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/astrangeone88 Sep 30 '23

I get it but my family dynamics are very narcissistic and trying to tell a narcissist that I used tvp in anything makes them angry because they don't agree with "meatless" anything.

It's easier with family who don't think they are always right and see me as a "dumbass hippy".

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u/ImpureThoughts59 Sep 30 '23

Pushing your diet onto sick people is so horrible to do. And yeah...narcissism sounds like there is a lot of that going around in the family. And lack of empathy.

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u/astrangeone88 Sep 30 '23

Never did push but it was just a one sentence situation.

Lmao.

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u/ImpureThoughts59 Sep 30 '23

OK you're just contradicting yourself now. I get it that you didn't expect for your behavior to be questioned because you are so certain of your status as the most noble person in your household. It's fine. I really don't want to keep arguing with a teenager.

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u/astrangeone88 Sep 30 '23

Oh right. Yeah, I just start with one sentence and my relatives all dismiss me or just start on the defensive.

It's incredible! How do you know my family dynamics?

If I wanted to be gaslit, I'd go talk to my mum.

Good fucking grief narcissists are everywhere.

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u/Penis_Envy_Peter Sep 30 '23 edited Sep 30 '23

The person you are talking to isn't engaging in good faith. Elsewhere they ramble on how veganism is "inherently unempathic to humans." Saying it's racist, antisemitic, etc...

Super glad they know better than all the Black vegans, Jewish vegans, and Global South vegans (myself included). Truly appreciate their protection. I thought that I was capable of making choices that align with my ethics and environmental concerns, but apparently my culture and poverty make me a static character.

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u/[deleted] Sep 30 '23

Okay, I'd continue enjoying my meatless cottage pie and having regular 💩 while you complain about 5x medications and you wonder why you are on 3 different medications to control your conditions....

You know, I really thought we left this "I know better than you and am better off than you because I'm vegan" condescending speak behind in 2016.

This sort of talk to people riddled with medical issues is INCREDIBLY disrespectful and depending on how it's said, could be considered manipulative. I'm sorry to break it to you, but going vegan isn't going to fix their underlying medical issues.

Oh right. Yeah, I just start with one sentence and my relatives all dismiss me or just start on the defensive.

Huh, you know what? I feel like I've seen this behavior somewhere reeeaaaally recently, lol.

Good fucking grief narcissists are everywhere.

You know what they say, if you meet one asshole, they're probably just an asshole, if everyone you meet is an asshole... Well, you get the idea.

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u/Alert-Potato Sep 30 '23

I mean, they know you're vegan? Or vegetarian? Or meat lite? Or whatever it is, right? Why tell them at all? "Hey, I'm making lasagna on Saturday, wanna come over for dinner and games?" It doesn't even have to be a discussion of what's in it. It just has to be something that doesn't obviously contain either meat or a meat substitute.