Animal v's plant

For me it is the fact that plants have no feelings (been scientifically proven). Although I do understand what you say. I think that plants can be eaten.

I believe there is a certain degree of consciousness in all living things. Plants are somewhat aware of their surroundings, as they are able to react to environmental stimuli.
However, there is a big difference between this type of awareness and the sentience of animals, who can think, feel and suffer.

I've had this conversation with people before, and they always want a definition of sentience or a line drawn somewhere. They bring up sea sponges, who don't have a brain or central nervous system, so presumably can't feel pain.
My response to this is that I would never support the fishing industry or go indiscriminately fishing myself, so my only choice would be to personally go diving for sea sponges, which would take far more effort than growing/buying some vegetables that have infinitely more nutritional value.
But really, those scenarios are irrelevant, just like the desert island scenarios where you'd need to kill an animal to save your life. They are never going to happen, so they're not worth wondering about.

Also, you can remind anyone concerned about plant welfare that farm animals need to eat up to 10kg of plants per 1kg of meat they produce. So vegans cause the deaths of far less plants overall than meat-eaters do anyway.

PS. Having said that, I heard a pretty good response to the desert island scenario the other day!
If there are live animals on the island, then there is obviously an alternative source of food somewhere. So in theory, you could follow an animal to some edible plants instead of killing it.

plants don't have feelings. They have no nerves and no pain receptors at all. Plus we'd all die if we didn't eat them. we HAVE to.. animals... we're healthier without and they feel all the pain we do

well plants don't have nervous systems. yes, plants are living too. but so are rocks. if we get down to the essence of things, everything in this planet is energy, and definitely alive. but! if something can feel pain, evolution has given it the ability to protect itself. whether it be trying to escape, or just making a noise. when you cut broccoli, you won't hear a thing or see it try to jump off your plate. beings that can feel pain have certain defense mechanisms to either demonstrate this pain or flee it. plants can respond to stimuli, but this is merely a biological reaction to ensure survival in general, rather than the "fight or flight" response of sentient beings.

another point is that eating animals is not necessary to survival, but eating plants is. if you eat a diet of nothing but meat, you will get very sick due to a lack of nutrients. but if you eat a diet of nothing but plants, you will thrive. so EVEN if plants could feel pain, eating them is actually necessary to our survival, while eating meat is not

Hi
Thanks for the great responses, funny i get a bit jumpy still talking about this. Most of the time through life i wander around quietly, unwilling to engage in this debate and the unnecessary bad feeling that result after this is brought up. I'm not interested in the individuals choices, the only change i can truly embrace, is change within the self. My beef as it were c; is with the industry and lack of respect.  
Thank you
peace love and respect
comet

Plants have been proven to have small waves of sense of pain when harmed, however they are not classed as sentient beings in my opinion because they do not have the capacity to think or experience love.

but if this deeply concerns you.. consider researching into fruitarianism.

What about... I forget what they are called lol... The fly eating plants, they feel and think so just because other plants can't they should be eaten... I'm actually quite upset by it to be honest... I don't wont to have to eat anything as like someone had mentioned before everything is alive!! I hope one day humans (well everything for that matter) will evolve to the level of not having to eat or drink at all... I believe it is possible... Scientist say you can only go without food for maximum of 3 months and that's if your over weight (which is gross because that means your eating yourself, that includes when you loose weight while on a diet it means tou eating yourself its just not through your mouth) but I heard of a guy that went a year without eating or drinking anything it was on some documentary I seen... I think he was a monk not to sure... But I really hope one day soon nothing/noone will eat anything/anyone

Oh it really does concern me :,( What is fruitarianisum??