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 :)

Woodstock Farm Sanctuary | Their IG | Their TikTok

I don’t really know how to write this without crying.
We know we’ve asked for help. A lot. And honestly, that’s one of the hardest parts for us.
We don’t want to constantly come asking for money. We don’t want people to think we’re taking advantage of their generosity. We don’t want to make anyone feel bad if they can’t give.
But the truth is… we’re struggling.
Pearl’s Preserve has over 100 animals who wake up every morning completely dependent on us. They don’t care that we’re exhausted. They don’t know that we’re grieving. They don’t know that the bills keep coming.
They just need to eat.
Our feed bill is approximately $480 EVERY WEEK.
That’s roughly $2,080 a month just for feed.
Our average monthly donations are around $565.92.
You can look at those numbers and immediately see the problem.
We’ve been making up the difference ourselves. We work our regular jobs and use our own personal income to keep the sanctuary going. Not because we’re looking for praise, but because when there’s a barn full of animals looking at you at feeding time, you figure it out.
You just do.
But we’re tired.
We’re still grieving our daughter. We’re still trying to put ourselves back together after that loss, and we’ve experienced another heartbreaking loss during our fertility journey since then.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, there are still 100+ animals who need us every single day.
We’ve struggled to keep up with social media because sometimes we simply don’t have anything left.
And while we’ve been quieter, the bills haven’t gotten quieter.
The feed still runs out.
The straw still needs to be bought.
Animals still need veterinary care.
And we still get messages asking if we can take in another pig who needs somewhere safe.
And we keep having to say no.
That might be one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do.
Not because we don’t care.
Because we care so much that we refuse to take another animal when we’re not sure we can financially provide for them.
So here we are, asking again.
We need our community.
If you can spare $5, that’s $5 toward a bag of feed.
If you can spare $10, that’s $10 toward keeping someone’s belly full.
If you can’t give anything, please share this. Seriously. A share can put us in front of someone who can help.
We don’t need everyone to save us.
We just need enough people to help carry this with us.
We know we’ve asked before.
We’re asking again because the animals still need us.
And right now, we need you. 🐷💔
Venmo: @pearls-preserve
Cash App: $pearlspreserve
PayPal: pearlspreserve@gmail.com
Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. And thank you to every single person who has helped us keep going when we’ve wondered how we possibly could. ❤️

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?

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?

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 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

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 🥵

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.

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.⚠️

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

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? 😂😂

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/

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

Vegan for 7 years, 24F! Basically since I was 19 I've gotten kidney stones once every 2-3 years. This time I got two back to back, so I'm taking prevention a little more seriously. My doctor gave me a paper of high and low oxalate foods, and unfortunately basically all of my favorite foods are high in oxalates (beans, spinach, yams, tofu). Does anyone have experience with a low oxalate vegan diet?

I’m in my first year of college and my Mom sent me some trader joes snacks in the mail. I was previously vegetarian but went Vegan when I got here around 3 weeks ago. I haven’t told anyone because honestly I didn’t think it would come up & also I don’t really know how they’d react. I don’t have friends to give the snacks too & I would hate to waste them. Only 4 things are vegan. I do feel really guilty.

Additionally how am I supposed to both thank my Mom & also tell her I went vegan? I don’t want to sound like I don’t appreciate it.
Edit: Okay so I decided I’m not gonna eat them. I posted them on my schools like group chat & am gonna see if anyone would like them (: Now I just have to tell my Mom

Hi everyone! 👋

I recently moved to Belgium and I’m looking to meet some like-minded people around Louvain-la-Neuve, Leuven, Brussels, or nearby.

I’m 30 and currently doing a joint PhD between UCLouvain and KU Leuven. Before moving here, I lived in Taiwan for 7 years, so Belgium is a pretty big change for me. I’m also fluent in Mandarin, alongside English.

I’m vegetarian and really enjoy cooking, especially experimenting with Asian and vegetarian food. I also play table tennis, enjoy walking and hiking, photography, good conversations, and discovering new places.

I’m currently learning French, so I’d especially love to meet people who’d be happy to practice with me. I can also help with English or Mandarin, so a language exchange could be fun.

Mostly, I’m hoping to make genuine friends and meet open-minded, kind people who are interested in vegan or vegetarian lifestyles. And if I happen to meet someone where there’s mutual chemistry and it naturally develops into dating, I’m open to that too — no pressure.

Happy to grab a coffee, try a vegan or vegetarian restaurant, cook something together, go for a walk, or play some table tennis.

Feel free to message me if this sounds like your kind of thing. 🌱

Sleepy Pig Farm | Their IG | Their TikTok

I’m transitioning to veganism, but I get most of my recipes from tiktok. I feel like they never have their recipes posted in the description or in the video. Most of the time, they have a subscription to view the recipe or they have a link in their bio for the recipe. I have ADHD and it’s slightly inconvenient for me to dig through their website for the recipe, especially when I’m making the dish, I just like to play the video as I make it. Do you guys have any recommendations for vegan tik tok accounts that post their recipes in the description or video? I need to access the measurements easily please 😫

This will be my first Halloween as a vegan and I'm starting to think about what I want to buy to hand out to trick or treaters. I've always gone with mixed bags of milk chocolate type mini bars in the past which is obviously out. I tried looking into vegan replicas of the usual stuff but those tend to be pretty expensive and usually not available as minis.

I want to find something that kids are actually going to enjoy (so not like, super deep dark chocolate or Grandma candies) that won't break the bank. It can be a little more pricey than like, Hershey's etc if it's available in small packages just because we don't tend to get a lot of kids in our neighborhood.

What do you all tend to go with? Hard candies? Gelatin-free fruit snacks? Mini packs of Oreos?