Comments on: WATCH: Jonathan Safran Foer On Colbert

By: Debi Blood

Debi Blood — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:16:28 +0000

Meat-eaters in America tend to view vegans and vegetarians as a bunch of cranks and kooks. Although he seemed to put up a rather punchless defense for the animals, at least JSF didn’t say or do anything to perpetuate that myth.

Once exposed to the horror of the factory farming industry, laughing off the suffering of millions of sentient beings is the only way most meat eaters can deal with their choice to consume slabs of dead animal.

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:56:21 +0000

Assuming OMG-crazy-obsessive blow up is the only option for a reaction. How about an intelligent, thoughtful response? Keeping your cool is not keeping silent, let’s hope.

By: Diane

Diane — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:50:46 +0000

I think he handled the interview greatly. Colbert was hoping for a PETA reaction a OMG OMG OMG that would make SF look crazy and obsessive, which would make everyone who is a vegetarian or a vegan look insane as well. It’s better to keep your cool, you seem more sane and people are more likely to listen to your opinions.

Sure it would have been great for SF to have been able to talk more about his opinions and what he actually wrote, but really… do you REALLY think Colbert gives a crap? and chances are if he doesn’t he probably doesn’t think a majority of his fans do, and he’s probably right. If anything he was hoping for a blow up which would show up on news sites and what not and be a good laugh for him and anyone who isn’t a vegetarian/vegan.

By: Dana

Dana — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:05:00 +0000

I don’t eat meat, yet I am disturbed by the exclusivity of the vegan and vegetarian movements. I do believe that the welfare of animals can be improved if people will just eat less/organic meat. It is a pipe dream to believe that the world can be convinced NOW to completely eliminate meat, so why not be encouraging toward people who are giving less/organic meat a try? This book is probably aimed directly at me, but I won’t be reading it after watching this interview because the guy cannot be for real if he didn’t stand up against the bacon joke. That made me so mad!!!!

By: DonegalVeg

DonegalVeg — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:28:35 +0000

To Phillip & Chastity, I completely agree. I also found the book to be a complete disappointed. I doubt anyone would go vegetarian or vegan after reading it…they would simply buy into happy meat, which is a joke and completely disregards the lives of non-humans as individuals. Welfarists help no one, not even the animals. They only take the movement 5 steps back.

By: Donegal Vegan

Donegal Vegan — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:20:10 +0000

Completely agree!!!

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:47:51 +0000

I usually enjoy Colbert, but that was offensive. He completely undermined Foer’s purpose for being there, and he made himself look ridiculous while doing it.

By: Edward

Edward — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:22:51 +0000

Thank you. I couldn’t agree more.

By: Chastity

Chastity — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:12:05 +0000

For those who set up low standards (“we can’t scare people away”, “it needs to be accessible”, “don’t say ‘vegan’!”, “we need to take baby steps”, etc etc etc) don’t get it. For those of you who say such are clearly not thinking of the nonhuman victims as the individuals they are and once were. You’re thinking of them as the end product.

Philip, you said it well. JSF is not a voice who nonhuman animals need. Colbert is a fool who thinks highly of his (lack of) comedic talent. Enough with the excuses, everyone. Nonhuman animals don’t need the wishy washy to speak for them.

By: georgina0912

georgina0912 — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:49:33 +0000

Gosh, that wasn’t even funny. Colbert did not even allow Safran-Foer to finish his sentences and mocked him the entire interview. Looked promising but i think people who left after the taping of Colbert’s show left with bacon in their minds and probably stopped by a supermarket on their way home to buy some and eat it. Terrible.