Poisonous Food

[Diana]

I mean, picture this: Let's say we live in a vegan society where they now have nutrient pills they've created in the laboratory that kills no plants to make, no harm to the environment in any way, but taste horrible and give us slight but noticeable gas and bloating. Would we switch to a diet of these uncomfortable but cause-no-harm-pills 100%? I don't know if I'm ready for that, despite knowing it might be the more loving choice. There could easily be a parallel discussion to one we have today in terms of meat-eating versus planet eating. And there are so many problems on this planet Earth, that maybe some are more drawn to using their limited willpower in creating change in certain areas and giving in to the collective's less loving beliefs in other areas in order to effect change in their given field.

I think you make an excellent point, but it is not really analogous to the situation. This is because there is not just one choice in a plant-based diet. Even if the (gassy) pills were the only alternative to eating cruelly derived food, I would alter the pill recipe, or find another way to nourish myself with kinder sustenance. I have always resonated with Captain Kirk's answer to the Kobayashi Maru Test, and I don't live within the parameters of what society says is available.

There may be some people who don't do well on a plant-based diet, but there are countless plant foods. It may be a difficult transition from the "how it's always been done" mindset, and judgments get in the way of doing well. And when it comes to emotional reasons (social situations) and mental (addiction) why a plant-based diet isn't viable, it is up to the individual what to prioritize:

What matters more to me?

Who do I want to be?

How do I want to participate in a suffering world?

Like any other trend that departs from the status quo, being vegan has its share of media brainwashing and propaganda spoon fed to the public (a lot of which is generated by the meat and dairy industries). I avoid even saying the word "vegan" here on these forums because of the charge it seems to have. Some of the nicest members have referred to vegans as extremists, zealots, compared vegans to terrorists. It's hilarious really (and ironic), if the underlying suffering caused to billions of animals wasn't so heart-breaking.

Just writing it all out, to help myself and perhaps others, to understand others.

I like that. I do the same.