I'm not a new vegan.

[misterflash]

As you can see from the subject I am not a new vegan member.
I am trying to be a conscious consumer however and I strongly support vegans and veganism.

I understand how this can seem ignorant, cruel, or lazy but I am exploring a lot of ideas and theories and I don't have the time, energy, or drive to devote myself to this lifestyle yet. There are too many ideas, concepts, and realities that are undefined, unexplored, and yet to be understood for me to take the philosophical leap that many of you have taken. But I do believe in animal rights and "animal consideration" as described by Peter Singer (maybe not to the extent that a vegan does but I'm still exploring) and like I said above I strongly support people who have taken the leap. So, while I am probably lynch-worthy I am more worthy of being hung whereas some other non-vegans would be more worthy of being burnt at the stake.
I don't know if it is wrong to kill and eat animals. I don't want to debate it either (as I read in the registration terms this is not the place). But I do know the way animals are treated, killed, etc is pure injustice and totally unacceptable and I am definitely becoming more conscious about what meat I consume and who I support.
I'll mainly be here to represent male white middle-class college students in their early 20s with strong socialist leanings, to socialize, gather information, enjoy the forum and hopefully learn how to be a more conscious consumer.

Since I can only post one vegan story I would like to save that privaledge for when I convert and can do all the other vegan stories justice. If you could kindly unlock the features that are restricted on my account I would appreciate it. I promise you that leaving them unlocked will not be an incentive for me to convert!

[shedonteatmeat]

uhh... :worried:

[clusswoman]

misterflash: Everyone has to start somewhere and this is probably a good place. You can learn all kinds of things about becoming vegan here.

[lex_talionis]

Hey Misterflash!
I think one of the admins has to do that or something, but welcome.

[Emiloid]

Hey misterflash, it's great to hear that you're taking the time to educate yourself about animal rights and other reasons that people go veggie. I think you'd probably find that once you switch (if you do) that it's not as difficult to live the veg lifestyle as it might seem from the outside. Of course, you can always begin slowly and see how it goes. Best of luck, and feel free to ask us for advice, insight, tips, recipes, etc.

One more thing, a lot of people go vegetarian or vegan for reasons besides animal rights or compassion; enviromental, health, and human rights concerns are also solid reasons to consider giving up animal products. Along with those reasons (and concern for animals) I was also personally compelled as a resistance against government/corporate lies and wasted tax dollars. There's so much involved.... If you are ambivalent about animal rights, you might find that another aspect/reason appeals more to your mindset at this time.

[mountainvegan]

Yeah, some serious animal rights vegans I know on the 'net started as environmental and health vegans. :)

[jenzie]

Hello misterflash, and welcome to VRF. :) You'll find a lot of discussion here that will hopfully aid you in gathering the information you seek and learning how to be, as you say, "a more conscious consumer."

[thecatspajamas]

Hi and welcome. Even if you're not Vegan, you can have a much reduced impact by making informed choices about how you live. I think that ultimately, following those informed choices to their logical conclusion results in veganism, but then again, I may be slightly biased considering I've already made that jump. Welcome and good luck on your search for knowledge.

[spasticastic]

Hang out for a while; we'll get you turned around! :p

I agree with what others have said, that once you try it you find out it's a lot easier than you think. I went through a period of trying to sort everything out. While thinking about it, I just tried to eat fewer and fewer animals. I couldn't decide right away, so I figured I'd go veg WHILE I tried to decide, figuring that I could always change my mind later. It turned out to be easy and very satisfying, and I never looked back.

[Jay]

Being vegan is annoying when on travel but otherwise it isn't really that big a leap. Doesn't require tons of pondering. Just don't eat it if you wouldn't enjoy killing it.