The Journey Towards Sentience-Worth Animal Consumption: An Individual's Perspective

Understanding the average age by which a person has consumed the equivalent of their own sentience-worth of animals is a complex and multifaceted issue. This journey is not only about numbers but also about awareness, evolution, and morality. In this article, we explore this concept through the lens of an individual born and raised in the Midwest in the 1970s, gaining insights into the impact of diet on sentience.

Context and Background

Growing up in the Midwest during the 1970s, meat was a central part of the diet. From the most commonplace meals like tacos, spaghetti with meat sauce, and burgers, to more traditional meals such as steaks and roast chicken, meat was a staple in nearly every meal. While these meals were not extravagant, the constant consumption of animal products played a significant role in the development of the individual's understanding of sentience.

The Age of Sentience

Considering the scale of sentience as dependent on the relative self-awareness and intelligence of the animals, the individual likely consumed their sentience-worth of animals at a very young age. By the time they had enough teeth to chew meat, they had likely ingested enough animal products to meet their own sentience-worth. However, it is important to note that the concept of sentience is not static. Just as a young child might possess as much sentience as an adult chicken or fish, the sentience of the individual also evolves over time.

The Influence of Diet and Sentience

At age three, the individual's sentience was comparable to that of a whole chicken or fish. This realization underscores the significance of diet and sentience. Recent scientific research has highlighted that even animals previously thought to be less intelligent, such as fish, possess a level of self-awareness that enables them to feel pain. For example, fish have been observed rubbing their mouths on riverbeds after having fishing hooks removed, which challenges the notion that fish cannot feel pain.

Similarly, cetaceans, such as whales, have demonstrated complex social behaviors, including defending seals from orcas. These actions are indicative of a high level of sentience. Yet, the individual reflects on their own consumption of these sentient beings, questioning their own moral standing.

The Influence of Diet on Sentience

However, the individual's diet underwent significant changes when their mother adopted a macrobiotic lifestyle. This change drastically altered the meals served, making it more difficult to share lunches with friends. This period may need to be "clawed back," as the individual feels it contributed to a decrease in their sentience-worth consumption.

The re-emergence of meat-loving habits, particularly with the introduction of frozen pizzas, cold cuts, and fast food, further increased the individual's sentience-worth consumption. The detrimental impact of fast food on both health and animal welfare is undeniable. It is estimated that the individual consumed their sentience equivalent twice before reaching the age of 20, despite their relatively low weight and small waist measurement.

The Conclusion: Sentience and Morality

The journey towards understanding one's sentience-worth consumption is not simply about achieving a certain age. It is a continuous process of awareness and evolution. The individual is left to ponder whether this journey has made them more sentient or simply an un-evolved savage. The question remains open, inviting the reader to reflect on their own consumption patterns and their impact on the sentient beings they consume.

Let the reflection begin.