Veganism

I wonder, are the vegans of the world now rejoicing? I somehow doubt it. (well maybe a few are).

No not rejoicing. Why would I be? I think it’s a poor joke that backfired on someone who should have known better and been more thoughtful in their choice of words, especially in an email which could be published or forwarded anywhere. He obviously knew this, hence the resignation. Waitrose would disapprove of such comments as its spoils their image and could alienate some of their customers.

What anyone says in a private email should remain private, end of.

If one of my employees made a joke about me in a private email should I force him to resign?

I pity anyone who has taken this seriously they must have a real chip on their shoulder.

Well said @Gillybob. It was very unprofessional of the person who released the content of a joke in a private email. The only vegan I know is very overweight and constantly lectures me. She tells me that by consuming dairy my bones will be leeching calcium. Well, my bones are fine otherwise I couldn’t be working for my black belt in kickboxing at the age of 69 this month. I’m sure most vegans aren’t as bad as she is, but she’s a medical professional and really does give vegans a bad name.

gillybob
I know that it wasn't published in the magazine, nor did I infer that it was.
I read about it in MailOnline.
What I choose to do does not have to be authorised by anyone else.
I very much doubt that my conversation with Waitrose had anything whatsoever to do with his resignation as it had already been tendered and accepted and, to suggest otherwise, is foolish in the extreme.

First World problem?

I can't believe you/anyone would really ring Waitrose to complain. I hope your happy that he has lost his job because of one silly (private) comment and I hope no-one ever gets hold of any of your private messages and makes them public.

My sentiments entirely, gillybob. Unbelievable! SMH

But a journalist should know better than to send such an email to someone he doesn’t know- he would have no idea how it would be received, Any journalist ( or anyone come to that) should not write anything in an email, private or not, they wouldn’t want to see published. It’s a good rule of thumb when sending an email or letter, as it makes people think twice about what they are writing and whether it may cause offence. I think it’s called the “Daily Mail test “ - if you wouldn’t want it written in the DM don’t send it.

I eat a vegan diet, not by choice but by being advised by my GP, as I have kidney problems and have to follow a low protein vegan diet, and no I don't go on about it, just choose sensibly when out dining.
I've always been a vegetarian anyway, can't stand the taste of meat or fish, but oh how I long for jummy carrot cake.

I very much doubt that my conversation with Waitrose had anything whatsoever to do with his resignation

How very naive of you Gabriella

Of course no one needed to authorise your complaint to Waitrose, I have never suggested otherwise. I just wonder if you are feeling all warm inside that your complaint had the effect you must've hoped for.

The word " hate " has emanated from the media. I'm sure that those who happen to eat different diets aren't particularly bothered about what other people eat or don't and vice-versa.
This s all about someone with nothing else to do than sit and report trivialities------sad people. Busybodies and curtain-twitchers,can't be doing with them.

Ridiculous! It was just a joke, not very witty but written in a private email. Why all the fuss and why the need to resign?

I recently did canapes for 60 people for a concert. I asked the presenter to ask anyone with food preferences, intolerances or allergies to come and talk to me and I would tell them what was suitable for them.
Not one person came near, one man who had made a big fuss when in a restaurant recently about having a Vegan option, was happily munching on the Salmon mousse toasts. Hypocrite maybye, mors like attention seeker.

I've been asked several times in restaurants by friends why I'm veggie. I always say 'Ask me when we're not eating'

I have been vegan for 3 years and, prior to that, was vegetarian for many years. I neither eat, use nor wear animal products. My food choices are usually highlighted by other people who find me either eccentric or accusatory - even when I have said nothing. The reason I am vegan is ethical. If people had to visit a slaughterhouse, see the terror of the animals, hear the sounds and smell the blood - I wonder how many would be happy to go on eating meat? If they knew the cruelty of the dairy industry, cows raped so that they keep bearing calves and their male calves, those that are not kept for breeding, systematically either slaughtered or left to die. Whereupon the cow will call for her stolen calf for up to three months - sometimes longer. Chickens, fish - living and dying appallingly... want me to go on? Of course meat eaters don't want to know about all this - it makes them uncomfortable. It comes down to too many human beings in this word and one third of them being immensely greedy (the others subsisting at starvation level), destroying the planet's atmosphere with the methane produced by cattle and the clearing of forests to graze them. We have to rethink the size of our world population and how we feed ourselves without destroying our planet and all the species in it. If you have children, this should be of supreme importance to you. I have step-children but none of my own - and I care passionately about what is to become of us all. That is why I'm vegan.

people basically don’t like anyone who appears to challenge their own lifestyle or opinions. The world is so devisive in general these days, whatever happened to live and let live?

It’s the same with non alcohol drinkers ( as I am). People somehow think I’m making a comment on their decision to drink and take it personally that I don’t, or think there’s something weird about it!

nellgwyn you can make vegan carrot cake, it has a lot of coconut and cashew cream in so may not suit your diet. But it is yummy!

Agreed Speldnan. Why don't people mind their own business ? People in general interest me but I'm certainly not interested in how they live their lives,what they do,what they eat,how they dress etc etc. I couldn't care less.

Gilly the point is that it wasn’t a private email.
He was writing in his capacity as editor of Waitrose’s good magazine and as such, he was their representative.
What would you do if one of your employees emailed one of your clients or suppliers and the email included a suggestion that a certain group of people should be murdered? Would you just shrug and accept it as a ‘joke’?

Food magazine!

Frankly I think we need to revert to more tolerance, and to teach people that making rude, silly or threatening remarks about others just because the hold another point of view is definitely not acceptable behaviour.

I have met many vegetarians and vegans who would not dream of commenting on the fact that I eat meat, but I have also met others who were infuriatingly rude, until I pointed out that they were wearing shoes made of leather!

Totally agree Coconut!

varian
Why do some meat eaters seem to hate vegans
To answer the OP question.
Could you OP provide evidence to back up your statement.
This man was foolish. Who are the others that hate vegans?

gillybob

My complaint was 24 hrs AFTER WS had had his resignation accepted.
The UK is a 'free' country and anyone can lodge a complaint about anything without having to adhere to someone else's views of what is proper or acceptable to complain about.
Your continued assertion that my complaint contributed to his resignation is laughable, were it not so idiotic.