To think that this is a bit odd?

[BasinHaircut]

Acquaintance of mine is vegan for ethical reasons. I absolutely salute her and if I had the will power to do it I totally would too. But I like burgers, cheese and milk etc and my morals are clearly not quite as strong.

Anyway, just found out the this person has just been on holiday and swam with dolphins!

AIBU to find this a bit odd?

[Scooby20]

I find it odd. My friend is a vegan and would never do this as is exploration of animals. It doesn't really seem to fit

[pinkmagic1]

It depends whether the dolphins are wild or captive. I am not vegetarian or vegan but would never swim with captive dolphins, however I was lucky enough for a wild dolphin to choose to swim with me and it was an amazing experience.
If they were captive she is being extremely hypocritical.

[NormaSmuff]

were any dolphins harmed?

[HermioneWoozle]

Did she take a knife and fork with her into the water?

[NormaSmuff]

hermione

[FatalKittehCharms]

YABU. She shouldn't be held to different moral standards just because she is vegan.

And I'm a carnivore and member of WDC.

[Iwasjustabouttosaythat]

We need more dolphin information. There are lots of places in the wild they can be expected to turn up to and people can just hop in with them. Different matter to Seaworld.

[BasinHaircut]

Think Seaworld type experience, not wild dolphins.

In terms of dolphins being harmed, I guess that's subjective in view of the fact that they were captive.

[Scooby20]

fatal yiu are missing the point.

The friend is vegan for ethical reasons. I can see why the op feels swimming captive dolphins is totally at odds with that.

Op isn't having a go at her morals. She is saying it doesn't seem to fit. And it doesn't.

No is saying she shouldn't had done it. Just that it seems at odds.

[TheCatsMother99]

Assuming your friend went to one of these organised dolphin swim places where they're captive, yes, I do find it odd as I'd have assumed that, given shes educated enough in the welfare used for and to produce food, they'd also be educated enough to know the dolphins in places like thay are forced to swim with people - just like elephants and forced to give rides and paint pictures in other places.

[HolidayArmidillo]

Captive sea animals are treated horrendously. Anyone who doesn't understand this should really watch Blackfin. I have vegan friends who wouldn't even VISIT sea world, let alone support the barbarity by swimming with dolphins. It sounds like your friend has put her bucket list of swimming with dolphins before the dolphins welfare. Very hypocritical.

[HolidayArmidillo]

I also have friends who are meat eaters, and even they wouldn't swim with dolphins. I thought that it was well known now how exploitative sea world are to their captive animals.

[VladmirsPoutine]

It sounds as though you were waiting for her to lose her holier than thou standards. Now you've caught her, what are you going to do?
Provided she doesn't preach about her saintliness then she's just proved that she's human and at times our values can be at odds.

[ThirdTimeLuck]

YANBU, it's really odd that she'd make such a lifestyle choice but them go and do something so stupid. Clearly, she can't care that much if she doesn't realise its people like her who keep that industry going. I'd be pointing her in the direction of the film Blackfish. Utterly horrifying viewing but essential for anyone who still thinks captive dolphins are happy.

[m0therofdragons]

Discovery cove in Orlando certainly used to be only rescue dolphins who wouldn't survive in the wild. They had strict limited numbers per day. Swimming with dolphins in the wild can be very distressing to them if done in wrong seasons i.e. Mating and when they're hunting the swim at about 80mph - not a good idea to hold their fin then.

[Scaffleen]

Yes that's very odd. I would never go to even see captive dolphins let alone swim with them! And I'm practically a carnivore!
Dolphins are exceptionally intelligent animals and I believe it's cruel to keep them locked up for entertainment value.

[isthismummy]

Swimming with captive dolphins does not fit in with the ethical stance of veganism. Your friend has just contributed towards the exploitation of animals. Very strange thing for a vegan to do.

[Softkitty2]

She wont eat animals that have been considered 'acceptable' to eat and produce for consumption yet she is fine with dolphins taken out of their natural habitat and trained into performing for humans? HYPROCRITE imo.

[FatalKittehCharms]

Scoobydo

But we don't know what her ethical reasons are, do we? She may just not want to be part of meat and by-products industry but not really have strong views on captive dolphins? Just because she is a vegan, it doesn't mean she has to be a saint.

Like I say, I'm a member of WDC (after watching Blackfish) and was so happy to hear Seaworld will no longer breed orcas, and I hope the same happens for dolphins. BUT I agree with Vladmir, this has a whiff of OP having caught out her friend.

[dudsville]

Don't hold someone else to a critical measure. Your judging her helps neither of you move forward in life. People are complex and not linear in their decision making.

[lovelearning]

Seaworld type experience

To help all animals held captive by SeaWorld, please never buy a ticket, visit the parks, or support SeaWorld in any other way.

www.petakids.com/save-animals/shocking-seaworld-facts/

[ChuckSnowballs]

People always question vegetarians or vegans' morals. Why not just let her make her own choices in life? instead of being ready to judge her morals 'odd' at every opportunity?

[bettywhitearse]

It is a bit off. Most vegans opt to be vegan because they do not wish to use, abuse, consume or wear animals.

Swimming with dolphins hits the use/abuse part of it and wouldn't sit right with me.

Its not like riding a horse.

[Fintress]

Swimming with wild animals in captivity is cruel regardless of your beliefs.