Hey GISM, I’ll try and give it a shot.
Maybe I'm just an ignorant asshole, but sometimes it seems some people make it a point to be vegan, but only when it's convenient for them. There also tends to be a pretentious vibe that surrounds some people's attitudes. I'm trying to emphasize on "some people" because making an all inclusive statement would be ignorance. And I don't think all vegans are that way.
Another example of being pretentious. I go to the gym and keep it to myself. But there are others that brag about how healthy of a person they are, ad nauseum. Though, I've seen this in all walks of life.
Yeah, this is problem with anyone who suddenly adopts a pretty radical change, especially those who change quickly, and wants to share this life-changing experience with everyone. Same goes for religious people, and anything else that is seen as something that is part of someone’s identity.
With vegans, at least the ones I know (and have been myself), we get to this point where we see so much unnecessary animal suffering, and just by making a simple dietary change we can stop it, we feel compelled to let everyone know about it, and yeah, brag about it.
And for dumbasses like myself, it takes some time to get to the point, after countless arguments, you see that being moralistic and scolding is not a great way to get people to accept what you’re saying.
So yeah, TLDR is pretentiousness is a big problem vegans and vegetarians have.
So on to the actual point of all this.
I contradict myself, because I believe veganism is good, but also don't understand how not fully being cruelty free means you're cruelty free at all? I understand no one can be 100% unless they remove themselves from society. The death of an animal is still the death of an animal whether it is avoidable or not.
I agree, and will back-up what GISM said.
No-one is 100% cruelty-free, despite the feel-good vegan advertising that goes on. The wheat I had in my toast today probably came at the cost of many insect and rodent lives.
Causing suffering to other creatures in our culture is unavoidable, but certainly with a little care, easily reduced.
I see it the same as being completely against killing someone, but you would do it if your life was in danger.
I used to hunt and fish. And if I was even in a position where I had to do because there was nothing else to eat, I would.
But until that time comes, since I can live healthy and happily without eating another creature, I will avoid it as much as I can.
I wrote a bunch of other shit that would have further explained my thoughts and experiences, but I erased it. No need to bring my complaints about someone I know into all this. Basically, a lady I know wants everyone to conform to her beliefs, but she breaks her own rules anyway.
Because the world is so complex, and there aren’t any easy answers, who holds a strong viewpoint or
ideal is a hypocrite. As much as I hate capitalism, sweatshops, and the fashion industry, I still get a kick out of shopping for clothes.
I’m lazy and if a restaurant doesn’t have a vegan option, I’ll still eat eggs and cheese, despite the fucked-up things that go into creating it.
He’ll, I married a non-vegetarian. And my kid unfortunately will not be vegetarian outside the house, but you do what you can with what you have.
Every vegan/vegetarian/freegan is different, with a different mix of reasons, history, and baggage. Being an outright hypocrite and ignoring it is one thing, but no-one is perfect, and we all fail to meet our ideals.
People that can see their own hypocrisies tend to be a little more understanding with other people’s.
I would still be able to see both sides and make an informed judgement. We have to educate ourselves and look beyond our typical sources.
Shalom