When I rule the world, I'm declaring fatwas on fake vegans.

[LeftyMom]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17201476/

Nice little article about a vegan/omni couple making it work, which interested me because I learned the hard way I can't do that and really wanted to know what their secret was. I'll be mean and spoil the secret for you- the "vegan" isn't one.

And I've been known to put a little cow milk in my coffee if there's no soy milk, and I'll eat feta in Mom's salad rather than hurt her feelings by picking it out when she forgets "the vegan rules."

So what happens when some waiter brings out a salad with chicken breast strips on top, or when there's a mixup and the "veggie burger" that comes to the plate clearly is only the latter half of that phrase? What "vegan rules" does such a person stick to? Can you call yourself a vegan if you deliberately consume the reproductive tissues of animals? Not if this little vegan has anything to say about it.

Don't these people realize that every time they capitulate to make life easier, they're actually confusing the omnis in their lives and making things tougher in the long run for both themselves and everybody else who really is vegan? It only takes one salad you can't eat to get Mom to remember to leave the coagulated sheep squeezings off, but if you eat the thing there's no incentive to remember to make it in a non-habitual way and you're going to have a lot of stinky sheep's milk cheese in your future, and that's not good for you or the animals, and ultimately being vegan is about making decisions with the needs of animals in mind.

PS My five year veggieversary is friday. :D

[RebelOne]

1. I am vegetarian, and I can tell you if a waiter

mistakenly brought me a salad with chicken strips on top, it would definitely go back. Likewise with a burger.

[Debau2005]

2. Ditto for me! nt

[Critters2]

3. First, congrats on your veggieversary!!!

Me, I'm pretty honest about these things. I'm vegan in my home--the only animal products that enter the house (knowingly) are meat cat foods, and these are only from organic, family-farmed meats. All dog food, all human food, all cleaning products, all personal care products, all clothing are vegan!

Outside my home I'm vegetarian, pretty much lacto-veg, but I know there are eggs hiding in all kinds of foods where they don't really need to be. I try to be vegan, but often have to attend lunch meetings, potlucks, etc, with little or no vegan options. But meat is NEVER an option!!!! Happily, my church recently made a decision to offer veg alternatives at all food-related events, and these are often vegan. There are at least three veg*n households in the congregation, now.

But don't get me started on "vegetarians" who eat fish!!!

[CrispyQ]

16. My biggest problem has always been corporate events.

Fortunately, I am currently out of the corporate scene, so life has been easy. In the past, my husband & I have always brought our own lunch, so we could always opt out of the Quiznos menu if there was a lunch event. I have found corporate event people to respond about 50/50 to veg requests. Some are happy to help & others are put out.

When I was an exec admin, I would alway include a vegan alternative in food events that I planned. I've had three bosses who, after a high level event with important investors or customers, came back thanked me profusely for thinking of offering a vegan option. Turns out one of their visitors was vegan or veg & expressed great appreciation to my boss. Harr!

As for restaurants, there are three that we go to where we know we can get vegan options. There is a Mexican restaurant called Casa Alverez that makes the best tofu tacos that I have ever had. And their refried beans are even better than mine & that's saying something! I'll bet they refer to me as "the no-cheese but lots of guac lady." ;)

[NMMNG]

4. Bleh. Fake vegans

They like calling themselves vegans and feeling good about what they (allegedly) are but don't want to actually avoid animal products because it's "inconvenient" or "they taste so good":. It's like those who call themselves Christians and act all self-righteous while utterly ignoring the teachings of Christ. :puke:

[LeftyMom]

5. I actually know of worse

My sister has a cheer teammate who says she's vegan. My sister has seen her eat

1. a snickers bar (Dairy!)

2. fish

3. chicken nuggets.

My sister told her off, because it was pissing her off, and she's an omni.

[NMMNG]

6. But chicken and fish aren't meat

:silly:

[Debau2005]

7. My step sister is the same...

she claims to be vegan, but only eats chicken occasionally...I called her on it at Thanksgiving when she opened the chicken broth to "add flavor" to the green beans.

Some people like the attention, she loves it when people ask her about her veganism...I just roll my eyes and walk away.

[NMMNG]

11. I don't get some people

They take perfectly healthy veggies and just ruin them by adding a pile of bacon, butter/margarine, or even buttering and deep-frying them. If you're going to do that why bother?

[flvegan]

8. Pfft...I have that beaten easy.

I know a person who:
1. States that they're vegan and berates folks that eat hot dogs near her; and,
2. Is a board member of an animal rights org here in Florida; and,
3. Does a great deal of the KFC protests around here;
4. Does the Walk for Farm Animals;
5. Suggests Chicken McNuggets at volunteer events, and partakes in them;
6. Enjoys a good Filet 'o Fish at events where McNuggets are not to be found.

If she wants to eat those things, then fine, but don't wag your finger at others about it when it's convenient.

[LeftyMom]

9. Oh my.

One had to wonder, at what point does the ability to exist in two different realities like that pass mere hypocrisy and become a pathological condition?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

10. OMG! I have an aunt like that.

1. She's a PETA member.
2. Does likes of rescue work with feral kitties (Yay! for that)
3. Lectures me on the evils of factory farms--Okay, I'm pescarian, but I do just a very little organic dairy and very rarely local organic eggs (I know where the chickens are raised and they're pretty sweet digs)
4. Claims to be vegetarian
5. Eats beef, pork, poultry and NONE of it even free-range

:wtf:

[Debau2005]

12. Chicken McNuggets?

EEKS!! They are a freak of food enginering. If I was going to eat something meat like, it would NOT be a McNugget....I didn't eat those when I was a meat eater....

I would have to ask her how a hot dog is any different then a McNugget!

[peacebuzzard]

13. I make it simple when ordering out.

Basics: garden salad (NO bacon or cheese)
baked potato, NO toppings.

That usually covers it.

when I think back not so long ago (a year or so....) that I was a declared veg but still eating fish......What the hell was I thinking.
and, only very recently finally dropped the cow cream for the coffee. When I travel these days, I save a little of my breakfast "travel carton" soy milks in a small plastic bottle in case I need coffee during the day.

And congrats to me for finally becoming a true vegan only very recently. The difference is amazing.

[flvegan]

14. Most definitely congrats to you!

:hi:

[pberq]

15. congratulations on being vegan!

[Goblinmonger]

17. I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian

I was vegan for 6 months (while the wife and two kids were still ovo-lacto) and it was difficult. Not just the "two meals" thing but it really played whack-a-mole with my ethical lines (for lack of a better phrase). Kudos to those that it works for; it just didn't for me. Long story, different thread.

Anyway, the thing that pisses me off when people find out I'm vegetarian (I'm not overly vocal about it though I don't fudge on my principles and eat meat because it is convenient) is that they "don't eat much meat either." Oh, piss off. Eat meat if you want. If you are feeling bad about it then stop. But don't try to make yourself feel better by pseudo-joining my camp.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

18. I disagree. Titles don't matter at all. Actions matter.

I would rather someone slip up here or there but for the most part keep a vegan lifestyle than just give up on the whole idea because it's too difficult. I've seen that happen too often. People like the idea of being a vegetarian, but they slip up one time, feel really bad about it and give up. I guess it's like dieting or smoking in that way. We know that cheese is very very addictive.

Just MHO.