Why I am not a vegan

[Diana]

I have been reading what has transpired in this thread the last few days. I'm really amazed and not a little flummoxed.

Look, does NO meat-eater here understand what the vegan point of view is? Come on people. No one is pointing the finger at meat-eaters. No one is trying to "make the meat-eaters feel bad." It sounds like a grade school whine. We have differences of opinion, different points of view, different perceptions, and different awarenesses, all of us. Because this is true of everything, we can come here and discuss things to the mutual benefit of all, in an environment where we agree to discuss these things.

If anyone "feels bad" own your responsibility in feeling that way. Don't say: Someone made me. Countless times in threads like this I was attacked directly. Veganism has been attacked in these threads by those who seem to otherwise have very loving posts, calling us extremists and zealots as though we were likened to Al Quaeda. For God's sake, aside from the "free will, personal choice" idea, it cannot be argued that veganism is BAD for this planet or the beings on it.

What we have here are opinions and feelings on the subject. I would ask members who have recently been attacking others to stop, and remember that this goes both ways. Just because vegans are in the minority and not popular does not make it okay to be mean to us. Not that I care personally because I don't, but it makes the conversation counterproductive. Someone mentioned trolls—what do you think just outright complaining is doing here in this thread?

So what if the subject has been discussed ad nauseum? That we are still here talking about it justifies its existence. Evidently there is still catalyst and something to be learned. So if you just want to come here to whine and complain, think about why you are doing this.

And if we can, let's honor this catalyst and continue down this conflicted path (or not) with respect for each other, while also letting our true feelings surface for the good of all and our own selves, while claiming our feelings as our own and not blaming others for them.