Page 6 of 10 FirstFirst ... 4 5 6 7 8 ... LastLast
Results 251 to 300 of 496

Thread: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

  1. #251
    KayVegan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    23

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote BagelKitty View Post
    I know I can't change the world, but I don't want a single dollar of mine to support these types of farms.

    Very true and very nice quote, I sympathise with it. That is why Mahatma Ghandi's statement means so much to me: Be the change you want to see in the world!

    Every single person on the face on this earth can make a difference. In a good way or in a bad way.

    I am very glad you made that good choice, BagelKitty.
    Be the change that you want to see in the world. (Mahatma Ghandi)

  2. #252
    songlife
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    II cut out dairy for singing a few years ago and I'd go for periods with no red meat or only fish.

    Then I learned the truth that fish do have the neuroreceptors to feel pain and everything else.

    When I first heard of veganism a few years ago (took me a while, I lived in Alberta *shudder*) I thought it sounded like a very noble and extreme thing to do, but that we are naturally omnivores.

    I re-met an amazing raw vegan chef who was friends with my brother my bro's friend when I was little. He made me the most amazing raw vegan food that there is in the entire world, and it suddenly dawned on me that I'd been completely ignorant to an entire reality for my whole life and that there was OBVIOUSLY no reason not to be a vegan.

    At that moment of illumination, I suddenly has no desire to consume animal products, ever ever again. I went from omni to vegan cold-turkey, and I didn't even see it coming. There was nothing leading up to it, no last hamburger, no last piece of cheese, no goodbyes. It was just... f* ack it, that's it, no more.

    Only after suddenly going from omni to vegan did I discover things like rice milk and tempeh. Honestly, I thought it was dumb that I never ate that stuff as an omni.

    edit: and 3 weeks ago for the very first time since I became vegan almost a year ago, I broke down crying for a few hours over the countless murders I'd committed to poor suffering animals. I don't know how to properly repent. How could I ever??! I didn't mean to ever cause pain or suffering. I simply can't believe how stupid I was. I'm over the senseless blind murder now, but still... I generally live in happiness and confidence but sometimes I still wonder why I didn't make the change when I was 5. Seriously, I knew murder was wrong when I was 5. Why did it take me 17 more years to figure it out!!!

  3. #253

    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Des Moines, Washington, U.S.A
    Posts
    12

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I wasn't vegan because I wasn't educated about how important it is to be vegan. I knew animals we being hurt to some extent, but I thought it was just their death. I also didn't think it was important health wise, but now I have educated myself through several books, internet articles and more. Being vegan is an important role to take.

  4. #254
    Fervent vegan DiaShel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    1,212

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote songlife View Post
    II cut out dairy for singing a few years ago and I'd go for periods with no red meat or only fish.

    Then I learned the truth that fish do have the neuroreceptors to feel pain and everything else.

    When I first heard of veganism a few years ago (took me a while, I lived in Alberta *shudder*) I thought it sounded like a very noble and extreme thing to do, but that we are naturally omnivores.

    I re-met an amazing raw vegan chef who was friends with my brother my bro's friend when I was little. He made me the most amazing raw vegan food that there is in the entire world, and it suddenly dawned on me that I'd been completely ignorant to an entire reality for my whole life and that there was OBVIOUSLY no reason not to be a vegan.

    At that moment of illumination, I suddenly has no desire to consume animal products, ever ever again. I went from omni to vegan cold-turkey, and I didn't even see it coming. There was nothing leading up to it, no last hamburger, no last piece of cheese, no goodbyes. It was just... f* ack it, that's it, no more.

    Only after suddenly going from omni to vegan did I discover things like rice milk and tempeh. Honestly, I thought it was dumb that I never ate that stuff as an omni.

    edit: and 3 weeks ago for the very first time since I became vegan almost a year ago, I broke down crying for a few hours over the countless murders I'd committed to poor suffering animals. I don't know how to properly repent. How could I ever??! I didn't mean to ever cause pain or suffering. I simply can't believe how stupid I was. I'm over the senseless blind murder now, but still... I generally live in happiness and confidence but sometimes I still wonder why I didn't make the change when I was 5. Seriously, I knew murder was wrong when I was 5. Why did it take me 17 more years to figure it out!!!
    You can't feel bad that it took so long. You should be proud to have figured out at 21 what 99% of people go their whole lives not realizing.
    "To reduce suffering means to reduce the amount of ignorance, the basic affliction with us." -Thich Nhat Hanh

  5. #255
    fucking vegan! JohnnyZu's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Yosemite, California
    Posts
    14

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Having read nothing of this thread before posting....
    Having been a vegetarian for two years before becoming a vegan, I new little of animal suffering. After becoming a vegetarian, I began to learn. I then had a hard time believing that I could survive without dairy. When I realized I could I was so excited!
    I mean: I was so excited!

  6. #256
    wildcatstrike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    west yorks, UK
    Posts
    159

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote songlife View Post
    II cut out dairy for singing a few years ago and I'd go for periods with no red meat or only fish.

    Then I learned the truth that fish do have the neuroreceptors to feel pain and everything else.

    When I first heard of veganism a few years ago (took me a while, I lived in Alberta *shudder*) I thought it sounded like a very noble and extreme thing to do, but that we are naturally omnivores.

    I re-met an amazing raw vegan chef who was friends with my brother my bro's friend when I was little. He made me the most amazing raw vegan food that there is in the entire world, and it suddenly dawned on me that I'd been completely ignorant to an entire reality for my whole life and that there was OBVIOUSLY no reason not to be a vegan.

    At that moment of illumination, I suddenly has no desire to consume animal products, ever ever again. I went from omni to vegan cold-turkey, and I didn't even see it coming. There was nothing leading up to it, no last hamburger, no last piece of cheese, no goodbyes. It was just... f* ack it, that's it, no more.

    Only after suddenly going from omni to vegan did I discover things like rice milk and tempeh. Honestly, I thought it was dumb that I never ate that stuff as an omni.

    edit: and 3 weeks ago for the very first time since I became vegan almost a year ago, I broke down crying for a few hours over the countless murders I'd committed to poor suffering animals. I don't know how to properly repent. How could I ever??! I didn't mean to ever cause pain or suffering. I simply can't believe how stupid I was. I'm over the senseless blind murder now, but still... I generally live in happiness and confidence but sometimes I still wonder why I didn't make the change when I was 5. Seriously, I knew murder was wrong when I was 5. Why did it take me 17 more years to figure it out!!!
    You sound awesome! I love your story of becoming vegan ! You shouldn't feel too bad about what you used to eat though and all the animals that suffered over those years. Most vegans used to eat meat and dairy at some point and there's nothing we can do about that now. But just be proud that you've made the change and that you aren't contributing to it anymore.

  7. #257
    Klytemnest
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    =songlife;483358]II cut out dairy for singing a few years ago and I'd go for periods with no red meat or only fish.
    Oh, my goodness, a fellow singer! What kind of music do you sing?

    Then I learned the truth that fish do have the neuroreceptors to feel pain and everything else.
    Before I became vegan pain and suffering were simply not within my range of concern. I figured, hey, this is how the world is - animal kill other animals in order to live. It sucks, but hey, whatareyagonnado?!

    Around the time the idea to vecome a vegan was brewing in my head (summer of 2006), I did a bit of research, and found an article about how scientists now believe that fish do feel pain. And that did it. I have not eaten fish since.

  8. #258
    hm umbilical's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    germany
    Posts
    202

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    i was raised to eat death by a christian family

  9. #259
    Klytemnest
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote songlife View Post
    edit: and 3 weeks ago for the very first time since I became vegan almost a year ago, I broke down crying for a few hours over the countless murders I'd committed to poor suffering animals. I don't know how to properly repent. How could I ever??! I didn't mean to ever cause pain or suffering. I simply can't believe how stupid I was. I'm over the senseless blind murder now, but still... I generally live in happiness and confidence but sometimes I still wonder why I didn't make the change when I was 5. Seriously, I knew murder was wrong when I was 5. Why did it take me 17 more years to figure it out!!!
    Wow... I feel almost exactly the same way. I never wept over the past "sins", but I do know what you mean. I also felt guilty for not having become vegan sooner. But I remind myself that the past no longer exists. We cannot fix it. All we can do is make wise decisions in the present so the future will be better. I think "repent" literally means "to turn around", so you already have repented.

    Hey, don't feel bad. It could have been worse. I was 29 when I became a vegetarian, and I was 37 when I went vegan. You are WAY ahead of me in that respect. Congratulations!

    The things is, if we continue to grow, as our thinking evolves, we will have many more such experiences. Who knows, maybe five years from now you or I may come to the realization that the world would have been a better place if we stopped driving cars or using cell phones ten years earlier. But all we can do is our best. As long as you are sincere and honest with yourself, as long as your intentions are good, I don't think you should be hard on yourself. I, for one, am proud of you.

    Take care,

    Rami

  10. #260
    Klytemnest
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote JohnnyZu View Post
    Having read nothing of this thread before posting....
    Having been a vegetarian for two years before becoming a vegan, I new little of animal suffering. After becoming a vegetarian, I began to learn. I then had a hard time believing that I could survive without dairy. When I realized I could I was so excited!
    I mean: I was so excited!
    I was an ovo-lacto-pesco-"vegetarian" for seven yearrs before choosing to become a vegan. I also knew nothing of the suffering of animals during that period. I became a vegetarian for health reasons, not because of my concern for the suffering of animals. I mean, I knew that slaughtering cows was a terrible thing, but I had no idea what chickens go through in order for us to have eggs, what cows have to undergo in order for us to have milk and cheese, what sheep go through so we can have wool... Once I found out, that was it. I think most people don't know. Some people do and simply don't give a damn. But I think if ALL people knew, a large percentage would care. Not all of them would go vegan, but they would take at least a step or two to minimize animal suffering with the choices they make.

    Speaking of dairy, lately I have been enjoying using vegan gourmet cheese. I heat a little bit of olive oil in a pan, and then I melt some vegan cheese in it. Then I sautee my vegan burgers - and they come out absolutely delicious! Sometimes I add pine nuts or cashews, sometimes a bit of kale... So yes, it is pretty exciting that giving up dairy did not mean giving up the taste of cheese.

  11. #261
    kaLi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    utah
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Ignorance. I didn't even know what it was until I started reading vegetarian books. I thought vegan and vegetarian were the same thing

  12. #262
    Klytemnest
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    [QUOTE]
    Quote KayVegan View Post
    Of all people, an omnivore made me question my vegetarianism. I changed. On the spot. And became a vegan. So glad I did.
    That's interesting. A similar thing happened to me too. On another board an poster (who I think was anti-Semitic) had posted that PeTA video of the Kosher slaughterhouse in which a hapless cow is moaning in agony over a long period of time before it dies. His point was that Jewish slaughterhouses were inhumane. I proudly joined the discussion saying that I was a vegetarian and had not eaten meat in seven years. So, even though I had not become a vegetarian for ethical reasons, I was not contributing to the suffering of animals. Well, this omnivore went on to tell me how the consumption of dairy and eggs contributed a great deal to animal suffering. For some reason he was OK with that. But I wasn't. He made me think, he made me learn.

    About a year later I e-mailed him and told him that what he had told me had made a difference and that I had become a vegan. Of course, his intention was to inject some anti-Jewish sentiment into the discussion, but instead he helped me decide to become a vegan. Cool, huh?

    It was not difficult at all. Many vegetarian (and definetely omnivores) think that being a vegan means sacrificing but it is not like that at all! The minute I have stopped consuming animal products - milk, cheese, eggs, wool, silk, etc. (leather I did not use either when I was vegetarian) I felt so reliefed and I never sacrifice at all.
    I know. I did not feel I was giving anything up. I certainly do not miss meat, eggs or dairy. Well, I do feel very restricted when I eat out. But at home it's no problem. Heck, it's better!

    Looking back on those many years where I was living life as a vegetarian to me is a loss. Unfo I can not undo that. I wish for more people to make that change and go vegan.
    I don't feel that my seven years of "vegetarianism" were a loss. I did not eat chicken, beef, pork, rabbit, venison, turkey, etc... It certainly was better than being an omnivore. Yes, going vegan would have been better still, but let us not forget that even veganism contributes to animal suffering. Every time we eat iceberg lettuce, we are killing lettuce mites. I don't think it is possible to completely eliminate animal suffering. All we can do is reduce it to the best of our ability, by making intelligent, well-informed choices. So, don't be so hard on yourself. You did the best you could with the information you had at the time. The past does not exist anymore. You cannot fix it. The important thing is that you did become a vegan and are making ethical, conscientious choices now and thus affecting the future. That is more than what most people do.

    Today I feel strange about vegetarians when they claim to feel so sorry for the animals and do not condone the cruelty but they can not do without animal products.

    It is not my intention at all to offend some vegetarians but I hope they can realize the difference. A vegetarian might make a change to the climatic disaster but he / she does not contribute a major change for the animals.
    We all could probably do better. There is always room for improvement. And sometimes change is incremental. I always loved animals but animal suffering was simply not my concern when I decided to become a vegetarian. I had heart disease in my family and so I decided to start eating better. It wasn't until I was confronted with animal suffering that I began to think about it and how my actions were still contributing to it. It became an issue that was important to me. Until then it was simply not something I thought about.

    "I once was lost, but now I'm found;
    was blind, but now I see."

    Can I get an "Ay-men"?

  13. #263
    Klytemnest
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote heat13 View Post
    That is exactly how I feel! I don't want to push anything on people, but at the same time I want to say SOMETHING. A lot of people checking at Whole Foods are just young kids, who actually have no clue about health or veggies/vegans. Although there are some really good employees in the acutal store to help with things.
    The thing that bothers me is that some people think all we eat is salad. That's probably because they associate the word "vegetarian" with "vegetable". I myself did not know that the term vegetarian was not derived from "vegetable" but from the Latin "vegetus", which means "whole". If the vegetarian diet consisted of nothing but lettuce, shredded carrots, broccoli and fruit, I also would not and could not be a vegetarian. Unfortunately I did not have time to explain the vegan pyramid to this kid.

    Yes, I agree with you that Whole Foods has some wonderful, knowledgeable, helpful employees who do not treat us as if we were weirdoes.

  14. #264
    EcoTribalVegan
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I came from a huge meat-and-potatos type of family myself. I managed to cut my meat consumption down to about once a week while in university; practically living alone. Once I moved out the transition became much easier as well. And to my surprise my mom makes some excellent vegan meals for me when I'm over.

  15. #265
    Aurore's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Paris
    Posts
    144

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I come from an omnivore family, i thinks that sums it up.

  16. #266
    clueless's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    64

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Before I went vegan I was a vegetarian. I wasn't a vegan because I didn't know there was any cruelty involved with dairy products... call me stupid I know. Now I know better. In fact I distinctly remember saying, "I could never go vegan." And here I am.

  17. #267
    hgpns
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Though I'm glad less animals are hurt by veganism, that was never what pushed me to become a vegan. I'm a pre-med student and I feel like someone in that field should be in great health (I've seen too many unhealthy physicians and such that I simply do not trust). My search for how to become healthy led me to vegetarianism, then veganism, and now raw veganism. Each step made me feel healthier and healthier. So health is why I became raw vegan.

  18. #268

    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Rhode Island
    Posts
    16

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Mainly for convenience. It was easier to eat what I fed my family, than to cook a separate meal for me. Now that my kids are grown and gone, I don't have to cater to their tastes anymore. My husband is even eating less meat and, if he wants meat, he knows he has to cook it himself.

    I was vegetarian long before I became vegan just because I couldn't stand the thought of meat, but for some reason milk, butter, cheese, eggs, honey & silk didn't bother me. It was only when I started considering the suffering of animals that I cut out dairy, eggs, honey, fur, leather, & silk.

    So, I became vegan for several reasons:

    1) After watching "Earthlings" the thought of the pain and suffering of the animals in the meat, dairy, fur & leather hurt me deeply. The scene where this poor little fox had been skinned, but was still alive and looking around broke my heart. Basically, the practice of Ahimsa was a life-changing event for me.

    2) I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes (even though I was in great shape, not overweight and worked out regularly) and the removal of a precancerous colon polyp in the same year. Vegans have a 40% less risk of developing colon cancer and much less risk of developing diabetes. Since I have become vegan, I no longer have to take medication to control my blood sugar and only time will tell about the re-occurrence of the colon polyps.

    3) For ecological reasons. The C02 levels caused by the ranching industry. If everyone ate vegan, they would be more food to go around --instead of Americans being fat and happy while parts of the world are starving.


    Namaste

  19. #269

    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I actually didn't even turn vegetarian until I was 16 (around October or November of 2007), and once I did, I really started thinking "If I'm going to use animal biproducts, why not be disgusting and eat the animal?" so I stopped all use of biproducts and.. here I am.
    The other two main reasons were, for one, health. It's disgustingly unhealthy to consume animals/products and I've always been over weight. After seeing how unhealthy my family has become, I decided I was going to make a change. And.. the other reason, as obvious as this may be.. is how gross factory farming is. It's inhumane. I even bought the Skinny B**ch book to read more about it. It's horrible.. I really couldn't stop crying. And.. as weird as this may sound, I think the worst thing ANYONE could do is take milk from baby cows JUST to give to humans. How stupid.

    Anyway, it was... so hard at first. I didn't even have a birthday cake for my 17th birthday because every bakery good contains milk, eggs and or honey.
    Wasn't too long after that and I got the hang of it. I found convenience in grocery stores such as Wild Oats (Whole Foods in some areas), and Trader Joe's. I also took a trip from Indianapolis to Chicago with my family to enjoy all of the vegan/vegan friendly restaurants there like the Chicago Diner.

  20. #270

    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    England
    Posts
    31

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Well, I went vegetarian when I was 14 thanks to an ex boyfriend. At 15 I did want to go vegan but the same ex was quite controlling and didn't "allow" it because he thought it was too extreme. When I was 17 I really started to research veganism and was horrified by what I saw/read, went vegan and have never looked back.

  21. #271

    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Ottawa, Canada
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Before I became a vegan or vegetarian, I just didn't know that there was a choice. I was 12 when I decided to become a vegetarian, and my family was shocked. It was just the way people are brought up. Eating meat was like breathing...considered normal. No-one ever tells you what happens inorder to get that meat. I think that if people actually thought about where their food comes from, or what happens to get their meat, they might consider changing. But people just dont take the time to really think about what eating meat is. Not to mention how unhealthy it is for you, and just wrong. So basically it was an un-informed decision to stay eating meat. Like my parents who are die-hard meat eaters were gonna teach me. Veganism is so much healthier and good in so many othere ways.

  22. #272
    Klytemnest
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote Ace View Post
    Before I became a vegan or vegetarian, I just didn't know that there was a choice. I was 12 when I decided to become a vegetarian, and my family was shocked. It was just the way people are brought up. Eating meat was like breathing...considered normal. No-one ever tells you what happens inorder to get that meat. I think that if people actually thought about where their food comes from, or what happens to get their meat, they might consider changing. But people just dont take the time to really think about what eating meat is. Not to mention how unhealthy it is for you, and just wrong. So basically it was an un-informed decision to stay eating meat. Like my parents who are die-hard meat eaters were gonna teach me. Veganism is so much healthier and good in so many othere ways.
    Hi Ace; welcome to the forum.

    I can relate to your experience. I wish I had been as wise as you and chosen to become a vegetarian at such an early age...

    You bring up an interesting point - that if people actually thought about where their meat comes from they might consider veganism. That was the case with me. Once I was faced with the facts, the cold, cruel facts, of how meat, dairy, eggs, etc. get to our plate, I could no longer willingly and knowingly participate in the torture and killing of innocent beings. But I know people who DO know these same facts, and simply don't care. I know people who do know these facts, do care, but are simply unwilling to give up meat. It saddens me to say this, but I don't think education will be enough. Ultimately most people are gonna do what they want to do - and then find a way to justify their actions.

    I like the several different reasons for going vegan presented on the CD-Rom Meat Your Meat. Compassion is only one of the reasons to go vegan. It was the number-one reason for me, but there is also the issue of health, the environment, poverty, etc. Hopefully one of these reasons will appeal to everyone on the planet. And hopefully more than a mere fraction of all people will consider veganism.

    Nice talking to you,

    Rami

  23. #273

    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Great Britain
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    My family culture basically was contingent upon eating meat.
    Thankfully, that has now changed!

  24. #274

    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Oh this is such a good thread - and I see many others feel the same!

    My parents have been off and on vegetarians for years, and I'd always had an interest in vegetarians. I remember making numerous failed attempts as a teenager out of fascination, but it wasn't until I met a friend who was vegan who inspired me through her passion for animals, that I discovered my own incentive.

    Before that time, in all honesty, I just never really thought that much about it. What keeps drawing me back more than anything, is how good I feel when I'm vegan - not only physically, but in a way, spiritually as well.

  25. #275
    imblissful's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    8,900 feet
    Posts
    54

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Reasons for me not being vegan before becoming vegan;

    1. Grew up in a hunting family, we always had elk, deer, bear, antelope in the freezer. Married a hunter when I left home, his family is also a big hunting family.

    2. I was always told that we needed to eat meat to stay healthy. (I believed this for so long)

    3. Living where I do there is not as much organic fresh fruit/veggies available year round.

    4. Expense. You can only eat so much beans, rice, pasta before you want something better/different. Like I said on #3 great veggies/fruit is hard to come by in the winter.

    5. Eating out. ugh! You don't find many people here that are vegan, so we aren't catered to.

    6. Cooking, making different meals for all the members of the family. But I have learned to start with the vegan portion (usually pasta and a sauce) then have several sides that can be added (such as meat for my husband and son or mushrooms for my daughter and myself).

    My sister tried vegan for a few days and said it was just too hard to do.

  26. #276

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I went vegetarian at age 6. I went vegan at 13. But then I went back to vegetarian at 14, mostly because of convenience and I was tired to being/feeling bullied. I stayed vegetarian (ethical veg - no leather, etc) for a while, but lost more and more confidence in myself and the rightness of my beliefs. I felt like it was losing battle and people would never be kind to animals. I even bought a few leather belts during that period, reasoning that they were like "trace ingredients." Finally, I found an awesome partner who helped me regain my confidence and passion. He was vegetarian when we met. We went vegan together.

  27. #277
    cherob
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I think one of the main obstacles for people is lack of knowledge and secondly, avoidance of knowledge. I know for myself I ate organic meat for a long time, thinking this was ok. I sometimes feel like a poster child for veganism because I encounter so much ignorance and mis-information. Most people I find don't ask me about it because, I presume, they don't want to know. IEventually I decided I didn't want to live in ignorance any more and informed myself, which made the decision a total no-brainer. How can you go back to eating meat and dairy after you know the truth? I do feel most people know about vegetarianism, but have little knowledge of veganism- that's where I come in . Until people realise the damage to their health and the environment from consuming animal products, as well as the ethical cost to animals, and begin to ask questions, I feel it will be a long haul for real change.

  28. #278
    pat sommer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    hanging around California
    Posts
    723

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    ...common thread I see woven here, bravery.
    Brave enough to stand up to ridicule. That's why I can forgive the omnis; it's hard to stand up and stand out from the crowd.
    the only animal ingredient in my food is cat hair

  29. #279
    wildcatstrike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    west yorks, UK
    Posts
    159

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    i'd agree with that ^.

    my older brother sometimes makes humourous comments about me being vegan but to be honest, i just don't think he'd have the balls to go out for a curry with his mates and ask for a vegan meal. or go round to a mate's house for a beer and say "no thanks, that beer's not vegan".

    peer pressure ruins alot of things.

  30. #280

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    People think ignorance is bliss. They don't want to know how the animal died, and what conditions it lived in.

    And they genuinely believe you need milk because of the calcuim (bs)

    They don't realise just how bad an animal based diet is on your health, and think that cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc

    Animal products are in literally everything. You have to go to a lot of effort to avoid all of them!

  31. #281

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I became veggie when I was 10 years' old after asking my mum where the meat I was eating came from - she told me, I stop eating it that day!
    I'd never even heard of vegans at that time; I didn't meet another veggie for years!
    Been vegan now for 21 years' and it's just who I am
    Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!

  32. #282
    Jippia
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I believed the old familiar lies: too difficult, too extreme, nothing left to eat. And about not becoming a vegetarian sooner than age 22: it just did not occur to me, even though I knew some vegetarians, to become one myself.

  33. #283
    Slightly Crazy 1gentlemaorispirit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Third Rock from the Sun!
    Posts
    205

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote tricia View Post
    some ppl jus think that animals are inferior and were "put" here for them...
    My Maori Grandmother taught me to "ask" for permission before I picked a a flower, plant or fruit. She would say a prayer if permission was given as she picked them. She also said that before any animals were to be eaten as food, their permission was to be asked for also. I asked why as like myself she and the majority of her family didn't eat animal products. She said that all living things have a soul and feelings and we have no right to just take a life.

    I have come across this in Aborginal, Native American and to some extent Jewish cultures.

    With my inherited allergies to all animal products and my utter distaste for the taste and texture of them, not to mention I adore animals and helped my family care for the rescued animals we had and were frquently given. In a way I've been born into veganism. My paternal Grandparents were big meat eaters and my brother and I were forced to eat animal products or suffer being smacked and shouted at for "wasting perfectly good food". They also believed that our alergies were "something our Maori family made up because they are savages, masquerading as pure tribal people".

    My paternal Grandparents used my Dads veganism against us, saying he was weak of mind and spirit by following the "hippy" culture, and that as a Doctor he should set a "better example" to his children and patients. Still my brother and I took the punishments for not eating animal products, to avoid allergic reactions and not wanting to eat them.

    Our maternal Grandparents would have heated discussions with them on this, but what our paternal Grandparents feed us when we stayed with them could hardly be policed.
    I make no apologies for myself, my passions, my love, my honesty, my intensity, my soul. Reach beyond your fears and take all of me or nothing at all.

  34. #284
    jackie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    92

    Default Re: Ocd

    Quote Veggie4Life139 View Post
    You have OCD? So do I!! But fortunately being vegan did not change my OCD or make it more annoying. Hmm...maybe you could try again?

    me too!

    but i find that being vegan helps. apparently OCD is down to a lack of seritonin in the brain...you mainly get this from brazil nuts...i eat loads of nuts lately and am slowly getting better.....
    Recognize meat for what it really is: the antibiotic- and pesticide-laden corpse of a tortured animal. ~Ingrid Newkirk

  35. #285
    jackie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    92

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote PinkFluffyCloud View Post
    Yes, I've always felt that way about names - they're misleading!!
    If 'milk' was called 'Bovine Breast Milk', for example, it might put people off a bit, or if 'Eggs' were called 'Chicken's Menstrual Waste Matter Ovoids' or some such, the truth might out!!

    Nice post
    Recognize meat for what it really is: the antibiotic- and pesticide-laden corpse of a tortured animal. ~Ingrid Newkirk

  36. #286
    jackie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    92

    Default Re: Why are you vegan! Or is it 'Why AREN'T you vegan?'

    Quote kriz View Post

    3, A vegan diet is for the middle class - only. It's too expensive for
    students and the working class
    I find it cheaper! a trolley full of fruit and veg i can make so many meals from!!


    Quote kriz View Post
    4, Vegansism is an extreme type of vegetarianism. It's an idealististic
    and utopian diet no one is able to follow for a long period of time
    without facing serious health problems.
    I've never felt so healthy!


    Quote kriz View Post
    5, I was a vegetarian for a few years... I didn't feel good... and my
    doctor told me to start eating fish.
    I've heard doctors recommend a vegan diet for cancer patients(?)


    Ppl just make excuses because it's difficult to go against the majority unless you have willpower and determination!

    Nice Post kriz
    Recognize meat for what it really is: the antibiotic- and pesticide-laden corpse of a tortured animal. ~Ingrid Newkirk

  37. #287
    songlife
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I was a "natural omnivore" -bwahaha!

    There are so many things that are messed up about that statement, I don't even know where to start.

    Basically I was not vegan because I was compassionate but undereducated.

  38. #288
    songlife
    Guest

    Default Re: Why are you vegan! Or is it 'Why AREN'T you vegan?'

    Quote jackie View Post
    I've heard doctors recommend a vegan diet for cancer patients(?)
    A good friend of mine just beat some very lethal hereditary cancer with a special raw vegan diet. He found out that chemo was doing him more harm than good.

  39. #289

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote songlife View Post

    Basically I was not vegan because I was compassionate but undereducated.
    Yup. Same here.

  40. #290
    Fervent vegan DiaShel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    1,212

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I was educated but undercompassionate
    "To reduce suffering means to reduce the amount of ignorance, the basic affliction with us." -Thich Nhat Hanh

  41. #291

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote DiaShel View Post
    I was educated but undercompassionate
    Actually, come to think of it I think I was a little of both (under educated, undercompassionate, but also did have a certain degree of compassion and education about the matter). The main thing was was completely uneducated about was nutrition, which changed recently which is how I got to be vegan. And I never knew much of anything about what went on in factory farms or anything, I just figured it was wrong, though I didn't know the details (and to this day haven't watched graphic real movies of it and still won't). The nutrition myths held me back though (I thought you really needed faux meats and expensive specialty products to get adequate protein, and this is just talking about lacto-ovo veg, before I knew the word vegan, though I was vaguely aware that some people abstained from dairy and eggs and distanced myself from that and reassured my parents I wouldn't do anything that "extreme").

  42. #292
    AVL VegFest Chrilynhawk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Asheville, NC
    Posts
    41

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    Quote DiaShel View Post
    I was educated but undercompassionate
    Sadly this is me as well. I was actually a vegetarian and then a vegan during my teens, but at that time I still didn't quite feel compassion, I did it because I thought it was right but I didn't have much empathy for the animals. When I stopped being veg during my pregnancies and just around that whole time I was very well educated on animal suffering, I just couldn't connect with it.
    I'm not exactly sure what kicked my butt into gear, but something did and now I feel extreme compassion and empathy and I'm so thankful I can - even if it did take too long!
    ~Christina~
    Keep the Tings and Veggie Booty AWAY FROM ME! I can't be stopped :(

  43. #293
    Zelah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    North Wales
    Posts
    9

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I thought about it but didn't know much about veganism

  44. #294
    Rose Jail's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    17

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I was raised omni and, sadly, taught that "God put animals on this earth for us to use" by my mother, so I never really questioned whether or not it was right to eat meat.

    In my mid-teens, meat completely lost its appeal to me, so I stopped eating it, thereby becoming vegetarian. I thought about veganism every now and again, but my mother was so against it that I was reluctant to even try. After finding out the true horrors of the dairy and egg industries, I just couldn't justify eating these products and figured the conflict it would cause within my family was nothing compared to the suffering the animals have to endure. So I became vegan.

  45. #295

    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    26

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I have found, rather unfortunately, that most people just don't care. I went vegetarian and later vegan because I just coudn't justify killing or exploiting another living being for my survival when I can be perfectly well sustained on an all plant diet. But most people, especially in the U.S. just don't think it's important to consider animal welfare. The mentality that I've come across the most is that "man was made to eat animals, that's why they're here." It's a very cultural thing, and definitely a machismo thing. I don't think I've met a single male vegan. Most guys in my neck of the woods are just plain meat eaters and they wouldn't be so manly if they didn't eat meat.

    It's sad to think that although most people understand where their meat and other animal products come from, most just don't care. It bothers me so much that I live in such an apathetic society to where people know the injustices that go on in the world but don't bother to do anything about it. They just assume that "that's the way it is... and besides, meat tastes good!"

    That's what makes me proud of myself and everybody on this forum for standing up for their beliefs and actively making a difference in the world- no matter how small that difference may be.

  46. #296
    Home's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Latveria
    Posts
    5

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I was first an omnivore, then became vegetarian, and now vegan. Perhaps my next step will be raw vegan, then fruitarian. Though for me it is not a purity contest. I struggle with vanity and have since decided to keep certain things secret so it is not for anybody else but for myself and God (though I did decide to join this forum... ^^. I feel by going 100% raw or fruitarian- deep down it might be rooted for me in an atempt to become superior to the other humans; "the glutonous flesh eating slobs. I am far over their heads, as usual!" (... Like I said, I am working on this vanity problem...^_^;.

    As for before my eye had been opened: I always liked animals as a child. I ate meat because that is what I was fed, though I don't blame my mother, she is a wonderful person as is my father. I was raised spiritual but didn't truly understand util fairly recently. My reasons for going vegetarian were for spirit and health. I also thought I would be doing the right thing for the animals. It wasn't long after did I feel it wasn't enough. Allowing myself to eat fatening butter, heavy creams, french fries, cholesterol caked eggs, and fatty milk gradually disgusted me. Right now I am comfortable where I am at, diet wise. Fasting and meditation are my recent endeavors and have occupied much of my thinking.
    I shall dwell amongst the beasts, or search for some semblance of freedom in the polluted skies of this mad, orbiting prison which men call Earth!

  47. #297
    talknerdytome
    Guest

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I was vegetarian for about 10 years, and just didn't think there was anything wrong with dairy and egg production. I knew caged hens were treated badly, and always bought free range, but I had no idea about the dairy industry. It took me about a year to fully make the switch, partly because of lack of support from friends and family, and also because I was doing it for the wrong reasons (weight loss, etc) when I finally did make the switch, I researched into dairy cows, and felt so sickened that I refused to eat it again.

  48. #298
    V for Veganica Sarabi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Washington, D.C.
    Posts
    543

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I hadn't ever really given it a thought. I didn't much connect with animals, although I somehow disapproved of hunting. I was completely speciesist and thought only weird "animal lovers" would ever go veg. Then I went vegetarian, but I thought, "I could never given up milk and eggs." A week later I saw the factory farm videos and went vegan, so ignorance was probably the main thing. I feel like I was destined for veganism.
    "To become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana." - Buddha

  49. #299

    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    California
    Posts
    437

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    ^ Yeah that's kind of similar with me. I was an "animal person" as a little kid but I grew out of that. I disconnected myself with nature and all it's beauties. I was ignorant to animal suffering and exploitation, and to be honest, I just plain didn't care. I made fun of "crazy tree-hugging vegans". Hehe, then I became one...

  50. #300

    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    13

    Default Re: Why weren't you vegan before you became vegan?

    I wasn't a vegan for 25 years of my life. I was raised in a meat-eating household and was totally unaware of how animals were raised and killed for food. I really didn't even think about it. It wasn't until I read the book Skinny Bitch and then started doing heavy research that I found out how factory farms and slaughterhouses are. Now, I consider myself on the abolitionist side... if anyone hasn't checked out the website www.abolitionistapproach.com I would highly recommend it.

    I try not to judge or hate on meat-eaters or "loose" vegetarians (those who eats fish, dairy, and eggs) but I know how frustrating it is for a lot of vegans. Even though I've only been a vegetarian for a year and a vegan for even less... it's hard to remember why I didn't take the time to open my eyes to what is going on with animal exploitation.

    It's very scary to have to open your eyes to the truth when the truth is painful and will potentially shake up all of your beliefs and thoughts. A lot of people who sort of know what's going on in factory farms and slaughterhouses don't really want to know fully what's going on because it's painful. I'm not saying it's right... but that's how it is.

    I think non-violent vegan education and non-judgmental attitudes are what will turn people positively towards veganism. Nobody wants other people's beliefs shoved down their throats... even if it is true and morally right.

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 25
    Last Post: Feb 16th, 2011, 01:02 PM
  2. Replies: 24
    Last Post: Aug 21st, 2007, 06:09 PM

Tags for this thread (If you see one or more tags below, click on them if you're looking for similar threads!)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •