Guest guest Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 After being a veggie for many years. I finally came to the conclusion that lacto-ovo vegetarianism was not as ethical as I had thought and realised that I had to bite the bullet and go vegan. To me, veganism makes sense for all sorts of reasons - you know the ones : health, global warming, animal rights etc. Nobody I've talked too about it has been supportive. And it's not because I've been preachy - honest. Why is meat-eating such a sensitive issue for lots of people? Any seasoned vegans got any advice? vsuk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 a simplified answer its hard to accept that what you as an individual is doing as wrong its very easy to get defensive about something you've done you're entire life, it surrounds you, it is part of you... no one likes to think they are wrong, or somehow bad and veganism cuts to the core of a lot of western mores and beliefs... it makes people question what they have been lead to believe their entire lives.. most folks would rather not so, whats the easiest answer? lashing out ridicule ostracize make jokes... why seek answers when you are comfortable don't rock the boat.. fraggle >vsuk2007 <dodgyid123 >Feb 13, 2007 4:45 AM > > Why do some many people hate vegans? > >After being a veggie for many years. I finally came to the conclusion >that lacto-ovo vegetarianism was not as ethical as I had thought and >realised that I had to bite the bullet and go vegan. > >To me, veganism makes sense for all sorts of reasons - you know the >ones : health, global warming, animal rights etc. > >Nobody I've talked too about it has been supportive. And it's not >because I've been preachy - honest. > >Why is meat-eating such a sensitive issue for lots of people? > >Any seasoned vegans got any advice? > >vsuk > > > >To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 A lot of people dont like change and cant stand someone being different and react in negative ways. Plus, if you do something that touches a subconcious nereve and starts them questioning themselves and their diet, they could react in a negative way. Well bollocks to them, you are doing the right thing, you know it makes sense, and its good karma, so good on you. Not very good at advice am I ? sorry, there are more sensible ones on here.......... The Valley Vegan...............vsuk2007 <dodgyid123 wrote: After being a veggie for many years. I finally came to the conclusionthat lacto-ovo vegetarianism was not as ethical as I had thought andrealised that I had to bite the bullet and go vegan.To me, veganism makes sense for all sorts of reasons - you know theones : health, global warming, animal rights etc.Nobody I've talked too about it has been supportive. And it's notbecause I've been preachy - honest.Why is meat-eating such a sensitive issue for lots of people?Any seasoned vegans got any advice?vsuk Peter H All New Mail – Tired of unwanted email come-ons? Let our SpamGuard protect you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 It's an issue that hits close to the bone, especially for people who like animals and who are not (yet) veg*n. Carol Adams has a book, Living among meat-eaters, that gives good advice on when and how to share information. Holly Near, after years of political activism, figured out that it's a waste of time to try to reach everyone. Visualizing everyone as being on layers of an onion, she said the best use of her time was to see herself as communicating with those who were at the layers just above and just below her own level. (Something like that.) Oh, but that wasn't your question. I too have noticed a sort of " backlash " against vegans, particularly in environmental groups, both in person and online. Perhaps the backlashers have met a particularly obnoxious person, and the only thing that registered was " vegan, " so now their mental image of vegans is " obnoxious. " Or maybe they're on the brink themselves, and being defensive, because they think it'd be too hard to change their lives. Or they've been reading some of the backlash websites that tell stories of people who were vegan, got really sick, ate meat and got well, and now spend all their time proselytizing against the " dangerous " vegans and vegan diet (to be clear, I'd question what kind of vegan diet they ate; sounds to me like it was quite lacking in nutrients, just as their diatribes are lacking in facts). I've even seen this in person, at a group at a sort of environmental group that was discussing ways to communicate with people who have opposing viewpoints. One exercise put the vegetarians in the center, talking about their reasons for being veg, and then the nonvegs were in the center, talking about their perceptions about vegetarians. I was shocked to hear all the misinformation, and at how angry the nonvegs were at vegans. Maybe it's a little of " how dare you make me think about something as basic as food, which I thought was a given " and a little of " oh, aren't you the self-righteous one, following all the nutrition guidelines. " I've noticed that I've reacted to this a bit unconsciously, over the years, by eating more chocolate and desserts! (as if to say, see, I can have fun, even if I do like carrots better than cake). Really, if you've been brought up eating meat, veganism is a rejection of mom's cooking, sunday dinner, etc. Some of my relatives ate meat 3 times a day and often said " you can't live without meat. " (planting the seeds of a challenge...) When I became vegetarian more than 30 years ago, I did a lot of research first, which made me realize that if everything I'd learned about something as basic as food and eating wasn't true, then I had to question *everything* I'd ever learned. But becoming vegan 13 years later was easy -- I just stopped buying cheese. It seems that today, with so much more info about what constitutes a healthy diet in the news, it wouldn't be quite that big a leap, but it still is because we live in a meat-eating culture, and the rebuttal info is everywhere too. My compromise, over the years, has been to talk more about the benefits of fruits and vegetables and promote gardening. If someone asks, I tell them I'm vegan, but I don't say more than that unless they ask for more. I never could stomach the slaughterhouse photos that are a staple at any vegan celebration, so I don't pass those kinds of flyers around. >After being a veggie for many years. I finally came to the conclusion >that lacto-ovo vegetarianism was not as ethical as I had thought and >realised that I had to bite the bullet and go vegan. > >To me, veganism makes sense for all sorts of reasons - you know the >ones : health, global warming, animal rights etc. > >Nobody I've talked too about it has been supportive. And it's not >because I've been preachy - honest. > >Why is meat-eating such a sensitive issue for lots of people? > >Any seasoned vegans got any advice? > >vsuk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 I also had been lacto-ovo vegetarian before becoming vegan, for ethical reasons. To me, veganism is so logical: eggs are chicken milk belongs to the baby and meat (dead animal) must turn to dust again (says the bible - Ecclesiastes 3:20) My family and friends have supourted my decision of not eating animal-devived products. Some ppl joke a lot about my veganism, but it doens't matter. to me, veganism is a sensitive issue, but I don't worry too much there's no PETA in Brazil. Perhaps that's why ppl here don't hate vegans (if they know what is a vegan, of course). Last year many vegan groups arose in my contry, but when you say you're vegan many ppl think it's a religion. the hate cases, I think, are related to animal-rights ACTIVISM, or to the fear of the unknown (a very different diet and lifestyle that is agains common things like eating eggs, wearing leather, drinking milk, etc)... Silas, 16, Victoria, Brazil Vegan http://www.guiavegano.com.br/galeria/displayimage.php?pos=-5230Brazilian Vegetarian Society coordinator for the Espirito Santo estate www.svb.org.br Animal Rights activist in www.amaes.org.br Translator and member of the International Vegetarian Union www.ivu.org Volunteer for the Vegan Society - UK www.vegansociety.com Add me (MSN messenger): silasco vsuk2007 <dodgyid123 escreveu: After being a veggie for many years. I finally came to the conclusionthat lacto-ovo vegetarianism was not as ethical as I had thought andrealised that I had to bite the bullet and go vegan.To me, veganism makes sense for all sorts of reasons - you know theones : health, global warming, animal rights etc.Nobody I've talked too about it has been supportive. And it's notbecause I've been preachy - honest.Why is meat-eating such a sensitive issue for lots of people?Any seasoned vegans got any advice?vsuk Acesso Grátis - Internet rápida e grátis. Instale o discador agora! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 sometime ago the Brazilian Veg. Society coordinator for Minas estate wrote about this. Her ideas were: veganism is unknown* humans dread the unknown (e.g. the darkness) when we fear something, we defend ourselves from it (the unknown thing) the best defense is attacking *unkown is not simply something you doesn't know. In this context unknown is something you have never experienced or something against things you think are normal so, what to do? when someone attacks you bcause of your veganism don't let it hurts you smile loftily and be proud of yourself don't get on your nerves. be patient. they're wrong, you're all right. explain calmly what's veganism don't let anti-veganism hurt you I feel happy when I see that there's no strong antiveg group in my country. I knou that's because veg(etari)anism is still growing here. When there are lots of veg(etari)an groups and organizations the anti-veganism appears... Thus happened is UK and USA, thus will happen in Brazil, Argentina, etc. PS: you can help me with my poor english if you want (make corrections, etc) Silas, 16, Victoria, Brazil. Brazilian Vegetarian Society coordinator for the Espirito Santo estate www.svb.org.br Animal Rights activist in www.amaes.org.br Vegan http://www.guiavegano.com.br/galeria/displayimage.php?pos=-5230 Translator and member of the International Vegetarian Union www.ivu.org Volunteer for the Vegan Society - UK www.vegansociety.com Add me (MSN messenger): silasco fraggle <EBbrewpunx escreveu: a simplified answerits hard to accept that what you as an individual is doing as wrongits very easy to get defensive about something you've done you're entire life, it surrounds you, it is part of you...no one likes to think they are wrong, or somehow badand veganism cuts to the core of a lot of western mores and beliefs...it makes people question what they have been lead to believe their entire lives..most folks would rather notso, whats the easiest answer?lashing outridiculeostracizemake jokes...why seek answers when you are comfortabledon't rock the boat..fraggle>vsuk2007 <dodgyid123 (AT) (DOT) co.uk>>Feb 13, 2007 4:45 AM> > Why do some many people hate vegans?>>After being a veggie for many years. I finally came to the conclusion>that lacto-ovo vegetarianism was not as ethical as I had thought and>realised that I had to bite the bullet and go vegan.>>To me, veganism makes sense for all sorts of reasons - you know the>ones : health, global warming, animal rights etc.>>Nobody I've talked too about it has been supportive. And it's not>because I've been preachy - honest.>>Why is meat-eating such a sensitive issue for lots of people?>>Any seasoned vegans got any advice?>>vsuk >>>>To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 My fiance doesnt listen to me or want to watch videos, or read nmaterials I try to give him, he says it makes him want to cry. I tried to get a girlt o go veg once, she did vegan for a day and Vegetarianism for 2 days after that,then she had to have a steak. Its too hard for some people, because its what they are used to, altho for me, the transition was quite easy. i grew up on a farm living off the land, which meant mostly veggies in my diet to begin with. , " vsuk2007 " <dodgyid123 wrote: > > After being a veggie for many years. I finally came to the conclusion > that lacto-ovo vegetarianism was not as ethical as I had thought and > realised that I had to bite the bullet and go vegan. > > To me, veganism makes sense for all sorts of reasons - you know the > ones : health, global warming, animal rights etc. > > Nobody I've talked too about it has been supportive. And it's not > because I've been preachy - honest. > > Why is meat-eating such a sensitive issue for lots of people? > > Any seasoned vegans got any advice? > > vsuk > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 Most Christians throw in the argument, God gave us the animals to eat, they are there for us to eat? But I have foudn the Bible stating that when the animals were given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they were there as companions and not food or clothing. They werent food or clothign until Adam and Eve sinned and left the Garden of Eden. That right there shoudl tell you in itself that eating meat and wearing animal fur is wrong. I also get a nutritional magazien called nutrtion action, its geared toward meat eaters, but ti is miraculous in the wa it endorces oru diets. It tells its readers to eat less meat ro no emat at all, to cut out the cheese, to drink soy milk instead of regular milk. I really like it in the fact its a regular nutrition magazine for meat eaters and its encourgaging them to eat like us. I say if that magazien si saying this, its proves just how nutritious our diets really are. , yarrow wrote: > > It's an issue that hits close to the bone, especially for people who > like animals and who are not (yet) veg*n. Carol Adams has a book, > Living among meat-eaters, that gives good advice on when and how to > share information. > > Holly Near, after years of political activism, figured out that it's > a waste of time to try to reach everyone. Visualizing everyone as > being on layers of an onion, she said the best use of her time was to > see herself as communicating with those who were at the layers just > above and just below her own level. (Something like that.) > > Oh, but that wasn't your question. I too have noticed a sort of > " backlash " against vegans, particularly in environmental groups, both > in person and online. Perhaps the backlashers have met a particularly > obnoxious person, and the only thing that registered was " vegan, " so > now their mental image of vegans is " obnoxious. " Or maybe they're on > the brink themselves, and being defensive, because they think it'd be > too hard to change their lives. Or they've been reading some of the > backlash websites that tell stories of people who were vegan, got > really sick, ate meat and got well, and now spend all their time > proselytizing against the " dangerous " vegans and vegan diet (to be > clear, I'd question what kind of vegan diet they ate; sounds to me > like it was quite lacking in nutrients, just as their diatribes are > lacking in facts). > > I've even seen this in person, at a group at a sort of environmental > group that was discussing ways to communicate with people who have > opposing viewpoints. One exercise put the vegetarians in the center, > talking about their reasons for being veg, and then the nonvegs were > in the center, talking about their perceptions about vegetarians. I > was shocked to hear all the misinformation, and at how angry the > nonvegs were at vegans. > > Maybe it's a little of " how dare you make me think about something as > basic as food, which I thought was a given " and a little of " oh, > aren't you the self-righteous one, following all the nutrition > guidelines. " I've noticed that I've reacted to this a bit > unconsciously, over the years, by eating more chocolate and desserts! > (as if to say, see, I can have fun, even if I do like carrots better > than cake). Really, if you've been brought up eating meat, veganism > is a rejection of mom's cooking, sunday dinner, etc. Some of my > relatives ate meat 3 times a day and often said " you can't live > without meat. " (planting the seeds of a challenge...) > > When I became vegetarian more than 30 years ago, I did a lot of > research first, which made me realize that if everything I'd learned > about something as basic as food and eating wasn't true, then I had > to question *everything* I'd ever learned. But becoming vegan 13 > years later was easy -- I just stopped buying cheese. It seems that > today, with so much more info about what constitutes a healthy diet > in the news, it wouldn't be quite that big a leap, but it still is > because we live in a meat-eating culture, and the rebuttal info is > everywhere too. > > My compromise, over the years, has been to talk more about the > benefits of fruits and vegetables and promote gardening. If someone > asks, I tell them I'm vegan, but I don't say more than that unless > they ask for more. I never could stomach the slaughterhouse photos > that are a staple at any vegan celebration, so I don't pass those > kinds of flyers around. > > > >After being a veggie for many years. I finally came to the conclusion > >that lacto-ovo vegetarianism was not as ethical as I had thought and > >realised that I had to bite the bullet and go vegan. > > > >To me, veganism makes sense for all sorts of reasons - you know the > >ones : health, global warming, animal rights etc. > > > >Nobody I've talked too about it has been supportive. And it's not > >because I've been preachy - honest. > > > >Why is meat-eating such a sensitive issue for lots of people? > > > >Any seasoned vegans got any advice? > > > >vsuk > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 hi yarrow and vsuk that is a good tactic, I also use nowadays I just concentrate on the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables and how it is possible to be nutritinally complete eating a vegan diet. I think also more and more science is on our side. it is dificult to argue with hard true facts. I am very familiar with this topic and have been there. I am in a gardening and constantly they are talking about raising animals for food and even hunting. Then say that they are more connected to mother nature, by having their own farm. It is very hard for me to read their emails about which ducks are the best for meat. and how much they love their ducks too. If I dare say something slightly veganic all hell breaks loose even if I am extremely polite about it. It seems that I am the only vegan there. When I do say something, I am afraid to turn on the computer the next day because I am afraid that everyone hates me there. I don't need that kind of anxiety. I think that people have somehow justified eating animals in their mind. but the bottom line is that * they know it is wrong* and so you are their conscience. you are their living, breathing walking conscience and they want you to go away. -anouk , yarrow wrote: > > It's an issue that hits close to the bone, especially for people who > like animals and who are not (yet) veg*n. Carol Adams has a book, > Living among meat-eaters, that gives good advice on when and how to > share information. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 Hi Silas Are you new here ? If so - welcome to VeganChat. There is nothing much wrong with your English - I wish I could talk another language as well as you :-) Jo - Silas Cordeiro-Pascoal Wednesday, February 14, 2007 12:35 AM Re: Why do some many people hate vegans? sometime ago the Brazilian Veg. Society coordinator for Minas estate wrote about this. Her ideas were: veganism is unknown* humans dread the unknown (e.g. the darkness) when we fear something, we defend ourselves from it (the unknown thing) the best defense is attacking *unkown is not simply something you doesn't know. In this context unknown is something you have never experienced or something against things you think are normal so, what to do? when someone attacks you bcause of your veganism don't let it hurts you smile loftily and be proud of yourself don't get on your nerves. be patient. they're wrong, you're all right. explain calmly what's veganism don't let anti-veganism hurt you I feel happy when I see that there's no strong antiveg group in my country. I knou that's because veg(etari)anism is still growing here. When there are lots of veg(etari)an groups and organizations the anti-veganism appears... Thus happened is UK and USA, thus will happen in Brazil, Argentina, etc. PS: you can help me with my poor english if you want (make corrections, etc) Silas, 16, Victoria, Brazil. Brazilian Vegetarian Society coordinator for the Espirito Santo estate www.svb.org.br Animal Rights activist in www.amaes.org.br Vegan http://www.guiavegano.com.br/galeria/displayimage.php?pos=-5230 Translator and member of the International Vegetarian Union www.ivu.org Volunteer for the Vegan Society - UK www.vegansociety.com Add me (MSN messenger): silasco fraggle <EBbrewpunx escreveu: a simplified answerits hard to accept that what you as an individual is doing as wrongits very easy to get defensive about something you've done you're entire life, it surrounds you, it is part of you...no one likes to think they are wrong, or somehow badand veganism cuts to the core of a lot of western mores and beliefs...it makes people question what they have been lead to believe their entire lives..most folks would rather notso, whats the easiest answer?lashing outridiculeostracizemake jokes...why seek answers when you are comfortabledon't rock the boat..fraggle>vsuk2007 <dodgyid123 (AT) (DOT) co.uk>>Feb 13, 2007 4:45 AM> > Why do some many people hate vegans?>>After being a veggie for many years. I finally came to the conclusion>that lacto-ovo vegetarianism was not as ethical as I had thought and>realised that I had to bite the bullet and go vegan.>>To me, veganism makes sense for all sorts of reasons - you know the>ones : health, global warming, animal rights etc.>>Nobody I've talked too about it has been supportive. And it's not>because I've been preachy - honest.>>Why is meat-eating such a sensitive issue for lots of people?>>Any seasoned vegans got any advice?>>vsuk >>>>To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 Hi Anouk What is the farming group you are on? Maybe we could all join it and outnumber the meateaters :-) Jo - " zurumato " <zurumato Wednesday, February 14, 2007 6:46 PM Re: Why do some many people hate vegans? > hi yarrow and vsuk > > that is a good tactic, I also use > nowadays I just concentrate on the benefits of > eating fruits and vegetables > and how it is possible to be nutritinally complete > eating a vegan diet. > > I think also more and more science is on our side. > > it is dificult to argue with hard true facts. > > I am very familiar with this topic and have been there. > > I am in a gardening and constantly > they are talking about raising animals for food and > even hunting. Then say that they are more connected > to mother nature, by having their own farm. > > It is very hard for me to read their emails about which > ducks are the best for meat. and how much they love their ducks too. > > If I dare say something slightly veganic all hell breaks loose > even if I am extremely polite about it. > > It seems that I am the only vegan there. > When I do say something, > I am afraid to turn on the computer the next day because I am > afraid that everyone hates me there. I don't need that kind of anxiety. > > I think that people have somehow justified eating animals > in their mind. but the bottom line is that > > * they know it is wrong* and so you are their conscience. > > you are their living, breathing walking conscience and > they want you to go away. > > -anouk > > > > > , yarrow wrote: > > > > It's an issue that hits close to the bone, especially for people who > > like animals and who are not (yet) veg*n. Carol Adams has a book, > > Living among meat-eaters, that gives good advice on when and how to > > share information. > > > > > > > > To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 - jo Wednesday, February 14, 2007 8:26 PM Re: Re: Why do some many people hate vegans? Hi AnoukWhat is the farming group you are on? Maybe we could all join it andoutnumber the meateaters :-)Jo-"zurumato" <zurumato (AT) earthlink (DOT) net>Wednesday, February 14, 2007 6:46 PM Re: Why do some many people hate vegans?> hi yarrow and vsuk>> that is a good tactic, I also use> nowadays I just concentrate on the benefits of> eating fruits and vegetables> and how it is possible to be nutritinally complete> eating a vegan diet.>> I think also more and more science is on our side.>> it is dificult to argue with hard true facts.>> I am very familiar with this topic and have been there.>> I am in a gardening and constantly> they are talking about raising animals for food and> even hunting. Then say that they are more connected> to mother nature, by having their own farm.>> It is very hard for me to read their emails about which> ducks are the best for meat. and how much they love their ducks too.>> If I dare say something slightly veganic all hell breaks loose> even if I am extremely polite about it. ~ I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN ~ IVE BEEN ON SITES AND TALKED ABOUT VEGANISM ~ AND SUDDENLY THE WHOLE CHAT ROOM CENTRES AOUND MY OPINION AND PEOPLE JOKE ABOUT BIG MACS ETC ~>> It seems that I am the only vegan there.> When I do say something,> I am afraid to turn on the computer the next day because I am> afraid that everyone hates me there. I don't need that kind of anxiety.>> I think that people have somehow justified eating animals> in their mind. but the bottom line is that>> * they know it is wrong* and so you are their conscience.>> you are their living, breathing walking conscience and> they want you to go away.>> -anouk>>>>> , yarrow wrote:> >> > It's an issue that hits close to the bone, especially for people who> > like animals and who are not (yet) veg*n. Carol Adams has a book,> > Living among meat-eaters, that gives good advice on when and how to> > share information.> >> >>>>> To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 YEAH ~ I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ~ ITS WORTH NOTING THAT THE WORD "DOMINION (OVER THE ANIMALS DOES NOT MEAN DOMINATE , BUT ACTUALLY MEANS "STEWARDSHIP OVER THE ANIMALS ~ IE ~ BEING COMPASSIONATE STEWARDS WITH ALL THE ANIMALS AROUND US ~ NOT BEING SOME SORT OF KING OR RULER OVER AND ABOVE THE ANIMALS ~ GENESIS CHAPTER 1 VERSE 29 CLEARLY STATES THAT WE ARE GIVEN FRUIT AND HERBS FOR OUR FOOD AND THAT THE ANIMSL ARE GIVEN GREEN PLANTS FOR FOOD ~ - angelikfiona Wednesday, February 14, 2007 5:11 PM Re: Why do some many people hate vegans? Most Christians throw in the argument, God gave us the animals to eat, they are there for us to eat?But I have foudn the Bible stating that when the animals were given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they were there as companions and not food or clothing. They werent food or clothign until Adam and Eve sinned and left the Garden of Eden. That right there shoudl tell you in itself that eating meat and wearing animal fur is wrong.I also get a nutritional magazien called nutrtion action, its geared toward meat eaters, but ti is miraculous in the wa it endorces oru diets. It tells its readers to eat less meat ro no emat at all, to cut out the cheese, to drink soy milk instead of regular milk.I really like it in the fact its a regular nutrition magazine for meat eaters and its encourgaging them to eat like us.I say if that magazien si saying this, its proves just how nutritious our diets really are. , yarrow wrote:>> It's an issue that hits close to the bone, especially for people who > like animals and who are not (yet) veg*n. Carol Adams has a book, > Living among meat-eaters, that gives good advice on when and how to > share information.> > Holly Near, after years of political activism, figured out that it's > a waste of time to try to reach everyone. Visualizing everyone as > being on layers of an onion, she said the best use of her time was to > see herself as communicating with those who were at the layers just > above and just below her own level. (Something like that.)> > Oh, but that wasn't your question. I too have noticed a sort of > "backlash" against vegans, particularly in environmental groups, both > in person and online. Perhaps the backlashers have met a particularly > obnoxious person, and the only thing that registered was "vegan," so > now their mental image of vegans is "obnoxious." Or maybe they're on > the brink themselves, and being defensive, because they think it'd be > too hard to change their lives. Or they've been reading some of the > backlash websites that tell stories of people who were vegan, got > really sick, ate meat and got well, and now spend all their time > proselytizing against the "dangerous" vegans and vegan diet (to be > clear, I'd question what kind of vegan diet they ate; sounds to me > like it was quite lacking in nutrients, just as their diatribes are > lacking in facts).> > I've even seen this in person, at a group at a sort of environmental > group that was discussing ways to communicate with people who have > opposing viewpoints. One exercise put the vegetarians in the center, > talking about their reasons for being veg, and then the nonvegs were > in the center, talking about their perceptions about vegetarians. I > was shocked to hear all the misinformation, and at how angry the > nonvegs were at vegans.> > Maybe it's a little of "how dare you make me think about something as > basic as food, which I thought was a given" and a little of "oh, > aren't you the self-righteous one, following all the nutrition > guidelines." I've noticed that I've reacted to this a bit > unconsciously, over the years, by eating more chocolate and desserts! > (as if to say, see, I can have fun, even if I do like carrots better > than cake). Really, if you've been brought up eating meat, veganism > is a rejection of mom's cooking, sunday dinner, etc. Some of my > relatives ate meat 3 times a day and often said "you can't live > without meat." (planting the seeds of a challenge...)> > When I became vegetarian more than 30 years ago, I did a lot of > research first, which made me realize that if everything I'd learned > about something as basic as food and eating wasn't true, then I had > to question *everything* I'd ever learned. But becoming vegan 13 > years later was easy -- I just stopped buying cheese. It seems that > today, with so much more info about what constitutes a healthy diet > in the news, it wouldn't be quite that big a leap, but it still is > because we live in a meat-eating culture, and the rebuttal info is > everywhere too.> > My compromise, over the years, has been to talk more about the > benefits of fruits and vegetables and promote gardening. If someone > asks, I tell them I'm vegan, but I don't say more than that unless > they ask for more. I never could stomach the slaughterhouse photos > that are a staple at any vegan celebration, so I don't pass those > kinds of flyers around.> > > >After being a veggie for many years. I finally came to the conclusion> >that lacto-ovo vegetarianism was not as ethical as I had thought and> >realised that I had to bite the bullet and go vegan.> >> >To me, veganism makes sense for all sorts of reasons - you know the> >ones : health, global warming, animal rights etc.> >> >Nobody I've talked too about it has been supportive. And it's not> >because I've been preachy - honest.> >> >Why is meat-eating such a sensitive issue for lots of people?> >> >Any seasoned vegans got any advice?> >> >vsuk> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 It's real simple, they hate us because they're jealous as they know we're stronger and more moral and they're too weak to be good. That's the simple truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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