Is it okay if I switch from vegan to vegetarian?!
1) I hate other vegans (sad but true). I am not violent towards animals, but I would have no problem being violent towards another vegan. I don't like them and I personally think most of them have mental health problems.
2) I think being vegetarian is easier and therefore more probable at global success and therefore has a greater chance and lessoning more suffering towards animals. Example: you go to a restaurant, you get a veggie burger and everything is vegan, accept for the bun. You get it anyways because your meal is still more animal friendly than someone who, lets say, got an angus burger. For the extreme vegans who go into a restaurant decrying anything that even touched a pan that was used to cook meat actually in my opion, do more to harm animals. Also, if I over hear you whining about utensils used to cook your food, there is a good chance I will harm you with a tire iron in the parking lot to the back of the head (seriously, I dislike vegans that much, this is not a joke).
So in summary, my question is this, in your opinion, what do you think of someone switching to vegetarianism (who knows the truth about eggs and dairy and there is no such thing as humane milk, dairy cows are mistreated, and many times, killed in the end when they are no longer productively producing milk).
Answers:
This is one of the most interesting topics I have seen on yahoo! I TOTALLY GET how you feel. I myself have been raised a meat consumer..but decided to go vegan..now I have finally found a perfect diet that meets my ethics as well as my nutritional needs! I don't even like to label myself as anything. I like to say, without sounded arrogant, that I strive for the perfect balanced diet, that counteracts the pollutants while focuses on preserving the health of the planet.
First of all, I know how annoying extreme vegans can be.. but try not to express or feel hatred for them. I am very intuitive and I feel you have a very healthy an balanced outlook (minus the hatred haha) I do not believe that because we love animals and want what's best for the world we have to make ALL animal products off limits. For example my parents have a small farm and they treat their chickens so well. They are free range and they look and act so happy! We keep them for organic eggs. Eggs offer Vit B12 which is essential and quality protein. I think free range organic eggs are humane. In terms of dairy, I actually believe people shoudl re-evaluate this choice. Back in the day when a family would have 1 cow which produced enough "clean" milk for each family member to drink maybe 1 glass each per day, this was not such a bad idea as it gave them the nutrients that otherwise would be rare to find. These days we do not need to be a burden on these animals when we have an abundance of other choices! Cows are so mistreated in north america and it really upsets me. Dairy consumers arent doing themselves any favours because the milk is coming from depressed sick cows which pour unbalanced hormones, anti-biotics, blood from their infected nipples as well as feces INTO THEIR MILK. In the US there's the bovine growth hormone as well to top all that off. Also Milk is inflammatory and causes mucus to form in the body. I eat a small amount of goat cheese once in a while which is much less mass-produced and also is more digestible for humans because it contains more enzymes. I also believe that humanely produced honey is ok. Raw honey has lots of minerals and is just so delicious. I appreciate and love it so much. Vegans are too extreme for me. I don't like how they are so quick to turn their back on everything that ivolves an animal. In fact, Algae is techically more an animal than a plant. So strick vegans who use algae don't even know they are being hypocrites.
My philosophy is...take what you need, no more. Don't forbid yourself a nibble of something if it makes you happy. Moderation and balance. Eat mosly organic plants and always appreciate and KNOW where your food comes from and what it took for it to reach your plate.
Sure, go for it. Whatever makes you healthy and happy.
The only person that it needs to be ok with is you. Its your body. If done right a vegetarian diet can be healthy.
You can still be a meat-eater but could go to the local butcher and buy meat that was raised healthily and not on a mass scale, and butchered humanely. Not everyone who eats meat supports animal cruelty. In fact, most people are ignorant about it.
I think the answer to this is irrelevant. Why would it matter if you switched? It's your body and your brain and you decide what goes into it, not everyone else. You clearly have a solid understanding about the food industry, and I think your best bet would be your own.
no offense but after reading your post, I honestly feel a lot of hate mongering coming my way.
I am sincerely asking myself "who in the hell hangs out with these Vegans with attitudes?" I am a Vegan and could care less if I sit across from someone eating their Angus burger. Its our choice and I say live and let live.
I think the bigger question is why other people's insecurities and idiosyncrosies bother you so much? My mom taught me that when someone gets on your nerves it usually says more about you than them. Either they are projecting back to you something you dislike about yourself or you don't like that particular attribute about them. In the latter case, you have a choice. Either get a new friend or get over it! Why spend this much energy on stupid people who embrace Vegetarian lifestyles with the passion of a religion?
I hope you don't take offense but seriously, live your life and quit worrying about what other people do that irritate you or get yourself some new friends or move to a different table.
I think you should reassess your violent attitudes regarding vegans, especially considering your apparent concern for the suffering of animals. The real question should be about whether you are ok with eating milk and cheese and honey and related products. Some people say they are unhealthy, others say they are very healthy. Just try it. Don't worry too much about "vegan" vs "vegetarian", it's almost always your choice what you put in your body, so you don't have to make it some big thing like you are going to sign a 5 year contract, or that you have to announce you are this or that. It's not a big deal. Eat what you want. If you're not okay with putting animals in "captivity" to harness their resources, well then don't eat that. It's either that or for health reasons why you wouldn't eat it. Personally I think being JUST a vegetarian is fine.