Forums: April 2011 Kickstart Forum: Lack of welcome in the Vegan community
Created on: 05/21/11 10:58 PM Views: 1791 Replies: 9
greenish Joined: 03/31/11 Posts: 53	Lack of welcome in the Vegan community Posted Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 10:58 PM I've been reading some other vegetarian/vegan forums looking for advice and words of wisdom from experienced vegans. And I'm finding it interesting how unwelcoming the online vegan community can be. If you are choosing to eat a vegan diet for ethical reasons, you're in the club. If you choose to eat a vegan diet for health reasons, you are definitely not considered a vegan by the vegan community since vegan is defined as someone who doesn't use any animal products at all. (i.e., no leather shoes) And yet, if you don't eat meat, eggs, or dairy, the rest of the world will consider you a vegan. If you say you're a vegetarian, they assume you will eat dairy and eggs. So I guess I just say that I eat a plant-based diet? It just doesn't feel right to me to refer to a vegan diet or a plant-based diet though because I don't feel as if I'm on a "diet." It's just how I eat now. This was a great forum during the kickstart, but there's not a lot of activity since then. Has anyone found other more active online forums that are welcoming for people who "eat a vegan diet"?
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fiji51904 Joined: 01/12/10 Location: Ontario, CA Posts: 98	RE: Lack of welcome in the Vegan community Posted Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 11:18 PM You are a 'Nutritional Vegan'. And I'm sorry, but 2 years into this I am so OVER the crazy aggressive nasty vegans that can't understand or learn to tolerate anything outside their own views & beliefs. Hang tight sweetie, were still here. Heidi
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dollgirl Joined: 12/28/09 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 131	RE: Lack of welcome in the Vegan community Posted Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 11:34 PM greenish greenish wrote: I just say that I eat a plant-based diet? I have found that the best way to describe how/what I eat. I am sorry that you have encountered so many unwelcoming "vegans", just know that you are doing what is right for you and they have no right to judge. I know someone like this and she sneak eats cheese all the time, but will rip people to shreds over all her ethical issues at hand. Also it takes time to change your entire life or way of living to be completely vegan, especially if you are very new to the lifestyle. Though if it is a nutritional decision for you, then let all of that negative energy these people expel roll in one ear & out the other, then move right along living a happy healthy life! fiji51904 wrote: You are a 'Nutritional Vegan'. And I'm sorry, but 2 years into this I am so OVER the crazy aggressive nasty vegans that can't understand or learn to tolerate anything outside their own views & beliefs. Hang tight sweetie, were still here. AMEN! www
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chickadee Joined: 01/12/11 Location: North Eastern Ontario, Canada Posts: 53	RE: Lack of welcome in the Vegan community Posted Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 7:11 AM Sorry that you've found some people to be so uninviting, its their problem not yours. I became vegan about 15 years ago (I think) for health reasons (high blood pressure) but gradually found out the benefits to other living creatures of not eating or harming them (everyone is surprised when I step on an ant, or a bug that's eating my plants) My husband who went from meat and potatoes to vegan when I did has only recently become a "real" vegan - he no longer eats cookies or things with eggs and milk because he can't see them. But he still loves his leather shoes and won't give them up. I tell people I don't eat anything that smiles.
	Edited 05/22/11 7:12 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Wild4Stars Joined: 12/27/09 Location: Florida Posts: 832	RE: Lack of welcome in the Vegan community Posted Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 8:23 AM Militant vegans can be very assertive and I think that is what has given the word "vegan" a bad name. Most of the time I refer to my way of eating as vegan, if I'm questioned about a choice or my shoes I let them know that my path is one of progress, not perfection. I also stay away from discussing what I don't eat. I usually say, "I avoid meat, eggs and dairy." Don't ask me why but people seem to accept the word avoid better than "I don't eat . . . " Eventually I may eliminate my leather shoes and handbags, but I'm not throwing everything away and buying a new car because it has leather seats. The older I get the less I let confrontational people bother me. "You have your path, I have mine and we're both happy where we are." Vikki ~ Wild4Stars@gmail.com
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Wild4Stars Joined: 12/27/09 Location: Florida Posts: 832	RE: Lack of welcome in the Vegan community Posted Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 8:27 AM PS ~ drmcdougall.com has a pretty active message board / forum. I'm Wild4Stars there also. Vikki ~ Wild4Stars@gmail.com
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greenish Joined: 03/31/11 Posts: 53	RE: Lack of welcome in the Vegan community Posted Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 8:40 AM Wild4Stars wrote: PS ~ drmcdougall.com has a pretty active message board / forum. I'm Wild4Stars there also. Excellent! That's exactly the kind of thing I have been looking for. Thank you.
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theodore Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 643	RE: Lack of welcome in the Vegan community Posted Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 4:16 PM . Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air
	Edited 04/05/12 5:49 PM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
kiwi Joined: 01/03/11 Location: New Zealand Posts: 405	RE: Lack of welcome in the Vegan community Posted Monday, May 23, 2011 at 5:18 AM I have done 2 kickstarts and a form of this discussion has come up in both at some point. Like religion and politics, veganism is another topic where there is a continuum of thought. Both ends are somewhat extreme but the majority sit in the middle somewhere. There are: 1. those on the hard left who think the whole thing is stupid and won't consider listening to any ideas that are new to them (i.e those who think we should still be tearing the meat off bones with our bare hands and teeth like cavemen) 2. those who see a middle ground and are happy to discuss, debate, learn and may make some changes to their own ideas/beliefs/life 3. those who are on the hard right and extreme in their vegan/animal rights beliefs. They do not make anyone welcome who is not like them. They can't stop being extreme and dogmatic for long enough to realise that as more people choose to eat vegan for health reasons, the more this helps their 'cause' of animal rights, even if these food converts wear their leather shoes. Its a few less animals harmed for food. The more us 'regular' folk choose to eat vegan the faster things will change and for the better. I like the term 'nutritional vegan' as I too still have leather shoes that I am not prepared to throw away. The animal is long dead and is not coming back just because I gave the shoes away. We each have our own spot along the continuum of where we sit. I think I am a more to the right of some but not at the top end of the scale. What animal issues I am personally passionate about is stopping animal abuse/torture and animals being used in laboratories (something I have in common with PCRM). In the interest of full disclosure I also have 2 dogs that both eat meat. I sometimes purchase meat for them as a change from dry kibble. I am not having a vegetarian/vegan pet as I believe dogs (and cats) are carnivores - its healthy for them. For me, I'm not a carnivoure and I am not eating any animal products any more. So... I guess I wouldn't be welcome on some of these web sites either. Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food - Hippocrates.
	Edited 05/23/11 5:58 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
veganer Joined: 01/04/11 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 196	RE: Lack of welcome in the Vegan community Posted Monday, May 23, 2011 at 5:15 PM Thank you Kiwi for your brilliant post. Everything you said is brilliant.
	Edited 05/23/11 5:20 PM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom

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