tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post5207168903150891214..comments2024-02-03T06:58:02.859-04:00Comments on My Face Is On Fire: ChoicesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post-58854123096829397312010-10-08T10:13:06.570-03:002010-10-08T10:13:06.570-03:00"Vegans need to stop treating talking about v..."Vegans need to stop treating talking about veganism--or why animal use is immoral--as taboo."<br /><br />Two days ago I was on the interstate - paying a toll. The back of my car has a few... okay, "several" AR bumper stickers. When I merged forward in traffic an enraged man pulled next to me and yelled horrible things out his window. I caught a few comments "Mind your own business" ---- "What's the matter with you talking about these things?" ---- "F*cking animal lover!" ---- I also caught something about "my mother" - "how I was raised"... or he called me a "mother", I never did get it all. <br /><br />But it makes it apparent that some people cannot even tolerate going near the subject. This is only evidence that it desperately needs to be discussed. Getting around people like this is a huge challenge. They should not get off "easy" by our silence. ;)Bea Elliotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13981537551810309024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post-56347921072935480312010-10-08T09:58:46.414-03:002010-10-08T09:58:46.414-03:00jean sebastien, nobody is suggesting that you shak...jean sebastien, nobody is suggesting that you shake your fist at people over dinner. The individuals in the article state that vegans don't care if others use animal products and I was pointing out that this mindset is problematic, as is perpetuating that "most" vegans share that mindset. We don't. We may not say anything to those around us who continue to eat animals, but this doesn't mean that we don't care.<br /><br />As for whether or not you should talk to others about their animal use, I often state that the dinner table is invariably the worst time to do that. Also, there's no need to be aggressive or confrontational when talking to others about the ethics of animal consumption. There are so many opportunities throughout each day for it to be brought up conversationally. Vegans need to stop treating talking about veganism--or why animal use is immoral--as taboo.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800153451645970774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post-248039749828312132010-10-06T15:34:12.937-03:002010-10-06T15:34:12.937-03:00What you have to realise is that I being Vegan, be...What you have to realise is that I being Vegan, believe that ALL animals deserve to be treated equally... If a friend was consuming a human baby, I would be disgusted & I would make it clear how wrong it was, I act the same when it's a non human animal (or part of him/her) that's being consumed!!veganpandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07313904598151152988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post-34717924768506153512010-10-06T14:09:26.199-03:002010-10-06T14:09:26.199-03:00When I was a vegetarian it didn't bother me at...When I was a vegetarian it didn't bother me at all when/if others around me ate meat. I thought it kinda gross - But no big.<br /><br />I was also under the illusions of the happy-meat myth and didn't comprehend the full extent of animal suffering AND use. <br /><br />Once the cloak of deceit was lifted from "Old McDonald's Farm" - all bets are off. When I see meat - I cannot separate the exploitation - or the pain it takes to make "meat" possible. <br /><br />I try to avoid situations where others are eating others... Everyone who matters, knows what I think... So when I can't avoid those meat eating events, I bite my tongue - till it hurts.Bea Elliotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13981537551810309024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post-13096120452314755352010-10-06T12:46:24.675-03:002010-10-06T12:46:24.675-03:00Even tough you may regard others people behavior a...Even tough you may regard others people behavior as morally offensive when they eat meat, what do you suggest we do? Every time telling them it's wrong to do so? Even tough it may put you in conflict situation with your family and your friends?<br /><br />I agree that we should speak for those who can't, but I feel uncomfortable to make the ethical treatment comment every time someone eats animals product, especially if you already made your point and that those people you eat with already know your moral standing point.<br /><br />I would like to have your comments please.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01139230749424642894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post-26333183739331285862010-10-05T09:09:38.453-03:002010-10-05T09:09:38.453-03:00I saw that on a social networking site that someon...I saw that on a social networking site that someone had posted that she still hadn't given up bacon entirely and a friend of hers had said that most, if not all, pigs would be grateful.<br /><br />He was at pains to point out to me that he was trying to be positive about the steps she HAD taken towards giving up meat.Vanilla Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07946634138308342764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post-39052026109319866062010-10-05T08:26:07.408-03:002010-10-05T08:26:07.408-03:00I agree with dbass... of course we'll find our...I agree with dbass... of course we'll find ourselves eating &/or drinking with non-vegan family & friends, it happenens regularly with me. When they come to eat at my home, they already know I don't allow non-vegan food/drink... If I'm eating with them, I'll always bring up (not aggressively) why I'm Vegan & how it's not about our wants/greed, it's about other(of course innocent) animals.<br /><br />In the past I've had quite a few guilty replies for eating animal flesh or other non vegan products, such as looking at me & saying "I'm sorry" or something similar. My answer generally has been "Don't apologise to me, you aren't eating my family member/friend!"<br /><br />It's VERY important that all Vegans ONLY buy/give Vegan (eco) Birthday, Christmas, etc presents, whether perfumes, make-up, pro Vegan books, etc... Even my wrapping paper is covered in pictures of various other animals!<br /><br />Just to let you know that I have been rather successful, with more & more family & friends asking for Vegan info, recipes, etc :)veganpandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07313904598151152988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post-82959647042720863312010-10-04T18:35:33.401-03:002010-10-04T18:35:33.401-03:00I agree, and I have been feeling more and more dis...I agree, and I have been feeling more and more distress when seeing people consume animal products. But what are we to do? Most of my friends and family aren't vegan (yet!!) and I love them, just not their moral choices. Ifi never eat with them, surely I would be losing an opportunity to set a positive vegan example, and start some discussions?Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12071287386223731087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post-22624906505243427942010-10-04T14:26:04.820-03:002010-10-04T14:26:04.820-03:00Precisely, pretending that eating animals is just ...Precisely, pretending that eating animals is just a "personal" choice is like pretending that being a rapist is a "personal" choice. It cannot be forgotten that there is a victim involved and in this instance it is a victim with no human voice....hence the need to speak on her/his behalf.veganelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05188156008589356984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post-52864679266313904692010-10-04T12:38:05.095-03:002010-10-04T12:38:05.095-03:00Yep, vegetarians are notorious of this "perso...Yep, vegetarians are notorious of this "personal choice" attitude, partly because they are still speciesists. I personally always found it quite frustrating and completely irrational, even when I was a vegetarian. As you pointed out in one of your last posts, if we change our behavior due to moral concerns, it naturally follows that we will find the same behavior in other people morally problematic as well...<br /><br />Regarding the vegan who made the same kind of statement, and regarding the other main reason why vegetarians tend to think like that, I also have a possible explanation. At the end of the post you asked:<br /><br />"But tell me, how's that attitude going to change anything for non-human animals?"<br /><br />Well, they might simply not thinking about changing society; because, due to their lack of education (which is the main reason of being non-vegan, isn't it?), they see no real possibility of changing it. So they resort to being apologetic, and they suppress their true feelings towards the general public in order to avoid "futile" confrontations.<br /><br />This phenomenon can be observed quite well in developing countries. I live in Hungary, and you would be surprised how many vegetarians (and even a few vegans) live here who have no idea about the solid animal rights argument, about the academic involvements, about the fact that the American Dietetic Association officially accepted the vegan diet, and the list just goes on... Of course they also don't know about the abolitionist movement that is building right now.<br /><br />(The sad thing is that they are often surprisingly attached to the view that our society cannot change, even if you present them a well-reasoned argument.)GBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13485122179725371790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1528521735436082423.post-62103987201674236932010-10-04T11:52:10.238-03:002010-10-04T11:52:10.238-03:00I totally agree with you, nothing less will do! Af...I totally agree with you, nothing less will do! After all, other animals can't speak up for themselves, we have to do that for them... I don't get why all Vegans don't feel the same?!veganpandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07313904598151152988noreply@blogger.com