Vegans?

I think that is evidence that your friend was a kind, polite individual who loved you and valued your friendship sunseeker. But do not underestimate the distress and even revulsion many vegetarians and vegans (probably more so) will feel on watching someone eat meat. It can be very difficult in our meat-centric society to walk into a restaurant and be faced with the smell of meat cooking, or sit across from someone tucking into a juicy steak and still enjoy one's own meal. It's something we simply have to get used to.

One of my closest friend was a vegetarian (I'm not), whenever she came to me I would happily prepare a vegetarian meal for us both and when I went to her I would not expect her to prepare a meal with meat because I knew handling meat would upset her. However, whenever we went out to eat she had no problems with my having meat and never once tried to make me change my mind. The fact was that we each respected the others decision and maintained a close friendship right up to her death.

A sensible solution Durhamjen would be for everyone including vegans to choose their own diet and desist from trying to convert others to their beliefs. (belief being acceptance that something is true especially without proof)

Durhamjen, the OP has long since deserted the thread (and who can blame her!). I always feel obligated to challenge incorrect facts and you introduced the article on canabalism with the words "for those of you who think eating meat is natural". In no way does the article imply that eating meat is not natural. Whenever you are challenged on the incorrect "facts" you spout your solution is to change the subject.

Interesting new documentary about diet and health called "Eating You Alive".Google it for clips.

A query DJ as a vegan you won't eat eggs. But my 5 chucks are happy, able to range, have plenty of space, a secure shed for night and so on. They abandon their eggs after they've laid them so they are not possessive about them.

Would you consider eating an egg from this kind of situation or not?

What is a semi-sensible conclusion for vegans?
The sensible one would be for everyone else to give up meat, so we don't have any problems eating anywhere. The semi-sensible one would be for there to be lots more vegetarians who understood veganism.

Either would be fine for me.

No. Read the OP. It was asking for reasons. I, and other vegans, will continue giving reasons.You don't have to read them.
This thread is about veganism, not eating meat.

The canabalism article in no way refutes the fact that meat eating was a natural development with evidence stretching back 1.5+ million years. It was an interesting read though.
Just accept that you prefer not to eat meat and animal related products (which is perfectly OK) and stop trying to persuade people that they should do the same for spurious reasons.

Just had roast Welsh beef, medium rare, and it was beautiful.

theconversation.com/why-we-should-tax-meat-that-contains-antibiotics-75721

For those of you who think eating meat is natural.

theconversation.com/our-ancestors-were-cannibals-and-probably-not-because-they-needed-the-calories-75667

Waitrose appears to have run out of vegan hot cross buns.
Does anyone know where I can buy any anywhere else, or do I have to make my own again?

I used to cook the Sunday barbecues at our local pub in London. Barbecues are typically heavily reliant on meat and mine were no exception, although I quite often included seafood and fish on the menu. However, I was always happy to prepare something specially for vegetarians and vegans and always made sure that it was in a foil parcel so not cooked directly on a grill that had been used for meat. I had many compliments from my vegetarian and vegan customers who returned Sunday after Sunday.

I do eat meat, but serve a vegetarian meal once or twice a week simply because Mr absent and I like it and it is often very economical. I don't understand why there should be any hassling of vegetarians and vegans by omnivores or any hassling of omnivores by non-meat eaters and those who prefer not to consume any any animal products.

There's a kind of sliding scale about all this. I will always buy leather in preference to plastic shoes. If I eat beef, which I do occasionally, I am in no position to be hoity-toity about leather. Equally, I would never wear a fur coat as the animals are either trapped, hunted or, more often, farmed simply for their fur. I don't need a fur coat but accept that Eskimos probably do.

Thank you Faye, I'm afraid unless you refer to whom you are replying it is often unclear. I have found many of the replies on this thread highly aggressive in tone even if you haven't. In fact Durhamjen has been gratuitously offensive to different people on a number of threads of late and I am tired of it as it is so unnecessary. I am happy to support individual choice, cater for vegans and vegetarians and respect their views.

Sue1169 I am having the same experience as you. I live in rural Australia and see the sheep with their lambs knowing their fate, it does upset me. One of the locals was saying about a truck which overturned and some of the sheep had broken legs. This man said the sheep were trying to follow the others but they have no feelings and couldn't feel any pain. With that sort of attitude some people will never be convinced that animals do have feelings. Can you image them caring about these animals being killed humanely.

Espree at 29:23 you said along the lines of if a vegan diet made everyone as aggressive as you, I am glad there are so few of them. Which my take is say durhamjen was being aggressive for stating her view. I posted Iam first and you second and thought it was obvious that Iam was the poster who said durahemjen was being hectoring and disapproving and you the poster who said she was aggressive. She wasn't being any of those things but you and Iam were the ones who called her names.

Further down I did get you both mixed up, which I do apologise for. It's taken me ages to get back, busy day yesterday, then later when I tried the wifi was extremely slow. Which is why I did not go back while writing this post to check I had quoted you exactly, it takes ages when it is slow.

Rosesarered, you tried to be welcoming and pleasant but were met with aggressive dismissal.
Iam64, having voiced your opinion about the tone of some of the responses on this thread and you have been insulted.
I have been accused of saying things that I did not say and no apology has been forthcoming, then having been challenged to back up my factual comments I provided the required information and suddenly the subject is changed.
I have been thinking long and hard about where all this aggression emanates from. I wonder if it could be related to diet?

"I would be interested to know which of the places you sometimes meet up at cater for vegans. Are there any?"

This is what I asked, roses. Not necessarily directed at you as an individual. I didn't mention vegetarian.
Is there anyone on here who is vegan who meets up at a suitable place?
40 or 50 years ago, being vegetarian was difficult. Now being vegan is in the same state as vegetarian was then.
It's the same with food labelling. Vegans need a list of what is suitable and what isn't, as food manufacturers don't have to label vegan food. They label vegan food as being suitable for vegetarians, because it's safer. It's only those who care about vegans who label food as such.
You'd need a chemistry degree to sort out all the additives, which is why a list of suitable foods for vegans is easier.
You find companies that you can trust and others you can't. It's the same with going for a meal.

Not off-putting for them to order meat, Juney, but I have sat next to people discussing the various merits of veal and managed not to say anything. It's the discussing of meat and how tender it is, etc., that makes me grit my teeth.
Usually what I find is that the meat eaters look at our food and say it looks nice and wish they had ordered it. That often happens at things like weddings, where there tends to be a whole tableful of vegetarians/vegans in my family circle.
Cousins, nieces, nephews as well as direct family, and friends, of course.
Obviously we prefer to go out with like-minded people, but that's not always possible.

Thanks ?

I am very late to this thread and hope I'm not too late to ask a question of vegans and vegetarians.

My question is - as a vegetarian, when eating out, do you find it off-putting if the person you're dining with orders meat?

I never said it was vegan ( I said it was a vegetarian place) and we don't meet there because of that either, it just happens to serve a whole lot of vegetarian things.If we did want a veg or vegan lunch there are other options within a stones throw of the Ashmolean Museum to eat at.Now, as you have no intention of coming to Oxford, do you want to go and quiz another poster, in Truro, Wells, Guildford etc as to their eateries?

Jayanna, Cauldron vegan sausages at Waitrose, £3.50 for two packs of six.

Oops.. the film on Alaska is called "Life below zero".