Introduction - sorry it's kinda long

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone.

 

I'm Anthony, and I was invited to join this list by my good friend Anji

(who started it). I was born in Toronto and that's where I live. I

plan on doing a lot of traveling as soon as I can. I program computers

freelance on a contract basis, often from home. I love photography.

I've only been a vegan since the summer, but my convictions are strong,

and I look forward to discussing animal rights issues and all other

things vegan with you. It will also be great to make new vegan friends

since most of my friends eat meat (including my roommates) and cling to

frustratingly asinine rationalizations for their habit (I call it an

addiction, but let's talk some more about me).

 

I like the mail list forum because I'm too busy these days to be combing

the net and literature for information and so far I can tell that you

folk will tap me into a lot of important and credible documents. I hope

I can share my findings with you as well. This reduces the redundancy

of our efforts and should make us all much more powerful with knowledge.

 

I will say, however, that I can be a stickler for scientific

substantiation of facts and I will sometimes take the position of

absolute skeptic. The reason that I take this point of view sometimes

is not because I doubt that the usage of animals for food is the

greatest injustice ever committed by humanity; I'm skeptical because I'm

trying to convince as many people to be vegan as possible, and I know

that I can make a bullet-proof argument so nothing short of that will

suffice. I'm sure some of you take this approach as well. Despite all

of this, I actually try to avoid debates with meat-eaters unless I feel

that it can be productive (but you should see me go when I've had a few

drinks). For the most part, I feel that leading by example is best.

Since uninformed people are afraid of vegan malnutrition, I'm going to

try to become reasonably muscular. I figure it might help some people

get over the fear of becoming too thin and also incent some people who

want to lose weight. People don't do things that they don't want to

do. I should also learn how to cook nice meals. That's something you

can all help me with. I want to know your favorite meals since I eat

very simply (but nutritiously).

 

Well, that's me and veganism in a nutshell. I think it would be nice if

everyone introduced themselves and I was suggesting to Anji that she

save the introductions and forward them to new people on the list. What

do you think of that?

 

btw, Breakfast at Anji and Paul's was awesome. We ate mock-animal

products which I usually don't do, except for tofu-dogs, which aren't

really disguised as meat if you think about it. They're disguised as

what meat is disguised as. The same goes for tofu burgers, but

nonetheless, we had fakin' bacon, breakfast links, and tofu scrambler

and toast (the toast tasted just like the real thing). I like it

because it's kind of a mockery of meat and shows that there are no

limits to what you can do with vegetable products and if everyone were

vegan, there would be just as diverse and rich food culture. I'll be at

your place on Saturday, Vik. As a general precaution, however, let's

not send phone numbers or addresses through the list, since it's

archived on the server and may not be secure. This is partly for

paranoia, but mostly just for general all-purpose privacy.

 

Ciao for now,

Anthony

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/22/99 8:57:50 PM Pacific Standard Time,

carnival writes:

 

<< www3.sympatico.ca/carnival/speciesist >>

 

Vik, I couldn't get to this page. By any chance is there a mistake in the

address?

Carol

[Guest guest]

Hey Anthony!

 

Cool introduction! I agree with you, this is better than combing through the

net for info. Scientific stickling is very important if we are to uphold

the integrity of our group. It's so important to watch what you say,

especially in front of people who are dying to laugh at us for inconsistency

in our arguments (and for credibility). At times, it's unfortunate that a

philosophical argument isn't good enough.

 

I have to say, since I have seen the commitment you guys have made, I am

going to clean up the loose ends of my quasi-vegan diet and stop eating

Tofu-rella and anything that might have any honey in it, etc. I used to be a

very strict vegan for many years, and then just sort of got slack about

being a stickler over the past few years (I started veganism over nine years

ago and vegetarianism over 13 years ago).

 

I will help you with the cooking thing. I cook quite often (as you can see),

and even though I don't write a lot of the stuff out, perhaps I may start

(even though some of the stuff is top secret - so, maybe you will have to

come over and I can show you - then kill you after so you can't show anyone

else).

 

Introductions? I think I already did one, but I don't remember. Yes,

Saturday, please be here. And I definitely will stop giving out my addy and

phone# over the net, you are right, we should be a little cautious.

 

I said I was going to put up a link to a story similar to Anji's . . so here

it is . ..

 

www3.sympatico.ca/carnival/speciesist

 

Talk to you guys soon.

 

Vikas Sharma of Operations & Media

Carnival Management

 

 

 

carnival <carnival

www3.sympatico.ca/carnival