people all over the world are dying because they don't have access to even a cup of clean drinking water.
we shit in drinking water and flush gallons of it down daily.
what the fuck.
i really suck at bringing the sunshine.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
bic c brings the clouds...
ok, i just really need to vent and since i'm at work, this is the most convenient way, as it looks like i am typing something important. WARNING: i'm going to complain. and i understand if this post does not meet the credentials of positivity and must be removed.
so. i'm just feeling kind of disappointed right now. for various reasons. but i won't go over them all. here's what's going on: i've been wanting to go vegan for a while now, so i've been avoiding dairy and eggs (as well as meat.) but after watching Earthlings, i felt in my heart that i did not want to spend another day supporting any industry of unnecessary suffering and abuse. i decided i wanted to lead a lifestyle that is as cruelty-free as possible--for animals, the environment, and other people. so i started looking up stuff about veganism, which at first went well. but i began to stumble upon, well, what i would consider vegan elitism. this was mainly on discussion boards and internet groups, and even a couple sites. people would be extremely critical of each other, always having to be the most extreme, the only "real" vegan...
if people want to boycott refined sugar, honey, and silk clothing, that's great for them. i am still figuring out what i think is right. but i don't understand why people can't just do what they feel is right or just explain why they do it. nope, they can't seem to leave it at that. they were vicious with each other. extremely judgemental and hateful. it was all these people who do not eat, wear, or use virtually any animal by-product, but wouldn't stop telling each other "what?! you had a vegan cookie that included refined sugar? you are NOT a vegan. never call yourself that again. you are ruining the image of vegans..." seriously. i got pretty discouraged. not because i don't think i could fit into their definitions of veganism, but because the definitions seemed to be more about who was the most pure, the most righteous. i felt like they were so focused on the details, they had lost sight of the philosophy of not causing cruelty. i'm pretty sure they would argue that they have not lost sight, but in fact care so much, that they are against any form of harm, however indirect, to any creature, no matter how small. i totally respect that, BUT i have a hard time thinking that justifies treating another person rudely or telling them they are below you. i'm opposed to all forms of cruelty. it's just upsetting to see that this community, which i thought would be encouraging and helpful in my transition into a more compassionate life, turns out to be...kinda mean.
now, i like to figure out what the "other" side is thinking, because i don't think people just think, "hmm, i believe it will be beneficial to tell this 'vegan' they are worthless because they eat/use (fill in the blank with obscure products.)" so, i am going to attempt to understand...
maybe they think that by criticizing someone for not being vegan in the way they feel is truly vegan, is the best way to convince people to help more animals. maybe they think that being mean to someone is outweighed by the benefits of convincing them to do better. maybe they think it is speciesism to think that offending a person is more important than the possibility of saving an animal or insect. but i personally don't think being offensive is going to inspire people to save animals or insects. in fact, i don't even think that's the intention of these people. i think they just want to prove that they are superior because they worry that someone who calls themselves vegan but still keeps their old silk pillowcase around will tarnish their perfect name.
discounting people's efforts does not help a damn thing, besides maybe the ego.
so the next step in thinking should be "then why bother calling myself a vegan, if people are just going to get mad if i mess up?" well, for a few reasons. you see, i have pretty much always avoided labeling myself as anything other than a person who happens to (insert action or life choices here.) but i get so sick of the "norm" being everything i'm against, to the point that everyone just assumes i agree with them or believe like them or live like them. and if i try to tell them i don't agree, they try to convince me that i'm silly or wrong. because they've carefully thought their choices through? No! because they think tradition and majority rules is always good! so i don't want to be mistaken for someone i am definitely not, and i don't want people to treat me like my beliefs are petty and they can talk me out of them. i want to express what i believe in order to connect to other people like me and to send the message to everyone else that i am serious about my choices.
i recommend watching the movie EARTHLINGS.
so. i'm just feeling kind of disappointed right now. for various reasons. but i won't go over them all. here's what's going on: i've been wanting to go vegan for a while now, so i've been avoiding dairy and eggs (as well as meat.) but after watching Earthlings, i felt in my heart that i did not want to spend another day supporting any industry of unnecessary suffering and abuse. i decided i wanted to lead a lifestyle that is as cruelty-free as possible--for animals, the environment, and other people. so i started looking up stuff about veganism, which at first went well. but i began to stumble upon, well, what i would consider vegan elitism. this was mainly on discussion boards and internet groups, and even a couple sites. people would be extremely critical of each other, always having to be the most extreme, the only "real" vegan...
if people want to boycott refined sugar, honey, and silk clothing, that's great for them. i am still figuring out what i think is right. but i don't understand why people can't just do what they feel is right or just explain why they do it. nope, they can't seem to leave it at that. they were vicious with each other. extremely judgemental and hateful. it was all these people who do not eat, wear, or use virtually any animal by-product, but wouldn't stop telling each other "what?! you had a vegan cookie that included refined sugar? you are NOT a vegan. never call yourself that again. you are ruining the image of vegans..." seriously. i got pretty discouraged. not because i don't think i could fit into their definitions of veganism, but because the definitions seemed to be more about who was the most pure, the most righteous. i felt like they were so focused on the details, they had lost sight of the philosophy of not causing cruelty. i'm pretty sure they would argue that they have not lost sight, but in fact care so much, that they are against any form of harm, however indirect, to any creature, no matter how small. i totally respect that, BUT i have a hard time thinking that justifies treating another person rudely or telling them they are below you. i'm opposed to all forms of cruelty. it's just upsetting to see that this community, which i thought would be encouraging and helpful in my transition into a more compassionate life, turns out to be...kinda mean.
now, i like to figure out what the "other" side is thinking, because i don't think people just think, "hmm, i believe it will be beneficial to tell this 'vegan' they are worthless because they eat/use (fill in the blank with obscure products.)" so, i am going to attempt to understand...
maybe they think that by criticizing someone for not being vegan in the way they feel is truly vegan, is the best way to convince people to help more animals. maybe they think that being mean to someone is outweighed by the benefits of convincing them to do better. maybe they think it is speciesism to think that offending a person is more important than the possibility of saving an animal or insect. but i personally don't think being offensive is going to inspire people to save animals or insects. in fact, i don't even think that's the intention of these people. i think they just want to prove that they are superior because they worry that someone who calls themselves vegan but still keeps their old silk pillowcase around will tarnish their perfect name.
discounting people's efforts does not help a damn thing, besides maybe the ego.
so the next step in thinking should be "then why bother calling myself a vegan, if people are just going to get mad if i mess up?" well, for a few reasons. you see, i have pretty much always avoided labeling myself as anything other than a person who happens to (insert action or life choices here.) but i get so sick of the "norm" being everything i'm against, to the point that everyone just assumes i agree with them or believe like them or live like them. and if i try to tell them i don't agree, they try to convince me that i'm silly or wrong. because they've carefully thought their choices through? No! because they think tradition and majority rules is always good! so i don't want to be mistaken for someone i am definitely not, and i don't want people to treat me like my beliefs are petty and they can talk me out of them. i want to express what i believe in order to connect to other people like me and to send the message to everyone else that i am serious about my choices.
i recommend watching the movie EARTHLINGS.
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