I am Vegan

I've been vegan for twelve years and if anyone asks me the reason I politely explain my views to them. Society generally tends to condemn bullying and emotional abuse, but if the subject happens to be vegan, there is suddenly an unofficial free pass floating in the air for anyone who wants to take it. I have had someone thrust a piece of bacon in my face and yell, 'go on, you know you want some!' I don't. If I wanted to eat it, I would. Having someone trying to make you a spectacle and feel like shit in front of others simply because they don't agree with your personal choices in life is pathetic. If you are vegan who had to deal with this then you are obviously not alone. I feel strongly that one day, if not in my lifetime, the world will find itself a much kinder place than it was, and it will only start when fools realise that other fellow human beings are not here to be bullied either physically or emotionally, and that animals aren't either.

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Serenitree · F

I agree with you, completely. I also feel that I don't deserve to be bullied because I do eat bacon, but it happens; especially on the internet. Mention having steak for dinner and I can be quite certain that someone will call me a murderer. One woman sent me a picture of slaughtered cattle. I'm sorry that you have been abused by ignorance. I hope that people will stop. I think it's could be because omnivores feel accused when vegans tell their reasons for being vegan. I don't. I just figure, that there must be an awful lot of vegans who don't have pets. And that's too bad. Having a dog or cat in your life is comforting.

Jan. 12/17
1:54 pm

asmallstone · 36-40, F

I think both vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters should be more tolerant of each other. I go out with friends who eat meat in front of me and I chose a different option. I don't go into a tirade of how the animal died for their plate. Each to their own but there will always be those who want an argument or take a dig at you and the guy who shoved bacon in my face was is a prime example.

Serenitree · F

@asmallstone: I hope he wasn't/isn't a friend. When I was quitting smoking, I had an acquaintance who took great pleasure in blowing smoke at me, and offering his pack. In the end, I was grateful to him, because the more he pushed, the angrier I got. And I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. He wasn't my friend, but the friend of a friend.

Some people can be rude and stupid with it. Back in the 1960s, when I was a young married woman, we had friends, a married couple, who were vegan. We ate at their place, and when we did, we ate vegan. When we invited them to our place, they ate what we ate, except for the meat and by products. I was careful to not use butter for frying the vegetables, and they didn't eat anything that we were unsure of being actually vegan food. Back then, it wasn't a huge THING. vegans were vegans by choice, vegetarians were vegetarians by choice, and omnivores also made their choices.

Jan. 12/17
2:10 pm

asmallstone · 36-40, F

@Serenitree: No he wasn't a friend he was work colleague. But there are many choices for vegetarians and vegans alike and this is a good thing. I don't believe that being vegan or veggie makes you a better person because it's in our genes as to who we are, and someone once, rather over excitedly, told me that Hitler was vegetarian. I was a meat eater and I know how good it tastes and how hard it can be to change eating habits, but now that I have I won't be going back for anyone, please or offend. People need more tolerance towards others but at least some of us are trying to be! ☺

Serenitree · F

@asmallstone: I actually admire people who make a choice to go vegan or vegetarian, learn how to do it properly, (unlike what I did when my kids were teens) and then stick to it. No matter what choices one makes, if they have the conviction of their beliefs, they are to be commended. I know a woman who was Anglican and her favourite weekend treat was a cheese burger with fries. And she loved pepperoni pizza. She married a Jew. Became a Jew. And never ate either of her two favourite things again. She loved him more than treats. I admire her a great deal.

Jan. 12/17
11:25 pm