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AIBU?

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Original poster

Broken my veganism today

600 replies

Stepstepmother · 15/08/2018 21:12

And had to tell someone!

I’ve been a vegan for a few years - for environmental reasons and the argument that it’s much more possible to feed the world when we eat a plant based diet. It’s genuinely been a sacrifice as I love eating meat and fish and dairy - but I’ve done it. Lately I’ve been toying with the idea of giving myself a secret day off. Just one day, then back to it. That day was today. So I’ve eaten...

A buttery cheese croissant for breakfast
Rare steak with beef dripping chips and creamed spinach for lunch
A chicken thigh pita with halloumi cheese, caramelised onions, and garlic aoli for dinner.

It’s all been epic. And totally secret. I’m back on the straight and narrow vegan route again tomorrow and will look forward to my next cheat day in a few years time. But I just had to share.

(I know I’ve posted in AIBU - so, was I unreasonable?)

OP posts:
seventhgonickname · 16/08/2018 00:30

I'm a bit confused,according to the definition of veganism by the Vegan Society you could eat meat if it was road kill as you have not exploited or been cruel to any living thing.

lizzie1970a · 16/08/2018 00:30

No rosie. People haven't been very clear. And it's not for them to say anyway. It's not just about commitment to protecting animal rights. Environmental vegans aren't just about that. And you can't say they're not as valid vegans as those that are committed to animal rights. The Vegan Society has "a" definition. There is no "the" definition.

Jeanclaudejackety · 16/08/2018 00:31

This thread is Hilarious why do people give a shit what others stuff in their pie holes worry about yourself!!

Original poster
Stepstepmother · 16/08/2018 00:31

@rosiejaune so you’re saying that for 3.5 years, while eating a vegan diet, buying vegan cosmetics and clothes, I haven’t actually been vegan because I had the wrong motivation?

OP posts:
rosiejaune · 16/08/2018 00:31

@Misericord

"Vegan is definitely just a diet."

You only think that because of the number of plant-based dieters who misappropriate the term. The OP being one of them.

I posted the Vegan Society's definition of the term. They invented the word. It is very obviously not just a diet.

rainbowsandsmiles · 16/08/2018 00:31

If veganism is "definitely just a diet", why do lots of them refuse to wear leather shoes or use say leather wallets or purses? Unless you actually eat yours Confused Hmm

HotblackDesiatoto · 16/08/2018 00:32

I'm a bit confused,according to the definition of veganism by the Vegan Society you could eat meat if it was road kill as you have not exploited or been cruel to any living thing

Nope. The vegan society definition includes " Yet one thing all vegans have in common is a plant-based diet avoiding all animal foods such as meat (including fish, shellfish and insects), dairy, eggs and honey - as well as products like leather and any tested on animal"

no road kill

ArcheryAnnie · 16/08/2018 00:32

I think the question should be, for vegans is: do you want to maintain some sort of purity code, or do you want to encourage other people to eat a vegan or mostly-vegan diet, too? What's more important to you?

PurpleDaisies · 16/08/2018 00:32

Hilarious why do people give a shit what others stuff in their pie holes worry about yourself!!

People don’t care.

It matters what you call yourself because it affects what food others think you eat and will feed you, as the op as admitted herself.

lizzie1970a · 16/08/2018 00:32

Hotblack - yes that describes her today. But tomorrow she won't be consuming any animal products so that won't describe her tomorrow. So she can call herself a vegan tomorrow.

butterflysugarbaby · 16/08/2018 00:33

@Stepstepmother

I have eaten a vegan diet for 3.5 years. Tomorrow, I will continue to eat a vegan diet for the foreseeable future. Does that suit everyone?

You are not CONTINUING a vegan diet, you ate RED MEAT FFS!

And calm and measured? YOU? With the foul language and insults you have been dishing out?

Are you kidding me?

(Probably are actually, as you seem to be kidding yourself you're a VEGAN!) Hmm

HotblackDesiatoto · 16/08/2018 00:33

There is no "the" definition

There may be varying extents to the definition but every single definition of vegan includes "not eating cows"

Original poster
Stepstepmother · 16/08/2018 00:34

HAha oh my goodness this so frustrating!!

OP posts:
lizzie1970a · 16/08/2018 00:34

So she's starting a vegan diet tomorrow and can call herself a vegan.

PurpleDaisies · 16/08/2018 00:34

I think the question should be, for vegans is: do you want to maintain some sort of purity code, or do you want to encourage other people to eat a vegan or mostly-vegan diet, too? What's more important to you?

Everybody (I think) has said that the op’s diet is a good thing. The issue is that to call yourself a vegan, you can’t just decide to eat meat for the day.

rosiejaune · 16/08/2018 00:34

@Stepstepmother

"so you’re saying that for 3.5 years, while eating a vegan diet, buying vegan cosmetics and clothes, I haven’t actually been vegan because I had the wrong motivation?"

I'm not saying you didn't genuinely believe you were vegan. But you weren't, according to the definition. Because you had no commitment to avoid exploiting animals. And if you did, you wouldn't find it a sacrifice not to do so; it's a paradigm shift which you haven't gone through yet.

HotblackDesiatoto · 16/08/2018 00:35

Hotblack - yes that describes her today. But tomorrow she won't be consuming any animal products so that won't describe her tomorrow. So she can call herself a vegan tomorrow

so could I then if I dont eat any cow!

FFS, its not dependent on what you are actually eating this second. I haven't eaten anyting in 4 hours, therefore I have been a vegan for 4 hours! Yay me, planet saver extraordinaire!

Hmm
Original poster
Stepstepmother · 16/08/2018 00:35

Tomorrow I’ll be back on my vegan wagon. Will any of you consider me a vegan then? If not, why not? How am I different to any new vegan?

OP posts:
HotblackDesiatoto · 16/08/2018 00:36

Everybody (I think) has said that the op’s diet is a good thing

No. It's neither a good or bad thing.

lizzie1970a · 16/08/2018 00:36

Four hours is silly. A new day is a new start and if she doesn't eat meat/dairy she can call herself a vegan from that point on.

ImAIdoot · 16/08/2018 00:36

Vegan is definitely just a diet.

Yep. I get that some people have a whole ethical framework attached to it, but you don't really get to apply these things to other people.

We would describe a vegan diet as a vegan diet even if the person eating it had never heard of veganism, and 100% of us would KNOW what was meant.

lizzie1970a · 16/08/2018 00:37

You won't be different to a new vegan, Step. You'll be able to call yourself a vegan.

Original poster
Stepstepmother · 16/08/2018 00:38

@rosiejaune bullshit. It’s absolutely not a paradigm shift. It’s about what we do. And I did it. And I’ll continue to do it. You can’t say I didn’t do it right because I don’t care enough about the ickle lamb in the field.

OP posts:
lizzie1970a · 16/08/2018 00:38

Don't keep asking them. They can't give you any answers.

lizzie1970a · 16/08/2018 00:38

Anyway night all.