ARCO's Abolitionists - A Vegan Forum

Vegetarian is even a much more common word than vegan. I spent 25 years thinking vegetarian was something important, something special. I didn't eat meat. Yay for me. I never really knew about veganism for the first 20 years. I wasn't really sure why you would be vegan until I saw a dairy farm video then wham! I think in regards to food going vegan from vegetarian is an easier way as you know about different foods (generally) you have a broader mind in trying different foods, know you can live without meat. Ultimately it isn't important how we get to veganism as long as we do. I kick myself regularly & indeed feel shame, that I was vegetarian for so long.

sharron64 wrote:Vegetarian is even a much more common word than vegan.

I hope that now we can say that vegetarian was a much common word than vegan. Nowadays I am not sure, seems like word vegan becomes more common and might prevail. Which can only be a good thing.

I spent 25 years thinking vegetarian was something important, something special. I didn't eat meat. Yay for me. I never really knew about veganism for the first 20 years.

Well, it took some time for the word to take off. It was only invented in 1944. But now that it's here, I think most people won't have to wait for 20 years and we should rejoice because of it.

I think in regards to food going vegan from vegetarian is an easier way as you know about different foods (generally) you have a broader mind in trying different foods, know you can live without meat.

This should be proven. Of course it seems obvious, but weren't we educated and pushed towards vegetarian food first?

Even if some study showed that for every person who went from meat-eater to vegan there are 10 people who went from meat-eater to vegetarian to vegan, does that prove that vegetarianism is a crucial step to veganism or is it just a self-fullfilling prophecy? Because if many people believed that assumption, many orgs would have promoted just vegetarianism and therefore the high number of vegetarians, and not vegans.

I personally have nothing against vegetarian orgs, let them be.

teddy bear wrote:I personally have nothing against vegetarian orgs, let them be.

I kinda do. I don't think they are doing enough. I was vegetarian because I did not want to eat the body of a dead animal. I became vegan when I realised that I did not want an animal to suffer & / or die to satisfy my human wants & desires. It has to be about the animals.

I appreciate that every one less animal being slaughtered is a step in the right direction but the abuse & horror that the egg & dairy industry perpetrate on non human animals is abhorrant & as unacceptable as killing.

When someone tells me they are vegetarian I am caught between wanting to say things like 'why' or 'big deal' or 'when are you going vegan'

Vegetarian is not enough. It's not for the animals.

sharron64 wrote:When someone tells me they are vegetarian I am caught between wanting to say things like 'why' or 'big deal' or 'when are you going vegan'

Me too! It's hard to work up any enthusiasm at all. "Really? Oh!" (polite smile)

Actually, I usually ask, "So why are you a vegetarian?" which gets them feeling compassionate, and then ask why dairy/eggs are different. I'm hoping for some sort of recognition that there's a contradiction, without having to hammer it in myself.

haha, yes. Not sure what to say when that happens to me too.

Coming across a vegetarian who thinks they're vegan is even more awkward...in my school caf we have request forms and this person asked for them to get some organic yogurt because she's vegan...

Um, OK, wha....?

hmm?

What's the matter?