Philosophical Vegan Forum

Hi,
I'm thinking of creating a new video series (Top 10...) and I wanted to get the community's perspective on being vegan.

What are some of the top reasons why you think it sucks to be vegan?
Im thinking along the lines of...
1) Dealing with family
2) Lack of options going out

etc.

My vegan problems are pretty trivial; they're mostly just people badgering me with stupid shit.

"But you need meat for protein!!!1"
"But computers have animal based glue! HA!"
"But plants are alive."

Etc. etc. etc.

Is this video going to be kind of silly or serious? I mean, I don't really have significant problems because of veganism.

Is your strategy to use our petty grievances to show that being vegan isn't as difficult as people think?

Its most likely going to be serious in tone. What I want to relay is what its like to be vegan, explain some of the pitfalls and demonstrate how to overcome them.

I think it's a good idea if you can put a positive spin on it. I don't like the title as it might discourage potential vegans. For me these are the biggest difficulties:
Traveling in certain countries.
Having to always be so careful about voicing my opinions because it could cost me my job.

My top four:

1) Lack of family support (I felt like I couldn't even join my family at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, because my brother is so intolerant of even vegetarianism, let alone veganism).

2) Few friends who are vegan (I distinguish between acquaintances and friends. I have only one friend who is vegan. I joined meetup.com groups for vegan dinners, but most people there don't talk about serious issues, and some are plant-based but have completely egoistic reasons and don't seem to have compassion for the animals.)

3) Being surrounded by meat and dairy at work but feeling like I have to stay silent about it (seeing "Got Milk?" posters on the cafeteria wall, kids and adults eating meat and dairy all around me, the U.S. "Food Plate" that is so misleading plastered on the classroom wall).

4) Being in a minority means that you have to be prepared to explain and argue for your position in depth, whilst the majority need no reasons for their position at all except that they're in the majority (according to them). It's not that I don't value having cogent arguments for my position; I just don't always want people to turn a simple statement "I'm vegan" into a debate, when the situation isn't even about that. Say you are at an art gallery talking about art, when someone offers food, and you say that you're vegan. Suddenly, you have to defend yourself against an onslaught of questions that are veiled criticisms and debates, when you just came to enjoy art.

I agree with Jebus that it would be a good idea to put a positive spin on it, like how acting with integrity isn't always easy, but at least you feel better about having knowledge-action consistency than you would by conforming to majority actions that are inconsistent with your knowledge.

Cool idea, other than things already mentioned:
- Meat glorification
- Milk and eggs unnecessarily sneaking into products where you'd not expect them
- Being an outsider in a way
- Feeling the need to do something about animal cruelty and the other problems that come with animal agriculture, but simultaneously feeling your efforts can only have a minor effort.

The positives far outweigh the negatives though, perhaps a top 10 reason being a vegan is awesome video would be appropriate?
- Losing weight effortlessly
- Having more energy
- Having a clean mind; not having to make excuses for your lifestyle
- Discovering meals and foods you'd not have tried otherwise
- etc. etc.

I can't really think of any. Maybe someone at school, public, or maybe work calling you something like a pusscake or something, just because you don't believe that eating animals or eating their milk or periods.

RedAppleGP wrote:I can't really think of any. Maybe someone at school, public, or maybe work calling you something like a pusscake or something, just because you don't believe that eating animals or eating their milk or periods.

And yet, they eat puss-cake...

I really hate when I am at the park and I hear little kids complaing because their stomach hurts and I know exactly why (guzzling down fast food and dairy) it kills to me know that I can not take that pain away from the young innocent child who is being force fed animals ...

Obviously convenience would be an issue, but more specifically depending on where you live, availability. It can be difficult finding fully vegan food in some places. Also, it can sometimes be more costly.