'Stifling talk' / was Digest Number 314

April 13, 2005

Hi Ken,

I am so sorry you think this group is unsupportive of you as a vegetarian. I

don't

know what to say, except that I honestly can't find any previous posts from you

since you joined in February. Without hearing from you it is hard to give any

kind of

support - and of course I should add that this is a group for posting recipes

and

discussing vegetarian food and related matters, not a general vegetarian

discussion

group. However, off-topic posts are not ruled out altogether, as you know, and

if you

have a problem I am sure there may be someone here to help you, give advice,

point you in the right direction, etc.

So, to catch up, why not tell us a little (more?) about yourself: where you're

located,

how long you've been a veggie, what you like best, what you enjoy cooking and

eating, etc. etc.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best, Pat

, Kenneth Winchenbach Walden <

KenHWW@m...> wrote:

.. . .

>Shushing talk about those issues on the

> list won't support those people [who are tempted to eat non-vegetarian foods].

>If I were in that situation I would

> much rather hear that I am not alone, and hear suggestions and

> supportive talk, rather than be led to think that perhaps I'm the only

> one who feels this way, and that I need to stifle it, or that I'm not a

> real vegetarian because of it. In my mind stifling talk about the

> emotional aspects of becoming vegetarian is not supportive.

April 14, 2005

Pat, your reply to Ken goes a bit to our off-line discussion

yesterday. I did not understand Ken's comment to say that he found

the group unsupportive of him or others as a vegetarian. What I

understood him to say (or how I interpreted what he said) was that

being able to discuss your feelings about something and getting

feedback from others when you are struggling with an issue is

supportive. Conversely, stifling that discussion can often make a

person feel isolated.

As a non-vegetarian who over the past year or so has eaten

considerably less meat, I would be interested in understanding what

the issues are that vetetarians struggle with as " reformed meat-

eaters " (I guess someone who has never eaten meat might struggle

with what does a hamburger taste like). If someone " slips " , is

there a feeling of guilt or do you put it aside and resolve to do

better? From my naive perspective, I can understand that someone

who objects to eating meat from an ethics perspective would could

feel guilty because they helped support the killing of an animal; or

someone who is a vegetarian for religious reasons might feel guilty

for breaking a relgious tenet. I would find it very helpful to hear

from others about how they feel if they " slip. "

Thanks for the opportunity to raise these questions.

, " pengwhyn "

<veggiehound> wrote:

>

> Hi Ken,

>

> I am so sorry you think this group is unsupportive of you as a

vegetarian. I don't

> know what to say, except that I honestly can't find any previous

posts from you

> since you joined in February. Without hearing from you it is hard

to give any kind of

> support - and of course I should add that this is a group for

posting recipes and

> discussing vegetarian food and related matters, not a general

vegetarian discussion

> group. However, off-topic posts are not ruled out altogether, as

you know, and if you

> have a problem I am sure there may be someone here to help you,

give advice,

> point you in the right direction, etc.

>

> So, to catch up, why not tell us a little (more?) about yourself:

where you're located,

> how long you've been a veggie, what you like best, what you enjoy

cooking and

> eating, etc. etc.

>

> I look forward to hearing from you.

>

> Best, Pat

>

> , Kenneth Winchenbach Walden

<

> KenHWW@m...> wrote:

> . . .

> >Shushing talk about those issues on the

> > list won't support those people [who are tempted to eat non-

vegetarian foods].

> >If I were in that situation I would

> > much rather hear that I am not alone, and hear suggestions and

> > supportive talk, rather than be led to think that perhaps I'm

the only

> > one who feels this way, and that I need to stifle it, or that

I'm not a

> > real vegetarian because of it. In my mind stifling talk about

the

> > emotional aspects of becoming vegetarian is not supportive.

April 14, 2005

RE: slipping from a vegitarian life...as a jewish woman i find keeping

vegitarian easier as i also keep kosher. this could be because i do not keep

glatt kosher. so the question, does one feel guilty over slipping is

interesting. a couple years back i slipped. i literally felt sick to my

stomach and could not eat for a day, why you might ask? because the committment

to my promise is strong and true. even though i broke kosher out of

accident..it still happened....and yes doug, i still think of a juicy

cheeseburger now and again...thats when i make my incredible south african yam

burger with all the trimmings!!!! or a black bean burger....i notice i am

avoiding almost all dairy items now also. but bagels and cream cheese are

still important! Chana

Doug <cyclist451 wrote: