Where do you stand on vegan absolutism?

[bricology]

freakshownia's post today raised a question in my mind, which caused me to comment, and elicited a couple of thoughtful responses. However, it was buried on page 2, so I thought I'd start a new thread about it

Comments

[lucystrawberry]

I think vegan is a type of diet, not a type of person. I am more comfortable with saying "I eat a vegan diet and don't purchase or use products with animal products in them" rather than "I am a vegan."

That being said, since my diet is not 100% vegan, I do not call myself a vegan or even a vegetarian. I don't want to make things harder for people that are strict veg*ns by making the world think vegans eat fish a couple of times a year. So yes, I do think the label "vegan" should really only be used by people who are fully 100% committed to it. The rest of the people can say, as I do, "I eat a mostly vegan diet".

[lucystrawberry]

I want to add, a type of diet AND a method of consuming, because clearly, veganism extends beyond just not eating cows--you don't wear them, either.

[butsu]

i get a bit offended when general people (not v's) call it a diet.
I live a life of a vegan, lead a vegan lifestyle.
but i'm fine with you

[lucystrawberry]

That's a valid point--who am I to define it when I am not even one---so I understand why you get offended.

But I hope you saw below where I added that it isn't just a diet--I wrote what I wrote and then five minutes later was doing something else entirely and went, oh Wait, vegan isn't just a diet, it is a belief system that informs a whole series of choices.

[butsu]

:) sure, I've seen that.
and you're great

[absinthea]

I don't live a vegan lifestyle, but I am slowly making changes towards a vegan diet. I would never call myself a vegan, but rather would specify that I prefer a vegan diet because I think calling oneself vegan means that they are vegan in diet and lifestyle.