Philosophical Vegan Forum

So this is a lesser issue than my pervious post, but I want to know, how do I eat more foods?

I remember years ago when I told my mom I wanted to try vegetarianism, she laughed at me, one of the reasons being that I didn't eat any foods like vegetables or anything like that (which was extremely encouraging). I suppose since it was too hard to get me to eat vegetables, don't bother, right?

I remember when I first tried getting into vegetables I kept gagging, but now I really like them, especially if prepared properly. I'm not grossed out by them.

I am however grossed out by many, many other foods. If something doesn't smell right, or doesn't look very appetizing, I refuse to eat it.

Oh yeah, and I don't like Asian food. None of it. Chinese, Japanese, Indian, etc. It smells bad (especially curry, I almost throw up sometimes when I smell it), looks weird, and often has unappetizing names (like Ramen, or Chow Mein. Or anything suffixed by stir-fry). @EquALLity told me that Asian food has some of the best vegan food, but I'm honestly grossed out by it. If I ever get a girlfriend and she wants to go out somewhere, what do I do if I don't like the food?

I also don't like any food with a funny name, like burrito or taco. Or most types of pasta now that you mention it (although I'm more open to that).

So what do I do?

What do you eat?

Sounds like you need to start introducing small amounts of these flavors over time. It's mostly the spices and sauces that are different.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 12:11 pm What do you eat?

I eat beans, some veggies, vegan sweets like Back To Nature chocolate chip cookies, and mock meats like seitan and beyond/impossible items. Things are very accessible now.

Note that I'm not exactly trying to be in peak health, (at least not yet) so I also eat fruits and refined grains. I get whole grains when I can though, since they are pretty tasty as well.

My godmother told me about a cauliflower steak that seems pretty tasty, I'm gonna go to the shops today for ingredients.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 12:11 pmSounds like you need to start introducing small amounts of these flavors over time. It's mostly the spices and sauces that are different.

I just need to try Asian cuisine I think, but I'm pretty repulsed by it.

Eating is mostly habit from what I've heard; Especially if you're younger, the more you eat a food you don't like, the more you start to like it, as long as it's edible. When I first eat steamed veggies, they didn't taste bad, just a little tasteless (but I still had a gagging reflex for some reason).

My mom usually bought the things I want when she went shopping, but I think it's time for me to do shopping of my own, especially now that everyone's school is closing due to the Coronas.

Red wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 12:42 pm My mom usually bought the things I want when she went shopping, but I think it's time for me to do shopping of my own, especially now that everyone's school is closing due to the Coronas.

No, try not to go out if you can avoid it. Shop online and have groceries delivered if it's available there. Stay home and play video games and work on videos for the next three months. Basically only go out to vote in November or once you get the vaccine if it's available. Get some vitamin D online if you don't have any, and do some calisthenics.

I repeat: Do not go outside.
Also stay away from your family as much as possible if they're going outside. Wash your hands any time you leave your room and do not touch your face or mouth. Try to stay sane.

This is really fucking serious. The U.S. is bungling this so badly, this is a pandemic of unprecedented magnitude for this generation. People you know are probably going to die. Mostly older people, but some younger people too.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 2:17 am No, try not to go out if you can avoid it. Shop online and have groceries delivered if it's available there. Stay home and play video games and work on videos for the next three months. Basically only go out to vote in November or once you get the vaccine if it's available. Get some vitamin D online if you don't have any, and do some calisthenics.

I guess I'll tell my brother to stop going to the gym for the time being (those places are big germ factories). Luckily I've convinced him to wash his hands as often as he can. Might be a bit harder to tell him to stop going to the gym.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 2:17 amI repeat: Do not go outside.

My school looks like it's gonna be doing everything online now, at least for the next few weeks. There is good and bad to this, but I'm concerned about getting distracted since I'm in a more comfortable environment.

I think I still have to go in for my lab class either way. Should I tell my professor I'm probably not going to go in anymore, and just email my lab reports to her? But I still need the equipment, we'll figure it out.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 2:17 amAlso stay away from your family as much as possible if they're going outside.

My mom and dad still need to go to work, and my mom still needs to take my grandfather to his treatments (which I will get to). I suppose I'll just need to isolate myself.

This may sound silly, but when I go out, should I wear latex gloves?

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 2:17 am Wash your hands any time you leave your room and do not touch your face or mouth. Try to stay sane.

Luckily I'm already a germophobe so I already do that.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 2:17 amThis is really fucking serious. The U.S. is bungling this so badly, this is a pandemic of unprecedented magnitude for this generation.

They are taking steps though right? Trump has banned flights from Europe (which will rek the economy, but it seems like we don't have a choice).

Apparantly, in the UK, Johnson is waiting for herd immunity kick in, instead of wanting to risk the economy. Maybe I'm wrong, but that sounds pretty unethical.

What would you say is the optimal thing to do? Invest in more research for a cure? Have the government give out soaps and other hand sanitizers? Close all schools and transportation?

Either way, the economy is gonna pay for this big time. Even shutting down some transportation is a huge decision.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 2:17 amPeople you know are probably going to die. Mostly older people, but some younger people too.

I'm just worried about getting it because I don't want to give it to older people, like my 90 year old grandfather.
My grandfather had surgery back in January, and now is going for Oxygen Therapy, and still has a few more treatments. I think that's the only time he gets out of the house now ever since this corona broke out here in the city, so I hope he'll be safe. We were gonna go out for breakfast the other day, but he changed his mind at the last minute because of fears around the disease, and I don't really blame him.

Red wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:35 am I guess I'll tell my brother to stop going to the gym for the time being (those places are big germ factories).

Yes. The city should have already shut down gyms, but again the U.S. is bungling this.

Red wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:35 amI think I still have to go in for my lab class either way. Should I tell my professor I'm probably not going to go in anymore, and just email my lab reports to her? But I still need the equipment, we'll figure it out.

Talk to your professor about it. Don't fail your classes, but you will probably be able to work something out.

Red wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:35 amThis may sound silly, but when I go out, should I wear latex gloves?

It won't absorb through your skin. It's on surfaces. So if you touch those surfaces and then touch your mouth, nose, eyes, etc. you will get it.
Take hand sanitizer, and don't touch your face. If you can't avoid touching your face (for some people it's habitual) then gloves may help because you'll notice you have gloves on and then might not touch your face with them. That's the only way they'll help.

Red wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:35 amThey are taking steps though right? Trump has banned flights from Europe (which will rek the economy, but it seems like we don't have a choice).

Red wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:35 amApparantly, in the UK, Johnson is waiting for herd immunity kick in, instead of wanting to risk the economy. Maybe I'm wrong, but that sounds pretty unethical.

Yes, it's incredibly stupid. Probably 5% of their population over 60 will die, and anybody else who has a car accident or gets sick for any other reason because the hospitals are overflowing.

Red wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:35 amWhat would you say is the optimal thing to do? Invest in more research for a cure? Have the government give out soaps and other hand sanitizers? Close all schools and transportation?

China and South Korea are doing it optimally.

Red wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:35 amEither way, the economy is gonna pay for this big time. Even shutting down some transportation is a huge decision.

Yep.

Red wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:35 amI'm just worried about getting it because I don't want to give it to older people, like my 90 year old grandfather.

He's very likely to get it in either case from your parents who will probably bring it home. I'd try to spend a little time with him and talk with him, since it might be the last you get.

Red wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:35 amWe were gonna go out for breakfast the other day, but he changed his mind at the last minute because of fears around the disease, and I don't really blame him.

Well he's being smart. Maybe you can be his caregiver and isolate the two of you from your parents who are working.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 12:26 pm It won't absorb through your skin. It's on surfaces. So if you touch those surfaces and then touch your mouth, nose, eyes, etc. you will get it.

I actually had a bad experience with a pink eye when I was a kid, after rubbing my eye when my hand was dirty, so I've always been very cautious about that ever since.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 12:26 pm

Red wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:35 amThey are taking steps though right? Trump has banned flights from Europe (which will rek the economy, but it seems like we don't have a choice).

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 12:26 pm China and South Korea are doing it optimally.

Why is Trump so dumb. Why is government so dumb.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 12:26 pm He's very likely to get it in either case from your parents who will probably bring it home. I'd try to spend a little time with him and talk with him, since it might be the last you get.

Shit man...
Thankfully, after his treatment is done in about a week or two, we've said we're not gonna visit him until this corona blows over (of course, we'll still talk with him on the phone).

He's lived a long, good life, so I won't feel as though he missed out on anything big once he passes. Still saddening either way.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 12:26 pmWell he's being smart. Maybe you can be his caregiver and isolate the two of you from your parents who are working.

Well, he's actually able to take care of himself pretty well. He does his own shopping, drives, and overall is in decent shape. I'm just concerned for him now with the disease, because he wants to go out. I'll probably tell him to take it easy for now, do shopping online (yes, he can use the internet), and have his tenants bring the food up to him.

My mom overall is very consistent with her handwashing, but my dad doesn't do it as much as I like. I'll have a chat with him.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 12:26 pmProbably 5% of their population over 60 will die

How did you arrive at that estimation? That would mean nearly 4 million Americans over 60 will die. The worst case estimates I've heard is 1 million Americans total (and that includes all age groups).

Jebus wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2020 8:49 am

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 12:26 pmProbably 5% of their population over 60 will die

How did you arrive at that estimation? That would mean nearly 4 million Americans over 60 will die. The worst case estimates I've heard is 1 million Americans total (and that includes all age groups).

We'll, we're talking about the UK. There are about 12,000,000 people over 65 in the UK, so let's add 1 million or so to get the ones between 60 and 65, so that's about 13,000,000. 5% of 13,000,000 is 650,000 deaths. That's a lot of unecessary dying.

Although Johnson apparently has made some step towards controlling it more, with citizens requiring to send in a stool sample to they can test for corona.

Red wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2020 9:24 amThere are about 12,000,000 people over 65 in the UK, so let's add 1 million or so to get the ones between 60 and 65, so that's about 13,000,000. 5% of 13,000,000 is 650,000 deaths. That's a lot of unecessary dying.

What do you mean by unnecessary dying?

Is there any reason to believe the UK will be worse off than the US?