I have been a vegetarian since I was 15. It is a strictly personal decision based on the fact I could not actually bring myself to kill the animal I was eating. I grew up on a farm and was literally devastated when I figured out that the animals we raised were food - Every spring I'd go out and give each of the new calves a name and they were like pets. So when I was 12 and old enough to help out with the slaughter it was like I was killing my friends. By 15 I simply couldn't bring myself to eat meat.
All that said, I have no issue with others eating meat. It makes dinner complicated in relationships with non-vegetarians *shrug*
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