believe in fairies doesn't mean I need to go around shouting about it....

Fracking -ists and their -isms....

Jeez, you're a bit thick aren't you? How is atheism "fanatical"? Fanatical is an adjective, not a noun, meaning obsessive and irrational zeal and intolerance of other views. Only behaviour can be fanatical, not the subject of one's fanaticism. One can be fanatical about anything - football, computer games, or posting stupid comments on forums. The subject of your fanaticism is irrelevant. I'm not fanatical about atheism, it's just what I believe, but really don't give a stuff what others believe. And expressing one's opinion does not equate with "shouting". For someone who keeps ranting with intolerance about differing opinions like you do, I think it's ironic for you to be lecturing on fanaticism. I'm growing weary of this banter now - kind of like shooting fish in a barrel. Fun for about ten minutes on a boring Wednesday night.

Hoarder12345444 wrote:

All lefties Smell wrote:
I wonder how Ben Duncan's Vegan principles would stand up if he were stranded in a jungle. Maybe we could do a special TV show and see how long it is before he is eating insects and eyeing up the dog.

hahahaha like it, yes!!

So if someone were stranded in a jungle they would struggle to survive unless they ate meat? It's a jungle FFS! I give up.

Apparently today is world Vegan Day, though who decides these things or what it actually means. Do I say hello to a vegan, or eat one for dinner?

I'm vegan - love it. It is so simple. No need for dairy products. So many tasty alternatives out there. No excuses not to be. ;)

Good for you. Whatever makes you happy. I don't really have much need for the information and I'll certainly never need to make excuses for my choice of cuisine.

Personally I find veggie food as boring as hell (and yes, I have tried everything. I even lived with a veggie at one point). I desperately try to find ways to make veg less dull. I'ts a culinary mission of mine

mutuality wrote:
I'm vegan - love it. It is so simple. No need for dairy products. So many tasty alternatives out there. No excuses not to be. ;)

Here's an excuse, human teeth!

If you found a strange animal, which needed some care, if you wasn't sure what to feed it, you need only look at its teeth. Humans have a fine set of railings designed for eating meat and vegetables both!

KarenT wrote:

PorkBoat wrote:

Smartbloke wrote:

PorkBoat wrote:

Smartbloke wrote:

AmboGuy wrote:
It's genuinely quite frightening that this man holds a position of power. What pathetic and insulting comments. Ben Duncan should just keep his mouth shut if he's got nothing sensible to say.

Oh, the irony.

Get over yourself.

Oh the irony of someone calling themselves "Smartbloke" and supporting the Greens. You must be one of the councillors, they are the only people left who actually believe all this crap that they spout.

'The crap they spout' is another way of saying '... anything the Greens say is crap...' which is prejudicial drivel, and symptomatic of the Argus' readership - 'whine first, and bother understanding later...'. It's also one of the most appalling levels of arrogance you could muster - though I daresay you could top it.

Posting on an internet board what is effectively - '... hey, everyone - look at me, me, me. I haven't got a clue about local politics, but I'm still going to shout my deluded opinion...' is never a good way to get your point across.

And no, I'm not a councillor, I'm not even a member of the party. So, please, get over yourself.

It's postjudicial drivel, as my opinion of them is based on research into the origins of this bunch of freaks and misfits. Don't make the mistake of thinking they are just a harmless bunch of cranks. They are a bunch of extremists whose aim is to have us all living out "Animal Farm" in real life.

So, people who abstain from eating meat are a bunch of extremist freaks and misfits who are going to force the rest of the world into veganism? So are you one of those sad little weirdos that spends his evenings fretting over conspiracy theories? There are some people who hold the view that animals, regardless of the fact that they are lower down the evolutionary scale than us, still have a right to life just as we do. And to place our lives above theirs is tantamount to speciesism, which can, arguably and philosophically, be likened to racism and homophobia. Strong words that are bound to create hysteria amongst the non-thinking mongs of the world, but there is indeed a philosophical argument to be had. Just because you don't hold the same view doesn't mean that those who do are "freaks and misfits". I think those are the words were once used to describe homosexuals and people of other races, again by intolerant idiots. Let the man have his opinion and get over it. Buddhists and Hindus subscribe to this same belief system, the two most peaceful and tolerant religions in the world. Would you call them cranks and freaks as well? If you're going to have an opinion, have an informed one, or you just end up sounding like a moron. Nonetheless, if there weren't any morons in the world who would there be to laugh at?

"Conspiracy theorist" is a label applied to somebody with a multi dimensional mind who can think things through, by someone with a single dimension mind who cannot think for themselves. Hardly "sad little weirdos", nothing more enjoyable than sitting with a bunch of mates in a pub, enjoying a pint, discussing the latest conspiracy.
Difficult to believe though the conspiracy theory that the Americans actually did land on the moon???