Welcome to reality

[hookahdude]

I just needed to share a moment of time in my life that happened Thursday.

I make it a point to go purchase as much of my produce as possible from the local farmer's market while it is running and lament the hard "cold" fact that it ends in October. That being said, we have recently had an addition to the regular vendors - a fairly polite group of vegans who have a very nice selection of organic veggies and fruits. On Thursday they learned a lesson about pushing beliefs upon others when they are trying to sell shit.

While in the process of purchasing some items from them and during the small talk associated with such a transaction I was noticing that I was starting to get sucked into a conversation about, for lack of a better term, the righteousness of the vegan lifestyle. The seguay into this was the fact that i let slip about 2 months ago that I was on a very restricitve diet that did not include meat. I was asked if I was going to "remain vegetarian" and if I was that I should consider becoming "full vegan". I simply replied - "No thank you, I am actually a happy omnivore." You would think that I just attacked their religion (or maybe I did...). I started to hear the meat is murder and about exploiting our animal friends schtick. I listened and waited for the perfect moment. People were starting to pay attention to the conversation - this really isnt why I came to the fucking market - but I kept cool. Wait for it... Cool - the opening:

"The concept that meat is needed in the diet is a lie. We dont need meat or dairy. It is poison to the human body. The protein in vegetables, beans and nuts is sufficient."
My turn - "Funny, I know a lot of high school atheletes who are healthy as a horse. They eat beef all the time."
"What do horses and cows eat? They eat grass and they are huge animals covered in muscle."
Me - "Um are you suggesting that horses and cows process foods the same way as humans?"
Pause. "No but.."
Me - "Just curious.. how many stomachs do you have?"
"One.."
Me - "Great. Wanted to make sure. Out of curiosity, how do you get Vitamin B12?"
"Um.. What?"
Me - "Vitamin B12... how do you get it?"
"Um, I think it is in the cereal or supplements I take..."
Me - "So you need to supplement your diet to get B-12?"
"Um, I think..."
Me - "Ah, I don't. I eat meat, milk products, and eggs and get all the nutrition I need in my diet without having to look for supplementation. You have a nice day."

And I walked away...

I have no problem with anybody's lifestyle until it is pushed on me... Then I will try my hardest to make them look like a fool.

I just needed to share and get it off my chest. Feel free to ignore.

[theCryptofishist]

Vegans are annoying.
I think there is merit to asking us to eat less meat (depending on how much you're eating already) and that eating humanely raised and slaughtered meat is perfectly reasonable (depending on income). But the idea that we did not evolve to eat meat is laughable. "Paleo" is far closer to the truth. And expressing moral superiority through food is weird.

[Lassen Forge]

But sadly, it's commonplace.

I have nothing against people who are vegan. Hell, I occasionally opt for vegan food. I'll also opt for some slowly barbecued beef ribs (or venison tenderloin), well marinated, over open coals. Mmm...

But the whole self-righteous indignation thing, well, I look at them and think West Coast Whackos... no wonder we get such a shit reputation. And DON'T get me started on the whole Animal Friends shit - we had a whackjob group start some shit about our (80+ year) policy of burying animals killed on the road next to the road... and we had to put up with this whole "Respect our animal friends" thing...posters and email broadcasts and ARRGHHH! to quell these nutjobs. Because instead of interring these animals next to the road (lie we had been for decades), we had to take them to a processing plant, er, animal shelter, so they would be disposed of "humanely"... eg buried in some landfill, or burned. The manager who took this on as "his" project? Kept referring to this wildlife corpse problem as "Respecting Our Animal Friends", with bambi-esque pictures. And threats of termination if we didn't take this crap seriously. WTF??!!??

Sorry, but the whole PETA-esque (Short for People Elucidating (out) Their Asses) stuff... well, it's like, um... what part of reality did you miss? You're NOT a cow, you're a descendant from Carniverous omnivores. Great apes. Or did you sleep through that pat of your Biology 101 class??? Yii....

Think I'll go have me some Bacon now, thank you!

[AntiM]

Is "Be a Happy Omnivore" a Barney song? Teletubbies?

[TomServo]

meat is neat

[Elderberry]

I think this sentiment might apply here too.

[TomServo]

that was beautiful

[Eric]

I'm going to chime in as a 24 year vegetarian who's "mostly" vegan by default (dairy allergy): I agree with the above sentiments.

I'm a vegetarian because it's my choice, and I wouldn't force that choice on anyone else anymore than I would a religion. Fuck, my own boyfriend is a meat-eater (innuendo opening) and I could care less. Granted, I've hated the smell of fish since I was a kid and try to have him eat that when we're out, but that's not forcing my food-habits on him- that's just because the smell is disgusting.

At home he eats mostly vegetarian by his own choice so we only have to cook one big meal. He'll even occasionally eat vegetarian at restaurants so we can share dishes. But he does it on his own, not because I ask or guilt him into it.

I'm opposed to self-righteous ideologues regardless of what their pushing.

[Lassen Forge]

I just can't bring myself to do it... I love Eric too much! --giggles-- But... ooohhh... the temptation, the temptation, help me, help me, ayyyyiiiiiiiiiii.....

[graidawg]

ok then

Eric you know you can chew the meat without swallowing?

[Lassen Forge]

Or at least nibble...

[motskyroonmatick]

(80+ year) policy of burying animals killed on the road next to the road... and we had to put up with this whole "Respect our animal friends" thing...

The Highway Department up here bought (what I would assume is a quite expensive) dead animal incinerator. Now my buddies in road maintenance will be burning animals right next to the road in a converted shipping container. The previous practice was to remove the animal to a natural area and let nature run it's course.... Yet another case of inordinate expenditures to quell the qualms of a small number of people.

It was fun to really meet you BBS and it was most excellent learning the correct way to drink vodka.

Is vodka vegan? Either way I like it.

[Elderberry]

With all the hunger and poverty around the world, not to mention right here at home, I think the humane society would be even more humane if when they euthanized those hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats each year they did it in such a way that they could then be processed into hamburger and given out to the poor and hungry, and their hides tanned and made into coats to help keep poor and the homeless warm in the harsh winter. Now that's a recycling program I could support! Definitely a win win.

[Sic Pup]

Okay, JK, that one could've used a sock.

[Box Burner]

Oh I don't know... in some parts of the world dogs and cats are an item on the menu. I believe we have quite a few immigrants that would gladly accept the meat.

[Elderberry]

I actually ate dog once or twice while in the service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_meat

Oh I don't know... in some parts of the world dogs and cats are an item on the menu. I believe we have quite a few immigrants that would gladly accept the meat.

[oneeyeddick]

Why not.. it can't be as wierd as eating jerked Bull sphincters.
(yes, I am from Montana)

[junglesmacks]

It's not that I love meat. I just hate plants.

nomnomnomnomnomnom

[Eric]

It's not that I love meat. I just hate plants.

When I became a vegetarian my moms first words were "this won't last long. You hate vegetables."

[oneeyeddick]

I'm going to chime in as a 24 year vegetarian who's "mostly" vegan by default (dairy allergy):

just wondering how you dealt with that allergy for the other 30 years of your life?

[theCryptofishist]

He may not have had those allergies all his life. Sometimes your biochemistry changes...

[graidawg]

With all the hunger and poverty around the world, not to mention right here at home, I think the humane society would be even more humane if when they euthanized those hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats each year they did it in such a way that they could then be processed into hamburger and given out to the poor and hungry, and their hides tanned and made into coats to help keep poor and the homeless warm in the harsh winter. Now that's a recycling program I could support! Definitely a win win.

this should be on a political manifesto. its meat ffs.

[BBadger]

Incinerators for roadkill? This is a sign that some people need to be oppressed more, so that they don't have time for such objectively trivial concerns.

[graidawg]

you know what Fuck reality. i just gave a gift to someone, i dont know her name, i just knew she would love this gift, and the sheer joy on her face as i gave her it took me right back to bm.

[junglesmacks]

i just gave a gift to someone, i dont know her name, i just knew she would love this gift, and the sheer joy on her face as i gave her it took me right back to bm.

*dirty giggle*

[Drawingablank]

This thread reminds me of the first time I heard the term Vegan back in the 90's. I handled tech support for 2 major candle making sites and after a particularly trying morning of answering baffling emails came across one that sent me over the edge:

"Is there is any way to make a good candle without using beewax? I am Vegan and don't use any animal products."

I was quite sure that someone was pranking me because although Vega is a fairly close star, no one from Vega was likely to be sending me email.
My Reply:

"I've never been to Vega so I'm not sure how things are done in your solar system, but here on Earth we just use paraffin wax which has no animal components."

It was probably the snarkiest reply I have made to a customer or potential customer. In retrospect I am not proud of it, but it seemed funny as hell at the time. It was over a year later when I heard the term Vegan again and realized it was not a prank.

[theCryptofishist]

Incinerators for roadkill? This is a sign that some people need to be oppressed more, so that they don't have time for such objectively trivial concerns.

Not to mention, what are all the scavengers going to eat? They're natural. [voice quavers]Will someone think of the vultures![/voice quavers]

[theCryptofishist]

"I've never been to Vega so I'm not sure how things are done in your solar system, but here on Earth we just use paraffin wax which has no animal components."

If that were an eco-vegan, wouldn't there be a problem for using a petroleum product? So, I guess you're stuck with some sort of coconut oil lamp that gives off lots of black carbon.

You're fucking doomed!
I know my older sister the vegetarian has eaten meat at least twice since she converted.
1 She was visiting my little sister in Montana and ate elk. (She was rather fond of game, back in the day. I blame all those visits to our grandmother in Austria and Germany.)
2 I was visiting her in England and we stopped at the farmer;s market and we were offered samples of a sausage (it may have been venison again) with cheese in it. So she tried it.
So, I give props to my older sister.

If I were vegetarian or vegan I think that I'd have to eat meat once or twice a year to humiliate that part of myself that goes on moral superiority trips.

[graidawg]

i just gave a gift to someone, i dont know her name, i just knew she would love this gift, and the sheer joy on her face as i gave her it took me right back to bm.

*dirty giggle*

it was a key! she has a tattoo of a keyhole on her back, i thought she might like a key for it.

[theCryptofishist]

Nice.