Hey all,
So I recently decided to go vegan. My personal reasons for ditching animal products were because of environmental factors, animal welfare, and trying to maintain consistency with the values I hold to their logical ends.
I was curious. I’ve seen a lot of hate towards vegans online, admittedly being someone who partook in that several years ago myself to a small degree. While I’m glad and very lucky people I know closely have been making accommodations for me, I’m also worried about mentioning or bringing it up to people I’m getting to know since I don’t want to rub them the wrong way if they possibly have these notions that being vegan and veganism are a bad thing. Namely when it’s relevant in conversation like people asking me why I read ingredients lists or can’t have something they’re offering me, which I’ve been half-lying attributing to food allergies and intolerances out of worry (I’m lactose intolerant, which helps as a cop-out).
I’m wanting to know what people dislike about vegans, whether they’re based on previous experiences they’ve had, or preconceived notions, and what would make someone a “good vegan” in their eyes. I know I shouldn’t be a people-pleaser, but knowing this stuff would definitely help me gain the confidence to be more open about myself and my personal values to others who don’t necessarily share said values.
Thanks in advance, I’ll try to respond where possible, but it’s going to be a busy day for me, though I do read all replies to posts I make.
Hey, glad you want to be a considerate, conscientious vegan! You won’t upset anyone as long as you follow these simple rules:
- Never admit that you are vegan
- Never talk about veganism
- When people are talking about meat, eagerly participate
- Do not eat visibly vegan food in public
- If offered meat or cheese, eat it without protest
- Do not cook vegan food if serving others
- When you see a cow, remark out loud how you want to eat it
That’s about all you need to know to be one of the Good Vegans. Hope this helps!
You sound like one of those people who deliberately tries to feed vegans animal products
Honestly, just don’t be a dick about it.
It’s like being a good insert religious group. You live your beliefs, and don’t push them on other people. It’s really that simple. That’s what people hate about vegans.
If someone asks, it’s perfectly okay to explain why you follow a religion, so it’s fine when the question is about being vegan. It’s when there’s a conversation about something else, and you insist on shoving your beliefs into it that’s there’s a problem. Or, when the conversation is such that talking about your beliefs is the goal, insisting that the other people agree with your beliefs.
It’s that simple. It’s that easy.
I troll vegans. It’s easy to do because a lot of them treat it like a religion and are zealots, or are arrogant enough to think that they’re better because of what they believe. But, irl away from the anonymity of the internet, it rarely happens, and the vegans I know are fucking great, because they don’t shoehorn their beliefs into things, and don’t act like jerks about it. It’s why I’ll gladly cook vegan for them when they’re guests.
You know how people bitch about jehovah’s witnesses and mormons knocking on their door, or the baptists (or other christian sects) leaving shit on their stoop or shoved into doors? Don’t be like that. If you’re in a situation where you would not be surprised that someone would be angry/annoyed by someone going on about being wiccan or christian, or hindu, they’ll likely be the same about veganism.
Live your beliefs, don’t show them off, and anyone that has a problem with you is the asshole, not you.
I’m not into this line of thinking because by continuing to eat meat they’re still causing animal suffering. It isn’t a belief without consequences (like talking to the air is), it actually impacts others (the animals).
I said that eating dead animals impacts those animals’ lives, not just the person who chooses to eat meat. Where do you think meat comes from?
This is kinda exemplifying it. It’s one thing to raise awareness, but it’s another to chastise someone’s preferences for one of the main bodily functions necessary to live and try to make them uproot their entire lives around a philosophy. The fact of the matter is, barring a cataclysmic event, people are still going to eat what they enjoy. If you can convert someone to the cause, sweet, but if they say no, leave it be. You aren’t going to shame someone into going vegan, and that he line makes someone a dick.
If eating meat is needed to live, and I haven’t eaten meat in 6+ years how am I alive?
All beliefs and practices impact others, because they guide your behavior and your behavior impacts others. It’s up to you whether you decide to bring your beliefs and practices into every conversation, but the person you’re talking to is likely to think you’re unpleasant to be around. This is especially true if you place your belief or practice in judgment of someone else’s.
So sure, you can be vocal if that’s what you want to do, but you’re also likely to suffer social consequences, which is what OP is asking about avoiding.
Well I don’t want to generalize about every possible belief, but what I wrote is that by consuming meat you’re impacting animals’ lives so the argument that each person has a choice and it only impacts that person is false.
I’m not addressing every possible belief someone might hold.
I was a partner at a Bio vegetable farm. As part of the business I was in contact with over 100 vegetarian /vegan restaurants (our main customers).
Early on I learned, from the owner of one of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in the business in our area, 20+ old (the restaurant) , that Vegetarianism is a dietary choice, veganism a cult.
I do Keto. When going out, or eating at someone’s, I do not make a fuss. If spaghetti is on the menu, I’ll eat it. My choice is not the others burden.
Also, use Arch.
I’ve seen a lot of hate towards vegans online, admittedly being someone who partook in that several years ago myself to a small degree.
Then you probably understand that the hate is primarily a coping mechanism because vegans propose arguments that question their lifestyle. It’s a “them” problem, not a “you” problem.
If you value consistency, don’t let a few jerks push you into a behavior that isn’t true to yourself. Don’t come up with fake reasons for why you neglect to partake in rituals that don’t respect the rights of animals.
State your real reasons. This is also better for the animals. If someone then wants to start a discussion, you can still politely refuse.
Don’t superglue yourself to burger king counters while holding a tablet playing a meat grinder video.
Don’t follow random people and film them to ridicule them online for buying McDonald’s.
Don’t steal homeless people’s dogs and put them up for adoption.
Don’t block traffic.
Don’t shame anyone for eating meat and animal products.
Don’t block entrances to restaurants that serve animal products. Don’t bang on the windows or shine bright lights into the restaurant either.
Don’t act like words like bacon, beef, venison, sausage, pork, etc. are slurs or swear words.
Don’t hide the fact that a dish has vegan alternatives, that’s not going to make someone realize it’s Not As Hard Of A Change!!! Those alternatives usually have allergens most wouldn’t expect if it were name the regular way. Who expects soy or nuts in a hot chocolate or chicken nugget?
Just exist and don’t be a dick. Anyone who has a problem with a vegan just existing is an asshole, don’t waste time with them. But if the association with Those Vegans™ still sucks, then just say it’s your religious belief. But then again if you have the emotional energy, you should denounce and call out the toxic vegans and help destroy the negative impression.
Yeah I fucking hate climate activists for the same reasons.
And human rights activists. Just let me buy my child labour diamonds in peace.
Glad to see another kindred spirit.
Not by asking non vegans. Vegans are the voice for the voiceless and you’re taking part in a boycott that challenge peoples core beliefs. To be a good vegan is to push back and disturb social cohesion which people do not like. I’m not a vegan to make friends, I’m vegan to do the right thing.
