I am still kinda new at this whole thing and my 13 year old self would have LOVED creating conflict but how do you respond to arguments against a vegan lifestyle? Do you throw facts in their faces, can't help but get angry, keep calm, walk away, etc etc? And what about to some of the really, really common arguments that obviously are just .........?
For example, I just had a GP appointment and I had forgotten that I'd seen this Dr months and months ago about food related issues so I offhandedly mentioned that I'd changed my diet and I felt better and bla bla all that boring crap and then he just like STOPPED and was like "But why" and I sorta told him and then he was like "..But plants feel pain too? Don't you care about the plants? And you do know animals don't really care right ... you know they're different to humans. They don't feel pain." and I didn't know what to do I just sort of laughed at him? Like he's a doctor omg. How do you even respond to that argument? I just .. even when you're not vegan that makes 0 sense at all i don't ....
So yea. Conversation. Whadda you guys say, whats the common argument you get, what are your witty responses etc!!!
Wow! Amazing that a GP would have that attitude. Surely even a basic understanding of biology should be enough to recognise that plants don't have a central nervous system.
Even if plants have some form of sensation, what point would there be to them feeling pain? I mean, the evolutionary purpose of pain seems to be to tell us when we should get away from things that are causing us harm. If you can't get away from the thing causing you harm (which is pretty darn hard when you have roots and no legs), then what's the evolutionary point of pain?
If your GP can't tell the difference between an animal and a vegetable, I'd suggest you find a new GP
Urghhh, that really sucks to hear that, especially coming from your doctor!
I've found that with certain types of people there can be no point in trying to hold a diplomatic discussion about my lifestyle choices because it can end up with me feeling personally attacked and upset or getting really frustrated at the other person. Some people just arent empathetic or understanding with this kind of stuff and i guess you just gotta shrug it off and walk away cause they just arent ready and it sucks : (
I really hope no one's giving you a hard time... just remember that you got us here for support and advice if things are getting tough!!
For those sorts of silly comments, I like to throw in a reminder that as a meat-eater they are causing more pain within the plant community by eating an animal that would have eaten a much greater quantity of plant matter in the first instance.
Honestly... You're doctor sounds completely patronising. I would change doctors. The comments you says he's made are childish and unreasonable and sounds as though he was looking for a reaction.
Ooh that book sounds interesting, definitely going on my to-read list.
Haha don't worry guys he is definitely NOT my regular doctor. I ran out of my prescription so it was a last minute appointment and by coincidence I got him again (..i think he's the only after hours dr idk)... Thanks for your concerns though
I wanted to hear more of what you guys normally get though and your witty responses! I'm terrible at arguing/witty comebacks myself but I love hearing what other people come up with
Supposedly plants are unable to feel pain, though science isn't always right (thus people still believing meat is good for you peh!) not to mention it isn't just about the pain you may cause what about the fact that you are taking a life thus the reason most vegans still don't eat/use Beatles they too 'apparently' can't feel pain; while yes the argument could be said that by being vegan your still taking plants lives... At least it isn't an animal and at least my diet is actually good for me and the environment (meat is extremely bad with the carbon foot print and resource wastage not to mention the travel fuel emmisions to get it to all the locations that demand supply)
The other day in fact I had a guy that I live with be sick and I asked if it was due to the chicken he had eaten the night before... And one of the other housemates goes you can't get sick from eating meat... Um salmonella ect (even though everyone knows you can't get sick from eating plants unless on the occasion that you are allergic) and I saw this as an opportunity to advocate a better diet as I don't like to really start the topics when it comes to where I live as they may just get angry about it which could cause drama (I hate drama)... But I lightly mentioned after explaining that you can actually get salmonella from chicken and there are far more health concerns then just that such as diabeties and cancer ect... But he replied with a very nasty like manner saying well I've eaten meat my whole life and bla bla... It's like I only mentioned it as an added topic to the already on topic of health impacts from chicken... Anyways people are quite rude really; I heard a saying once that people don't like to be told what to eat or what is actually good for them as it indirectly makes them feel inadequate in general life knowledge/education as well as they feel they have no control over their eating habits... But honestly there was no need for his rudeness; I had never mentioned/advocated vegan to any of them before though they do know I am vegan; they even accept the dinners and snacks I make for everyone and they really enjoyed them not to mention they had never been an argument in the house do I have no idea why he was this way...
You would think a doctor at least would actually know the health impacts and benefits of food given that food can be the main causes of sicknesses lol not just good though technically anything you put in your body had impacts food or bad so doctors for sure should know all these including food...
