The Rift! Please be respectful

[locs19]

I'm new to the site and haven't been here long but I can't help but notice that there is a rift between veggies and vegans! I get the feeling that vegans think there better than us! Is this a common issue? or just something Im noticing? PLEASE DON'T BASH ANYONE FOR THERE BELIEVES!

[Shortpotato]

Hiya! Im new too :-)

Ive kinda noticed this issue, but to be perfectly honest, Im gunna be staying as far away from it as I can from now on. :-)

[gillibean]

Some people do think that. It is not a majority opinion by any means. There will always be some people who think they are better than others in every group. You can put the people who bother you on ignore so you don't have to see their posts anymore. It's a very useful feature. :)

ETA Avoidance of the threads that devolve into that issue is good idea as well.

[Earthly Delight]

Um, that's a hefty accusation. I'm not saying you're right or wrong, but if you let us know what makes you feel this way, either with paraphrasing or exact quotes, maybe we can explain better without being "disrespectful." By leaving it so open ended there's way too much that can be said that perhaps doesnt need to be said...

I have an opinion, but don't even want to go there.

[raefactor]

Um, that's a hefty accusation. I'm not saying you're right or wrong, but if you let us know what makes you feel this way, either with paraphrasing or exact quotes, maybe we can explain better without being "disrespectful." By leaving it so open ended there's way too much that can be said that perhaps doesnt need to be said...

I have an opinion, but don't even want to go there.

Uh, it's pretty much well-known by now. :P I'm not sure where you've been (probably being smart and avoiding all the threads that come down to this) but it's been a big issue lately.

OP, I'm sorry if some of the vegans here give that impression. There are lots of us who don't feel that way at all, and nearly as many of us that try to stand up for LO's in threads like that.

[guinnesshero]

It seems in the veg and animal rights community you get those that feel they are doing more for the cause than others so that makes them better and gives them the right to talk down to you or be out right rude and offensive. What they dont seem to realise is we are all trying to do what we can.Not all vegans are like that tho so dont blame them all for a few that are rude or crass. Unfortunatly the ananimity (sp?) of the internet also makes alot of people who wouldnt be as rude to your face alot braver on the net.

[Gita]

I've gotten upset in the past by it, now, I just ignore it. Remember, this is a Vegetarian Board. There are many sorts and styles of vegetarians. A vegetarian is a person who does not eat animal flesh. Some eat the products (like ovo-lactos, or people who eat honey) and some do not. Some vegetarians are in it for diet reasons, some for moral reasons, some for the heck of it. No reason is better than any other. I had to learn that it is a public forum and there are mean people, goofy people, strange people, nice people, naive people, and well, all kinds of people-- as well as people who think they are better than other people. Yup. dum dum te dum.

[LetoTheTyrant]

While I can see where you are coming from, I don't think it is a one way thing whatsoever.

I think veggies almost look down at vegans in a way, for some unknown reason. I think it is possible that it is seen in a negative aspect since most of us vegans probably feel a little like this:wall: when talking to a veggie about the whole thing. I think it could easily be equated to a veggie talking to an omni that is against the slaughter industry, but still buys factory farmed meat. Vegans know vegetarians care, but could possibly become frustrated seeing the veggie not converting to veganism, similarly to how a veggie could become frustrated with a compassionate but misquided omni.

[raefactor]

I think a lot of LO's are disillusioned with vegans due to the whole "they look down on us" issue, which DOES seem to happen a lot... not just here, either. So I guess it's a vicious cycle, in a way.

[gillibean]

Why can't everyone just play nice and be ****ing happy?

[Skylark]

Lacto/ovos bashing omnis and omnis bashing lacto/ovos and any type of vegetarian bashing someone who is interested in going veg*n but hasn't yet... these are all unacceptable things. For that matter, people bashing other people usually comes to no good end no matter how you slice it.

[Animosity]

PLEASE DON'T BASH ANYONE FOR THERE BELIEVES!

Don't hate on us for our belives either. We can't help it if we tend to be upset by issues that vegetarians aren't worried about. Every now and then we might get upset and let some of our feelings out, Is it really fair for us to have to hide our feelings to make vegetarians feel better?

The 'rift' is just us (vegans) expressing our belives in non-explotive living. Just as vegetarians from time-to-time get angry at omnis for 'reasons not to be discussed' vegans feel anger towards vegetarians for those same reasons.

This forum is supposed to be a place where we can express our feelings openly, Yet vegans are being told that we can't do that because it isn't convinent for the vegetarians. We're not the only ones doing 'bad things' here, We're just the only ones getting blamed.

The arguements around here are not on-sided. Please, In the future be more aware that it's not all the "vegans fault".

Out of respect for this forum and it's creator, I do not wish to argue. I'm just stating my opinion.

[LetoTheTyrant]

Out of respect for this forum and it's creator, I do not wish to argue. I'm just stating my opinion.

But he is correct, it is all opinions. Some people just don't know how to share theirs appropriately

[guinnesshero]

Don't hate on us for our belives either. We can't help it if we tend to be upset by issues that vegetarians aren't worried about. Every now and then we might get upset and let some of our feelings out, Is it really fair for us to have to hide our feelings to make vegetarians feel better?

The 'rift' is just us (vegans) expressing our belives in non-explotive living. Just as vegetarians from time-to-time get angry at omnis for 'reasons not to be discussed' vegans feel anger towards vegetarians for those same reasons.

This forum is supposed to be a place where we can express our feelings openly, Yet vegans are being told that we can't do that because it isn't convinent for the vegetarians. We're not the only ones doing 'bad things' here, We're just the only ones getting blamed.

The arguements around here are not on-sided. Please, In the future be more aware that it's not all the "vegans fault".

Out of respect for this forum and it's creator, I do not wish to argue. I'm just stating my opinion.

lol I was wondering how long it would take a vegan to come to the thread with their panties in a wad. even tho most of us have said how not all vegans are like that. way to prove the OP's point:wayne:

[SomebodyElse]

I get the feeling that vegans think there better than us!
I get a little tired of people (not just here by any means) assuming that because I am vegan I think I am better than other people. Its an unfair assumption. I have to be honest about how I think, and disagreeing with people shouldn't be seen as judging them, which often seems to be the reaction. Surely there is room here for people to express their vegan views without being accused of attacking those with whom they disagree?


While I can see where you are coming from, I don't think it is a one way thing whatsoever.
Agreed.

[halo_zero]

http://www.thevegetariansite.com/ed_nolonger.htm

[sybaritik]

^^ I went vegan 5 months ago but I've never identified myself a vegan yet for that very reason.

[guinnesshero]

http://www.thevegetariansite.com/ed_nolonger.htm


good article.

[SomebodyElse]

http://www.thevegetariansite.com/ed_nolonger.htm
I've seen this article. I disagree with it. I won't abandon my ethical stance because insecure people feel challenged by it. Its been my experience that people who mistakenly think they are being judged by others are often already judging themselves.

I will say that for me, defending veganism isn't about evaluating a person's veganness. Its about maintaining the definition of what veganism is.

I'm sorry if that seems arrogant. But a person can get tired of being called names like "holier-than-thou' and "vegangelical" whenever they stand up for what they believe. :(

[Bof]

Some of us don't mind a bit of biffo. :junk: :D

[sybaritik]

I'm sorry if that seems arrogant. But a person can get tired of being called names like "holier-than-thou' and "vegangelical" whenever they stand up for what they believe. :(

I've only ever seen people get called holier than thou or vegangelical when they stand up for what they believe in using a bad attitude.

If you're not pissing people off, you generally won't get called that.

[Sevenseas]

http://www.thevegetariansite.com/ed_nolonger.htmPretty sad that the author is so out of the loop on the political importance that identifying as vegan has.

[halo_zero]

I don't think that people should stop calling themselves vegans. I also don't think that the author actually means to do so either. (I could be totally wrong, I am a lot!)

I do believe the point is that sometimes for various reasons people take a holier than thou stance. My reason for linking the article is not so much for argument, but perspective. Basically, we are all attempting to live a life that is as cruelty free as possible. That deserves a lot of merit. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise. Are the egg and dairy industries cruel? Very much so, but don't let anyone make you feel like you aren't making a difference by being "just a vegetarian."

If you meet a vegan that does, it's clear that they don't really care about animals, they care about feeling morally superior. I feel incredibly happy when my omni friends decide to order a vegetarian meal when we go out to eat in support of my lifestyle. Every meal does count. Every meal that doesn't feature animal flesh as the focal point or part of the list of ingredients is one more animal that is living.

[bigdufstuff]

Many vegans become vegan due to a conscious ethical choice to reduce the amount of harm and suffering in the world. Sometimes it is frustrating to the vegan to see others contributing to this harm and suffering and so they express their opinion on this issue when they see it happening. They are even more likely to do this in a community that caters to veg*nism. This expression of opinion is probably what is being observed as "the rift". Just about every community has infighting as there are always multiple directions a community can go.

[Earthly Delight]

Uh, it's pretty much well-known by now. :P I'm not sure where you've been (probably being smart and avoiding all the threads that come down to this) but it's been a big issue lately.

OP, I'm sorry if some of the vegans here give that impression. There are lots of us who don't feel that way at all, and nearly as many of us that try to stand up for LO's in threads like that.

yeah.. i noticed, though I have been avoiding them, but I don't know--generalizing us all as feeling we're superior.. I guess I felt that in that sense it was talking about me even (as I am vegan and thus included in the all-encompassing statement) and it's like.. what'd I do? Can you tell me so I can defend myself, explain myself, or realize at least that I'm doing it? That is all.