Thanksgiving marks the start of "Vegan Hell."

[Soilwork]

A six-week onslaught campaign from many well-meaning people who show up to work or at parties or even just out in random places with cakes and cookies and candies and chocolates and drinks that contain butter, milk, eggs, bacon or meat...

when you explain to them "I'm a vegan, so I don't eat that" they often react in two ways..

1) get offended that you won't eat something that will most likely make you sick or give you stomach cramps or really bad gas (people who eat a vegan diet often lack certain bacteria and enzymes to break down animal products so those foods play havoc with your system. I have accidentally eaten foods with dairy in them and I feel VERY bad for the people who have to breathe the air around me for the next 24 hours).

2) act like they're being nice and "giving you permission to cheat" when they say things like "Oh, just one won't kill you" and then push the plate of short bread cookies slathered in butter frosting at you.

I won't get into why I'm Vegan... I am. I don't really make a big deal out of it and I don't talk about it too much. But this is the time of year that it gets REALLY annoying to have to bring it up constantly. I don't eat meat or animal products and I don't WANT to. I don't feel deprived and I don't find them appetizing. I don't judge anyone who does... we all live by our own guidelines. But man.... yet another thing on the pile of "reasons I hate this time of year."

 

[palbert]

No decent host would object to timely given warning and attempt to accommodate in any reasonable way possible.

The imposition at the office party is met with "NO, but thank you anyway."

 

[Thad1527]

How could dairy mess up your digestion worse than beans?

Upon reflection, I really don't wanna know.

I'm sorry people are being rude to you. I hope you enjoy the holiday foods of your choice with happiness and gusto!

 

[Soilwork]

Oh it's not "rude," exactly. And if I'm at a friend's party they always know and all of my friends are totally acclimatized now.

But it's the random people who think that "just one won't hurt you." Or that... I don't' know... it's very odd.

 

[rareboy]

Come to our place.

We always have a complete vegan alternative menu for holiday dinners for our guests. Plus stuff without nuts. Or gluten.

You could always be really obvious and bring your own casserole to 'share'.

MMMMM turkey and gravy.............sure you don't want some???

 

[JayQueer]

I don't mind people who are vegan; it's just when they go all PETA on me, it's gets a little annoying.

Like last month, I was in West Hollywood, in front of Pizza Rustica on Santa Monica Blvd. I had just gotten a couple slices of pizza for take-out, and this lean guy approached me on the street. He was like, "I hope you're not eating meat." I was like, "So what if I am?" And then he lost it. He went off on a couple minute lecture about how eating meat is so evil, and how animals are killed on farms, and things like that........

If you want to be vegan or vegetarian, that's great (in fact, most of my family is vegetarian). But please don't tell the rest of us how to live our lives.

Most men like to eat meat. It's a guy thing. Just ask Herman Cain. A "manly" pizza is one with lots of meat on it. A "sissy" pizza is one with vegetables.

This post isn't aimed at the OP -- just a general comment.

 

[Soilwork]

Like last month, I was in West Hollywood, in front of Pizza Rustica on Santa Monica Blvd. I had just gotten a couple slices of pizza for take-out, and this lean guy approached me on the street. He was like, "I hope you're not eating meat." I was like, "So what if I am?" And then he lost it. He went off on a couple minute lecture about how eating meat is so evil, and how animals are killed on farms, and things like that........

You're making that up. That didn't happen.

I'm sorry but in West Hollywood, land of steak houses, pizza joints, burger places, yogurt parlors and restaurants of every kind, there are no roving PETA people who walk up to random people and castigate them for eating meat.

They'd die of exhaustion.

 

[JayQueer]

You're making that up. That didn't happen.

I'm sorry but in West Hollywood, land of steak houses, pizza joints, burger places, yogurt parlors and restaurants of every kind, there are no roving PETA people who walk up to random people and castigate them for eating meat.

They'd die of exhaustion.

Um, yes it did happen. I had just left Pizza Rustica and I was standing at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and San Vicente Blvd, with a takeout container in my hand, when he approached me. I can even give you the date & time if you want.

 

[Soilwork]

Most men like to eat meat. It's a guy thing. Just ask Herman Cain. A "manly" pizza is one with lots of meat on it. A "sissy" pizza is one with vegetables.

I could kick Herman Cain's useless ass and I'd sell tickets and T-shirts.

I know many vegan body builders and MMA fighters. Including my husband's Muay Thai instructor. The only kind of man who would claim eating meat makes him more of a man is a lame-ass sissy who clings to his masculinity like a life jacket in a wading pool.

If you are what you eat, that sausage on Herman Cain's pizza means he's snouts and entrails.

 

[Soilwork]

Um, yes it did happen. I had just left Pizza Rustica and I was standing at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and San Vicente Blvd, with a takeout container in my hand, when he approached me. I can even give you the date & time if you want.

No. It didn't.

And trust me, after reading enough of your posts, I don't know why I'm even bothering with your "stories."

 

[MoufOfKhaos]

I'm so sad that someone actually said eating meat is a "guy" thing - Mac Danzig could kick my ass (and most of yours) and I have no problem saying so.

Considering the source though, I'm not too shocked.

 

[rareboy]

How could dairy mess up your digestion worse than beans?

Upon reflection, I really don't wanna know.

I'm sorry people are being rude to you. I hope you enjoy the holiday foods of your choice with happiness and gusto!

I forgot about lactose intolerance as well. We have a few people with this problem too.

The one difference is that it can be really painful, whereas beans can just result in the bathroom smelling like a bear went there to die.

I can't give up dairy so I just take pills before I pile into the homemade Ice cream, whipped cream, pumpkin pie etc.

 

[Soilwork]

(do you know how hot it is to use a phrase like "My husband's Muay Thai Instructor?")

 

[FirePhoenix]

Ya I know how you feel. I have my friends and family accustomed to not be so stupid as to say things like that to me but, new people I meet seem to think oh its ok to just eat a little and it won't count. My most recent moment was great, was going to hang out with someone I didn't know and even before he hung out I told him I was a vegan when he started talking about meat lovers pizza and then he said "so does that mean I am not even allowed to eat meat in your presence?" and that "wow how can you give up nice tasty bacon?" to which I told him I don't care about what my friends or people around me eat as long as they do not try to change me or shove meat in my face.

Its about respect.. respect my choice not to eat animal products and I will respect your choice. shove it in my face (oh people actually do this!!) and we will have problems and if you keep doing it I might break your damn arm.

 

[winterknight]

Have you got Yotam Ottolenghi's cookbook? My sister swears by him.

 

[Soilwork]

Have you got Yotam Ottolenghi's cookbook? My sister swears by him.

No, my husband is the cook in our family but he might. I'm a big Tal Ronen fan.

 

[frankfrank]

I don't mind people who are vegan; it's just when they go all PETA on me, it's gets a little annoying.

Like last month, I was in West Hollywood, in front of Pizza Rustica on Santa Monica Blvd. I had just gotten a couple slices of pizza for take-out, and this lean guy approached me on the street. He was like, "I hope you're not eating meat." I was like, "So what if I am?" And then he lost it...If you want to be vegan or vegetarian...please don't tell the rest of us how to live our lives.

I don't agree with you much, Jay, but I certainly agree here. I'm not vegan (because, even on my vegetarian days which are about 40% of the time, it's hard to avoid ALL of yogurt, eggs, and milk products), but I've had EXACTLY the same thing happen to me. This one guy, at a party two years ago, went ON AND ON FOR HOURS, ragging on everybody for eating those little sausages and Sloppy Joes.

You're making that up. That didn't happen.

I'm sorry but in West Hollywood...there are no roving PETA people who walk up to random people and castigate them for eating meat...

Only JQ knows whether it happened or not. We all know that "there are exceptions to every rule" - which can, indeed, include the rare PETA type crusading the streets of WeHo. If JQ is in the area, all that's needed is for ONE of these types to be in the same space he's in.

I would almost expect there would be *MORE* PETA types in WeHo than in (say) Idaho Falls or Amarillo or Charlotte. The PETA-types almost always identify as "liberal" and it's usually in places such as California or Boston where the PETA, ELF, Earth First! etc. type nazis ply their trade and terrorism. Wasn't UCB [Berkeley] where one of the most egregious of these assaults happened?

Thank you Soilwork for explaining your veganism, and being so cool about it, and realizing that we all make our own choices. If all vegans did the same thing, I don't think there would be any rancor toward vegans at all.

(do you know how hot it is to use a phrase like "My husband's Muay Thai Instructor?")

[hmmmm...he thinks this thread is all about him, doesn't he?]

 

[Soilwork]

I would almost expect there would be *MORE* PETA types in WeHo than in (say) Idaho Falls or Amarillo or Charlotte. The PETA-types almost always identify as "liberal" and it's usually in places such as California or Boston where the PETA, ELF, Earth First! etc. type nazis ply their trade and terrorism. Wasn't UCB [Berkeley] where one of the most egregious of these assaults happened?

I don't know what assault happened at UC Berkeley. But no... WeHo is maybe very gay and politically liberal. But it's also very market-savy and commercial. THAT kind of gays... not the kinds you're going to get at a Hippie Earth Retreat in New Haven, anyway. I've never seen any angry PETA types in WeHo.

If you took the Whey Protein and yogurt and gourmet hamburger places out of Weho, the people would die of shock.

[hmmmm...he thinks this thread is all about him, doesn't he?]

Every thread is all about me. How long have you known me?

 

[winterknight]

*clears throat*

You walked in to the forum like you were walkin' on to a yacht
Your words strategically quipped below replies, your lark it was esprit de not.
You had one eye on the monitor as, you watched yourself post hot.
And all the geeks dreamed that they'd be your partner, they'd be your
partner...and

You're so vain, you prob'ly think this thread is about you.
You're so vain. I betchyou think the thread is about you don't you don't you?

(I wish I could claim credit for this, but sadly I can't)

 

[winterknight]

Most men like to eat meat. It's a guy thing. Just ask Herman Cain. A "manly" pizza is one with lots of meat on it. A "sissy" pizza is one with vegetables.

... and for "meat" read "mechanically-recovered and formed meat slurry". Which is what you get on most big-chain pizzas.

Do I need to break out the turkey twizzler video again?