Comments on: Five Ridiculous Things People Say to Vegans

By: Mandy

Mandy — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:34:18 +0000

I try to avoid disclosing my dietary choices to people, simply because I can't stand the conversations that follow. However, on occasions that involve eating with new people, it's sometimes necessary. I have to say, numbers 1 and 3 are what I hear the most. Many people honestly don't seem to understand how someone can be healthy without meat – and it's not just protein, but iron, B12, etc.

What I get most often though is people asking me why I don't eat meat. While this question seems innocent, it's anything but. After I give my reasons for my choices – all of which are carefully thought out and deeply personal – the asker will inevitably use the conversation to preach to me about why humans ought to eat meat, how natural it is, how important it is for the economy, and why my reasons for abstaining are misguided. Which brings me to number 3 – the accusation that vegans are preachy/pushy, which I hear regularly. I don't know any vegans (over the age of 16) who prosthelytize the way the omnivores in my life do, I'm not trying to convert anyone else, and yet this personal life choice that I've made seems to be fair game for attack. Seems to me that the meat-eaters are the preachy ones…

By: Kip

Kip — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:42:02 +0000

Hi Kiffa,

I'm not in any way interested in starting an argument here, but I can't help but feel you're putting words in my mouth. I don't think anyone's stupid nor unintelligent, and I'm a little shocked at what appears to be an assumption that some of my points are over-inflated or even false. I appreciate your input (really, I do), but this sort of response is what I meant by statement 3.

By: Kiffa

Kiffa — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:35:19 +0000

Wow, great job on creating a straw man argument and then tearing it down.
1. People know you can get protein from other places than meat, most would assume that you get it from milk or eggs. If you are a vegan-then the question is pretty legit, there are not many great tasting options that supply protein. They probably are just curious to see if you actually do eat tofu and then wonder how you cook it in order to get it to taste good. I would have to say a majority of people do not think that protein can only come from meat.
2. Thats just a silly statement that no serious person would actually make.
3. Isn't that exactly what your doing here? "most veg*ns don’t bring it up unless they have to" You have brought this issue up, quite unprovoked, with the intention to make non-vegetarians look foolish.
4/5. This is really your best argument, you make a valid point-most people do have the misinterpretation that vegan or organic food is low in fat or some how good for you when it is filled with oil.
I'm definitely not against your choice to become vegan/vegetarian and I understand the reasons that you do it- but you post it with the intention of making non-vegans look unintelligent because they do not support this cause by using weakened forms of your opponent's arguments. This not the right way to do it. I think you make a few good points, but focusing on the stupidity of others does nothing to define your own moral decisions and thoughts.

By: Coconut Rice with Lemon-Agave Stir-Fry « vegan house

Coconut Rice with Lemon-Agave Stir-Fry « vegan house — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:15:08 +0000

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