Why is alternative living so controversial?

[kashmir]

Religious circles. Especially conservative ones. You wouldn't believe the hate I got growing up being a vegetarian. It was ridiculous.

that does not even make sense, nothing in the Bible is even about being vegan is a sin.
If anything vegans use the Bible to claim we are all supposed to be vegans.
Never ever heard it done the other way around.
Never ever heard of a vegan being suppressed.
Never once on a talk show, not a book that I know of written about this so called suppression.

Since you claim it happened to you, it is a very rare thing, never the less, sorry about what you went through, for not eating meat.

 

[Nymphs]

that does not even make sense, nothing in the Bible is even about being vegan is a sin.
If anything vegans use the Bible to claim we are all supposed to be vegans.
Never ever heard it done the other way around.
Never ever heard of a vegan being suppressed.
Never once on a talk show, not a book that I know of written about this so called suppression.

Vegetarian and vegan are two different things.

Since you claim it happened to you, it is a very rare thing, never the less, sorry about what you went through, for not eating meat.

Your eyeroll is noted, but in many religious circles, vegetarianism and veganism is frowned upon. Especially when a health code of that particular religion (like mine) have a mandate for eating meat. Just because you haven't experienced it, doesn't mean it hasn't happened. Suppression doesn't have to be physical, it can be mental/spiritual as well -- which is what I went through. I was constantly being told I was breaking "god's law" and that I wouldn't go to heaven if I didn't eat meat.

Your flippant attitude and personal attacks needs to stop -- they are rude, insulting and say much more about you, than me.

 

[Nymphs]

Our behavior and personal choices all affect others.

How so? How does me choosing not to eat meat affect anyone else?

 

[Nymphs]

I agree, said person keeps making threads after threads on the subject and then plays victim when others voice their opinions.

Personal attack

Nothing controversial about asking if and when they may have kids.

Not choosing to have children is quite controversial in many religious circles.

2)Vegans do not even belong in this picture...
Never ever ever heard "OMFG, KILL THE VEGAN BEFORE HE MULTIPLIES!!!"
Have heard..."Wow, I could never give up my juicy fat steak even if it was healthier to do so"
Nothing controversial about this at all.

Actually, it is quite controversial.

3)Atheists, plenty of pushing and mocking that onto religious people and vice versa.
Controversial isn't even the right word, its more like bigotry from a bias stance.

Your obvious bias speaks volumes in this one.
Why do they need to create threads after threads on the exact same subject?

If you don't care, why on earth do you keep saying things like this? You obviously have a deep-seated issue if you keep bringing this up.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

How so? How does me choosing not to eat meat affect anyone else?

You leave more meat for the rest of us, hence you eliminate deficits and actively support carnivorous and omnivorous individuals.

...never said it had to negatively affect others.

 

[Sunstone]

Polyamory? Child-free? Vegetarian? Atheist?

What is so wrong with doing something that doesn't affect another person?

Although it is so obvious its full significance often escapes our attention, humans are social animals. And social animals are profoundly concerned with the behaviors of their fellow poo-flingers. I'm not saying it's always justified, but I do think it's a fact.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Anybody who doesn't do what I do is some kind of deranged weirdo who is not to be trusted.

 

[Vinayaka]

Polyamory? Child-free? Vegetarian? Atheist?

What is so wrong with doing something that doesn't affect another person?

I've never considered it controversial.

 

[Nymphs]

You leave more meat for the rest of us, hence you eliminate deficits and actively support carnivorous and omnivorous individuals.

...never said it had to negatively affect others.

Fair enough.

 

[Nymphs]

Anybody who doesn't do what I do is some kind of deranged weirdo who is not to be trusted.

Mwhahahahaha!

 

[Nymphs]

I've never considered it controversial.

You'd be surprised who would...too many people.

 

[Alceste]

Polyamory? Child-free? Vegetarian? Atheist?

What is so wrong with doing something that doesn't affect another person?

Just count your blessings that non-conformists aren't being burned alive by the faithful any more. (Mostly).

 

[Nymphs]

Just count your blessings that non-conformists aren't being burned alive by the faithful any more. (Mostly).

Oh, I do. Luckily I live in a very non-conforming community.

 

[Vinayaka]

You'd be surprised who would...too many people.

Oh, I know. It just doesn't affect me. Live and let live. I don't go stand on a street proclaiming with some big sign, "Hey, I'm a white Hindu vegetarian leftist commie. Please throw stones at me!"

 

[Nymphs]

Oh, I know. It just doesn't affect me. Live and let live. I don't go stand on a street proclaiming with some big sign, "Hey, I'm a white Hindu vegetarian leftist commie. Please throw stones at me!"

Neither do I.

When people ask about food preferences (parties, get togethers, etc.) I have had to express my vegetarianism (and allergies). Do you really think people do?

 

[Vinayaka]

Neither do I.

When people ask about food preferences (parties, get togethers, etc.) I have had to express my vegetarianism (and allergies). Do you really think people do?

All my friends are vegetarians or know me well enough to know I am. It's never a problem.

 

[Nymphs]

All my friends are vegetarians or know me well enough to know I am. It's never a problem.

Growing up in a conservative religion where eating meat was the norm, I was often told (like I stated before) that I was going to hell or breaking god's law. I was heaped with psychological abuse about my food choice growing up from people within my religion as well as extended family and my mother. It may not be a problem for you, but for many people, it has, especially when their family, friends, and culture are so diametrically opposed to the idea.

 

[Vinayaka]

Growing up in a conservative religion where eating meat was the norm, I was often told (like I stated before) that I was going to hell or breaking god's law. I was heaped with psychological abuse about my food choice growing up from people within my religion as well as extended family and my mother. It may not be a problem for you, but for many people, it has, especially when their family, friends, and culture are so diametrically opposed to the idea.

Part of it, but not all of it, is in perception. I never went looking for it, never said anything, fasted sometimes when necessary. These days (I'm 60, retired) and I never get the opportuntity to fast for that reason. I have noticed many times that if you don't bring it up nobody notices at all. People generally don't care. They just want to gobble down the flesh. That's more important than some guy who doesn't look hungry.

 

[Nymphs]

Part of it, but not all of it, is in perception. I never went looking for it, never said anything, fasted sometimes when necessary. These days (I'm 60, retired) and I never get the opportuntity to fast for that reason. I have noticed many times that if you don't bring it up nobody notices at all. People generally don't care. They just want to gobble down the flesh. That's more important than some guy who doesn't look hungry.

I wouldn't bring it up for no reason, but I also wasn't going to eat meat. My own grandparents would try to force me to eat meat as a child. What exactly was I supposed to do then?

Most people yes, but in my experience, there are some that don't.

 

[Drolefille]

People who don't conform threaten the cultural standards of society. By being child free you suggest that it's an equal option to having children. (Which it is, but bear with me.) People who comform willingly see you as misguided typically, depending on how far down the "True believer" spectrum they are. This is your "you'll understand when you have kids" sort. People who feel pressured into conforming will IME be more likely to attack you directly: "You're just selfish." Because if they accept that you have an option, they have to accept that they had an option too. There are also people who will see child-free people as judgmental of "breeders." (Which of course, some are.) So there's a preemptive jump to defend themselves or attack rather than have to defend.

Replace all that with vegetarianism, polyamory, atheism, teetotalers, etc. Even people who don't smoke weed will get crap if their friends do because they're "judging" them or "think they're better than" them. And there are absolutely some judgmental jerk veg*ns, poly people, atheists, etc. out there. So just as a bad experience with a religious fundamentalist might make me defensive about my pansexuality, a bad experience with a "YOU HAVE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS" veg*n might instigate defensiveness.


Like most things, exposure to different beliefs reduces this freak out and creates acceptance.

(As a side note, I was never using a**hat as a way to dodge the filter, but I'm still sad it's now filtered. le sigh, I just like it!)