New Vegan Friend....she is throwing out all her stuff!?!
When I went vegan, other then food, I used up what I had, I didn't just throw it away. I still have a few things (belt that goes with a certain dress, arctic boots that I only wear ice fishing...). I don't like being a consumer, so I bought things as I needed them, I don't like to waste.
She told me that I am not a vegan, that I am a strict vegetarian because of this (even though I haven't bought any animal products for almost a year now).
I just wanted you vegans take on this...this isn't a fight, it's just her idea of veganism and mine.
Answers: So my friend is new a vegan, and she is going through all her stuff (clothes, shoes etc) and chucking everything out that contain animal products.
When I went vegan, other then food, I used up what I had, I didn't just throw it away. I still have a few things (belt that goes with a certain dress, arctic boots that I only wear ice fishing...). I don't like being a consumer, so I bought things as I needed them, I don't like to waste.
She told me that I am not a vegan, that I am a strict vegetarian because of this (even though I haven't bought any animal products for almost a year now).
I just wanted you vegans take on this...this isn't a fight, it's just her idea of veganism and mine.
I'm with you. I don't like to waste either. Although I don't really care what people call me, vegan or vegetarian (I could be called worse, and have been) :)
In my opinion, when you cease to buy and ingest animal products altogether as a lifestyle choice, you are vegan.
We are pretty concerned about what we are. Either way, you are lucky you have vegan friend. Maybe convince her to bring all her stuff to good will.
You're a vegan!
I say "to each his own". Let her do what she wants. Some people are stricter than others. I always thought of veganism as a diet, not a lifestyle, but if she wants to be more hardcore about it, then more power to her.
Maybe suggest to her that she sell or donate it, so that someone else uses it instead of buying a new one.
If she wants to toss her stuff, there's nothing wrong with that. There are others who'd rather use theirs up. That's fine, as long as they're prepared to defend themselves when people point out they're wearing leather shoes.
I didn't have anything leather because I'd been vegetarian for years. I had a couple cosmetics with beeswax in them that I finished up before replacing with vegan replacements. I also didn't call myself vegan for months though.
If you're okay with it, then do it and don't worry about her.
She's trying to convince you to throw out any leather or lambswool clothes so she will feel better about her rash decision to do so. I think you're doing more for the environment by not sending all that stuff to a landfill somewhere that she is by making her little temper-tantrum statement.
Holy smokin' cows, Earth! (sorry, I couldn't help that bit of absurdity there)
I've gotta apologize to you now and "eat crow" (I'm blushing - and I did it again, too, with the sic humor). I guess I've been pretty well isolated...I assumed (notice the words "me" and "a**" in there?) that the term "vegan" is merely a new shortened term for vegetarian. I have a little better insight into your questions now. I apologize for acting like I knew something when I really was clueless.
I would've e-mailed you this directly but you don't allow for it....and I again answered your question when I'm not who it's directed towards, so I beg your forbearance once more.
I am intrigued now though; is this like a religious thing for you? It almost sounds like it, which would certainly explain alot, as I'd already implied. Many Christians have "attitude" about their "belief" system, too. I observe it has to do with insecurity.
Anyone who is taking a stand for strong convictions....well, courage and inner strength should be part of conviction, right? There are the legalistic, zealous parties of any belief system. They usually are the ones who give it a "bad" name or flavor for all the other "believers". You just gotta shake yer head for and pity them for their apparent personal discomfort while desiring to fit in or maintain appearances.
I ask your forgiveness....all you vegans, for those of us who just don't get it. And I commend you for your tenacity in an unpopular stand for what you believe.
She can do what she wants, you can do what you want. Their is no rule book or police to enforce the nonexistent rule book.
I personally agree with you, but every person has to make her own decision. For example, I still have my leather saddle and bridle that I use on my horse, but I don't buy new leather--I hate to waste, and I just don't have the money to go out and buy all new stuff. Some people just choose to get rid of stuff all at once.
do what you want to do it dont matter what poeple say
if she is going to throw it out, tell her to give it to good will.
She sounds like a vegan for other reasons than the environment. What she should be doing is donating anything she doesn't want to use to food pantries, Goodwill, etc. so that someone else who needs those things can use them. This is a growing problem with new-age vegans and eco-nuts, who throw out the old stuff and load up on all new stuff. This is NOT a good solution!!! Everything should be put to some good use, and an easy way to get rid of it and give it a second life is donating it. Some vegans do opt to keep leather and such from before and continue to use them, and this is fine. I do not think it makes you any less of a vegan, but you can always consider donating these things if you feel uncomfortable using them. Suggest she donates that stuff, and saves our landfills and our planet!
When I first went vegan, I didn't feel comfortable with the idea of continuing to wear leather and wool, so I gave away what I could and got rid of what was in not-so-good condition. I still have one small bag my mom gave me that I use on occasion. There are enough people hostile to veg*anism that I don't want to give them ammunition by wearing leather shoes I got seven years ago. If your friend understandably doesn't wish to use her leather and wool products, she should either sell them or donate them to a shelter instead of tossing them.
However, some vegans will grandmother in their old nonvegan stuff, replacing it as it wears out, and that's perfectly valid, too. It's really up to the individual and what makes him/her most comfortable.
But why are you ice fishing if you're vegan? Vegans don't fish.
You're friend is wrong, that may be her an opinion but she's absolutely wrong to an extent. You simply explained you are using and not wasting the animal product attire that you bought before you decided to become vegan. There's nothing wrong with that.