Why do so many people criticise vegans?

[trunch]

I'm a meat eater!

However, I don't understand why people criticise vegans so much.

They aren't hurting me and are trying to save animals and the environment.

What's wrong with that?

Surely people should be more critical of me because animals are killed for me to eat?

I think some people feel judged and criticise by someone else doing something else if it be veganism, cycling, breastfeeding and so on. Particularly if their reason for doing so is that they consider it to be better

I just don't understand being ok with being cruel. It isn't nature. Nature is going into the wild and hunting. You are paying for animals to be bred in captivity, lead short horrible lives, then die an agonising death watching streams of the blood of their pals trickle along the slaughterhouse floor before its their turn.

@Sevenwondersofthewoo I'm really confused. You seem to be referring to a different poster. I personally haven't referred to your medical issues, nor suggested a supplement or whatever, and nor have I earlier in the thread. You are confusing me with someone else.

I was replying to some of the points made in your post yesterday morning about environmental stuff, which I disagreed with and then you attacked me to say I am holier than thou and shoving veganism in your face.

Most of the rest of the points you made were discussed earlier in the thread elsewhere and I am tired of repeating them again and again.

And to add to that, as I have personally explained (earlier in the thread to others several times) that veganism is about avoiding animal products as far is is "practicable and possible" and that I am not personally opposed to use of animal products (in line with the official definition of veganism) whereby it is not possible to avoid animal products if a medical condition was involved (e.g. in a medication if no vegan alternative available); please see my earlier posts. I wouldn't see someone get ill and die because a medication was denied, for example.

Existing as a human in itself has very cruel impacts. Cruelty is also subjective. I think it’s cruel to own pets, therefore I don’t.

Your words don’t bother me TBH, I have many farming friends and know how it works. I’m ok with all that. I have more integrity than people who eat meat but moan about fur or animal testing

I agree about the pet issue, totally.

Cruelty is not subjective. You may be happy fooling yourself that it is, but the rest of us are not fooled.

OK then. Still don’t feel bad about eating meat. About to enjoy a delicious 🐷 in my jacket potato 😋

Pet ownership can be a good thing to do.
Eating meat rarely.
And wearing fur - in the UK at least - never.

Sure, existing as a human - whether vegan or omnivore - has a negative impact but we can limit that impact. That's all I would suggest most people who try to live ethically are trying to do.

I think being around farmers - and I wouldn't want their job for all the money in the world - hardens a person. How can it not?

Bingo. We have a pig emoji.

where is that happening? Do tell.

@Sevenwondersofthewoo thanks for the apology.

I think for me, as adults we make our own judgements on what we are happy an comfortable with. A vegan telling me about the meat industry isn't telling me anything that I don't already know. The efforts to educate are patronising, but also as over a meal is often the prompt, inappropriate as well. I equate it to talking politics at the dinner table- not the right place.

I have no problems with vegans, my issue starts when you attempt to educate me, or inflict your lifestyle choice on me. My ex-MIL was a big one for this, she took great delight in spiking others food with vegan options and pointing out that you hadn't realised... the brother with the nut allergy certainly noticed the almond milk latte...

Just watch footage from inside slaughterhouses- you won't have to search for long to see this.

No reputable abattoir is posting video footage of their operations. Most of the videos you find online are published with some sort of agenda so represent absolute cesspits which should be shut down. I would argue for more regulation. I am happy with eating meat because I choose to pay more, I know where it comes from and I know the supply chain. Other people make up their own minds with what they are comfortable with.

I don't think searching the internet for gratuitous videos, posted by pressure groups adds much if anything to the debate.

As many have pointed out, it is mainly the preachy and superior vegans that people criticise. I would like to add that a lot of vegans are obviously simply masking an eating disorder. If you want to go vegan, please find a good cook book made by a licenced dietician and not a book from some self-proclaimed guru. This way you ensure that you still get the necessary nutrients.

I’ve seen footage inside small family run abattoirs, some owners give permission and some footage is taken undercover by animal rights activists, they’re easy to find on the internet.

Joey Carbstrong and Ed Winters are a couple of animal rights activists that have obtained footage of farms and abattoirs up and down the UK as well as a number of organisations like Viva.

I saw one episode with owner of a family run abattoir who was happy to show Joey Carbstrong through the whole process including what happens inside the abattoir (not all owners try to hide the obvious)

It was still grim watching.

https://plantbasednews.org/opinion/opinion-piece/small-family-run-slaughterhouses-more-ethical-joey-carbstrong/

In slaughterhouses. What, you think they trot along quite merrily to their clean happy deaths, do you?

Deep down people know they shouldn’t be paying for animal cruelty, so seeing vegans upsets them as it reflects upon their own selfish choices.

Nope. Can certainly say that's not happening for me!

The black and white thinking around these kinds of issues is frustrating. A majority of people, for various reasons, will not willingly go vegan. Lobbying government to ban factory farming would benefit animals more than calling out meat and dairy eaters.

Ineffective. It’s a simple case of supply and demand. Factory farming is required to meet the huge demand. We do not have enough land for the billions of animals killed each year to roam / be grass fed.

As long as people demand it government are not going to ban it.

How can you spike food with vegan options? Genuinely confused!

The nut thing is outrageous though.

Mac cheese is one and it’s vegan cheese by the way it’s vile.

You're not wrong about vegan cheese. Applewood do a vegan one which is acceptable on pizza as it melts and tastes ok but most vegan cheese is vile.

I'm pescatarian for about 4 years - not very long really. My decision to stop eating meat was a consequence of reading a thread on MN. I was not enjoying eating meat that much so made it that much easier

I cannot, absolutely cannot physically eat meat now, it's like a brick wall comes in front of me I cannot do it and would probably vomit and you want to do that to me??

Oh and regarding food at events. I went to a party thrown some months after a wedding due to Covid. There was a buffet but by the time I got to the food all the vegetarian food had gone. I ate a roll and a slice of processed cheese. It happens a lot

Halal is much worse than vegan