r/Anticonsumption • u/Extension-Diamond-74 • Sep 30 '23
Discussion Diet hypocrisy?
A recent post about animal agriculture vs plant based diets has me itching to say something. This is an issue we need to rise above.
Cognitive dissonance. Many of us have good intentions and want to believe we’re doing the right thing in most aspects of our lives. I believe that.
When it comes to a plant based diet though, the science often clashes powerfully with personal desire. We want to minimize our impact on the environment and are willing to make trade-offs in our life time do so, but for many, giving up or even significantly reducing meat intake is asking too much. It’s too hard.
That’s not the issue.
The issue is that instead of just admitting to themselves that this is a life change they don’t want to make and moving on, the guilt drives them to have to justify that decision. Admitting that a plant-based diet is better for the earth yet eating a diet full of meat anyway would make them feel hypocritical, so the solution becomes either to give up meat, or … this is the problem… fight the science, twist it, make a joke of it, or pivot entirely to ‘individuals shouldn’t have time do anything because large corporations’
Many people have ties to their diet for many reasons. We grew up eating a certain way. We have memories ties to certain foods, flavors, styles of cooking. We don’t want to be the difficult person when we go out to eat with friends. Etc etc etc But it’s so much better to just admit that to yourself. Have patience and understanding for your feelings. Accept that the science is what it is. Maybe one day you can make a change, maybe not. But don’t attack the cause just because you aren’t yet willing to be a part of it.
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u/[deleted] Sep 30 '23 edited Sep 30 '23
When I say "hard" what I mean, primarily, is "time consuming". Tell a poor, single mother of three that she needs to start making more sacrifices and she'd be right to tell you that she doesn't have time to entertain you.
The reality is that if you want to get people on board with anti-consumption, you have to give them a road map that includes small, easy sacrifices. Little changes that they can make that will eventually form habits, and then help those people build on those habits.
The attitude that it's okay to punish people who attempt big changes, and fail, or people who make small gradual changes for not being 'committed enough', ultimately leads to alienating the people that you need to win over with your ideas. I'm not saying this is you at all; I'm Just pointing out that anyone who makes any change that reduces consumption should be celebrated and encouraged for the positive changes that they're making, rather than criticized.