Monday, September 21, 2009

Philosophy: "Vegansexuals Don't Want Your Meat"

some douche bag posted this on a blog i read daily (thatsfit.com)...

Vegansexuals don't want your meat

Posted: Nov 13th 2007 4:20PM by Chris Sparling
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, General Health, Health in the Media

Just when you thought that the world was a little short on reasons to punch someone in the face, a new phenomenon in the holier-than-thou set is likely to send many a fists flying.
Meet the Vegansexual.
Taking their "meat is murder" ethos to a level of outright arrogance, some vegans have adopted a vegan-only policy when choosing their sexual partners. Because someone consumes meat, vegansexuals opt against intimate relations with them, pointing to the distaste it brings them to come into contact with a being whose body they consider to be "a graveyard for dead animals."
I hope these folks realize that they're able to follow such elitist principles because they are fortunate enough to have meal options in the first place. If you were to visit a third world country, how many vegansexuals do you think you'll find? I'm guessing just as many people as you'd find wearing Prada. People at this very moment, as I write this and as you read it, are going hungry -- not only in those third world countries, but right here in America. Why not refuse to be intimate with people who don't help these impovershed men, women and children? It seems to me that would be a far more noble stance to take than not going to bed with someone solely because they enjoy an occasional steak dinner.
It's very possible that I'm way off base right now (it wouldn't be the first time), so please feel free to weigh in on the matter yourselves. I'm very interested to hear your thoughts.
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After a few comments saying it's a vegan's choice to sleep with who they want... he commented:
6. As I mentioned at the end of the article, I realized that I could be way off base with what was my initial reaction to learning about Vegansexuals. To that point, I agree with those of you who stated that vegans have every right to choose who will be their mate. That said, I still feel that bigotry of this kind is a move backwards in our efforts at social progress. It's easy to suggest that a vegansexual's mate preference is based purely on a commonality, but it's just as easy to forget that shunning the rest of the entire world population based on a commonality is exactly what causes a segregated society. It's snobbery, bigotry and elitism that stems entirely from hubris and an inflated sense of self-importance. You don't want to eat meat or dairy? Fine -- it may actually be more healthy in the long run. You don't want to date people who eat meat? That's your perogative. You think that the rest of us -- you know, us unenlightened, bloodthirsty, meat eating troglodytes -- are not even worthy of coming into physical contact with? A pseudo-PC way to say that you think you're too good for someone.
Posted at 9:46AM on Nov 14th 2007 by Chris Sparling


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and this is how I responded:
9. Wow. Hahaha, it sounds to me like you as an, "unenlightened, bloodthirsty, meat eating troglodyte" don't really seem to like vegans (this blog and your comment seem bitter and aggressive), so why if you think vegans are so annoying- do you keep getting offended when you can't get in our pants? oh yeah, because we taste the best, and are totally hot (i am better-than-you, holier-than-thou blah blah blah)! haha, i'm totally joking around, but seriously...

If Veganism was in fact, merely based around diet... as another vegetarian commented- if you are veggie or vegan, kissing someone after meat is pretty gross- similarly gross as if someone with onion or garlic breath was breathing down your neck (most people accept this as "not attractive"). I personally LOVE garlic, AND onions, and I eat them with almost everything. So does my husband, so we are well matched by the fact that we both think "spicy breath" is hot. At the same time, I don't really care if people who think that is gross or unattractive. To each his own, you know?

Veganism however, isn't just a diet. Although, sure there are some "in vogue" Hollywood exceptions... you mentioned Prada in third world countries as a means to connect Veganism with a spoiled, high-class snobbishness, implying that vegans are removed from world issues, social struggles, and therefore are not humanitarians... I for one grew up poor, paid my own way through college and loved how cheap it was to live on rice and beans and salads- just like most of my vegan college friends. I also have been aware of not only the cruelties of the meat industry but statistics that show how land growing grain/vegetarian crops can feed far more people worldwide than the same amount of land used for cattle/the beef industry.

Veganism is also many times a strong spirituality and a belief in equality for all living beings. Would you question aggressively why a Jewish family would want to marry into another Jewish family? or prefer to date/sleep with other Jews? There is a way of thinking that comes with being a practicing vegan (or even vegetarian)- of taking only what you need/not living in excess (beyond foods), practicing earth-friendly, and environmentally safe daily modes of conduct, and a general way of life- such as the choice to actively buy fair-trade organic clothing over clothes from sweat shops, leather-free shoes, etc....

It's easy to have superfluous negative connotations for things that you haven't really taken the time to understand or experience first-hand, but as a life-long veggie (though raised by meat-eaters- who I love dearly), and having been vegan almost 8 years now... While many of my dearest friends do eat meat though they also have the sensitivity to not do so around me, or question my beliefs in a way to make me feel uncomfortable about my lifestyle, I find that this sensitivity is a rarity amongst meat-eaters. And when it comes to being intimate with someone I've found I am most compatible with people who never have to question my non-meat and non-dairy eating habits, and lifestyle. So of course it is an immediate turn-on to meet another vegan. The instant understanding, and immediate reassurance that I won't feel judged, or like I need to explain myself to someone who may trivialize my strong beliefs definitely is an instant aphrodisiac. hahaha. Sparks fly when you put two vegans in a room together, because so much can be unspoken and already understood.

I think for social progress to happen- which seems to be the root of your post- a need for everyone to get along, perhaps the meat eaters of the world need to also be more accepting of vegan and vegetarian lifestyles- instead of assuming its a fad, or a superficial criteria for compatibility.


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And I really liked some of these other comments to his post, here's my fave:

8. Hey, you know what? I don't want to have sex with fat people. It isn't that I think I'm too good for them, except maybe I have stronger willpower, more athleticism and better genes. You know WHY? Because I find them physically repulsive. I'm guessing this is how vegans feel about meat eaters. I wouldn't have sex with someone who eats poop either. And I shouldn't have to. That's the beauty of the world as it is right now, I get to CHOOSE who I want to sleep with.
Vegans make up a tiny minority of the pop'n, so don't worry yourself too much about the dwindling supply of sex. You'll be okay.
And while I'm sure you all have sex with those you find physically unappealing- covered in moles, fat, smelly, etc., remember that THEY DON'T HAVE TO have sex with you. This is the basis of mating- two people who are attracted to each other. If they aren't attracted to you, say because you put something in your body that they think is VILE, get over it! It has nothing to do with elitism. They just think you are gross.

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trash resources

Alexis Gordon

hmm, i'm a little disturbed by the last comment. it seems really fatist. i hate to be overly PC, but its really kind of sad when everyone just assumes that everyone thinks it's ok to characterize fat people are unattractive, not fuckable, repulsive. i mean, that is really harsh. i feel like it has nothing to do with the point vegans are trying to make.

but even more so, i am disturbed by this author and his thwarted search for people to have sex with. there are so many men out there who seem to have such a huge problem with women choosing not to have sex with them. there is this underlying cultural belief that all women should be available to all men, at all times. which is obviously ridiculous and sexist.

also, just as curious, how come when conservatives rally around something passionately, like war or religion or other moral issues, it's considered at best piety, or at worst stupidity, but when liberals rally around something, it's elitist, self-righteous, and we are all drones trying to out-PC each other because we're all really rich and bored?
Posted by trash resources on Wednesday 14/11/2007 - 3:01 PM
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Tyler January
the point i got from that last comment, and why I liked it- wasn't that the it was meant to be "Fatist" but rather highlight preference, not as a generalization, but a personal opinion on who they choose to sleep with. she also says she wouldn't date someone who eats poop. and not b/c she thinks she's better than them, but b/c its not what she's attracted to.

agree with you on the fact that so many men think women SHOULD be available at all times by, and take offense on the reality that MANY WOMEN DO NOT WANT TO SLEEP WITH THEM; while at the same time they (men, generally speaking) hypocritically have their own set of culturally accepted standards of sexiness (women should be shorter than men, meek, thin, have big boobs, a pretty face...etc etc...). completely sexist.

rich and bored? you mean "we" as in both sides of the spectrum, or "we" as in the liberals? personally i dont really see enough of the wealth poured into the leftist side of things. the scale is definitely tipped to the right-wing (who make up the top 5% of the wealthiest people in the world). we have the technology for sustainable living, solar and green-power, but where are the funds to put this into action? bored? more like fucking frustrated.
Posted by Tyler January on Wednesday 14/11/2007 - 3:29 PM
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Alexis Gordon

we, as in liberals. i'm on your side. i am just frustrated that young liberals are always depicted as rich kids with unrealistic ideals and that liberalism is always depicted as the "cool" thing to do, or an elitist thing.
Posted by trash resources on Wednesday 14/11/2007 - 4:40 PM
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Tyler January
yeah i get what you mean, especially in relation to this guys view on veganism. all to be the "cool" "elite"- but thinking conversely, if the hip/elite thing to do was to drink your corporate starbucks every day, drive your hummer to run your errands that are 2 blocks away, and send every else's kids to die (physically or psychologically) in the war, i doubt a lot of us would change our ways just to "fit in" you know? its hard to ignore the problems that surround us, and if knowing/awareness is seen as "cool" and "elite" fuck yeah! may it last forevermore.
Posted by Tyler January on Wednesday 14/11/2007 - 4:46 PM
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Alexis Gordon

amen!
Posted by trash resources on Thursday 15/11/2007 - 12:29 AM
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Keren
shoot, sistahs, i'm all for choice for all, which most certainly does not exist in this world of ours, but my most favorite moment in reading that person's post was that somehow eating a fat, juicy steak is not a choice. It's a sad kind of crack-up to see how skewed we all are in our normative lives (race, sex, food, nationality, etc...) to think that being vegan is not a political choice, a social choice, a serious adoption of anti-consumerism, of sustainability, and of global choice. Yes, we are a huge global minority in that we do get to choose what we eat, but we'd be real dummies if we didn't think that what we eat, who we screw, and, most importantly to me, what we ADVOCATE doesn't have a far-reaching effect...
Posted by Keren on Friday 16/11/2007 - 5:16 PM
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Tyler January
keren, thanks for reading! i miss and love you so so soooooooo much. i love hearing your thoughts and insights, because you are always- so right on. xoxox
Posted by Tyler January on Friday 16/11/2007 - 5:21 PM
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Keren
i love and adore you tyler! Your blog is just about the only one I check out often...you're such a passionate, intelligent, interesting lady! ooxxooxxo
Posted by Keren on Saturday 17/11/2007 - 10:18 PM
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Tyler January
thanks for your comment Al! it means a lot to me xo The cool thing is, after i wrote that reply/comment he deleted his post. which in some way is successful to the extent that he realized how lame his rant was, but i'm sort of bummed that other people can't read it and learn from his [previous] lack of understanding.
Posted by Tyler January on Friday 16/11/2007 - 5:07 PM
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.+m+.
'dripping with insight' well put. I read the whole post and you're damn articulate in your thoughts and words foss. I've actually been eating quite a bit of meat lately for sheer hunger and there's this idea in my psychoculturology that 'meat and potatoes' are what's truly satisfying in a meal. Of course, I've not really been thinking too much of world issues (which are essentially our, local issues), but I feel it's a sad excuse to continue. Today i had some vegan meatballs in my pasta sauce and want to start branching out a bit into other vegan/vegetarian options. The fact of the matter is that we have a growing population with dwindling resources on our planet. And i wanna have a kid or two one day too.

How much of my current lifestyle is reconcilable with the future I want for myself and the generations that come after me?

This is the question I think we should be asking ourselves (and of others) if we are to make any kind of progress towards the next chapter in our evolution. I think a drastic rethinking of our current systems of food, body, mind and spirit production/cultivation is needed. Folks writing and communicating and coming correct (like you did on dude's comment) are inspiring and proper towards this.

I also agree with all comment Alison said about you too:)


you go grrrrrrrrrrrl.
m


ps. on a side note, one of my friends asked me if I would ever eat 'in vitro' meat grown in a petri dish:

http://www.alternet.org/environment/38755

you get just a few cells from an animal and then you can grow and harvest your own meat. frankly, I find the idea repugnant.
Posted by .+m+. on Saturday 01/12/2007 - 11:50 PM
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Tyler January
thanks for reading morgan :) i miss you! and meat in a petri dish? hadn't heard of that one before. gives me the willies. and also makes me wonder if those cultures are developed enough to have nervous systems? beyond all my political, environmental and philosophical reasoning, I could never emotionally or morally bring myself to knowingly cause pain to any living thing in the world. either way though, icks.
Posted by Tyler January on Sunday 02/12/2007 - 12:01 AM

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