I am 26 and tried to go vegetarian when I was 12 and when I was 15. The first time, being only 12 I didn't know anything about the meat industry and my parents made it clear that it wasn't an option so I basically just accepted it. When I was 15, I did some research and became very upset and tried to go vegetarian, however my parents got very angry, said lots of horrible things and punished me. The main reason that they were desperate for me to eat meat is that they thought that it is essential for our health so I did some research and presented them sources from websites such as the NHS showing that we can live on a vegetarian diet but they refused to look at it and I felt forced to just bury my feelings and continue eating meat. I am really angry with myself and feel that this was very weak of me but I went on eating meat for over 10 years, subconciously knowing that it was wrong but unable to face another fight with my family.
Earlier this year I did lots of research and went vegan. The more research I do, the more terrible eating animal products seems and it is clear to me that immense suffering and environmental damage is being caused in order to produce products which are actually bad for our health compared to a good vegan diet. I can't stop thinking about the suffering so when I see my family (who I don't live with) all I can talk about is how awful the production of animal products is. But they think that I am intolerant and rude and shouldn't push my views on them, they refuse to watch any of the videos that I have sent them and my mum says that (non-human) animal suffering doesn't matter because they are stupid. I don't feel that I can enjoy spending time with them now and I feel morally obliged to do whatever I can to try to convert them and the upshot is that I am starting to wonder if I will have to just cut them off if they refuse to listen. This may sound cold but I'm sure that many would feel the same way if their family tortured or killed people. Has anyone else struggled to spend time with meat eaters who refuse to listen to the truth about how the meat is produced? I find it especially hard to understand how a dog lover could eat meat if they knew the truth.
Earlier this year I did lots of research and went vegan. The more research I do, the more terrible eating animal products seems and it is clear to me that immense suffering and environmental damage is being caused in order to produce products which are actually bad for our health compared to a good vegan diet. I can't stop thinking about the suffering so when I see my family (who I don't live with) all I can talk about is how awful the production of animal products is. But they think that I am intolerant and rude and shouldn't push my views on them, they refuse to watch any of the videos that I have sent them and my mum says that (non-human) animal suffering doesn't matter because they are stupid. I don't feel that I can enjoy spending time with them now and I feel morally obliged to do whatever I can to try to convert them and the upshot is that I am starting to wonder if I will have to just cut them off if they refuse to listen. This may sound cold but I'm sure that many would feel the same way if their family tortured or killed people. Has anyone else struggled to spend time with meat eaters who refuse to listen to the truth about how the meat is produced? I find it especially hard to understand how a dog lover could eat meat if they knew the truth.