Am I wrong for not having the same lifestyle choice?
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I'm so thankful I posted this. I'm thankful for all the advice. More than anything when I've had hard times I've relied on her for comfort, being there, listening, and this time I really had no one to talk to about it.
For now I'm pretty much just eased back on talking about values. I am not going to cut her out of my life, but am not going to really update her in the way I used to.
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My sister is a vegan and eating an 80% carb, 10% protein, 10% fat diet. I'm an avowed meat eater with an emphasis on protein and fat. We both think that the other's diet is nuts. Yet we both recognize that our relationship doesn't have to be affected by that. I'm sorry about your friend. She sounds pretty extreme. Try not to take it too much to heart.5
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Everyone who has ever had an epiphany seems compelled to share their excitement with everyone they know. Understandable I suppose, but not always useful or wanted. She's clearly a newbie at vegan-ism, and thinks it's the Answer To Life. Maybe, maybe not - but her fervor may wane in a year or so and you don't have to be a follower of *her* lifestyle to have a worthwhile, fulfilling, healthy life. Smile and tell her you love her as a friend and that you're happy she's so content with her new eating habits. Do not speak of it again.4
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Sounds like a "friend" you need to say "forget you" to...0
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Can I interest you in Jesus? He died for your sins and mine0
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Let it be... maybe your friend will settle down3
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Just do you.0
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I am vegan: for me it works as an athlete. But I don't preach it to anyone. Mainly because I do not care whatsoever what people eat as long as they eat right. Mcdonald french fries are vegan. So there you go: crap is crap.5
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I was plant-based for a while and I could have only dreamed that my social circle would be as supportive as you seem to be!
Vegans go through what feels like a very eye opening and life changing experience when they do it for the animals. I really do believe it's almost a baptism of sorts.. their old life is dead to them and it's very important that they surround themselves with people who not only share the same values but who understand the need for this 'baptism'. And I can understand first hand the kind of treatment they receive based on what they eat. I tried to be really hush-hush when i was plant-based but i still heard a lot of snide and derisive comments from people. So I'm guessing there's a certain amount of defensiveness that builds up in them too. Understandably so.
As a result, I try to treat vegans with a certain amount of care. I know that for some, it's traumatic to even look at meat. I have no problem enjoying a vegan meal with vegan friends or coworkers to avoid the issue. However, I also don't think that should be the expectation. If anything, there needs to be a mutual respect for each other's diets and choices. If her worldview has changed so dramatically that she cannot see beyond your diet.. there's so little you can work with. I think you've done a bang up job already of being respectful and caring. The rest is up to her.6 -
I think the problem might be that it's not a "diet" to her but something she is doing for the animals and for the environment and doesn't understand others not doing the same. But she's talking about it like it's a diet and then expecting you to read her mind about the rest which isn't exactly fair. Really being vegan isn't just what you eat, it's what you wear, how you live, it affects everything. I stop for animals in the road, etc. When I first went vegan I thought my friends would all see how awesome it was and decide to join me. Yeah, that didn't happen.
If the friendship is worth hanging onto I guess give her some space but also let her talk to you about the things she cares about. I agree with the comment above that for someone who cares about animals, once you see, and that means really see on film or in real life, what's going on, it is hard to not be emotional about it.3 -
@nevadavis1 I am totally respectful of her. I let her share things, I watch or read things she sends me.
I've told her the lifestyle is not for me. There's a lot of change that comes with it. Changes I will not be forced to make because of someone else's beliefs/lifestyle.
She's basically telling me that if I'm reading the info and knowing what happens and not becoming a vegan that she has no respect for me what so ever and thinks I am stupid.
It's funny how I have never ever approached her in that manner. She has done things I think are morally wrong, as in abortions and other things (yes this was 15 years ago, but I'm against it.)
Did I lose respect for her, and tell her that I think she's stupid? No.
I was still her friend, I made sure she had someone to be there if there was support she needed.
I let her be the person she wants to be, and do the things she wants to do without criticism.
So my choice is to just let things be. Let the dust settle and let her have some space, both for her own good and mine.
I emotionally am a tad upset, but it doesn't surprise me. I'm letting go of a friendship I've had for 22 years, and someone I was talking to on a daily basis.0 -
just another example of a vegan being annoying and trying to push their lifestyle on other people.2
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The Dalai Lama recommends a vegetarian diet but he cannot be vegetarian himself as its not suitable for his body and health.2
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I'd order a mixed grill next time I went out with her.
Everyone makes their own choice of how to eat.1 -
It makes me really sad that a lot of you feel this way about veganism. I know there are people out there who are pushy and not compassionate, but they are the vocal minority. I just hope you can all consider the reason we are so passionate about it is because from our point of view, the more we spread veganism, the fewer creatures have to suffer. I would also like to add that properly planned vegan diets are considered "healthful and nutritionally adequate" according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.3
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As others have mentioned, veganism can become something akin to a religion. And as others have noted, it sometimes becomes something that vegans try to "bring the word" to others.
Unfortunately that can lead to not respecting lifestyle differences and tolerating others who do not hold the same beliefs. And honestly that is not OK. It would not OK to try to sneak meat into her lunch, and it would not be OK for her to sneak meat out of your lunch.
When someone undergoes a big philosophical change in life, one of the dangers is that he or she alienates those that do not embrace that change. That's not on YOU to do. You can have a certain amount of tolerance and respect differences, but you have no obligation to "convert" or agree. She has the responsibility to understand that most people are not nor will embrace veganism, and has to live life in a way to she can do so either making new friends or tolerating the old omnivorious friends.2 -
I have a few vegan friends, but sadly they are some of the most self righteous, condescending people I've ever met ... I love them to pieces, but they ALWAYS lecture me on my food choices and I have explained to them that I have severe digestive issues, the only fruit I can digest are bananas & blueberries, I can't digest anything from the onion or garlic family, I can't digest soya of any description and I definitely can't eat anything raw (with exception of bananas & blueberries).
My diet is very rich in fish & meat, rice, gluten free pasta & lactose free dairy, but whenever I'm with my vegan friends, they always try to tell me a vegan diet would make me better and solve my digestive issues, you can't solve IBS you can only manage the symptoms and my diet does that just fine, for the most part.
Today I tried a NAKD bar, it's classed as raw & vegan; diary, wheat & gluten free and I'm in agony, my clothes are too tight because I suddenly look 8 months pregnant and I can't get off the toilet - the ingredients in the NAKD bar are Cashews, Dates, Raisins & Cocoa Powder and it's killing me, I'd starve to death as a vegan, but vegans still believe that it's best for me.
So in short, no you are not wrong and I'd politely remind your vegan friend that it's your body and you'll decide how to treat it, plus if everyone suddenly turned vegan there would become a shortage of plant based foods and it'd cause havoc with the eco system - embrace our differences and respect our choices is my view.
I seriously admire the devotion of veganism, but it simply isn't for everyone.1 -
I'm very surprised that more people have friends like this. I have several vegan friends and have never had them push their life style on me.
I'm sure they like me just because of my potato and chick pea curry.5 -
You may have to put up some healthy boundaries here.
First off, it's perfectly OK and NORMAL to be a meat-eating individual and there are plenty of philosophical arguments FOR eating meat. You do NOT have to justify yourself to your friend or anyone else for your right to eat a tuna fish sandwich. Vegans may want to debate this, but in the end, it's not against the law and you are within your right to.
You also DO NOT have to engage in debate about veganism. Really, your friend has made a position clear. If you really want to explore that further, great. But if you don't, it's time to shift the topic of discussion. And that's reasonable. I don't spend a lot of time with my friends discussing my food intake--it's reasonable to move on. Shift the topic. Find a different thing to do, and so on.
If she keeps disrespecting your boundaries, ignores the fact you are not interested in being a vegan, or tries to make you out to be a bad person, that's not what a friend does.
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misspersiphone wrote: »It makes me really sad that a lot of you feel this way about veganism. I know there are people out there who are pushy and not compassionate, but they are the vocal minority. I just hope you can all consider the reason we are so passionate about it is because from our point of view, the more we spread veganism, the fewer creatures have to suffer. I would also like to add that properly planned vegan diets are considered "healthful and nutritionally adequate" according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
A lot of us have had the experience from vegans of judgement and having an agenda pushed on omnivores. Now, saying that, this certainly does NOT apply to all vegans nor is it unique to vegans. But this is an issue many people have encountered. And yes, it's very unfortunate.2
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