Vegans Don't Exploit Animals?!


Question: Vegans Don't Exploit Animals!?
Someone sent me a message: "Vegan's do not exploit animals!.

Vegetarians are only concerned with diet!.

What are we teaching disabled marines these days!.!.!."

Does anyone else disagree with this!? This person is saying that vegetarians only care about dieting while vegans are concerned with the rights of animals!.

Vegetarian: "a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc!."

Vegan: "a vegetarian who omits all animal products from the diet!."

These are dictionary definitions!.

Am I the only vegan sick and tired of being associated with animal causes!? Veg*n just means what you choose to omit from your diet!. WHY you've chosen to omit these things varies from person to person!.

Am I alone on this!?
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Answers:
I hope you are alone on this, because you are completely, absolutely wrong!.

The term vegan was coined by Donald Watson who also founded the Vegan Society!. The Vegan Society's definition of vegan is:

http://www!.vegansociety!.com/newsroom/ind!.!.!.

You shouldn't always trust dictionary!.com ;)

EDIT:

As I said, the word vegan was coined by Donald Watson in the 1940s ( I think)!. The Vegan Society's definition of the word is Watson's definition of the word!. It is THE definition of the word vegan!.

EDIT AGAIN:

The word vegan is SUPPOSED to be about more than diet!. Donald Watson INVENTED the word vegan,his definition cannot be wrong!. Is there something you do not understand about that!? You would be more accurate in calling yourself a strict vegetarian!. I don't know why you care so much about labels, when this one obviously does not fit you!.

Well you're welcome to call yourself whatever you want!. But then again you also say you go hunting and sometimes eat meat so!.!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I think the quote wasn't extensive enough to put forth the entire vegan philosophy held by some!. While vegetarians don't eat meat products, most do eat food made from animal by-products (eggs, milk, cheese, honey, etc)!. While many vegetarians don't consume animals and some animal by-products usually this is relative to food only!. Vegans however, tend to take it beyond the food aspect into other areas of their lives such as clothing, cosmetics, skin/hair care products, etc!. Some vegetarians also go to this extent, but many do not!. In general, veganism is somewhat of a political/lifestyle movement, while vegetarianism isn't necessarily so (in general)!. This is coming from a full on omnivore, who happens to know a lot of vegans and vegetarians, while I understand your motivations I don't always agree with them, but respect your desires to live your lives according to your philosophies!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I think you misunderstood something!. Vegetarianism is not about dieting in the most understood sense to lose weight, but about their diet: what they choose to eat!. Vegetarians avoid foods that require the death of the animal, but may eat some animal foods such as dairy products, eggs, and honey!. Many of them also don't take it into their lifestyle and might wear silk, wool, or leather!.

Vegans take it beyond diet, beyond what they eat, to lifestyle and strive to avoid products that are the result of animal exploitation!. Many vegans are in it because of the abuse animals endure not just for food, although that accounts for the vast majority of animals exploited, but for fabric, entertainment, and as test subjects!. While I dislike PETA intensely, their statement that animals are not ours to eat, wear, use for entertainment or experiment on is pretty much what defines a vegan!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Yes! I think so too! I don't think that to be a vegan, you have to support animal rights!. I'm vegetarian and will probably convert to a vegan soon, and though I don't exactly support torture of animals, I'm not really really into animal rights!. But I've a lot of people saying that supporting animal rights is part of being vegan! Not sure how mcuh of that is true, but if it is, I wouldn't bother becoming a vegan because I'm not so into the whole animal thing!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Veganism is a lifestyle change, not just a diet change!. You don't cut things like leather and wool from your wardrobe because you're concerned about your health and diet, do you!?

If the only thing you're doing is changing your diet, then you're best classified as a "strict vegetarian"!. If this is really all you do but consider yourself vegan, then be prepared to get a lot of gripes from those who are fully vegan!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

You are probably not alone!.

Personally, I think you are just a "victim" of the emerging trend in this particular forum that has vegans and vegetarians posting about animal issues and their personal animal cruelty "crusades" and PETA sponsored video/campaigns more than actual food and drink topics!. Stereotyping is never fair nor is it 100% accurate!. But it exists and no one can really escape that reality!. Since there is very little you can do about it, why bother addressing it!?!. Just do what you do with a clear conscience and to hell with what others perceive!.

Besides this is just a free anonymous Internet forum!. Don't take it so seriously!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

my understanding of veganism was that it only concerned with omiting meat and dairy (and gluten) from diet!. I think people who fight for animal rights is just a separate category!. I bet there are tons of people who fight for animal rights that aren't even vegetarian!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

i'm a vegetarian and it's not because i'm concerned with diet!. it's because i think it's gross!. i have no idea about other ppl!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

The only reason I became a vegetarian was because I love animals with all my heart!. It is not just a concern about what I eat and being healthy!. I don't eat eggs or meat strictly because I love animals!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

concern about animals suffering just makes you human, nothing to be ashamed of!.

we could all aford to be more altruistic

vegans should also participate in human causes like feeding the homeless because we are compassionate people!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Wow what a post
I starve to death
while reading
question
I like animal but
also like meat
on grill
I guess we
different

JackWww@FoodAQ@Com

people interpret things differently!.!.i am a vegetarian for animal causesWww@FoodAQ@Com

Oh, just ignore them!. They just need to get their facts straight!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Nope, you're not alone!. Whenever anyone finds out I'm vegan, they instantly assume it's because of the "cute and fuzzy little animals!."
In reality, I'm vegetarian for environmental reasons, and (raw) vegan for my health!. Although I'm as disgusted with the Dreize test as any vegan, animal rights are not a primary motivation!.

Of course, I'm also tired of kids who've been vegan for six weeks saying "a real vegan doesn't eat!.!.!.!.!.or purchase!.!.!.!.or wear!.!.!.!."

One shouldn't pay attention to the delusional ravings of trolls!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

a vegetarian consumes no animal products at all

a vegan does not exploit animals in any way!. it does have to do with animal rights!.

there is more than 1 source of the literal definition of the words!. some agree with what i just wrote, but some do not!. you can't just pick the ones that do not and go with that to try to make a point!.

either way, these are the most commonly accepted definitions amongst the actual vegan community, and this is the most important part!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

There are many reasons why people change their diet!. For many vegetarians and vegans the motivation is compassion!. A respect for all forms of life!. BUT that is not the only motivation, it may be a weightloss decision, a decision made because of health issues or as a way of improving their health, amongst others!.

You do not have to 'love fluffy animals' to recognize and appreciate that all living things have value for being just what they are!. Compassion is an exceptionally strong motivator, as humans we dislike seeing pain and suffering of other living things!. A vegan may be a 'dietary only vegan' but for most the label has come to mean a 'lifestyle vegan'!. The reasons for this is simple:

Animals suffer and/or die to produce the gelatin in your glossy photos, or the feathers in your pillow or the beeswax in your candles!. Vegans whose primary motivation is not 'diet' but compassion tend to become 'lifestyle' vegans!. Compassion does not just end with what you put in your mouth!.



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Vegan's also refrain from using animal bi-products, such as leather, fur, wool, feathers, etc!. Yes, veganism may have started as just a diet, but a large number of vegans have taken this next step!. The reason behind it is because while not eating animals or animal products they are cutting back on the suffering, they are not doing all they can to end it!.

As far as being humanitarians, this is a personal choice!. Many vegans like to point out how much food is wasted in order to feed animals that will be killed for food, and how you could feed more people with the grains used as animal feed than you could with the animals that are killed!. This strategy is meant to appeal to those people who are humanitarians!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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