Omni siblings, l/o mom and stepfather

[mysteriouspoet]

How do I deal with it? You'd think I'd be more sympathetic to people here because of them, but in honesty, their diet pisses me off to no end. They KNOW the cruelty involved but choose to do nothing. My brother even acknowledges the horrors of factory farming, but sits down and eats chicken afterward. My other brother does the same thing. My sister is a "reformed vegetarian." My mom cooks meat for everyone, at my stepfather's behest. He pisses me off a lot because he says that I'm going to pass out because I don't eat animal products. He says, "You can't live off rabbit food." He's so ignorant!

GRRR!! They make me SOOO mad.

[FalafelsRule]

How do I deal with it? You'd think I'd be more sympathetic to people here because of them, but in honesty, their diet pisses me off to no end. They KNOW the cruelty involved but choose to do nothing.



Itr pisses me off, too. What makes me mad is the fact that these people know what they are putting into their bodies (in most cases), and they just ignore the facts.

[kpickell]

You're pretty lucky to have l/o parents.

No offense, but you sound like you'd find something to complain about even if they were vegans ("they don't recycle!"). Be happy for the positive things they've done, and let them deal with their own choices. Set a good example, instead of a bad one.

[Beancounter]

Itr pisses me off, too. What makes me mad is the fact that these people know what they are putting into their bodies (in most cases), and they just ignore the facts.

I have a (made up) story that explains why people ignore what's bad for them.

A scientist put a frog in a shallow pan of boiling water. The frog immeaditely sensed the danger and jumped out.

Later that day, the scientist put the same frog in a shallow pan of cool water. Periodically, the scientist increased the temperature of the water little by little. Before the frog knew it, it was sitiing in boiling water, and wasn't able to react fast enough to save itself and died.

...and that's why people ignore health warnings (and other long term warnings) because the danger is at some unidentifed point in the future (and they reason that there may be no danger at all anyway, and if there is, they'll deal with it then. (..but of course it's too late by "then")

(note: I do not advocate hurting animals in any way..this is just a story to stress a point)

[Astarte]

I second Kpickell's post. It's their lives and their choices. They shouldn't make snarky comments, but your mother must at least partially agree with you. A lot of us would love to be in that position.

[Marie]

http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/frogboil.htm

[spehlbaund]

I also agree with what kpickell said. Many vegans still living with their parents aren't lucky enough to have any family members even be vegetarian, having even one should be something to be thankful for. I have talked a LOT to my mom about all the animal cruelty and tried to open her eyes and she still doesn't understand. She mostly cut back on dairy and red meat because of the health part I talked about. not selfless reasons. She continues eating chicken and chickens' eggs since she believes they're not too bad for her :( Same with my brother (eating less cruelty products because of health only.. and less pig parts because "they're intelligent" so supposedly they deserve to die less :rolleyes:)

[Thalia]

Regardless if this is actually true, may I suggest another animal story to illustrate a point. It's from Love 101 by Peter McWilliams, one of my favorite books (and his books are free to read online www.mcwilliams.com ):


There is a type of crab that cannot be caught--it is agile and clever enough to get out of any crab trap. And yet, these crabs are caught by the thousands every day, thanks to a particularly human trait they possess.

The trap is a wire cage with a hole at the top. Bait is placed in the cage, and the cage is lowered into the water. One crab comes along, enters the cage, and begins munching on the bait. A second crab joins him. A third. Crab Thanksgiving. Yumm. Eventually, however, all the bait is gone.

The crabs could easily climb up the side of the cage and through the hole, but they do not. They stay in the cage. Other crabs come along and join them--long after the bait is gone. And more.

Should one of the crabs realize there is no further reason to stay in the trap and attempt to leave, the other crabs will gang up on him and stop him. They will repeatedly pull him off the side of the cage. If he is persistent, the others will tear off his claws to keep him from climbing. If he persists still, they will kill him.

The crabs--by force of the majority--stay together in the cage. The cage is hauled up, and it's dinnertime on the pier.

The chief difference between these crabs and humans is that these crabs live under water and humans don't.

Anyone who has a dream--one that might get him out of what he perceives to be a trap--had best beware of the fellow-inhabitants of the trap.
http://www.mcwilliams.com/books/love101/lv1_10.htm

[colorful]

I appreciate any decision my family makes that's animal friendly.

My parents are omnis, but my mom has started buying Organic Valley eggs and dairy products (mostly because we eat at their house a lot), and my dad almost always orders a vegetarian meal when we eat out at restaurants! I'm not sure why, but he's very health-conscious and I think he's also trying to be sensitive to us. Even though they still eat meat, I believe that every animal-friendly decision that they make counts toward the bigger picture. For instance, when my dad orders a vegetarian entree, it increases the sale of that particular dish at that restaurant, and they are more likely to keep veggie options on the menu. When my mom buys Organic Valley products, her $$ is going to support these small, organic, free-range family farms, rather than the big mega factory farms. I think that's a good thing. :up:

Every little bit helps! Focus on the fact that your mom is a vegetarian, rather than on the fact that she isn't vegan.

[mysteriouspoet]

You're pretty lucky to have l/o parents.

No offense, but you sound like you'd find something to complain about even if they were vegans ("they don't recycle!"). Be happy for the positive things they've done, and let them deal with their own choices. Set a good example, instead of a bad one.

I meant my stepfather is an omni actually...I should have changed that title.

I wouldn't complain if my whole family went vegan, including my grandparents, who love their meat... I'd be delighted, I'd throw a party! *sigh*

alas...

[Nicky]

It's a tough one when you are verbally attacked because of your veganism, but try to ignore it. Try to come to an understanding that you will respect their diet if they respect yours. That's how I see it anyway. And at the moment, I don't think you are respecting their diet. Also you are very lucky to have l/o parents, in my family, excluding me, everyone eats meat.