THREAD - I eat meat, but I think we have to rethink how we talk about vegans / I'm sooooo tired of lame vegan jokes. Because I see 100x times more people saying vegans "can't shut up" about being vegan than I do actual vegans talking about being vegan.
-
-
Most of the time vegans are quiet about it because they live in a constant state of anxiety. A food world not designed for them; the constant fear they will not be able to find food, along with constant conflict that comes with people confronting them.
Show this thread -
Most aren't going out of their way to say shit, they simply *have to* mention it in most cases to simply explain. And so every interaction with vegans I see goes along the lines of, "here I made this" / "I'm sorry I can't, I'm vegan." / "oh shut up about it already!"
Show this thread -
Seriously, I can literally count on one hand the amount of times I've seen vegans being rude, but I can't even count the hundreds and hundreds of times I've seen people be rude to vegans.
Show this thread -
And this is shitty because they're already anxious because they feel like they're disappointing people, so to get chastises on top of it is not okay. And it's part of the reason they've had to learn to steel themselves having done this SO MANY TIMES.
Show this thread -
So a lot of times they have to learn to express it with clarity and transcend that anxiety, given the amount of times it happens in their lives. It's just necessary for sanctity of mind. Sorry if it comes off as unapologetic I guess?
Show this thread -
And look, I'm not talking about college age dude who just discovered veganism and is going on the moralistic warpath with a giant social media post. Even that's a stereotype. I'm talking about the vast majority of vegans who are just trying to live their damn life.
Show this thread -
And in that, they have a right to express pride, build identity and community from it. Because do you know what they get excited about? People they can talk to and feel normal with! Cool new places and recipes!
Show this thread -
Why are people so offended by that? There's no damn reason to care unless it's, surprise surprise, about our own bullshit and defensiveness. Over-reacting to someone's vegan-ness is nothing more than that reductive "what you think you're better than me?"
Show this thread -
Again, I LOVE to cook and I eat meat. I feel like I can't help myself. But even in loving meat, I recognize the simple, inescapable truth that what they are doing is an undeniable good ethical choice.
Show this thread -
Not just in terms of the whole "not killing living beings" thing, but how every study shows it's incredible impact on saving the environment. They are doing the world a tangible good. And they should be proud.
Show this thread -
And it shouldn't make you feel bad in turn. They don't inconvenience us. Heck, most are chill as hell about it. My vegan friends will even still favorite my meat pictures on instagram. This is so overwhelmingly my experience.
Show this thread -
So what's really goin on here, folks? Are vegans really *that* annoying to you? If so, WHY do you think that is? What's really bothering you? Cause I can assure you we're more annoying to them then they are to us.
Show this thread -
And in the end, they're doing something of tremendous willpower than I can't do. So I look up to them the same way I look up to anyone supremely committed to genuine loving ethics.
Show this thread -
And if you insist I'm wrong, that "no way hulk, vegans are sooooo annoying!" but I want you to seriously take time and reflect on how it really is. Because I think you've just brought into the wrong narrative.
Show this thread -
Remember, you don't have to be a vegan. But we've really got to be so much better about how we regard vegans on the pop culture level. Especially because, in the end, you're the ones who can't shut up about them. END RANT.
Show this thread -
Quick little adding note! There are absolutely some hugely important valid discussions when it comes to the way being vegan intersects with class / culture / racism - this rant was just about the larger popular way the notion itself treated with ugliness. Thanks + cheers!
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.