About outspoken vegans?!!!

[meatup]

In my opinion there is nothing wrong with eating meat, nothing wrong with being a vegetarian, nothing wrong with being a vegan. As long as you are happy and healthy then fine.

But why oh why do some vegans take it upon themselves to be so rude & overly graphic about their choices, shoving it down everyone's throats.

I know this has been done to death but recently an old school mate has been posting this sort of vitriol on Facebook (have since unfriended!) but in the next photo his cat is eating meaty chunks..... erm?

@MissBax

hiphop are you denying the links between meat/dairy and heart disease, cancers, diabetes, arthritis, ibs?

Why on earth would you think that?

I never SAID that.

Why do people make shit up?

I said it's utter bollocks that arthritis, depression, IBS, asthma, and diabetes, would have been cured in a 55 year old obese woman (who had had these conditions for over 20 years,) in TWO WEEKS of eating a vegan diet! I also said that I understand that a healthier way of eating would help these conditions long term, but it would not eradicate them within 2 weeks of a vegan diet.

Please try to read posts thoroughly in future before replying dear.

I think it could be possible hiphop as some people have been cured of type 2 diabetes by eating 800 cals per day and no sugar. Lots of those conditions are inflammatory responses which a meat heavy , low plant source diet can aggravate.

I'm vegan but don't post things on Facebook etc. I can understand why 'militant' vegans do though, they just want to save animals from suffering which surely isn't a bad thing? Recent adverts saying the dairy industry is inhumane are just trying to do the same, just trying to make people aware of what goes on in the dairy industry and trying to stop the cruelty.

The meat/dairy industry could be said to be doing the same, they're adverts everywhere trying to sell meat and dairy just to make money but everyone accepts it as it's the norm.

So an advert or person trying to stop people consuming animal products to save animals is forcing it down your throats but the millions of adverts etc trying to get you to buy meat/dairy isn't?

They're really trying to force it NOT down your throat in this case...

I eat meat a few times a week. I eat a lot less since my DD turned vegetarian a year or so ago. Things she has educated me about HAVE made an impact. Of course people don't want to know, it's unpleasant and people don't want to face it.

I saw a woman on Dinner Date get upset about eating a kangaroo burger because she was "an animal lover" and "it's cruel" . WTF? The kangaroo wasn't farmed, probably lived a good life and then died suddenly. How is that more cruel than living in factory farming conditions!

Again, I eat meat, as I enjoy it and I am omnivorous. I do eat way too much and should try to eat less, for the planet and for my own health. But I am firmly of the belief that if you are a meat water who can't take a few pictures of slaughtered lambs, or eat a kangaroo burger without feeling sick / crying, you are a hypocrite.

YABU. The thing to remember about vegans and veggies is that hardly anyone is raised vegan - generally speaking vegans and vegetarians mostly come to it in teens and adulthood after finding out the ugly truth about how cruel the meat and dairy trades are and how bad these products are for our health and the environment. This information is not generally spoken about or given freely to the public because it's in the corporations' financial interests to keep the public ignorant to these facts to keep the demand for meat and dairy high. As a vegan I make a conscious effort to NEVER personally criticise someone or make people feel bad about their choices as it only serves to alienate people and I have no desire to be unkind or make people feel guilty, however that does not mean that I won't use my voice to share information about what makes the meat and dairy industries so immensely cruel and damaging to our way of life. Nor does it mean it isn't frustrating to hear so many people in the western world declare themselves to be animal lovers whilst refusing to listen to the facts about how animals are tortured and exploited for human greed. If sharing information makes just one person decide that they no longer want to be a part of the cruelty then it's all worth it, equally if someone has the facts but still decides they want to eat meat then at least it's an informed decision. I have to spend my life putting up with seeing images of the various steaks/sausages/burgers that meat eaters eat on social media so yes it is very unreasonable of you to expect someone who makes different choices to you to be quiet simply because their choices make you feel uncomfortable.

user1494426473
That sort of 'we made a decision once we saw the light' thing is exactly what rubs people up the wrong way about some vegans and vegetarians.
It's over the top, self-righteous and very much an emotive 'we are right and you can you handle the truth'.

People can make whatever dietary decisions they like, it doesn't make it acceptable to feel the need to wave it over anyone else.

Maisy, can you come and say that next time a meat eater starts giving me grief? You're very succinct.

As a member of a farming family with direct experience of the treatment of animals on farms, I respectfully disagree that they are in the main mistreated.

MaisyPops if that's your interpretation of what that meant then I'm afraid that says more about your own issues and preconceptions around people who choose to eschew meat and dairy that it does about vegans and veggies themselves.

I dislike repeating the words you chose to use but everyone is perfectly capable of "handling the truth" or "seeing the light" or whatever other cliched phrase you prefer to use. The issue is not that meat eaters are "unable to handle the truth" but that they are not given the truth in the first place or offered any opportunity to make up their own minds. Those who choose not to consume animal products are a smaller minority who have been exposed to facts about these industries and have been deeply affected by these facts. Doesn't make them special or more educated or better, often it's just down to chance that they stumbled upon the information or it was shared with them. My point is that if the general public were given more information about the cruelty involved then it's highly likely that many more people would also make different choices. I'm afraid the "people can choose to eat what they like" argument can only be respected if they have the full facts in front of them and still choose to make that decision.

Vegans and veggies are often heckled, taunted, teased on a daily basis and asked inane questions about where they get their protein. Why should it be OK to "waive it over" them?

basket I'd say the same of meat eaters with their silly 'a meal must have meat or its not a full meal'.

Everyone should make whatever dietary requirements they like and let others do the same.

Even vegans don't think cats should be vegan. Cats die if they don't eat meat; humans don't.

I know one vegan who mentioned he was a vegan quite early on in our acquaintance, but only because we were in a situation where we had to get something to eat, and another who I only realised was a vegan after about 2 years (but I'd never eaten with her). It stands to reason that a vegan who wants to stand by their principles will have to mention it before you feed them. I've never met one who just randomly walked up to me and said "Hi, my name's X and I'm a vegan."

I'd say the same of meat eaters with their silly 'a meal must have meat or its not a full meal'

We're not all like that. I'm a meat eater but I don't think I've ever eaten a vegan meal I didn't like, and I've eaten (or refused to eat) plenty of not very appetising meat dishes. I probably eat vegan once or twice a week without even thinking about it (hummus or falafel is usually involved) and vegetarian at least half the time.

Oh this is my secret eye roll on Facebook. Hurrah for vegans, hurrah for vegetarians, please shut the hell up lifestyle fascists. If yabu then iabu too...

@meatup I grew up on a family owned farm, all my family are farmers and have been for many many generations. Its the intensive/factory farming that I have a problem with.

UsernameInvalid66 Your diet sounds similar to mine. I eat meat but most of my diet is vegetarian/vegan.

I was just saying that much as I dislike those vegans who never shut up about how amazing their choice is, I equally don't get it when some meat eaters say things like 'where's the meat in this...'

My feelings on people evangelising about their eating habits are fairly consistent so it also means I don't want to hear about how we should clean eat, avoid gluten/lactose/any in vogue food group, do paleo or any other eating trend (medical issues, allergies etc obviously not included in my irritating list)

The reality is that most people just get on with life like perfectly polite human beings.

I don't see why ethical vegans would want to privilege 'politeness' over such a serious ethical question. Honestly, maisy, if you see someone do something you consider terribly ethically wrong and cruel, do you keep quiet about it out of 'politeness'? In my view, you shouldn't!

meatup also born and raised in a farming family here- and I used to say the same, until I realised I was turning a blind eye to some pretty huge issues and was somewhat missing the point.

bringbackfonzi I'd love to agree, but the vitriol that many vegans receive if they dare to speak up is enough to scare off all but the very bravest. Sadly vegans are often seen as a fair target in society, comedy etc.

I don't like to see people being shitty and superior with each other over choices like this irl.

I love meat but I've learnt a lot about where it comes from recently (obviously I already knew that the killing of animals was involved) and really can't justify it to myself so I understand the anger in others.

Although I wouldn't be very pleased if someone had a go at me about it.

I have been a veggie for many many years, my husband always loved his meat and we brought our children up eating meat. Fast forward children now 4 and 5 going through a divorce and my stbxh and his new girlfriend are vegans. He is totally obsessed with begin a vegan and trying to make the children vegan. To the point that he contacted the school and said they must only have vegan food at school and that they must not have the milk cartons (behind my back). The school enforced his wishes until it was clarified , both children were really distressed that all their friends were drinking the milk but they weren't allowed. The children are so confused by it all constantly asking if this and that is animal. The children dont live with him so its not like its an extension of their home life.

I also wonder what his reasons are for being a vegan? Hes not a kind person (iv had legal aid due to his domestic abuse) and i know he doesn't really care about animals, i personally find it a bit odd. I actually wouldn't care if he didn't try and insist i made the children vegan.

I started a new job about 3 years ago and the staff have their own fridge and food it brought and one of us cooks tea for all the staff team. Honestly it was like i was from a different planet being a veggie. Im really not fussy and frankly dont give a dame what other people choose to eat. But i was questioned and quizzed for weeks on end about what i do and dont eat the rest of the staff just couldn't get their heads around it. I thought being a veggie was pretty common now a days?

...your user name indicates you quite like goading vegetarians/vegans...why is that?

I started reading and getting invested then seen the date... this is an old thread people.

YANBU. I'm a vegetarian, have been for most of my life. I genuinely don't care what other people do (although I'll try and encourage my DH to go for ethically sourced meat). I've never pushed my views onto others though. If the smell of meat cooking is something I find offensive, I just keep it to myself! Or leave the room...

But these militant vegans are something else. It does feel like there's more of them about, perhaps because social media is so widely used now? There's a few on my feed who are complete arseholes about it. Posting offensive and goady stuff about anyone non vegan, and rudely slamming down anyone who dares to (often very reasonably and respectfully) challenge them. I do have a couple of friends who will post stuff but it's more recipe based and about trying to support people who want to adopt a vegan lifestyle. Obvs I have no problem with them. But the militant lot are just being goady for the sake of it, I feel.

Also, apart from the obvious 'but don't you miss bacon?' comments and boyfriends trying to convert me so they don't have to suffer quorn I've never had any disrespect from a meat eater!

Oh and as for all the so called benefits of the vegan lifestyle? Well I'm veggie and I eat a lot of crap so...