I was going to share this story from work this week and a compliment someone gave me, then the more I thought about it, the more I realized the entire conversation we had was a dig at veganism. Ha. I’ll still share it though.
Long story short (hopefully), I was talking about Thanksgiving with a couple coworkers. Let’s call them Marge and Lisa. Marge said to me, while making a face, “oh, you make that vegan thing that’s shaped like a turkey?”
I ignored the face and tone and shared that yes I was, and was excited about it, then asked about their meal plan.
But Lisa said “Did I know you were vegan? I don’t think I did!”
And Marge responded with, “Yeah, she is but hasn’t made it her whole identity.”
This is the part I thought was a compliment. I don’t want it to be my whole identity. I don’t want it to be the first thing people think about when they think about me. I don’t want someone to think about what I eat unless we are going to be sharing a meal (or they’re surprising me with a treat).
I don’t want to be the asshole vegan. Gawd, there are so so many, and they are freaking unbearable.
So I told them, “Yeah, I am! And thanks, I don’t want it to be my whole identity. I just do it for the animals.”
Then Marge said “well lucky them.”
Sigh.
I have a lot of other thoughts about someone being bothered by a thing I do that doesn’t affect them at all, but I promised I’d keep this short! So, happy Friday! Enjoy whatever you eat today!
I think people are defensive because they know eating meat is wrong, but they do it because it’s “normal” in their worlds. I am not a vegan, but I can appreciate people who take ethical stances and maintain them.
Thanks for that <3
What Engie said! I could go on and on about this. I’ve had a few conversations where running came up and the other person got all defensive as though me saying that I was going for a run meant that they had to? It’s weird.
Your “vegan thing that’s shaped like a turkey” is cute! What is it?
Sigh. That is so so weird to me too. We just want to talk about what we are passionate about! What did they say?
It’s so so good – it’s the Vegetarian Plus Whole Vegan Turkey https://www.fakemeats.com/Vegetarian-Plus-Vegan-Whole-Turkey-p/vgp-6-83061-35129-0.htm
Wow, okay…snarky. I do think people get defensive around us vegans because they feel our choice somehow reflects on them and puts them in a bad light? Sigh.
If only they knew how much joy it gives us to eat in a way that is good for the animals, the earth, ourselves and others…
Right? Sigh.
LOL, I just keep that to myself!
I’m sorry you had to deal with such a snarky comment. I do think people feel defensive about their choices (I know I do!) and I guess it makes them feel better to be snarky. But you certainly don’t deserve that!
Thank you <3 And thanks for explaining your perspective! I think the worst part (beyond the snark) is that it reminds me they think of me as the vegan stereotype and not who I really am!