Guest guest Posted July 14, 2002 Report Share Posted July 14, 2002 This keeps happening on the net. Some 'perfect' vegan makes lots of imperfect vegans feel like they don't want to use the word " vegan " to describe themselves anymore. Terms like strict vegetarian, veganoid and vegarian start being invented instead. Well,it pisses me off. For one thing the vast silent majority of vegans that I happen to have met are not uptight or judgemental. It's just a vocal minority. And I think their holy attitude might scare off vegetarians hovering on the brink. It certainly would me. I was lucky I suppose, When I went vegan the only ones I encountered were spiritual/ethical vegans and they were kind and had a good grasp on the fact that people evolve at different times. I was a meat eater for 15 years and a vegetarian for 7 and no amount of emotional blackmail by a partner would've made me a vegan. Two half wits I was harrassed by who belonged to the " Divine Light " put me off even thinking about becoming vegan. I thought then it was associated with bigotry and unpleasantness and it was a year later before I met a sane vegan (Eva Batt) and I then went vegan within two hours. Happily and painlessly. I stayed a happy vegan until I got embroiled in vegan politics, and shot down by the vegan police. Publicly and physically threatened, I was rescued by a 'practical' vegan, who now is married to a meat eater and also runs a vegan factory. I remember saying " this is the worst day of my life " . Being attacked by a couple of vegans - my crime was defending vegetarians at a vegan society agm. A wise old vegan (Harry Mather) said to me " you're young, there'll be worse days " . And of course there have been, but it still hurts when I encounter vegans lacking compassion. Because it's the whole lacking in compassion and empathy thing that leads to murder and trashing. I used to be very angry, very AR. I did the lot. Now I'm doing other things, making a sanctuary, talking to people, stuff. Maybe it's just me, but I think vegans need a lot of support from each other to stay sane and last the course. And support can be sadly lacking. In my mind there are comparisons with the Christian movement. A zillion different sects, and ways of doing things, but a few basics in common. And when veganism starts to become Veganism, and seem horribly similar to Jehovah's Witnesses (I have some JW friends- one was 'shunned' for eight months for sinning) I feel moved to write to let any vegans out there who aren't of the JW type that they are not alone. LOTS OF US ARE FRIENDLY. You will not be shunned... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2002 Report Share Posted July 15, 2002 Nice one. Thanks Peter :-) vegan-network, " Peter Browning " <Peter.Browning1@b...> wrote: > This keeps happening on the net. Some 'perfect' vegan makes lots of imperfect vegans feel like they don't want to use the word " vegan " to describe themselves anymore. Terms like strict vegetarian, veganoid and vegarian start being invented instead. Well,it pisses me off. > For one thing the vast silent majority of vegans that I happen to have met are not uptight or judgemental. It's just a vocal minority. And I think their holy attitude might scare off vegetarians hovering on the brink. It certainly would me. I was lucky I suppose, When I went vegan the only ones I encountered were spiritual/ethical vegans and they were kind and had a good grasp on the fact that people evolve at different times. I was a meat eater for 15 years and a vegetarian for 7 and no amount of emotional blackmail by a partner would've made me a vegan. Two half wits I was harrassed by who belonged to the " Divine Light " put me off even thinking about becoming vegan. I thought then it was associated with bigotry and unpleasantness and it was a year later before I met a sane vegan (Eva Batt) and I then went vegan within two hours. Happily and painlessly. I stayed a happy vegan until I got embroiled in vegan politics, and shot down by the vegan police. Publicly and physically threatened, I was rescued by a 'practical' vegan, who now is married to a meat eater and also runs a vegan factory. I remember saying " this is the worst day of my life " . Being attacked by a couple of vegans - my crime was defending vegetarians at a vegan society agm. A wise old vegan (Harry Mather) said to me " you're young, there'll be worse days " . And of course there have been, but it still hurts when I encounter vegans lacking compassion. Because it's the whole lacking in compassion and empathy thing that leads to murder and trashing. > I used to be very angry, very AR. I did the lot. Now I'm doing other things, making a sanctuary, talking to people, stuff. Maybe it's just me, but I think vegans need a lot of support from each other to stay sane and last the course. And support can be sadly lacking. In my mind there are comparisons with the Christian movement. A zillion different sects, and ways of doing things, but a few basics in common. And when veganism starts to become Veganism, and seem horribly similar to Jehovah's Witnesses (I have some JW friends- one was 'shunned' for eight months for sinning) I feel moved to write to let any vegans out there who aren't of the JW type that they are not alone. LOTS OF US ARE FRIENDLY. You will not be shunned... > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2002 Report Share Posted July 15, 2002 vegan-network, " quercusrobur2002 " <grahamburnett@b...> wrote: > Nice one. Thanks Peter :-) Even so, I still wouldnt want to live with you- no offence ;-) Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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