Plant Based vs. Vegan

Hello! Want to start off with, I’m not here to shit on anyone. Not here to argue. Not here to fight. Looking for genuine discussion.

I went plant based about 8 years ago. Meat and dairy make me physically ill. Of course as you learn what you can and can’t eat on a plant based diet, you see and learn about the farming industry. In my terribly empathetic mindset, I started to become more vegan instead of just plant based. Now, I like to think I’m a little more educated than I was before all these changes and make a genuine effort in being vegan and not just plant based. I will also add, that process has taken a long time.

I saw someone on the Lizzo No Longer Being Vegan post say plant based eaters aren’t real vegans and I’m genuinely curious about that. Wouldn’t any step in that vegan/plant based direction make even a slight difference? I understand Lizzo is different and her switching back to an animal based diet makes us all look like a phase but, aside from “celebrities” what is the hate on plant based people?

Brief response: vegans will continue to watch and purchase dog and horse races, visit zoos and rodeos, and purchase leather and furs. People who are vegans won’t.

“what is the hate on plant based people”

After following a plant-based diet for a few months, they typically revert to a non-vegan diet or adopt the newest fad diet, which they then start criticizing, saying things like how harmful veganism is. It is not as simple as thinking “eating dogs is immoral” and then realizing “eating dogs is delicious and my body was craving it.”

What bothers me more than the debate between plant-based and vegan diets, in my opinion, are those who advocate against drinking almond milk because it harms the environment, but then go on to consume an enormous amount of animal products and fat everywhere on the planet.

In the livestock business, at least, plant-based products are starting to make an impact.

Veganism is a set of ideals based on the minimization of pain and the subjection of all living beings to the greatest extent possible. It is not a diet. As a result, vegans usually consume only plant-based foods. A person may not identify as a vegan if they follow a plant-based diet only for health purposes and don’t give these ideals much thought. Unfortunately, some people are unaware of this contradiction and mistake veganism for a plant-based diet.

Then, I suppose you can see why vegans would be upset at these individuals who, despite not actually sharing their principles, are going by the name “vegan,” especially when they could easily start eating animal products instead because “mah protein.” One stems from empathy, while the other is based in self-interest.

I believe that many mistakenly believe that going vegan means that the person is against eating meat since they are aware of how cruel the meat business is to animals.

I’m not sure why everyone is so upset with plant-based diets as they are far superior to omnivorous or vegetarian diets. That is a significant positive step.

Plant-based diets are perfectly acceptable, and you’re right that there is a difference in the end. The issue that we/I have with them is that they are encroaching on the few areas reserved for animal rights and claiming to be vegans, yet they have no qualms about turning around and killing whenever they feel it’s no longer their thing. Dealing with vegans who “slip up” and feel like shit is preferable than dealing with heartless, self-centered scammers who slander the idea of complete emancipation.

Although I’ve been “vegan” for more than 21 years, I now refer to myself as “plant-based” because I do occasionally wear leather shoes. When I find stuff I like, I enjoy recycling and thrifting. By doing this, I can’t claim to be vegan, but everything else in my life is. I mention plant-based because I get annoyed by questions from even vegans. I do it for the animals, the environment, and my own health, but after more than 21 years, it becomes old to constantly defend my choices and way of life. Furthermore, I can assure you that being a dick about becoming vegan will never inspire others to follow suit.

I eat only plant-based foods; I’m a vegan who has made it my mission in life to save and defend animals. People who identify as plant-based lack the guts to stick with it, the self control, or the commitment to own up to their label because they are aware that they “will” fail at some point and, by identifying as such, they will spare themselves the embarrassment when they do.

Veganism is not a diet; it is a worldview. To call yourself vegan, you must be devoted to the elimination of animal products. Particularly on the internet, some vegans are really nasty. Some people decide to adopt a vegan diet because it’s currently a popular political stance. While some have lived vegan or vegetarian lives their entire lives, they are not activists. In my book, there’s a variety of roles that you are free to choose from. Regardless of how you choose to identify, you are welcome in my circle.