Is it really that hard.....? 🤔

I think people who are militant about any personal belief are a pain. Leave other people alone to do what is perfectly legal.

I'm teetotal, have been all my life, I won't go into the details but I have good reasons for my views on alcohol but I'd never say anything to people who enjoy a glass of wine or a beer. It is also a pain at many social gatherings as there is an assumption that all adults drink alcohol so I might go to the BBQ where the OP is upset there isn't a good enough vegan option and I see red wine, white wine, beer, cider and I'm offered what? Maybe a mixer like tonic water, I don't like it, or orange juice, it gives me migraine. I either have a can in my bag or ask for water or if I'm feeling terribly demanding I might ask if I can put the kettle on for a cuppa. Is it really that hard to cater for us? I just accept that hosts have lots of different plates to keep spinning.

I'm not assuming anything, actually I think it is really rude to come on and criticise people who are giving up their time to raise money that will benefit your children.

It is amazing about the vegan sweets, it seems like everywhere you go the vegan products are the most popular. I can't believe that big businesses haven't figured that out. Of course people have reported on here that the vegan stuff doesn't get eaten and is a waste. Who knows?

You don't seem prepared to say if you'd find it hurtful if people in your parish came on here to run down what you are doing in your role with the parish council.

I think it’s just understanding where everything we use comes from and that includes meat eaters!

A good point for myself in my job is soya, it started off as animal feed ( and I use it ) and now it is a regular substitute for non meat eaters but if your happy with how it’s farmed and what’s been destroyed and killed to grow it then that’s a decision that your own moral compass has to deal with and I deal with that daily, it has amazing vitamins and minerals in it but the farming of it has caused widespread deforestation and destruction, I’m sure there can be soya that’s grown sustainably but I admit that I don’t know much about that side of it

@Ineedwinenow. Well I certainly learned something. It would never have occurred to me to consider whether tyres were vegan!

The only vegan practice that really bothers me (and I think it's a tiny minority of extreme vegans) is those that make their cats and dogs be vegan. I consider that cruelty. Otherwise, fully supportive.

Sadly unless you live in a cave it really is difficult to avoid animal proteins, the pp I was chatting to above made the good point that she just tries her best to just make better decisions and whilst she acknowledges animal proteins are everywhere one day technology will hopefully catch up and she already has a vegan smartphone which is awesome 👍

It’s always good and important to have these discussions though and Perspectives from both sides and I think every vegan should know what goes into everyday items ( I assume most do)

Not on this thread but my family members call me a murderer because I do farming 🤦‍♀️ and the usual meat is murder etc.. yet they use the latest iPhone, have laptops, drive cars, use chemicals in the home, use makeup and watch TV which baffles me as they are so militant with people are round them who eat meat ( or in my case work with cattle) I just shake my head and carry on with my job and don’t get into discussions with them ( which is why I asked the question above as I was genuinely curious about how vegans deal with daily life)

I looked both items up and was very surprised. I suspect it's impossible to avoid animal involvement in things completely. Often we probably don't even know. But most medicines will have been tested with animals somewhere along the line and I don't know of anyone who avoids those.

Yeah it’s really difficult to stay away from animal based proteins, they are in most household items especially electronics, the chemical compound though that relates to car tyres is called stearic acid, unfortunately I’m not a Dr of science or Engineer so I don’t truly know how it’s used other than to give items strength and durability but someone might be along shortly who will have a better answer than I can! ( it’s also used in cosmetics)

Absolutely! Totally agree.

Tyres and phones and bank cards can be made with animal products? I can't imagine why that would be necessary. Maybe with bank cards it's the ink, but what on earth could be made from animal products in the other two? I believe you, it's just mind boggling because I'd never have guessed.

We both are from very different ends of the spectrum when it comes to meat/vegan but I do appreciate how difficult “modern” life would be for you, especially as you work in IT, your moral compass and ethics must be something that challenges you and bothers you daily especially in your job! I do hope for your sanity and beliefs modern life catches up quicker than it is doing for you and one thing we definitely can agree on is Reacher! He’s mine though (sorry) …..

PPs

At least books these days are made with man made adhesive.
I have to get my Reacher fix……..

Ps.
missed the query re trainers.
No idea, but my sons always buy vegan.
Plus I know Puma now have vegan football boots, much better than the kangaroo skin they use in their others. It’s a shame my boys have to buy from an unethical company to get the only pair of boots on the market that are ethical….

I don’t use fabric softeners and household chemicals and never had. Tbh that was never a vegan thing in the first place I just don’t want them ending up in our waterways and when I first left home I didn’t have money for them anyway, it’s what I was used to.

There always has to be compromises. If councils want planning drawings electronically I have to draw them on a computer. No computer, no job. I have no choice.
The worlds technology and lifestyles moved in-spite of animals suffering. However we re learning every day, people are out there every day, inventing and sourcing ways of making life more ethical. I’m very thankful for their efforts.

Thank you for your reply! 👍

At least you can now get a vegan phone! Have you boycotted TVs and laptops until they have caught up or is that a compromise you’ve had to make?

I assume things like fabric softeners and some household chemicals now have a vegan alternative as do clothing and footwear but I did genuinely wonder about cars and electronics as animal proteins are in everything, can you now get vegan trainers from big brands too or again are they limited to different retailers and expensive?

How do we cope with daily life…….
Not easily.
The goalposts keep moving.
Research is everything.

For egs. OPPO currently are the only producers who have a vegan smartphone. The only way you can find this out is by research.

In terms of a lot of stuff, second hand ie car tyres, is the nearest I can find to not promoting an industry I disagree with. Most things like furniture, household goods etc ( I rarely buy these, I’m not a huge consumer ) I would search for a supplier/ manufacturer that has a vegan option. Preferably a supplier that only sells vegan.

Then of course things start moving against you. our UK £ notes now are not vegan and as someone who prefers to use cash this has been ethically upsetting. I have refused notes as change in the past, I have held up supermarket queues embarrassed and hassled by others waiting for my money in change. It’s hard.
I now have to compromise and use cards instead, I suppose that’s what most people do these days. Plus there’s a vegan card made of sustainable wood.

Once you’ve found your suppliers though you know where to go. Life becomes easier. Plus I enjoy the challenge.

I am finding this thread really interesting so thank you to the vegans on here, I am a meat eater and work in farming although I do have vegan family members it’s very taboo as you can imagine because of my job but I’d love to ask ( and can’t ask them) although you don’t eat animal products how do cope with day to day life as mobile phones, laptop, TVs ,car tyres, some metals and trainers all have animal proteins in them.

I do understand you can get vegan clothing but genuine question where do you get your electronics and car tyres from ( plus other household stuff) as I’ve never looked into it before and it must be tough unless they now cater for vegans too which so fabulous ( and expensive) as I said above I’m finding this thread really interesting, I’ll sadly never be a veggie or vegan but I do try to go meatless a few times a week mainly for health reasons and for a change 😊

I have a vegan relative and I find it hugely stressful to cater for them. I don't want to end up cooking multiple meals and I also don't want to eat a vegan meal. I usually end up just buying them a vegan pizza or something

I apologise for the error in applying a general observation to your post. It was a general comment more than directed at any one individual.

Must be a cultural thing, because every community thing I have ever been to has always been lots of people bringing stuff. Never has it been up to one person. And you sign up for what you are going to bring and these days there is usually a vegan option and a gluten free option. And if you can't handle it, don't sign up and if some emergency happens, call off.

Absolutely agree with you. People should only have to do what they feel comfortable with. If that is nothing so be it.

However.
Your post to me specifically said
“ you just can’t get what seems like a tiny thing to you……”.

Some people may have said or implied it, possibly, I’m not going back to check, but I didn’t.
It’s extremely upsetting ( even in an anonymous capacity) to have my posts misquoted or twisted.

If you have adults staying with you it's reasonable for them to be empathetic and take care of themselves if things change. It's much easier to cater for guests staying over than the main focus of this thread, which is a community event. Catering for a few vs. catering for maybe 50-100. I'm feeling more and more like the whole 'everyone brings a plate of food' arrangement is the best one. Then no-one can complain and everyone has something that works for them, as well as spreading the work.

I was going to get take out but DH cooked. I'm glad you don't understand why it can feel like a big deal for some people. If you're lucky, it will stay that way your whole life.

Some people have said or implied that it's not hard (see thread title) or a tiny thing (the exact word tiny is my own). I totally get why they might think that, and no doubt it's usually not a big deal. All I'm trying to point out is that, for some people that extra ten or fifteen minutes might add more than they can or are willing to give. My only point is that it adds to what is asked of people who might have a day or time in their life where that little bit is more than they can give. If people can't understand that, lucky them.

So why would you be entertaining people while your child is in the hospital. if vegan family or friends were over to help, I am sure they would get their own food and not expect any of you to prepare something. If they don't, drop them. If you signed up for something, I am sure that everyone would understand. If not, blast them on here and everywhere else.