-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Quote:
vegmonkey
Sure, it's the consumer's responsibility to be informed ..
Then the consumer is to blame because, as we all know very well, that is a responsibility that meat consumers will go to the very ends of the Earth to avoid.
Quote:
.. but the people who are working tirelessly to keep consumers in the dark can't be absolved of blame, either.
Indeed not, but it is only because the consumers want to be kept in the dark that their mushroom farming tactics work.
A demand for misinformation must be met by a supply of misinformation. That is simply how an open market supply and demand chain works.
In all fairness to the supply end of the chain the consumer has them well and truly cuffed and stuffed on that one. Fail to supply what the consumer demands and the supplier is removed from the chain as their consumers move to a supplier who will.
Having said all that; The reluctance to recognise that our own freinds, family and work mates are the problem that need to be addressed is fully understood.
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
I can see what you mean, I only found out about dairy when a logical thought lead to logical enquiry (I researched it off my own bat after musing one day on my own motherhood and comparing it to cows and their babies). If it weren't for that thought in the first place, and the willingness to find out the truth, I still may not have become vegan when I did... What a shame that would have been!
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
**hugs**
We've all had those moments, I imagine.
Hard to remember that less than 2 years ago I was just like THEM!
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Just read this for the first time and don't quite have time at the minute to read all responses so please forgive me if I repeat what others have said.:-)
For a start, we all make mistakes but there comes a time when we should realise they're mistakes and do something about them. I ate meat up until I was 16 in 1987 and then saw a picture of a slaughtered cow and stopped that very day. Then 3.5 years later I stopped eating fish....then in 1999 became vegan, realising that the dairy industry was the meat industry. Instead of feeling guilty about not having become vegan before, I felt elated and enlightened. Look forward, not backwards but try to live in the present. Everyone on earth has regrets but as long as we learn from them and try not to repeat them, we will feel better about ourselves. There's not a lot you can do about other people, except politely and respectfully discuss your veganism with them (if they ask or start to argue, like many do!). You'll find their arguments are an attempt to justify things to themselves, out of guilt. There is simply no valid argument against veganism - all we're doing is opting out of the sick side of life. I think what upsets me more than anything is the fact that as humans, we're conditioned to accept the meat and dairy industries as 'normal' and so acceptable. I always suggest to people that they consider milk - something mammals get from their mother in the first few months of life. That's normal and natural. How on earth can it be natural to continue through life to drink milk - and not even mother's milk but other species' milk. People often agree before heading off to make a cup of tea(!). I just feel privileged that I'm enlightened and committed enough to act on my principles and be vegan. We can't control what others think and do and neither should we. The world will always be full of nasty, vile people but let's focus on the millions of lovely people, many of whom aren't vegan (although I wish they would be!). In short, don't focus on the crap in life as you'll never eradicate it. Be a good person and be proud.
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Wonderfully said Vegan Rake, especially about looking forwards rather than at our past. :)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Thanks very much, Peabrain. Love the avatar by the way!
VR
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
I've been feeling so lost these days. Including- riding the train and seeing all of the trash strewn about the marshlands knowing how it's poisoning the land and how the animals are drinking that water and walking through it. I feel like standing up from my seat and screaming at the whole car, "How can you continue your gaze out this window with a smile on your face??" As well as when I'm following friends around at the mall and we pass the food court, I wanna throw everyone's plate on the ground. I know it's extreme, and only in a dreamland without consequences would I ever do something so irrational. But it's so hard to rationalize or make any sound logic of this world. I feel trapped. I want a magical vegan wand! I wanna wave it around and make everything better. How can people be this way? Even my beloved- I don't know how much more of the Onmiverse I can take! :sad:
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Poor LeafyLux, think we all have times like that but please try not to feel too despondent - just because you can't change everything at once it doesn't mean you can't change things.
Obviously you're already helping by being vegan. Maybe it would help with the lost feeing if you could find another thing you can do to make a change - support a vegan campaigning organisation, write some letters, cook some vegan food for friends, help clear up some of the trash...? (Just examples, obviously I don't know what you're already doing or have time for.)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Hugs LeafyLux... :)
I second what Harpy said. All of us feel like this at times. I've been up and down myself lately... It's hard not to feel despondent, but the initial feeling is not in your control; the subsequent feelings and/or actions are though, and that's when you can choose to harness your pain and turn it into good.
In the meantime, have some more hugs. xxx
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Quote:
LeafyLux
when I'm following friends around at the mall and we pass the food court, I wanna throw everyone's plate on the ground. I know it's extreme, and only in a dreamland without consequences would I ever do something so irrational.
Well, that's just it... I don't think that's extreme at all. I think the desire to smash everyone's plates in the food court is an entirely appropriate emotional response to the mass indifference that you can see in front of you. The important thing is to not act on it. We all fantasise about saying and doing things that we know we can't, sometimes because there are laws against them. :lol:
You are allowed your fantasies, so go for it, indulge yourself. :devil:
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Quote:
LeafyLux
I wanna throw everyone's plate on the ground. I know it's extreme ..
More 'mad' I would have said Leafy ..
Extreme is more like sitting down at peoples tables and casualy asking them stuff like:
1. Did the Chicken that had so unselfishly volunteered to be in their Kiev have a name and, if so, what was it?
2. What steps they had taken, when ordering, to ensure that <insert name of chicken here> had enjoyed a full, happy and cruelty free life?
3. What were it's last words when it died?
4. Did it leave any greiving family behind?
5. Apart from not having the relevant hunting permit was there actualy anything wrong with what the Washington Sniper did?
Personal experiences may vary but my personal experience is that asking such pertinent and relevant questions is a much faster way to get viewed as an extremist than is the smashing of plates.
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Wow. Thank you so much for the support, everyone! It really does make me feel better. I volunteer as much as I can. I work at a vegan bakery, and sometimes on the weekends I go out and pick up all of the trash along the street I walk to the store. It makes me happy to see the progress in my own little corner, but turning around and seeing the chaos that is larger than just myself is very daunting. It gives me hope looking at these forums that other people DO care and understand <3 Thank you~
- - - Updated - - -
Quote:
Cupid Stunt
Personal experiences may vary but my personal experience is that asking such pertinent and relevant questions is a much faster way to get viewed as an extremist than is the smashing of plates.
I appreciate you going into detail and helping me by coming up with things to do if I were to actually step into the food court and take any action. If I ever did chose to, I will keep all of that in mind. I do feel, though, you've misunderstood me. When saying "extreme" it was not in reference to being a vegan extremist. I was using it much like its synonym word "excessive". As in, unneeded, too far, or more than necessary.
(you may have already noticed I referred to the environment in which I would make such actions as a "dreamland")
Smashing plates isn't something I would do. I've seen my parents break dishes in a "hissy" fit and it gains no one any kind of respect.
I do, though, really like your suggestions! :-) Thank you!
-
Quote:
LeafyLux
I work at a vegan bakery
You're so lucky, that must be amazing! I'd love to have a vegan job, especially one that involved cakes! :)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Quote:
LeafyLux
I appreciate you going into detail and helping me by coming up with things to do if I were to actually step into the food court and take any action. If I ever did chose to, I will keep all of that in mind.
I would put all of that straight back out of mind if I were you Leafy!
Perverse SoH, I have. Was just after raising a :-)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Quote:
Cupid Stunt
I would put all of that straight back out of mind if I were you Leafy!
Perverse SoH, I have. Was just after raising a :-)
Yep, Cupid is a naughty little monkey (or maybe a big ape?)... ;)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Quote:
Peabrain
Yep, Cupid is a naughty little monkey (or maybe a big ape?)... ;)
As would be revealed by a CTC scan of the inside of my head ..
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__...onkey_Bomb.png
Possibly more like this ...
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/290...eydrummert.gif
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Hey Leafylux, I actually love the idea of smashing people's plates in the food court. I wouldn't actually do it, but it's a funny thought. On my college campus, there is only fast food, and whenever I have to walk through the giant Wendy's I feel like I'm surrounded by zombies and I'm the only one who's really alive... We're entitled to our thoughts. I personally enjoy a fantasy in which I hop onto a Wendy's table and yell, "YOU GUYS ARE PUPPETS! YOU ARE LICKING CORPORATE AMERICA'S BUTTHOLE RIGHT NOW! AND YOU LIKE IT, YOU COME BACK FOR MORE EVERYDAY!" I would never do this, of course. But thinking about it is a good release :)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
LOL @ Cupid and also at vegmonkey. ;)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Quote:
vegmonkey
Hey Leafylux, I actually love the idea of smashing people's plates in the food court. I wouldn't actually do it, but it's a funny thought. On my college campus, there is only fast food, and whenever I have to walk through the giant Wendy's I feel like I'm surrounded by zombies and I'm the only one who's really alive... We're entitled to our thoughts. I personally enjoy a fantasy in which I hop onto a Wendy's table and yell, "YOU GUYS ARE PUPPETS! YOU ARE LICKING CORPORATE AMERICA'S BUTTHOLE RIGHT NOW! AND YOU LIKE IT, YOU COME BACK FOR MORE EVERYDAY!" I would never do this, of course. But thinking about it is a good release :)
Hahaha. That's awesome!!
- - - Updated - - -
Quote:
Blueberries
You're so lucky, that must be amazing! I'd love to have a vegan job, especially one that involved cakes! :)
There is actually a book of stuff from the bakery! I'll message you the info :3
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Glosoli, is your name a reference to Sigur Ros' wonderful Glosoli? My mom has Icelandic horses and I always try to convince her when a calf is born or when she buys a new one, that she would name it Glosoli.
I too can feel utterly miserable about the fact that so many animals are killed every second. I can literally sit and just acknowledge the fact that a myriad of animals are killed now, and now, and now. I tried to change perspective from just acknowledgement of the death to actually seeing possible solutions, and nowadays I spend a lot of time thinking of how I can change people in every possible way, wherever I am, may it be work or in my free time.
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Quote:
glosoli
It is easy to be ignorant. It is so impossibly hard to be a happy person when you're aware of all the sick mistreatment of animals going on constantly.
People who don't care how it gets to their plate, are everywhere. People who buy puppies from mills.
Abuse animals. Wear them.
Are fine with them being chained and milked until they die.
Having their young taken from them and killed or eaten.
Why is this world so fucking sick?
Please, just. Remind me how beautiful the world is.
I'm so miserable.
I'm so horrible to have ever taken part in this. To have consumed any of it in my lifetime.
I hate that I was a part of this for one minute. Eating them, taking their milk.
I hate that as a vegan, I have to explain myself. I hate that i'm the weird one.
They're the weird ones.
I can relate to this so much.
I went through this type of depression when I first turned vegan, it's a very isolating feeling. I became very misanthropic. I don't have any vegetarian/ vegan friends. I don't understand why I can see 'the truth' and others don't seem to care. But when you do say 'well if you can watch this video and still eat meat, then I'll respect that'. But they get defensive because they know what they'll see will upset them. It's wilful ignorance because the truth is available to see.
I liken it to the matrix lol. We see true reality, and why has it happened to us? I do get jealous of how ignorant and happy others are, but then I know what I'm doing is right.
I try and apply Mindfulness to it. Build positive experiences and be mindful of how much we can actually do. When you are triggered, do some breathing exercises, center yourself. Just knowing that you are only one person, and we are up against a huge institution that most of the world doesn't care about.
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Quote:
I liken it to the matrix...
Cupid Stunt will like that; one of the first things he said to me when I joined the forum was about the red/blue pill analogy... ;)
I love what you said about mindfulness - it works with anything! :)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Yeah, Mindfulness is really good, helps me with a lot of things. And you can apply it to almost everything and life seems a bit better.
Some non-vegans literally do not care about anything or anyone, let alone animals. And no matter what we say you can't teach someone to have a conscience. Like with my family, they know plenty abut the meat industry thanks to me hehe. They still don't give a damn. My sister rides horses, eats meat, thinks I'm an idiot for being vegan. She also doesn't care about racism, war, poverty, the environment, whereas I'm always trying to live ethically and do my bit.
I turned veggie when I was 10 with no outside influence. I just thought eating meat was cruel. I have never lapsed, I just can't. I've thought about it a lot but I just get an image of an animal being slaughtered and that's enough to put me off. I don't know why I'm like this, or why others vegans are. Maybe we are more sensetive?
I like to 'do my bit' by making up nice vegan recipes, because I think that's what puts people off veganism.
There are some small positivies I guess.I do think in the UK, people are more aware of animal issues. And this horse meat scandal which shows the hypocracy people have towards meat (cows OK, horses GROSS), may make people think about where their meat comes from.
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Might not fit here ... but ... being surrounded by idiots
I am participating in a workshop at my company this week, and the company cafeteria excelled at providing sandwiches. They proudly answered my colleague’s question who was organizing the atering whether they could also provide some vegan sandwiches for me with a resounding “YES!!! We only put margarine on our sandwiches, no butter”. Of course, on top of the margarine, they put either roast beef or cheese…
My colleague who had organized the catering was so proud of her achievement, and that she had thought of my special requirement, I was afraid to break her heart pointing out why I would not eat those … but she was reconciled when I told her that I am always prepared and have my salad with me every day…
Best regards,
Andy
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
I feel as a vegan I can never be at peace living in this world. I lie awake at nights thinking of the plight of animals, even watching a cookery programme is like a horror movie now. I do have to try to think of the positive things in my life though so that I don't get completely despondent. I think of my two vegan children and my husband who was vegetarian but decided to give veganism a go for the first two months of this year. Well, the two months have passed and he is still vegan.................that makes me feel happy and gives me hope. :)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
I get you on the cooking show thing, Sandra. I used to love watching Nigella, even though I couldn't eat half the stuff she made it was just entertaining and relaxing. And I would veggie-ise a lot of the stuff she makes.
Now, I feel sick watching her. Everything she makes has a gallon of cream or cheese in it. And its just glutton, not like she needs to eat all this stuff.
It's weird how people can just eat what they like and not care. I get upset just seeing a bottle milk these days.
Supersized vs Superskinny makes me sick too. There is no need to eat that much processed meat and dairy, it's disgusting.
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
I totally agree with you. I find it baffling how people can eat what they like and not care. I'm just so glad there are people like us vegans in this world, at least I know I'm not on my own. :)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
p.s. I tried to send you a pm Misosoup but it wouldn't let me. :(
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
You can PM me now, I've turned pm on, dind't realise you had to do that.
-
Quote:
Andy_T
...whether they could also provide some vegan sandwiches for me with a resounding YES!!! We only put margarine on our sandwiches, no butter. Of course, on top of the margarine, they put either roast beef or cheese
My colleague who had organized the catering was so proud of her achievement...
I hate those situations when someone thinks that they have gotten you something vegan but they haven't, it breaks my heart too! I just thank them for thinking of me and how much I appreciate it but that what they got me isn't vegan and that maybe someone else would like it :)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
That sounds like a good way of handling the situation Blueberries. :)
I often wonder though what is so hard for non vegans to understand when dealing with vegan food. Just think is there something from an animal in this and if there is then it's not vegan. I know there are other 'hidden' things in food too (E numbers etc) but they seem to make mistakes with the obvious things like butter, coleslaw etc.
I once stressed to a waiter that I wanted a salad with NO coleslaw as I was vegan....................along came the salad and lo and behold there was the coleslaw. :(
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
During a tour of the West Coast on honeymoon in 2001, we stayed in Vegas. We couldn't find any dedicated vegan eateries so, in desparation, tried a veggie place. I asked for a green salad with asolutely nothing derived from an animal included. The waitress brought it to our table and it looked perfect. I lifted a leaf to find an egg. I called the waitress back and said "this egg is from an animal. Did you think it was from an eggplant [US word for aubergine in case you didn't know]?". She smiled and said "you're so funny!". She then asked why I couldn't eat anything derived from an animal. I said it was because I was vegan. She said "Hey, I'm Vegan too" (meaning Las Vegan). As I stared into space, I nearly split in half and dropped to the floor, like Spongebob does. Thankfully, San Francisco had 2 vegan restaurants and was far more enlightened. I survived Vegas on an exciting diet of Lays ready salted crisps.
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Quote:
VeganRake
She said "Hey, I'm Vegan too" (meaning Las Vegan).
Oh dear!
:lol2:
(Jeez, our smileys are 'naff'?)
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
Quote:
VeganRake
As I stared into space, I nearly split in half and dropped to the floor, like Spongebob does.
PMSL! Oh I can see it in my mind's eye right now...
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots.
;) I wish I could do it for real - I'd be doing it all the time.
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots
I'm having one of those days today. Had a huge blowout with my parents. They claim to support my veganism but won't even admit to their friends why I don't eat meat or dairy.
They get really angry with me if I bring up what happens. My father's excuse is 'well we've done it since the dawn of time' and 'what I eat is important to me' as if that's a good enough reason. It feels really isolating when someone puts you vs the rest of the world like that.
How is it evern natural to forcibly impregnate a cow? And when I try and explain how unnatural animal produce has become, they don't want to hear.
It does make me depressed. It feels like my own problems are so insignificant compared to what animals go through. Even though my childhood was rough and I wound up with PTSD, at least I was able to talk about it as an adult, I have a voice. Animals can never have this.
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots
Quote:
misosoup
My father's excuse is ... 'what I eat is important to me' ...
That would be a fascinating argument to follow through on?
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots
Indeed. But it is hard to win these kinds of arguments with omnis set in their ways.
And few people like to argue for the fun of it and the sake of arguing (me thinks, you might actually feel somehow at home in that elusive group of persons, Mr. CS, judging from your forum contributions ;-)
Best regards,
Andy
-
Re: I'm finding it really hard to exist knowing i'm surrounded by idiots
Quote:
misosoup
'what I eat is important to me'
This "argument" is quite common - didn't A Well Known TV Chef once say something like "Stop being vegan and just enjoy your food”? I guess an underlying idea is that it's easier for some people than others (e.g. the speaker) to go vegan because those people don't care what they eat :rolleyes:
Sorry you're having a tough time misosoup but stick with it and your parents may pay more attention in time - and even if they don't, you know you're doing the right thing.