[GhostUser]

Have you ever found that when your trying to explain to people why you're a vegan, they say something stupid (we all have)? I also get answers like "well...chickens are just stupid birds whose only purpose is to be eaten" and when I explain about rennet in cheese, some simply blurt "no there's not" or "that's not true." How do you get through to close minded or uninformed people?

-Chloe

 

[VeganChick15]

I have that exact problem with my parents.( I'm 14 and live at home so this is a constant agrument) They never seem to get the things I tell them. I dont really have a solution to the problem sry. I just wanted to say that I have the same one.

 

[stellar26]

Whenever I bring anything like that up the people get defensive. My boyfriend likes to stop my rants by saying, "I'm not going to stop eating these things no matter how hard you try- you could just as well save your breath".

The truth is, I'm not always out to convert everybody I talk to. They just assume that I am. You'd think they'd WANT to know about the amount of pus in their milk, or the **** in their 'hamburger'. I know I would if I were in their position.

 

[GhostUser]

I believe it's in your approach. For example:

Omni: "would you like a piece of scalloped potato and chicken? Just a bite?"

Vegan: "Ewww no!"

Omni: "Why not? This used to be your favorite."

Vegan: "Do you know how much pus is in that?"

Basically, you've offended their cooking and their generousity.

Many people *do* know exactly what is in their food, but they simply do not share veg*an views on the matter. Many people also get defensive when veg*ans begin insulting their food. Talking about animal cruelty, pus, growth hormones, antibotics, etc *is* insulting their food.

There is a level of respect and maturity both sides need to take.

 

[michael_veggie]

I'm 13 and I live at home. Everyone trys to piss me off

 

[GhostUser]

at 13 your bound to get pissed off no matter what people are doing. Teenage agnst.

 

[epski]

Many omnis actively choose denial. I did it myself until I was overwhelmed by a surfeit of facts.

 

[michael_veggie]

Quote:

at 13 your bound to get pissed off no matter what people are doing. Teenage agnst

I got a C in English so what does agnst mean?

 

[GhostUser]

anger, annoyance, frustration, short-temper, feeling as though you're going to strange someone, everyone gets under your skin...

it's the hormones

 

[michael_veggie]

Oh ok

 

[GhostUser]

Linkin Park represents that well. *giggle* muahaha.

On to the actual topic. My dad actually tried to argue that since milk is natural I could eat cheese.

wow... just wow... I wasn't going to get into a conversation about the pus content of dairy (especially since AZ is way over the legal pus limit) since they were eating cheese as we spoke. All I said was, "I'm going to go downstairs... and sit.." then I left. hehehe.

 

[mountainvegan]

If they're uninformed, but not closed-minded, you probably won't have too much of a problem informing them. If they get enough information and experience enough vegan food that gets them over their perceived (but very untrue) threat of never, ever having a pleasant meal again, they might convert. It may take a year or three, but a slow or partial conversion is better than no conversion.

If they're closed-minded, forget it! Any attempts to debate, convert, etc. will degenerate into a chest-pounding, ego battle instead of a quest for truth.

Also, although I would like to convert as many omnis as possible (to stop the holocaust), unless someone asks, I don't give reasons or try to convert in any way because it seems to come across as either apologetic or pushy.

 

[GhostUser]

Yep, my family has too many closed-minded people! I just can't get through to them, no matter WHAT I say or do! I show them books, videos, studys, pictures, I tell them excactly why I don't want to eat animals or their by-products, but they STILL think I'm nuts. they even compare veg*nism to drug use! Like first you start out with little stuff, like stop eating red meat...then poultry and eggs, then dairy, then everything from animals...It gets "deeper" and you get "hooked" and "can't stop". That makes me sick...to know that is how they view my choice of living. I could not live with myself if I ate animal stuff, this makes me feel alive, kind and I have a sense of morality. So what do I really care what other people think?? But I do

At least my boyfriend understands...and likes to taste my foods, discuss animal issues with me and all kinda wonderful stuff

He's still an omni though. But I hope that changes when we move in together...

 

[SilverC]

My parents are in complete denial.

Whenever I start talking about AR issues, my mom yells "Don't tell me, I don't want to know!! That kind of stuff upsets me!" But it doesn't upset her enough to stop eating meat apparently

My dad really p*ssed me off a couple months ago. They took me to the zoo. Woo fricking woo. I b*tched most of the day, about the small cage sizes, obvious mental illnesses in some of the animals, and mutilation of others so that they would be safe to keep (cutting horns off rhinos). He got really defensive and wouldn't believe a word I said. Even when we saw the orangutan repeatedly beat her head against the ground, he wouldn't admit that zoos aren't fun places for animals to be.

Ignorance is bliss, I guess. People don't want to know, because they don't want to change. And if they know what really goes on, and don't change, then they have to live with the guilt.

 

[Coney]

Ummmmmmmmmm,

Agnst doesn't have a meaning.

Angst means anger, frustration, ect.

I got the thing just the other day where someone said "Yeah, but chicken tastes so GOOOOOOOD!" And I said "Not if you know what's in it. You couldn't pay me enough to eat that crap."

 

[GhostUser]

If you all act to omnis the way that you're say you do, then there is no wonder that they give you a hard time.

No one wants to have their lifestyle mocked, true. but no one wants to be preached at, either.

And, SilverC, that doesn't happen in every zoo. Please research zoos on non-AR websites and find the total story.

 

[CharityAJO]

Quote:

Originally posted by FafaFrappy



On to the actual topic. My dad actually tried to argue that since milk is natural I could eat cheese.

This comment probably belongs in another thread, but ah well: I find that a lot of people associate "vegan" with "natural." For instance, my grandma made me sweet potatoes a while back and put honey in them. I said, "grandma, I don't eat honey." She says "are you kidding me? I figure it's such a natural thing. I purposely used it instead of sugar."

 

[SilverC]

Quote:

Originally posted by kristadb

If you all act to omnis the way that you're say you do, then there is no wonder that they give you a hard time.

No one wants to have their lifestyle mocked, true. but no one wants to be preached at, either.

And, SilverC, that doesn't happen in every zoo. Please research zoos on non-AR websites and find the total story.

I know what happens in zoos, thanks. I don't agree with keeping wild animals captive for our entertainment. I've been to enough "world class" zoos, to know that even the best of them suck.

 

[GhostUser]

Quote:

Originally posted by CharityAJO

This comment probably belongs in another thread, but ah well: I find that a lot of people associate "vegan" with "natural." For instance, my grandma made me sweet potatoes a while back and put honey in them. I said, "grandma, I don't eat honey." She says "are you kidding me? I figure it's such a natural thing. I purposely used it instead of sugar."

I thought it would go in the "stupid omni" thread. as well. it really fits in both threads. My Dad is so convinced that eating meat is justified because it "naturally appears". But then again, he's very close-minded, and very simple.

 

[vegancherrypie]

I agree, SilverC. What's a big joke to me is, Hersheypark's ZooAmerica (like 20 mins or so from me) describes their animals as "friends in their natural habitats." HA!!! The worst theer has to be the bear. A single bear, living alone on a large concrete slab. Natural...habitat?? The rest of the animals live in far-to--small quarters that are hardly extremely natural. Hersheypark also has a dolphin show, which also bothers the hell out of me. They have sea lions and dolphins, which live in these tiny areas and are forced to do unnatural and physically demanding things with their bodies ten times a day. All for money. SICK. Zoos are sick.

Cassie