Veganism

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.

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.

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.

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

His silly comment was made in a PRIVATE email Gabriella it was NOT published in the darn magazine. he had edited the magazine with great success for over 20 years and because he made one silly comment in a PRIVATE email he has been forced to resign???

Using the stupid analogy of knocking someone down driving a car just goes to show how ridiculous this is . 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.

Shaking head in disbelief !

My thoughts exactly henetha.

'Edited a magazine for 20 years, does that count for nothing?'
No, it doesn't.
If you drove a car for 20 years then one day knocked over and injured a pedestrian, should you not be punished? You could say that about almost every scenario.
He was not a friend or aquaintance of Selena M, the journalist, and 'banter' of that nature was and is out of order. How about if it was religion being talked about...eh?
Food for thought.
I rang Waitrose when it appeared in the news and expressed my disappointment with the comments. The advisor agreed that the comments were 'unfortunate' and 'unprofessional' and reiterated that they were not, in any way, a reflection of Waitrose company policy nor their views.

What a fuss about nothing. He was joking, and maybe he shouldn't have said it, but to have to resign is pathetic.
We seem to have become a nation of people taking offence at every darned thing.

Holier than thou?

I am a vegan, don't preach or go on about it, if I'm going out for a meal with non vegans I will always check with the restaurant beforehand that they can accommodate, and try to make as little fuss as possible. Now my friend who is gluten free though not diagnosed with any intolerance will always make a big song and dance about it, though if there's cake on offer which isn't gluten free she'll eat it anyway. . .

Waitrose have launched a big new vegan range and wouldn’t want to offend potential customers. Calling people “hypocrites” for their food choices isn’t really banter and he should have given his comments more careful thought. But I agree it’s a storm in an organic herbal teacup.

Totally agree with gillybob. It was a PRIVATE email - and a joke!

I have one vegan daughter and one vegetarian daughter, and I always enjoy any food that they may prepare for me. My only bugbear with vegan/vegetarian recipes is that they nearly all seem to insist on garlic and/or chilli for flavouring. Sometimes I just enjoy food without heat or flavours that stay with you for hours afterwards.

I’m a veggie, not vegan and I never mention it unless I am invited to someone’s house for dinner. You can often see that “look” omg what can I feed her. Always amuses me that I am always given carrot cake for dessert ! My own Mum thinks there is something wrong with me even tho I haven’t eaten meat for 30 years. I think Vegans annoy others when they start lecturing and forcing their opinions on others, just like overly religious people quoting the bible at atheists ! Just live and let live, it takes all sorts and how boring would life be if we were all the same.

Apparently he has edited the magazine for 20 years ! Does that count for nothing?

I think it’s crazy that he has resigned / been forced to resign. This was a silly comment made in a private email, not an opinion he expressed in the magazine . Why is everyone so bloomin’ offended these days?

I missed this story on the news. Is it too late to be offended?

He was very silly to make such statements in his position but yes, there are also some Vegan/Vegetarian's that do go on about meat eaters too. Personally I don't care whether you eat meat or not, or whether you are Vegan or not, I can cook a meal that suits if you let me know! What does annoy me is the waste created by the Meat Industry. When I was a child we kept chickens for eggs and the table, also ducks, geese, rabbits and turkeys. I knew where my food was coming from as we had to feed and clean their accommodation out and generally look after them. We used every scrap of food they provided us with. Nothing went to waste, and bought meat included items like pigs feet, tripe, ox tongue, pigs head (to make into brawn) - all things younger meat eating people refuse to eat now unless some faddy food chef on the tv does a meal with them in.l We could reduce the number of animals killed for food if we went back to using everything possible.

Not a vegan, not even a proper veggie because I eat fish, but I can't condone his crass remarks. One thing that concerns me about veganism is that so much of their food depends on crops that don't grow in this country. I can't imagine my life without eggs, cheese and butter.

What a dobbin, making a crass comment like that and expecting it to be received as "just banter". so much of "just banter" is offensive and whilst I'm sorry he lost his employment over it, I hope encourages him and others like him, to think on.

I don’t think there was anything particularly witty or clever about Sitwell’s crass comment and he should know better.
Imagine the outcry if instead of “vegans” he had said “horses”, “cats” or “dogs” ?

I can never work out what all the fuss is about. Vegans do not animal products, others do. So what?

My eating pattern, from childhood has always included meals with meat, meals without meat, meals made entirely of vegetables. It is called having a mixed diet. If some choose to restrict their diet, that is fine

The one thing they should not do is try to clamber on some eating high ground, and assume that it makes them exceptionally virtuous. It doesn't.

I don’t think vegans go on and on about it apart from when called ( as they have been on here)- weird, mentally ill, criminals, having eating disorders, look unhealthy and unattractive. Talk about sweeping generalisations. I think some meat eaters find it challenging to really think about how their meat is produced- that it actually involves the death of a creature that wants to live , and industrialised farming means many have short and stressful lives. Anyone who says this is cruel and rejects this by choosing not to eat animal products are considered to be weird. Fortunately veganism is more acceptable these days, more vegan foods are available and these are becoming more mainstream. Views like the above arent worth responding to really.

Liz

Perhaps he was having a bad day ( it happens) but a silly thing for him to say and have to resign over.

Pity the journalist involved doesn't have a sense of humour but I agree with her that we need more plant based food articles and TV series.