Anonymous asked: It seems like a common feminist argument against veganism is that its only suitable for upper class people and thus is discriminatory. My answer to this is first that animal products are luxury items and without government support would be so expensive that the industry would fail. Secondly it simply isn't true, veganism is usually less expensive. Third, this doesnt actually show that its okay to eat meat, just that our government supports an unethical industry. What is your answer to this?

Pretty much all of that, yeah. It’s cheaper by default and most people in impoverished areas can afford little to no animal products and are coincidentally eating vegan anyway. Saying that it is only suitable for upper class people is completely bogus because there are many people who are lower or middle class and living vegan. Claiming that it’s only suitable for rich white people is discriminatory in itself because it erases the existence of every vegan that isn’t rich and white, and it’s pretty much saying that they think poor people are incapable of compassion or living ethically.

Also, it isn’t feminist in nature to promote the exploitation and domination of female animal bodies to use for our benefit. I made a rant about the hypocrisies of feminists who aren’t vegan here. Feminism is about promoting equality for all people regardless of gender, race, class, status, etc. and it promotes body autonomy and says that the government has no right to dictate another person’s body. So why are these “feminists” so quick to turn around and do the same to animals? The way that humans currently view and treat animals is essentially exactly the kind of attitude feminism fights against. It’s really the same concept, only applied to non-human animals rather than humans. It’s wrong to treat animals as exploitable commodities for the same reason it’s wrong to treat women that way. Animal products are a result of the denial of body autonomy to many non-humans and animal agriculture condemns animals to a life of subjugation. Saying that another sentient being’s body and life are yours to violate and kill is not at all anything that should be coming out of a feminist’s mouth.

And of course, like you said, just because the government supports it doesn’t mean it’s okay. Just because someone may have no other option in an isolated desperate situation does not suddenly make what they are doing ethical. What they did is still wrong by nature and the action itself isn’t ethical or justifiable. Just like killing a person in self defense doesn’t suddenly making killing people ethical. In some areas of the world it may be more difficult to sustain yourself through veganism but that doesn’t mean we should erase all responsibility of an effort to go vegan and to make vegan food more easily accessible.

Veganism is not as impossible as everyone would like to make it out to be. People just want to claim that it’s an insanely privileged or difficult lifestyle because they don’t want to have to step up and take responsibility for their own actions. In some cases it may be more difficult than others to go vegan, but that doesn’t mean you have an excuse to not even make an effort. It is almost always possible to go vegan if you actually put forth even the slightest bit of effort. Being in a less than ideal situation doesn’t change the fact that veganism is still the only ethical choice, it doesn’t suddenly absolve you from being a decent person and making compassionate choices, and it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t promote veganism because veganism is just simply the right thing to do.

Anonymous asked: I don't know how to ask this.. but I am a overweight vegan. Obviously people love to talk to vegans all the time about what it is exactly that we do and why.. I get insecure sometimes because I am pretty overweight and I'm am basically preaching this healthy lifestyle to people. I feel like 'how do they take me seriously, on the outside I look like a slob?' I know this is a bad mentality to have. Have you ever heard of this feeling or have advice? Thanks, you and your blog are so awesome c:

Yeah, I just had this brought up to me yesterday actually. I was told that if I want to promote veganism I need to “at least look the part.” Shit is ridiculous.

It’s just important to remember that veganism is not a diet. It’s an ethical lifestyle involving the avoidance and opposition of animal exploitation. It’s healthier by default because our bodies are designed to eat plants, but it’s not something we should choose out of personal gain like health and I don’t think it should be the forefront of conversation when veganism is brought up. Veganism is the choice we should all make not for ourselves but for the animals and the rest of the world.

If anyone ever says something rude like that to you, just remind them that vegans can be of any type or look because veganism isn’t a diet or a means of being thin. It’s about opposing speciesism and doing everything we can to refuse to support animal exploitation, plain and simple. Then, go ahead and break their nose.

Anonymous asked: you're kidding, right? meat production and consumption is nowhere near on a steady decline. maybe in the US alone. just google the term "global meat consumption statistics" or something related and then give me two walls of text about how the world eats as much meat as in 1990. granted, the quality of life and accessibility of meat was pretty much the same for the US 20 years ago than it is now, but for those tiny countries and continents called China, India, Africa this is not the case.

When you consider that the United States is the second country globally to consume the most pounds of meat per person annually, yeah — it definitely does matter that our rates are decreasing and that people are opting to eat less meat in our country. And, sure, other countries may be increasing their intakes of animal products, but there’s no guarantee that’s going to be constant. Just because it may be on the rise now doesn’t mean it will never decline in the future.

But it’s really cute how you guys love to overlook the fact that, as I’ve said multiple times, the foundation of veganism does not rest upon the ideal that we are going to put a global end to meat consumption in our lifetime through our own choices or through persuading others. The purpose of veganism is doing what is right regardless of what others are doing, regardless of what the status quo is, regardless of what is easy or convenient. History (and even current day) will tell you that there have been countless times where injustices and social disparities have been legal and often considered part of everyday and entirely acceptable culture; things which we later realized were gravely wrong. It’s only through challenging modern culture and current laws or standards that steps toward equality have ever been made or that minds have ever been changed in favor of what’s ethical.

But, regardless, a rational person does not refrain from mugging and assaulting a random stranger because they believe that doing so will stop all muggings globally. Most logical people refrain from harming other humans because they know that it is inherently wrong, and just because they could do something doesn’t mean they should. Just as I’m not convinced that my decision not to kill others will prevent everyone else in the world from killing each other, I don’t believe that my refusal to eat animals or their products is going to put an end to the killing of every animal in every part of the world. I simply don’t do either of those things because it would be an unethical and irreparable act to do somebody else, and I think we can all agree that any decent person would do the same — despite the fact that murder may unfortunately always exist within the world because not everyone is a decent person. I will never be able to wrap my head around the “BUT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING IT LOL” excuse as if that hasn’t already been torn down a million times before.

I really do pity anyone who bases their ethics off of what the majority of the world is doing without questioning it, because nothing proves someone a weaker person than allowing others to think on their behalf or permitting society to make their decisions for them.

Anonymous asked: :( just wondering, are those beagles being tested on for tobacco? I'm trying to get my boyfriend to not smoke because I know cigarettes are a) terrible for him and b) tested on animals. He also owns a beagle.

Uh, yes. Cigarettes/tobacco are tested on thousands of different animals, beagles included. 

“In tobacco inhalation experiments, dogs, primates, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, lambs, chickens, rodents and other animals are mutilated, pumped full of nicotine and forced to inhale smoke. Dogs are forced to inhale cigarette smoke on mechanical ventilators. In one experiment, researchers cut holes in the throats of beagles’ and forced them to breathe concentrated cigarette smoke for an entire year. Other tests have involved inserting electrodes into dogs’ penises to measure the effect of cigarette smoke on sexual performance. Masks are strapped on to the faces of rats and mice while cigarette smoke is pumped directly into noses. Rhesus monkeys are confined to chairs with head devices, while being exposed to nicotine and caffeine to study effects on breathing. In 1996, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded 123 grants totaling $28,099,418 for tobacco research, with 40% ($10,276,391) slated for animal testing. …  Today, in spite of reams of data establishing the tobacco/cancer link, the industry still conducts tobacco testing on animals, spending millions of dollars and killing hundreds of thousands of animals in an attempt to manipulate data.” - Source

Tell your boyfriend to knock it the fuck off.

Anonymous asked: You are amazing! Even though any randomly chosen global food company's annual growth completely annihilates the change vegans believe to make in the world, you just keep going! Like facts wouldn't matter and you just believe in your relig...I mean in your informed views. Yeah, you really are an angel! May God bless your soul!

Awwww, someone’s mad. Your illogical efforts to devalue veganism are useless. Been there, done that, already covered every silly idiotic comment in this ask. An individual refraining from raping or murdering others doesn’t globally put a stop to those atrocities, it just ensures that person’s responsibility of human decency and basic ethics. And that’s precisely what veganism is about. Doing the right thing regardless of others’ actions.

Veganism isn’t at all like a religion. Religion is based on views and beliefs which are unprovable and religions seek to oppress others based on those beliefs. Veganism is based on factual evidence of real happenings and veganism seeks to liberate others based on those provable events. So good game, you actually couldn’t be any further off or any more idiotic in that sentiment!

And as far as the rate of meat production goes? Already covered that. It’s on a steady decline.

Wah, wah, wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Oh, but keep reading my blog, please. Even if you morons will never grasp the concepts of human decency and you never admit we’re right, it’s touching to know that at least you’re allowing vegans to consume your thoughts anyway. <3

Anonymous asked: Then I'm going to go ahead and assume that many of them are also 16 and have a family that can't afford for one person to be both vegan and gluten-free. Just being one or the other can be expensive if you don't want your food to taste like utter crap, and it doesn't help when you live in a rural area of Texas where it's very nearly impossible to find a store that offers edible products for a gluten intolerant vegan with a very limited budget that isn't over a 4-hour drive from where I live.

I’m sorry, Texas doesn’t sell vegetables?

Living in a rural area also means that you can most likely start growing your own produce. If that isn’t possible for you, there are still other options you have. You don’t have to include expensive vegan alternatives in order to be vegan. You can live off of minimal foods like rice, beans, vegetables, fruits, nuts, soy/tofu, oils, and grains that you can tolerate with Celiac’s disease (millet, quinoa, buckwheat, etc. and oats depending on the severity of your intolerance). Look into resources around you such as food banks or churches that offer free food. Local produce farmers likely sell much cheaper produce than you’d find in any store, and in stores there are always frozen or canned vegetables that are much cheaper than fresh produce.

Not wanting your food to “not taste like crap” isn’t a valid excuse for saying that animals should die and suffer for you. I have lived off of $5 a week for quite a while as a vegan and my food didn’t taste good, but if you have limited income you likely won’t be buying anything that tastes great regardless of anything.

I really don’t want to hear your excuses. Seriously, quit whining to me out of the obvious guilt you have and instead spend your time researching what kind of steps you can take towards eliminating animal products from your life while remaining gluten-free.

Anonymous asked: Hello, umm it doesn't really seem fair to say that if someone isn't vegan then they don't give a shit about animals. You don't really know their circumstances or their situation. I just respectfully disagree with your opinion.

Uhh, actually, it’s incredibly fair. You can’t care about animals if you believe that they are property for us to use, exploit, and kill. Bottom line.

You can disrespectfully try to refute my opinion all you want, but it doesn’t change the fact that animals are dying because of other peoples’ selfishness. Your situation is not an excuse to sentence others to death and suffering on your behalf. In saying that a human’s situation is the only thing that matters, you are erasing the situations of the animals who are being slaughtered or mutilated for food and other purposes, and that’s just not gonna fly. Sorry but not sorry! :’(

Anonymous asked: You realize veganism/animal rights is such a 1st world problem. Many people are working to get whatever food they can to survive. I hope you don't shame the 3rd world countries who just worry about getting enough food to eat. You are placing humans above animals by saying that we know better and must protect them. But then you are placing on us at the same level as animals by saying that they deserve the same rights as us. Why must we protect animals when we can't even protect our own species?

Yes, exactly — it’s like saying that adult humans must recognize that children are not on our same level but they still deserve the same rights to life and freedom as adults, and just as much protection (if not more because of their helplessness) as adults do. We are intellectually above them and in a position of having more power and more resources than animals, just like children. We are therefore obligated to be more responsible in our choices and to ensure that we care for them and protect them.

It’s not solely a first world problem either. Animal suffering exists everywhere in the world and it should be addressed everywhere. But actually, the issue of veganism within the first world impacts third world countries significantly. We’re over here parading around with our diets and lifestyles which require millions of pounds of grain, excessive amounts of water, and extensive amounts of resources all to raise these animals to get this small amount of animal products. It’s so goddamn wasteful, you don’t even recognize what a luxury it is to eat animals and their products to so many other countries throughout the world. We input so much into animal agriculture rather than using those grains, water, energy, and other resources to feed people all because some rich fuckheads think that they’re entitled to eat extravagantly with a diet full of animal products.

Most people in third world countries are actually eating vegan by default because vegan food is always cheaper. Staples like beans, grains, rice, vegetables, and so on are all much easier to produce at a lower price and cost, and they feed many more people than meat or animal products does. Living minimally as a vegan is obviously much more considerate to them and respectful to those struggling for food, rather than living like an asshole who eats animals.

We do need to focus on protecting our own species. But it’s goddamn ridiculous to use that as an excuse for why we shouldn’t include animals in our struggle for equality. You might as well be saying “Why must we protect women when we can’t even protect people of color?” “Why should we focus on protecting all races inclusively when we can’t even protect our own race?” “Why should we protect gay people when we can’t even protect women?” You know, it’s just insane to even suggest that.

It’s fucking bullshit. It isn’t one or the other. It’s everyone. Animals, non-human and human alike, of every species, race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and so on are all included. All of their suffering is relevant, and all of it deserves equal attention. You can’t dismiss the suffering of animals simply because human suffering still exists. It just doesn’t work that way. Their suffering is just as real and just as crucial as human suffering is. Failing to include them in our considerations only perpetuates inequality and a lack of compassion for others. 

Now, seriously. Stop pretending like starving children existing means that you don’t have the responsibility to be at least the bare minimum of a good person and go vegan.

Anonymous asked: You linked to that page "humans are herbivores" ~ I'd just like to know if you have any other specific online articles or resources that you refer to often or feel are helpful for situations like dealing with people that argue against veganism with generally negative (and/or ill-informed) commentary. I'm looking to build my resources so that I can be more effective and educated when presenting my points in favor of going vegan :)

Ethical reasons, or in defense of the fact that we can easily thrive on plant based diets? I don’t really have a whole lot of the latter because I always focus on the former because it matters significantly more.

But here:

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/09/are-humans-carnivores-or-herbivores-2/

http://www.celestialhealing.net/physicalveg3.htm

I’ve heard Forks Over Knives is a good documentary about the need for humans to switch to a plant-based diet and how animal products actually really harm our health, but I haven’t personally watched it.

If you want ethical resources, well… check out my FAQ for arguments in support of veganism, and you can also take a look at Mercy for Animals’ various undercover investigations for footage to show people. Earthlings is amazing as well, but I’m assuming you’ve heard of that/seen it (if not!!! that’s your number one source). Action for Animals is a great resource as well. Vegetarian Resource Group is awesome for information on nutrition.

Umm, I dunno, it’s 2am and I’m tired so this is just kind of pulled out of my ass, but I hope those help. If you were looking for something more specific, feel free to ask. :)

Anonymous asked: Some say dolphins have a higher IQ than humans. If your reasoning is we can't eat meat because we have a higher IQ than the animals that do? Does that mean we can eat dolphins

Because dolphins are fucking carnivores, noob. Pretty sure dolphins don’t have grocery stores or the ability to grow crops for themselves or vegan options available to them either, but we certainly do. They have no choices like we do. Dolphins are wild animals living among a food chain, we are not. Regardless, it doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing. You’re responsible for your own actions, and you know eating meat and animal products is wrong, so get your head out of your ass and start being a decent human being.

Anonymous asked: Honey, i'm sorry to disappoint you but we are meant to eat meat. Of course we can eat other things that have all the protein and other stuff that meat usually contains, but then tell me why do we have canines?

LOLOLOLOL. Did you not see what I just reblogged like two seconds ago?

Also, wrong again. Humans are herbivores. Many animals like gorillas also have canines, yet they are herbivores. Our canines are not nearly the same as the canines of actual carnivores or omnivores. We have slightly pointed canines for the chewing of harder plant materials. Our teeth could never tear through actual flesh without the use of tools and cooking to alter the texture of flesh. We’d also have things like claws and shorter intestinal tracks if we were naturally designed to eat animals. If a human were to try eating a cow without any help of tools, you wouldn’t even be able to get through the cow’s skin, let alone her flesh and bones with your lame teeth and flimsy nails.

But most of all, humans have a higher intellect which requires a higher level of ethics. We’re capable of rationalization so therefore we should be compassionate with our choices that impact others around us. We don’t need to eat meat to thrive, we have other options, so choosing to eat meat is purely out of selfishness and is therefore unethical.

Anonymous asked: You have yet to tell anyone the good that comes out of being vegan. All ive seen so far is you telling people that they are wrong for not being vegan. I am vegan and I also believe in equal rights for everything. You judging people for not being like us shows that you only want equality for your self worth. And from what ive seen im pretty sure you're going to pick this message apart. You're like a conservative christian trying to push your message angrily at an atheist.

1. Sorry, I didn’t think I had to tell people the benefits of being a decent human being who doesn’t want to see others suffer and die for them.
2. You’re not a vegan nor do you believe in equal rights if you talk like that.
3. No, I judge you and others like you because you’re assholes whose actions oppress others, and if no one tells you to stop being assholes you’ll all just keep going.
4. I’m not going to waste my time picking apart this pile of shit.
5. Conservative Christians seek to oppress others based on belief and views that are not backed up by solid evidence or actual events. Vegans seek to liberate others based on actual facts and real events happening every hour of every day, which can be proven through multiple ways. So… nice try, but they’re actually complete opposites.

Anonymous asked: It sucks to be judged. I see you constantly talk about how eating meat is bad and you shouldn't do it. now someones telling you jacking off for money is bad. truthfully there's a lesson in this. whatever you are whatever you believe keep it to yourself or that asshole who judges you might be you.

Ahahahaha, no, see, eating meat is an entirely different realm. Eating meat and animal products inflicts harm onto somebody else, therefore people should be judged for doing something that is detrimental to others.

Me choosing to masturbate and letting somebody watch does no harm to anyone, and both participants are consenting adults. We are both choosing to do something, it is mutually beneficial, and there is nothing detrimental about it. The same goes for any other kind of sexual scenario where women are made to feel guilty for their choices.

Should we judge other people for beating others? Yep. Should we judge people who rape other people? Yes, of course. Should we judge child molesters, murderers, sexists, racists, and so on? Absolutely. Should we also then judge people who choose to kill and exploit animals? Yes, most definitely, because people who willingly inflict harm onto someone else are proven to be bad people. Holding people accountable for the way that they treat others and for the choices they make which harm others around them is the basis of ethics. People need to be held responsible for the things they do when those choices and actions are going to cause suffering onto somebody else.

Should we judge people for things they do out of their own free will which do not negatively impact anyone? Such as sex between consenting parties, or exchanging work of a sexual nature for money between consenting adults? No, not at all. There’s a big fucking difference between these two situations, and I can’t believe you idiots are dumb enough to even try to compare those two.

Anonymous asked: not every horse has it that bad. i used to go to a stable where the horses spent most of their days outside, eating and playing with eachother. they were taken inside only when they were ridden (1-2hours/day) and for the night. it depends on the stable.

Do you guys ever stop?

It does not depend on the stable. Were you there when every one of those horses was broken in? I doubt it. Every horse rejects being ridden before they are broken in because having someone latch onto their back goes against their basic instincts. Horses are animals whose natural instinct is to flee from predators. Having someone latched onto their backs and dominating them makes them feel as if they are being attacked by a predator and they dislike being out of control of their own bodies (as any thinking animal would). The only way to get them to stop having this natural and logical fear and rejection of humans riding them is to keep at it over and over until the horse gives up and eventually feels defeated. I can guarantee you that when those horses you used to ride were broken in they had a similar beginning much like the horses described in that post.

The point is that horseback riding in and of itself is an act of supreme exploitation. Even if horses are not kept in stables, they still should not be ridden. Horses are not giant-sized toys that exist for people to use as a means of entertainment or pleasure. If you want to ride something, get a fucking bike.

Anonymous asked: having pets isn't vegan

Lol. This question again? You guys still don’t know how to differentiate between adopting an animal who is in a dire situation and/or is near death (which is definitely vegan) versus buying an animal as a commodity from a breeder or store (which is never vegan)?

Domesticating animals isn’t vegan; neither is breeding, buying, or selling animals for pets or for any purpose. Adopting animals who are already in existence who will die without human care is by all means vegan. It actually would not be vegan for us to ignore these animals that depend on us for care when we have the ability to provide for them.

Jesus, you’re an idiot.