Stop preaching and shoving veganism in my face. Enough now

[Borkins]

Just found out a Vegan documentary was preached at my teenager at youth club
It's a choice grown adults should be allowed to make. But such a restrictive diet should not be preached at growing children who could also be vulnerable to eating problems.
I've never preached my diet at anyone but this has been shoved in my face continuously. Judgement when I order animal products in restaurants, advertising, now my rapidly growing young son is to eat without milk, cheese, eggs, butter etc
I'm absolutely fuming
There is no hard science to back the health benefits. The environmental impact is dubious.
Sure I understand if you are an animal lover but that's still an individual choice.

Yes, the environmental problems we have are a lot to do with overpopulation, and the way we farm. Reducing the population of the world would have a much bigger impact than a few people in the west going vegan (especially if they then become more avid consumers of almond, soy, palm etc).

Tbh I think the moral issues are complex. Yes, widescale adoption of a vegan diet would probably reduce animal suffering generally, although for some animals it could increase. However, it is likely not healthier for human beings than an omnivorous diet. So whose interests should win out - humans or animals?

Perhaps there is a middle ground where we reduce population, reduce consumption per head of animal products, while still eating some for health reasons, but change our farming practices to be more humane and ecological?

The 1970s nutrition wheel is still plugged in schools and that really needs to change. Dairy products are not the only source of calcium nor are they the best, same for meat and protein plus protein isn’t anywhere near as important as we think.

Honestly, I don’t see the issue here at all. Your DS hasn’t even decided to be a vegan so it’s not affecting your life in any way. It’s good to debate and learn about differences in life.

My experience slightly different maybe it depends where you live?
Following a vegan diet is quite respected round here and it is often difficult to find food for lunch in canteen etc so it's very much take your own food in or you might not have anything.
Literally since this winter supermarkets are making spaces and creating ready made vegan food some of which are nice - the odd wicked pasty etc but most of which are not appealing as most people I mix with don't want meat substitute type foods like meaty burgers or pretend meat balls. I don't think those foods are healthy or appeal to most vegans I know. They've jumped on the commercial bandwagon of more people turning to plant based diet. Still some of the foods are ok and helpful to have foods more clearly labelled. But it's still a case of often not finding food at lunchtime.
I recently went to a conference with about 400 delegates - I was the only one and was kindly directed to the kitchen door where I was given a vegan dish. I don't think OP would think that if you are strict vegan, it's actually quite common to go without food/ make the best of it eg I had a piece of dry brown bread on shift last week as I'd forgotten my lunch. I'm ok with that but it's certainly true you have to expect to go without sometimes and that's ok.

The environmental impact is dubious.

WTF? We all need to reduce our meat intake dramatically.

No I won't calm down

Well then I hope you at least wring every drop of enjoyment out of being outraged

@bingbangbing that's interesting, I'd assumed India was. Are they traditionally vegetarian, or not even that? Can you explain a bit more?

90% of the outraged posts I see online are from non-vegans outraged at vegans. Vegans, despite stereotypes, generally seem to just get on with it. Of course there are a few nutters who feel like their mission on earth this lifetime is to have a go at all the non vegans to make them feel guilty, but overall in my unscientific survey of one, mostly the internet is just people getting high off the outrage of vegans existing

I've been vegan, vegetarian, meat eating paleo and am currently all about vegetables and bone broth. I just wish the carnivores with repressed guilt would STFU.

Personally as a non drinker for no particular reason, my outrage is saved for people edp try to get sponsored for Dry January, bevause it will be "SOOO DIFFICULT FOR ME!!!". Get a fucking grip on your overall alcohol consumption problem then love, a month isn't going to cut it

WTF? We all need to reduce our meat intake dramatically

We also need to stop having 3,4,5 kids and spending hundreds of pounds on plastic paw patrol junk at Christmas to end up in landfill. The Christmas threads were pretty obscene. There is no justification for that kind of waste or for having kids like there is no tomorrow.

Personally as a non drinker for no particular reason, my outrage is saved for people edp try to get sponsored for Dry January, bevause it will be "SOOO DIFFICULT FOR ME!!!". Get a fucking grip on your overall alcohol consumption problem then love, a month isn't going to cut it

I feel the same. I'm not teetotal and have the odd drink at special occasions.

I could quite happily give it up for good and never notice.

I have no awe or respect for people who find it hard to stop drinking to excess.

WTF? We all need to reduce our meat intake dramatically

We also need to stop having 3,4,5 kids and spending hundreds of pounds on plastic paw patrol junk at Christmas to end up in landfill. The Christmas threads were pretty obscene. There is no justification for that kind of waste or for having kids like there is no tomorrow.

No argument from me there.

OP you'd be far more chilled out if you were vegan 😁

The environmental impact isn't that dubious OP. Get a grip of yourself- if you don't want to go vegan then have the strength of character to accept that that's fine and you don't need to throw a hyperbolic tantrum about the fact others are and it's currently a hot topic. You can open your mind and acquire additional knowledge by seeing other perspectives in documentaries and still decide not to be a vegan so what on earth is the problem. Just ignore and get on with your life

I'm a vegan (dairy allergy and not a fan of meat) and I couldnt give a shit what other people are doing or eating. If only the lack of interest was reciprocated.

Meh, I've said this before but I will say it again. I see more non vegans whining about preaching vegans than I actually see vegans trying to preach and force their views on others (and no, a vegan saying something you don't like or disagree with is not preaching.)

I'm an omnivore myself, but I hear people complaining about vegans much more often than I hear vegans preaching.

Oh and bread is pretty much always vegan. It's literally just flour, water, yeast and salt.

Some bread buns and hot dog buns have milk in but its certainly not a standard ingredient. Chances are there will be a one without milk in on the same shelf. So not a big deal really 🤷‍♀️.

I have never come across sliced bread for toast that wasn't vegan so I am not entirely sure why so many people seem to think bread has milk in and that we have to buy special vegan bread.

Pasta is pretty much always vegan as well before anyone wants to bring that up .

Come to think of it, lots of things are vegan...lots of biscuits are, some crisps, some apple pies and mince pies...I don't feel restricted at all.

Oh and my personal favourite junky quick meal/snack...beef and tomato pot noodles!

I think the problem is is that people seem to think a vegan disagreeing with them or having a discussion is somehow them forcing their beliefs on them. The OP is the perfect example of that.

I've been vegan for several years and miss nothing

Now THAT I don’t believe.

You are very keen on the word “preached”. It’s a documentary, not a cult induction. These things are shown to prompt discussion. He’s not asking to be vegan so where is the problem. And by the way, many people go vegan for the animals, not their own health (though vegans do have lower rates of cancer and heart disease).

Yeah, OK Karen. I am currently in Australia where we are experiencing the worst droughts and storms in living history, brought about by climate change. Animal agriculture is overwhelmingly the biggest cause of this.

Enjoy your burger .

I'm pissed off that I was brainwashed from infancy that the meat and dairy industry is absolutely essential to our survival, and that there's one only one food pyramid that works. I'm not a vegan, but I'm actually really sick of meat eaters fucking preaching and not letting people live. I think choice is a wonderful thing, but an awful lot of meat eaters shame vegans when the majority of vegans I know get on with their lives and don't bother anyone with their lifestyle. I like to reword the joke. "How do you know if someone is vegan? Because all of the meat eaters in a 2 mile radius will tell you."

Whilst I am not anti vegan I do wish the latest round of documentaries and news articles were more honest about the global differences in meat production. The last one kept on about the cost of a beef herd but refused (when a UK beef farmer wanted his filmed input to be included) to show how UK farming is far less impact than the figures shown. They were based on very different farming practices and so the message was very skewed.

I'd be far less sceptical if the data being used was more detailed. Not least in that breaking down the figures would help the consumer make better choices no matter what their diet!

Just a thought as well.
Most people use the term vegan for the entire ethical lifestyle and avoidance of animal testing or use of animal products to avoid any animal harm and the term plant based for duet / healthy eating alone.

A prefect / house captain apparently have a promotional talk at my kids school.

Not impressed tbh.

That should have said " gave " not have..

OP What did you say to the person who preached at you?

Agree with you OP