[GoodLifeSean]

I'm just new to veganism, less than two weeks. But I work at a restaurant that serves meat dishes as a cook. I'm a broke college student, who works for a very kind boss, but I still feel kinda bad serving meat each day I work. Has anyone else had this kind of experience?

 

[Kay9]

i feel you. i used to work at burger king. it is a strange feeling but i guess animal suffering is sumthing we have to live with like it or not we can only do what we can to fight it. when asked whats good here i always replied veggieburgers, onion rings, vegan things.

 

[aussievegangirl]

My first job was working at Hungry Jacks (aka Burger King - for some reason we gave it a different name in Australia). I felt TERRIBLE. But I used the experience I got from that job to get a job somewhere my ethics didn't clash with work - first a video store, now tutoring primary school kids. You're not consuming it and you're not responsible for what other people choose to eat - remember that..

 

[Scythe]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Kay9</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
i feel you.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Must . . . suppress . . . snicker!

 

[karenlovessnow]

First I want to say, contratulations on your new found veganism! And no, you are not a bad person because you work at a place that serves meat. Hopefully this job is temporary and at some point you will be able to have a job that you feel more comfortable with! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[isowish]

no.<br><br>
No-one can be perfect in their veganism. We all have to live in a world where animal cruelty is the norm. If you are doing the best you can, I would say you are a very good person <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[GhostUser]

The fact that you feel bad about serving meat shows that you are a good person. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
And congrats on going vegan! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/broccoli.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":bobo:">

 

[bigdufstuff]

No, I don't think you're a bad person.<br><br><br><br>
However, I feel as though you're making a bad choice by staying there. If you're like most people and you need a job then perhaps you can look for a new job as you continue to work at the restaurant. Once a new, more ethical job opens up then you can make the switch.<br><br><br><br>
And as others have said, congrats on going vegan <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":up:">

 

[aotto08]

I know how you feel. Sometime I have to cook for my cousins, and they still eat meat. But just think, you're not buying the products or eating them, you just serve it to people. It's not as bad as if you were the owner of a retaurant and still served meat. Just look to other, more ethical jobs, if you really feel that uncomfortable.<br><br><br><br>
No one can escape running into problems like this, when our culture is so comfortable with animal slaughter. Concentrate on doing your part to help, and stop worrying if it makes you a bad person.

 

[elibrown]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>aotto08</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I know how you feel. Sometime I have to cook for my cousins, and they still eat meat.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br><br><br>
They can't have an occassional meatless meal?

 

[kpickell]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Am I a bad person (for serving meat)?</div>
</div>
<br>
Yes! If you are serving the meat to vegetarians. Otherwise, no.

 

[Rotting]

If it makes you feel any better, a fraction of my job includes raising money for the Rupublican National Committe, and I don't consider myself a bad person. People need to have jobs, and most of us, for the most part, have to take what we can get.

 

[Joe]

This question has come up repeatedly on VB. And I ask the same question of VBers each time: Where is there any resolution by any vegetarian or vegan society condemning working in the food service industry if that work includes preparing and serving meat? Where is there a resolution even suggesting that veg*ns refrain from such employment?<br><br><br><br>
No one has ever come up with any. I would guess that this is because there is no such resolution.<br><br><br><br>
I for one think it is a good thing that there are so many cooks--whether at restaurants, dining halls or other institutions--who are veg*n in their private lives. Rather than trying to get a different job, I would urge you to use whatever influence you might have to promote more veg*n selections on the menu where you work and to help organize a veg*n group on campus.

 

[HandcuffedAngel]

Congrats with your new-found veganism!<br><br><br><br>
I'm agreeing with everyone else that you are not a bad person.

 

[Vicky]

you're just as bad of a person as i am <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> i serve oh-so-much meat !

 

[daviddrp]

1. Here's what I hate: The customer asks, "what about that steak & cheese sanwich--is it good?" What are you going to say? "No, actually it's immoral." Maybe the day I quit.<br><br><br><br>
2. I've found that my coworkers often order vegetarian food from our restaurant or elsewhere just so that they can share with me.<br><br><br><br>
3. There's this restaurant in my town that I like because of their tasty vegetarian recipes. It turns out one of my vegan friends used to work there and she is the one that added those recipes to their menu.<br><br><br><br>
4. Overheard at my workplace: "I hate it when people ask me, 'how's that vegetarian hoagie?' It's like, 'you know, if I had to eat that, I would, but I'm an omnivore, and I'm at the top of the food chain, so I'm going to eat animals.' But of course I don't say that, I just say it's pretty good."

 

[aotto08]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>elibrown</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
They can't have an occassional meatless meal?</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
They are 3 and 7. The 7 year old doesn't eat much meat, except for hotdogs......Maybe I should try and give them tofu dogs?

 

[GoodLifeSean]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the support, and yes it's temporary I'm currently in the process of getting my middle childhood education degree. Thanks again <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Vicky]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>daviddrp</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
1. Here's what I hate: The customer asks, "what about that steak & cheese sanwich--is it good?" What are you going to say? "No, actually it's immoral." Maybe the day I quit.<br></div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
work is work, i say " i have never tried it" and leave it at that<br><br><br><br>
someone asked me if i LIKED meat yesterday, and to that i said " no i'm actually vegetarian" which was totally cool, plus a girl at my table was all excited because she was a veggie too <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Vegan Joe]

Decisions,Decisions,Decisions<br><br>
Do what you must, the choice is all yours.