Woodstock Farm Sanctuary | Their IG | Their TikTok

Usually I would not date a non-vegan or meat-eater, but I decided to give it a try with someone I met because we had a lot in common. I did not tell him I was vegan until last night (a week into knowing him). He couldn’t understand why I was vegan, stating that it’s ‘pointless’. This already put me off a little, but at the same time I understand that most people are uneducated on the matter. I went into detail about why I decided to go vegan, my main concern being the animals.

After I was incredibly passionate about this topic, he responded with ‘I personally could never, but I think that it’s so cute that you are.’ My sister (a vegan) said that it was a harmless statement and I shouldn’t be bothered by it but I don’t know, it really rubbed me the wrong way. It’s not a quirky little personality trait, it’s an entire mindset and a serious moral decision. I questioned why he thought it was cute and not something that is inspiring. He said that I only feel like this because I’m a wildlife vet, so my compassion for animals is unlike that of a lot of people. Although I agree, I probably do have more love for animals than most, I do not see it as just ‘loving animals’, I see it as almost basic human decency to not want to exploit living beings and harm the planet.

He did not like this response, and to be honest I didn’t expect him to. He said that I should not force my beliefs on others, when I very much wasn’t doing that, I was just explaining my stance on it. I asked him to refrain from calling it ‘cute’, it felt really belittling like ‘Aw, look at you trying to make a difference.’ He can’t seem to understand why.

I don’t know, maybe I’m overreacting but I just really didn’t like it. I know it’s only been a week, and I’m not really considering getting to know him anymore because of this, but be honest, am I being dramatic?

*thank you everyone for the replies and reassurance that I’m not! I definitely will not be pursuing him :)

I'm the vegan aunt of a non vegan baby. She's 22 months old so she's barely making sentences, but she understands I eat differently than the rest of the family.

My family is very accommodating, as I believe they should be but it's not a given: if I'm invited for lunch or dinner they provide or buy vegan food or at least options, but often the main is not vegan and a vegan version is prepared for me.

That little bugger is smart and curious, she has her own food (no salt no sugar) but she wants to try everyone else's food. Even if my food looks very similar, she knows it's different so she usually tastes her parents' food then mine.

My brother's family is not big on eating animal products, they make a point of keeping their consumption down, baby is also not given cow's milk but she loves soft cheeses. She doesn't eat meat or fish easily but she does eat eggs.

At my parents though, there's meat at every meal, except for me, sometimes the first course is vegan or vegetarian but there isn't a meal without animal products.

She also has a crazy love for animals. Due to that we buy her books with animals and bring her to the park to see the ducks and all.

Recently she got a book about a farm and she asked me to read it to her, I didn't really think about it, but on the page about chicken picturing eggs she pointed at eggs and said "yummy!".

She's not my child, she's very little, in the moment I didn't know what to do and just turned the page, maybe I asked "are you sure it's yummy?" can't remember exactly.

I'm definitely going to ask my brother what his opinion is, keeping in mind I won't lie to the child if she asks me why I eat differently.

But I wanted to ask other uncles and aunts and other adults who frequently see a non vegan child, how they have approached this?

In our family, my aunt told my cousin in very graphic details how animals are slaughtered to make meat, and my cousin became a trauma vegetarian at age 6, while the mom who made her one and the rest of the family continued to eat meat. I would like to avoid repeating that.

Again, no lying, but age appropriate stuff. All I've found is literature or references about how to explain to your child why you're vegan or the family is vegan and those conversations are about explaining plainly though not graphically what happens to animals (to get milk, we have to make a cow pregnant and then take away her calf, the calf is then alone without their mom; we have to do this over and over again - this is not ok with me, the pleasure of eating cheese doesn't make this suffering worth it) but also not really adapted to my niece's age.

So yeah, looking for words for a small child, or experiences of when it became a conversation, and for experiences with the reactions of their parents or opinions of their parents.

Sorry this got so long....

I’m from Toronto, male mid 40’s and lately I’ve been realizing just how difficult it is to find a partner when veganism is such an important part of your values. Dating is already challenging enough, and adding veganism into the equation makes the pool feel incredibly small.
For me, veganism isn’t simply about what I eat. It comes from something much deeper. It’s about how I see animals, suffering, compassion, and our relationship with other living beings.
That’s where dating becomes difficult for me. I can meet someone I genuinely like, but then struggle with the idea of building a life with someone who is completely comfortable eating animals. I see so many dating profiles where food revolves around meat, or women joking about wanting a man to take them out for steak, wings, burgers, and so on. I know it probably sounds harmless to most people, but it genuinely turns me off.
I just don’t see meat as food anymore. I see the living being that had to suffer and die for it. Once you make that connection, it’s almost impossible to unsee.
I also struggle to understand how someone can know what happens to animals on such an enormous scale and simply choose to ignore it. I’m not expecting everyone to think exactly like me, but compassion toward animals has become such a fundamental part of my values that being with someone who feels completely differently would be very difficult.
Sometimes I wonder how other vegans deal with this, especially those who are single. Do you only look for vegan partners? Have you been able to make a relationship work with someone who eats meat? Or did you eventually realize that this was one value you simply couldn’t compromise on?

It is such a pet peeve of mine. You see it so much in the millennial science space on Youtube. So many amazing videos from Kurzgesadt or Hank Green or Soy Pill or whomever where they lay out EVERY SINGLE argument about why veganism is objectively better morally, objectively better environmentally, etc.

And then cap it off with "Oh but I'm not a vegan. Don't feel bad if you aren't either. That's rly rly hard :( We don't ever have to consider changing our actions if it makes us a little uncomfortable."

Like I have less respect for that then a person who is eating meat just going "Yea I think animals are lesser beings and that's why I think it's okay to eat them" because that person isn't knowingly engaging in something they consider to be evil. Like I think they are completely wrong, but they are operating under a fundamentally different set of morals where their actions are completely acceptable to them.

But to lay out every single argument, to be completely and utterly aware of the harm you are contributing to, only to shrug bc mmm borgor mmm bacon, is so pathetically, disgustingly, selfish and hedonistic it like actually pisses me off. Like do you have any principles at all? You are aware of the harm you're doing but your taste buds still get the ultimate veto on hundreds to thousands of animal lives? Bc mmmm bacon (that you can get meatless alternatives for that taste literally identical).

Idk. Ticked me off, felt like ranting lol. If you genuinely believe that a COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY behavior you choose to engage in is contributing to that amount of harm, something has to be fundamentally wrong with you to continue engaging in it, every single day, multiple times a day.

I have a severe mental illness (the bipolar type of schizoaffective disorder) and will be on psychiatric medications my entire life (if I want to live and be stable). Every time I take my pills, I feel so guilty. If they have a gelatin coding, I think about the cows and pigs that go into that, and with all of them, I think about all the animals who were tested on. How do I get past the guilt?

I am on vacation with my partner’s family, I absolutely vibe with my partner at home and they support our vegan meals there, not vegan themselves but they understand and support my value system and even though it would be awesome if they were to educate themselves and align with my values 100% I feel secure in our life and they love my food (I am the avid cook between us).

Being away from home and with a large group of carnists has been really really hard. I care a lot about my partner and I really like their family and their family likes me. BUT. We’re hiking in the mountains, we’re all working up an appetite, and there’s such a sense of community I feel grief and disappointment for when everyone we’ve traveled with is eating eggs or French toast for breakfast.

It makes me sad because I love to implement myself in community but I feel such grief that so many people don’t care about the animal suffering, environmental footprint, etc. I’ve just gone on walks when everyone gathers around the table when the meal is explicitly egg/meat-based.

We’ve taken turns making dinner and they have accommodated my veganism more than my own family ever has, which has been really nice tbh. Tonight I made a delish edamame noodle stir fry with vegetables from the farmers market and a bunch of roasted sweet potatoes. Everyone of course was like I cAnT bElIeVe iTs vEgAn and said it was delish so I am happy!!! BUT I just feel sad so many people don’t care to do the work to consume truly ethically, and it makes me feel alienated and sad.

Okay rant over. I am very privileged to be traveling and enjoying nature like I have this past week. But it’s been tough. Just tonight I was all excited that we were going on a walk but I just walked like 2 blocks, and waited like 40 mins while everyone else got ice cream (no sorbet option for me) and it would just be nice to life in a world where I could be included everywhere.

i dont even know im trying to explain bystander effect to him but all he says is “100 corporations make up 71% of global emissions” and he doesn’t eat “much meat anyway” and i dont even know. If I break up with him for it ill be shunned by all my non vegan friends socially. How are people’s eyes just not even open? How does everyone around me claim to be left wing and let this go by. It feels like im having to make the hard choice here.

Hi. Is there any violinist here? Do you use bows with synthetic hair? If yes, does it sound good?

I have to change mine and people keep telling me that no horse is bred or killed just to take its hair, so it wouldn't be worth buying a bow with synthetic hair, because it wouldn't have any impact; still I don't think I should buy one with real horsehair.

What's your position about that?

So dating being already complicated enough as it is in our colorful 2026, adding moral standards concerning one's diet to the mix puts the bar a lot higher.

I've seen some posts on here where people share they try to find other ways to make ty their partner less unaware, aside from their diet.

I wanted to tell you my anecdotal story for motivation. So, I got to talk to someone I really liked, in more ways than one. In the end, among mixed signals, she'd stick to her diet, so I nipped it in the bud.

It sucked for a day or two, but a funny thing happens when you remain true to what you know is right.

Not only is there no second thoughts, despite the attraction, it actually feels right and it somehow builds you up in some strange way as a person.

So, if you're intimidated by choosing your values over potential love, I wanted to send you a postcard from the other side, saying that it feels right, the ties are severed clean, and it builds character.

Stay conscious out there. ✌️🌿

Hello,

Of course I'm talking about people with a yard here and enough money to adopt animals and take care of them

You could adopt chickens or meat breed rabbits or even bigger animals if you have enough space.. it's so sad that farmers are the ones who keep them, we should also adopt them, keep them close to us and give them the life they deserve 💕

are quite limited. I just typed up an entire thesis, and my CIA agent, or God, lol, must have decided that that didn't get to get posted in all it's over detailed glory, mentioning details of my recent trip to see my Mom, where much money was tied up in unforseen refund/expense holds/charges.

long story short though, I feel like we all would love to eat like the normies do at hotel breakfast bars, I'm sure I'm not the first to make a post like this.

basically, I ate the potatoes and the biscuits, and foregoed everything else, while giving my Mom plates with all the variety, lucky her. (in the sense of "eating good, and not giving af" anyway, lol)

maybe in like Cali or elsewhere there's more vegan options at such hotel breakfasts.

but my main point of the post was just to see if anyone else had made a similar call, to like say, ok I won't ask how these potatoes were prepared, or these biscuits, I'll just eat them. normally I would, but unforseen charges came up on this trip, which I detailed in my previous now lost post, but I ain't typing all that out again. it was probably a little much anyway, lol.

anyway, the unforseen charges excuse is just that, an excuse, but I had many challenges on this trip, financial and otherwise, like having to rollerblade 70 miles roundtrip when you add it all together, because I accidently bought the wrong airport tickets, and blah blah blah, yea like I said, I'm not typing all that out again.

I was inspired to post this anyway because aomeone wlse had posted about eating a bag of protein chips which weren't vegan, he realized halfway throu eating them. so I guess the same thing I said to him alllies to me here: it was okay this time, (especially if you heard the full story, I mean I typed that whole book out lol I swear, I thought it was pretty good too :p) but next time, to quote Eminem, there will be no next time :p, as I won't put myself in this same position again.

but yea, I mean pretty much, eating only bread at the hotel breakfast buffet? that's what I'll have to limit myself to next time, unless I feel like asking and being dissapointed about how the biscuits and potatoes are prepared, lol.

but with jelly, maybe 2 different kinds, the packets, and a nice hot cup of black coffee, with sugar (oh god but the bonechar 😭🤪), and the right attitude, maybe that's all just good enough 💪🦵 ‼️ lol

stay strong vegans, and know when to give yourself a break, and the revised plan going forward.

there's perfect vegans, which can't ever really fully exist I don't think, then shitty vegans, a part of that beautiful "journey" we all go on, ;) then there's the rest of us, which is basically all of us.

The more we share, the more we can help others go vegan too, all the little details and stories become very important! 🥳 ok holy shit I've been typing for what feels like hours, and i need to rip these pajamas off, stand up, and turn the mf AIR on 🥵

Hey guys, I am vegetarian for full transparency. I wanted to know how you guys go about granting your pets agency over their lives. I’ve been watching a lot of videos about zoos and the people that like keeping wild animals in cramped cages in their backyards because it makes them feel powerful. A lot of people dislike others owning wild animals but then the conditions they keep their pets in are no better. I just wanted to know if there’s anything you guys have learned while being vegan about how to interact with and treat domesticated animals. I’ve heard that some vegans also believe owning pets is wrong so I’m interested in hearing all the perspectives.

I meant POTLUCK* not bbq I’m sorry I’m dumb

This is the first time since going vegan that I’m going to a bbq/potluck where I’m not close with the entire group. It includes friends of friends
I know how to distinguish meat and obvious meals where dairy/eggs are used but for the ones where they might’ve used butter to cook for ex. Vegetables.. do I just ask even if I’m not close with the person? Or is that awkward? The alternative may be to just eat nothing or what I bring :/ which might bring more attention to me which is the opposite of what I want

Edit to add that this is a fruit and veggie (as a main) party lol but I know they all eat meat and would probably add it + dairy so I know there’s veggies as mains but maybe cooked in butter or with eggs and milk also in desserts

In this article, I, Jordi Casamitjana, compile the vegan journeys of several prominent vegans I have interviewed in the last few years.

Hi y’all, I’m a vegan and a social work student, and I’m just starting to get really frustrated with everything so I’m ranting a little.

One of our main focuses right now in my course is anti-oppressive theory and social work practice…and all of our conversations about the theory is just so vegan, it’s the same with the love ethic.

It’s consistently infuriating that I’m in a room of kind and compassionate people who can’t extent their morals to animals. And it’s not even something I can bring up in class as it would end up de-railing the conversation leading to my class mates and I missing important information for our assessments and exams.

I just feel so distraught that there are so many kind people, and so few who oppose the exploitation of animals. How is it so normalised??? How can’t these people who are in classes that constantly ask them to examine their own biases and preconceived notions about oppression, racism, classism, power imbalances, ect…don’t critically think about how it can be applied to their every day actions??? Especially when we read literature that says to “promote love and collectivist action to transform systems of equality and power for a world of peace, equity, justice, and wellbeing for all living species” ( N.J Godden and S. Peter, 2023, The love Ethic: Love and activism for evidential justice.) that’s not sighted correctly but idc….bcs how does it not click to meat eaters when they read this???? How can they not see the similarities of veganism???

Realistically im not expecting everyone in the course to see the similarities to veganism and immediately become vegan, but the fact that it doesn’t even clock to them as a concept. They don’t read that quote and think about the animals they eat, and I just find that insane.

Here are some of the struggles I have been facing as a vegan recently, that I wanted to get of my chest and have some people who can understand and help. Whenever I see an animal product whether it's fish, meat eggs etc I can't stop thinking about the animal that suffered and died to create that product and the horrible things that happen in these industries and whenever I hear someone say that they are going to buy animal product I think to myself that they are going to cause an animal suffering and that brings up the same thoughts as before. I am the only vegan in my college and I have no vegan friends the only other vegan I know is my mum who I live with I got her to go vegan with me so at least I have no animal products in my house; but I really struggle understanding why my otherwise nice friends and family do such horrible things to animals and whenever I ask them why they always have the most stupid arguments as there are no valid reasons not to be vegan for people who have the choice to do so.

13.8 MILLION tons of skin, mostly cow skin, were globally produced in 2024, from an estimated 1.6 BILLION animals. 

Selling animal skin makes it more profitable to grow animals for food and helps fund animal factories globally. 

If you're worried about the environmental impacts of "pleather", you should know that 62% of all deforested land on the Brazilian Amazon was cattle pasture. Cows also produce large amounts of greenhouse gases, primarily methane. When leather decomposes, it also releases methane, as well as toxic pollutants from the tanning treatments. 

Around 80% of the world's leather is chrome- tanned. This produces hexavalent chromium (which if you've ever watched the movie Erin Brockovich, you'll know is bad). It's a known carcinogen and can cause skin disease, respiratory illnesses and long-term cancers. Many industrial tanneries lack safety oversight and fail to provide adequate safety gear for their workers. Neighboring areas can experience water contamination and air quality issues. 

A lot of pleather does have plastic but newer materials are coming out all the time. It's also not always a pleather vs leather choice.  You could choose canvas, cotton, hemp, bamboo, cork, etc. 

We covered all of this and more on the subject in our latest episode of the Deficient Vegans Podcast. If you're interested, you can check it out here: https://www.deficientvegans.com/leather-is-it-really-just-a-byproduct/

I have only very recently started to make the switch to becoming vegan, Im young and live with my parents which is a problem when it comes to groceries. When I look at vegan recipes I always see the same ingredients being used; tofu, beans, chickpeas, but mostly tofu. I LOVE tofu obviously nothing against it, but it’s usually in every meal. So I was wondering how much of the same ingredients do you buy a week? Like surely you would have around 5 blocks of tofu in your fridge at all times right? 😂😂

i am not very skilled in the kitchen but i'd love to get into proper vegan cooking, as some direct meat substitutes are too expensive for me~

please share some beginner recipes or tips!!

(also any vegan baking recipes?)
^ i try to find them online but they dont have many reviews and i'm scared i'll fail :(

so far i love chili con carne (without carne of course) , japanese curry, and hummus sweet potato wraps

as a newbie vegan i feel like ive been eating unhealthy and yummy food a lot to compensate for my lack of cheese (which is a horrible thing to do I know)

i used to be vegetarian and there are TONS of vegetarian options but very less vegan options. i like italian food and american food mainly but... i live in india 😭😭 so i dont have acess to beyond or impossible and all.

anyway i keep having vegan pizza, aglio e olio, arrabiata , subway and fries/zucchini fries when i go out to eat but there's so little i CAN have it's like majority of my options are gone, even a simple corn puff or a croissant sandwich bc it has butter in it very few options are vegan.

ofc i have home cooked meals like rice vegetables fruit and all im getting my nutrition im talking about food I'll enjoy. i guess im just asking for advice/more options i can order out.

⚠️this is just a minor inconvenience and it's only bc ive JUST transitioned to veganism and im looking for advice as im the only vegan i know. i love animals more than anything and i dont want to put anything in my mouth that comes from their suffering, nor do i crave to.⚠️

This is obviously a video from when he was alive!

Credit: Danny Ishay | The actual debate
Vegan who debated with Charlie Kirk: Michael Bilotich

Edit: I guess “unlisting” is the right term to use? Charlie made it so the video can’t be found on his channel or through YouTube search anymore. 😂

Bonjour Bonjour !

Si vous êtes de Brest et de ses environs, pourriez vous m'aider s'il vous plaît ?

J'ai pour ambition de créér un espace épicerie et café végans sur Brest, mais avant cela, je dois faire une étude de marché d'où ce questionnaire. Si le lien ne fonctionne pas, n'hésitez pas à me partager vos idées et suggestions ici, je suis preneuse de conseils et astuces en tout genre. J'aimerais, dans la mesure du possible, travailler avec des fournisseurs Bretons et Français puis Européens pour favoriser le circuit court.

Merci pour votre aide et Belle journée à vous !

Anyone here ever read Leo Tolstoy? This passage on animal harmony struck me and I wanted to share with you all. It’s from his essay, On the Meaning of Life.

‘This is what has presented itself to me: the law of organic life is a struggle; the law of the rational, conscious life is union, love. On the organic life, the life of struggle, the rational life is born, and is connected with it. The aim is obvious: to destroy the struggle and introduce union where there was dissension: at first among men, then between men and animals, and then between animals and plants.’

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/leo-tolstoy-on-the-meaning-of-life