dismay over vegan cat humor

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

 

I have been following the vegan cat " humor " posts and not really feeling too

involved in this topic. For those who have been on the list awhile, you

know that " vegan cats " are a cyclical topic and it will again be revisited

in about 6 months. This is a topic that some feel very passionate about.

But one response made me pause...

 

Shelley wrote:

 

> I am dismayed at the content of this list. I joined about three months

ago in the hope that I could learn something useful as a struggle to become

more of a vegan.

 

That is an admirable goal to seek to learn more about becoming a vegan.

There are many folks in this online community who are willing to help others

on the path towards veganism.

 

However, regarding other sentiments posted, I felt compelled to respond, to

Shelley, and to our community as a whole.

 

> But there seems to be far too much of the fanatics posting

 

There are many people who lurk on this list (for 3 months or for 2 years).

They are welcome to lurk. Yet at the same time, it is the people who take

the time and energy to post and ask questions and share their opinions that

give others something to read and consider. While we may not agree with

everything that others post, they are the ones who are *contributing* to the

online community, and they are entitled to express their opinions, in a

respectful manner, as we all are.

 

<snip>

 

>I will never purchase leather hats/coats, but I know my next hiking boots

and wallet will be leather but not until this one is in tatters. I have the

strength of

> conviction to not indulge in <favorite non-veg item here> when I feel like

it, and I do as much as I possibly can, which I am sure would not be enough

for

> many of the posters that have expressed extreme views on this list.

 

Perhaps I am one who has been labelled with " extreme views " ??? Who knows!

All I can say is that how we incorporate veganism into our lives is an

evolution, I think. Perhaps what you now view as " extreme " may one day be

where you are at. For myself, 20 years ago, I probably would have

considered veganism an extreme lifestyle... I didn't even like broccoli back

then! Now it is one of my favorite vegetables AND I now eat raw carrots

regularly, unthinkable to me 2 years ago..

 

> So, I am going to sign off this list and instead use the web to search for

information which can help me become more than a 90% vegan. But if that is

all that I can

> manage, so be it.

 

Now that is one of my pet peeves. When folks who have never posted before

feel compelled to tell the rest of us that they we haven't provided them

with what they want, so they are leaving.....

 

I sincerely wish and encourage all who are with us in this online

community -- if you have questions about becoming vegetarian or vegan, ask

them! Please, don't sit on the list for 3 months silent, perhaps waiting

for someone else to ask what you want to know... There are many friendly and

knowledgeable people who are very willing to answer your questions.

 

In addition to this mailing list, for lurkers who don't want to post online

for whatever reason, there are typically a few events every month where

people gather face to face, a great opportunity to meet other veg folks and

ask questions or have discussions. You can view the event calendar on our

website at

http://www.BayAreaVeg.org

 

Folks, we all just need to express our respective opinions respectfully --

without labelling or judging others -- and effectively. Effective

communication, for me, is writing a message that can be understood by

others. So go easy on the humor & sarcasm -- they don't translate well via

email, and people won't understand what you're trying to say, and instead

may be alienated by your literary style and viewpoint.

 

Shelley, I hope you find the information you seek for your veg lifestyle...

Good luck!

 

Cheers,

Tammy

 

Bay Area Vegetarians.... Be-a-Veg with us!

http://www.BayAreaVeg.org

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