Honey superthread: discuss [non]vegan-ness of honey here

[zorro]

As for a word left for non-honey-eating vegans, I don't think there is a need for one. But if you think there would be a need, I'm sure something would be thought up by someone.

The word exists already (as "a lot of vegans" have pointed out to you): vegan

I have students who expend great amounts of energy (calling the dean, calling the president of the university) trying to get out of a bad grade or attempting to stay in the university. I always marvel at these kids, because if they could just focus that energy on getting good grades, they'd ace their courses.

If people could just focus on animal issues and needs rather than trying to dilute the meaning and philosophy of veganism in order to justify eating honey (as some "vegetarians" justify eating fish), the animals would benefit exponentially.

I'm new to veganism, but I was never confused about one concept: vegans don't eat honey.

[Sevenseas]

If people could just focus on animal issues and needs rather than trying to dilute the meaning and philosophy of veganism in order to justify eating honey (as some "vegetarians" justify eating fish), the animals would benefit exponentially.

You are forgetting the irreplaceable benefits of honey to human health. You are forgetting the endless rows of people in hospitals, suffering from inconceivable agony, because they have not eaten honey. You are forgetting whole families who have been lost to diseases caused from the absence of honey. You are forgetting all the dead soldiers, all those brave young men and women sacrificing for their country, who have not had their wounds treated with honey.

You also are forgetting the mold in fridges. People who abstain from eating honey are also incapable of removing that mold, a predator animal species that likes to spend its time in wet environments. Never forget the mold.

[Jemdude]

The word exists already (as "a lot of vegans" have pointed out to you): vegan

I have students who expend great amounts of energy (calling the dean, calling the president of the university) trying to get out of a bad grade or attempting to stay in the university. I always marvel at these kids, because if they could just focus that energy on getting good grades, they'd ace their courses.

If people could just focus on animal issues and needs rather than trying to dilute the meaning and philosophy of veganism in order to justify eating honey (as some "vegetarians" justify eating fish), the animals would benefit exponentially.

I'm new to veganism, but I was never confused about one concept: vegans don't eat honey.

Welcome to Veggieboards Zorro!

The official definition of the word 'vegan' does not allow for honey consumption so that is not in dispute. But the actual practise by a sizable number of people within the vegan community and associations does not always match the official definition. The "vegans" who consume honey but follow every other aspect of veganism want to focus on the real animal issues and needs such as dealing with factory farming, saving endangered species, passing anti-cruelty laws for pets, etc. They don't want to spend a major part of their time and energy on the bee issue.

[MrFalafel]

Welcome to Veggieboards Zorro!

The official definition of the word 'vegan' does not allow for honey consumption so that is not in dispute. But the actual practise by a sizable number of people within the vegan community and associations does not always match the official definition. The "vegans" who consume honey but follow every other aspect of veganism want to focus on the real animal issues and needs such as dealing with factory farming, saving endangered species, passing anti-cruelty laws for pets, etc. They don't want to spend a major part of their time and energy on the bee issue.

People who eat honey are not vegans, they are vegetarians.

[Jemdude]

People who eat honey are not vegans, they are vegetarians.

As usual, the quotation marks I used are not noticed.

[MrFalafel]

As usual, the quotation marks I used are not noticed.

Why did you use quotations marks on a incorrect word instead of just using the correct word?

[Sevenseas]

The "vegans" who consume honey but follow every other aspect of veganism want to focus on the real animal issues and needs such as dealing with factory farming, saving endangered species, passing anti-cruelty laws for pets, etc.

You know, comments like that reveal how much of the stuff you're saying about vegans is simply made up, or you projecting your own values to the "good" vegans (as opposed to the "bad" vegans who don't eat honey). "Saving endangered species" and "passing anti-cruelty laws for pets" being the top interests and pursuits of someone seems a rather standard, conservative AW stance. Nothing wrong with those pursuits as such, but people who identify as vegan, whether they eat honey or not, tend to have larger and more non-standard issues in mind. So those are the kind of pursuits you primarily support, and you are attributing them (without reason) to the people who identify as vegans who you claim to know.

(I'm using 'vegan' in this post as a shorthand for 'people who identify as vegan')

[Sevenseas]

I forgot to ask: the people you know who identify as vegan and eat honey tend to agree with the 7th Day Adventist faith in its totality, right? Isn't it true that they also tend to question "macro-evolution" and like pink-haired animated people?

[Jemdude]

You know, comments like that reveal how much of the stuff you're saying about vegans is simply made up, or you projecting your own values to the "good" vegans (as opposed to the "bad" vegans who don't eat honey). "Saving endangered species" and "passing anti-cruelty laws for pets" being the top interests and pursuits of someone seems a rather standard, conservative AW stance. Nothing wrong with those pursuits as such, but people who identify as vegan, whether they eat honey or not, tend to have larger and more non-standard issues in mind. So those are the kind of pursuits you primarily support, and you are attributing them (without reason) to the people who identify as vegans who you claim to know.

(I'm using 'vegan' in this post as a shorthand for 'people who identify as vegan')

I got some of that from the Meet Your Meat video and a PETA magazine, among other vegan sources.

But please enlighten me about the larger and more non-standard issues of veganism that you speak of.

[Jemdude]

I forgot to ask: the people you know who identify as vegan and eat honey tend to agree with the 7th Day Adventist faith in its totality, right? Isn't it true that they also tend to question "macro-evolution" and like pink-haired animated people?

Most of the vegans that I know of are part of my vegetarian association. There are lots of vegetarians in the 7th Day Adventist church, but I'm not aware of any vegans there. The few that identify as "vegans" are really strict vegetarians. The 7th Day Adventist church is more health oriented than animal rights oriented.