As a vegan, who decides if you're trying hard enough?

Question

Veganism, as I've been taught here in this forum, is not about being perfect in regards to a vegan lifestyle, but about doing the best you can.

In today's world, vegans are forced to do non-vegan things to survive in daily life. They are "unavoidable", as I've been told.

What are some non-vegan scenarios that are acceptable to vegans and who decides if your efforts are worthy of vegan status?

Answerers: Try to remain civil and not act like the lady driving the bus on SouthPark.

Thanks :-)

pork--*CHEERS*

I Love---I think you'd get a spirited argument from the folks here. Do you understand how pervasive non-vegan products are in society?

tart---you're a bitter women. Maybe you should concentrate more on your answers because sometimes, let's just say, factuality eludes you.

"because of excess use of chemical fertilizers, the earth has been robbed of her nutrients."---fertilizer does not rob the earth of nutrients, it's FERTILIZER!

"We have to wash vegetables before we eat them, and some beneficial microbes are washed off with the harmful ones."----wouldn't rain and watering have done that already?

"travel time diminishes nutrient content"----it diminishes quality, not nutrient content.

You should spend more time on your facts and less time being bitter.

Answer 1

I don't understand - either you are, or you aren't something whether that be a vegan, a catholic, a woman, a school teacher.
There's no kinda-sorta in life.
Vegans maintain their lifestyle full time or they're just vegetarians who limit their diet whenever possible.
I don't see vegetarians saying they eat meat and calling it acceptable - cuz the point of being vegetarian is NOT eating meat. The same goes with veganism - you are, or you're not.

Answer 2

I don't think I know exactly what you mean by "non-vegan scenarios", but I'll try. The shortest answer is: nobody decides what is worthy of "vegan status". Veganism is a very personal thing. If someone is following a vegan diet and they buy a purse that has a leather patch somewhere on it, chances are no one but that person will know or care. If she feels bad enough about it, I suppose she can stop calling herself vegan, but no one is going to come and revoke her vegan license.

Obviously, there are a few circumstances which are unacceptable. If the president for a national vegan group also did commercials for McDonald's, that would certainly be a problem. For most instances, however, people's own consciouses should be the guide for what is or is not acceptable. People who are doing what they can to avoid animal exploitation should be applauded for their efforts rather than chastised for their shortcomings, in my opinion.

As for labels, there are plenty of people who eat fish and/or chicken and still call themselves vegetarians. People can give themselves whatever label they want. Those of us who know better will know it's inaccurate, and those that don't know or don't care shouldn't matter.

Answer 3

I don't care what others think of me. I don't care if they think I'm a hypocrite for carrying an antique leather bag given me by my grandmother. As you said, we navigate the world the best we can, and we sure as hell don't need an omnivore lecturing us on what is and is not vegan. How hypocritical can you get?



The only time I've actually been forced to compomise was about work boots. my boyfriend works nights at UPS to pay for college and they REQUIRE leather work boots. (Not that we give a d*mn, but it's actually hard to find vegan ones.) We ended up buying a leather "blend", much to my chagrin, with a certain kind of stitch so that they can be repaired and we won't have to buy any more.

Answer 4

Everyone does the best they can. There is no judging involved here. When we walk, we kill insects, for example. As a vegan, I know that, but I have no alternative. What it means is, if I see an insect, snail of other living being, I'm going to be careful not to kill it. That's the idea. We do the best we can to reduce the suffering as much as possible. I do judge people who know they are causing suffering, who can avoid it, but who don't, though.


Go vegan!

Answer 5

Did you see the episode of South Park where Kenny is being a stunt whore and they get that kid to crawl into the bus driver's uterus? He didn't get out alive but it was classic.

The only people that will seek out those that are not "vegan enough" are people that try to discourage all efforts towards a cruelty-free world or people that use the guise of veganism as a way to make themselves feel superior to others. Both examples serve no purpose and might as well be the same person.

I have met people that say they are vegan but eat cheese when it is convenient or when it is "free" such as one girl that worked with me(not for long) and ate cream cheese because it was free from our boss. I kept my mouth shut but a few other people called her on it and called her a "freegan". I agree that people like her make us look like people that can't stick to their principles. In contrast to your view of veganism, all I have to say is that I don't eat meat, dairy or eggs and people say "Oh, I didn't know that you're vegan"

One needs to commit to learning what the non-vegan animal ingredients are and avoid them all.

If someone new to all of this doesn't know that sodium stearoyl lactylate, L-cysteine or monoglycerides are usually off limits, I wouldn't accuse them of hypocrisy, but after they were informed, they can't pretend to forget for their convenience.

In addition to diet, all products including leather, wool, beeswax, feathers or other obvious materials should never be purchased. If someone wears leather shoes that they bought before transition, they are still vegan, but they are setting themselves up for awkward interrogations, accusations of hypocrisy and may be setting a bad example.

Household chemical and personal care products that are not animal tested and animal-free are easy to find in any region with a large population. They may not be as cheap but they are reasonably priced for the frequency that they need to be purchased. They are usually dramatically greener as well.

Answer 6

though im not vegan yet, im one my way, and for me the major thing that i am ok with making an exception with is medicine. (as far as i know) there is no vegan birth control pill, but i still take my pill. if i get sick, im not going to refuse treatment just because one of the ingredients was tested on or is derived from an animal. now dont get me wrong, whenever possible i use vegan products, as long as they are still effective. theres no reason not to use them if they are available. unfortunately there arent vegan options in all situations.
regarding who decides if youre 'vegan enough', i really think you have to decide for yourself. obviously if youre eating meat and bathing in milk, you have a problem. but to me its about doing what you can in the situation. if i go to my boyfriend's house and forget shampoo, im not going to quit washing my hair, but im also not going to buy a bottle of johnson & johnson for him. you do what you can, but if you try to be perfect youll go crazy, cause you just cant avoid everything.

Answer 7

I don't think its a clear cut with being a vegan.

Its down to significant effort and a few other phrases which dont really give a black and white "you are a vegan" decision point

I have a vegan friend who will happily eat bread made with animal fats and milk, down a bottle of non-vegan red wine but criticise me for eating my own free range hens' eggs.

Are they still vegan in thier eyes ? Probably.

Ideally they would be completely vegan to the letter of the law but as you point out, its pretty impossible to life a life having no impact of animals.

Answer 8

Well. According to some on this site (who will remain nameless, Ashley) they would have you believe there was a world vegan police force. You never know when a picket sign may end up on your door step!!

Answer 9

I will try to eat a salad with nuts and fruits for lunch.

I didn't eat anything this morning.

I will get drunk tonight so I guess I will meet the requirements on this site for veganism....

Answer 10

Certainly not you.