I thought I would try and bring up a topic that has been on my mind lately, and has been discussed amongst you a little already:
Vegan and Vegetarian hostilities.
There is so much hostility amongst communities such as ours, that make me feel rather uneasy. We tend to divide ourselves based on this small difference of vegetarianism as opposed to veganism. For example, one person will say that he/she is a vegetarian, and then others in the vegan sphere will tend to make angry or hostile comments to the effect of how heartless someone is to eat egg/milk/cheese. Meanwhile, the vegetarians tend to get defensive to the extreme and start to dislike the vegans.
Here is an abridged example from our forums, names omitted.
Vegan and Vegetarian hostilities.
There is so much hostility amongst communities such as ours, that make me feel rather uneasy. We tend to divide ourselves based on this small difference of vegetarianism as opposed to veganism. For example, one person will say that he/she is a vegetarian, and then others in the vegan sphere will tend to make angry or hostile comments to the effect of how heartless someone is to eat egg/milk/cheese. Meanwhile, the vegetarians tend to get defensive to the extreme and start to dislike the vegans.
Here is an abridged example from our forums, names omitted.
Quote:
A: I am just a vegetarian because I love cheese and milk to much to give it up.
B: so would you say you love cheese and milk more or less than you love raping and killing cows?
C: B, you are exactly one reason why so many people hate veg*ns. You're too damn hostile and preachy. It's someone's choice. Not yours.
B: When did torture, rape, and murder become merely personal choices?
Please do not take offense, those whom I quoted. This is just an example to prove my point.
I will step up and tell you where I stand. I am a vegetarian, not a vegan, since I eat small amounts of cheese, and cook with egg and milk when recipies call for it, and I treat myself to one of my greatest pleasures, imported chocolates, when I feel the need. I do not attempt to hide this fact. But before anyone tries to criticize me, they need to understand how much I have given up for the cause. I no longer eat meat of any kind, nor do I drink milk, or buy things with feathers, etc. Yet I often feel looked down upon by others such as vegans who do not think I take it far enough. And I agree, I don't. And yet what they do not know is that my health, weight, self-control, and caloric intake will not let me go further with it, at least for now.
All I am saying is that this small difference in ideology and/or self control tends to be a real problem in our communities, and both sides are at fault. The vegetarians need to learn to stop resenting the vegans and instead respect their total self-control and devotion and also realize that the vegans do have good points to make. Likewise, the vegans need to respect the many sacrifices that the vegetarians make and continually strive to make in a world that is not usually open to such change, and realize that any change, no matter how small, makes a difference.
Respect goes both ways, my comrades.
Being angry, defensive, and hostile does not suit us or our cause. We may have little differences, but in the end, we all need each other, and we need to be accepting. We are a "veg*n" guild for a reason. We are all banded together in one common cause, and we need to keep that in mind, and not allow those differences to drive us apart.
Please discuss.
I will step up and tell you where I stand. I am a vegetarian, not a vegan, since I eat small amounts of cheese, and cook with egg and milk when recipies call for it, and I treat myself to one of my greatest pleasures, imported chocolates, when I feel the need. I do not attempt to hide this fact. But before anyone tries to criticize me, they need to understand how much I have given up for the cause. I no longer eat meat of any kind, nor do I drink milk, or buy things with feathers, etc. Yet I often feel looked down upon by others such as vegans who do not think I take it far enough. And I agree, I don't. And yet what they do not know is that my health, weight, self-control, and caloric intake will not let me go further with it, at least for now.
All I am saying is that this small difference in ideology and/or self control tends to be a real problem in our communities, and both sides are at fault. The vegetarians need to learn to stop resenting the vegans and instead respect their total self-control and devotion and also realize that the vegans do have good points to make. Likewise, the vegans need to respect the many sacrifices that the vegetarians make and continually strive to make in a world that is not usually open to such change, and realize that any change, no matter how small, makes a difference.
Respect goes both ways, my comrades.
Being angry, defensive, and hostile does not suit us or our cause. We may have little differences, but in the end, we all need each other, and we need to be accepting. We are a "veg*n" guild for a reason. We are all banded together in one common cause, and we need to keep that in mind, and not allow those differences to drive us apart.
Please discuss.
