Do you get annoyed when vegans get labeled as SJW's

[Flexi-Girl]

I realize that there are many here who are hardcore into social justice and take it too far. Often however I find it kind of frustrating when veganism gets tossed into the pile of SJW's as if were a bunch of whiny babies. If there was ever blatant injustice aside from REAL human injustice, it's the exceptional cruelty to animals.

Even with absolute proof there are people who just like to trash vegans as if we're all the same. I know vegans who are conservative, liberal and libertarian. Some vegans are extremely into social justice while others prefer to leave each to their own.

[mogenblue]

I think I would try to counter it by pointing them on their own responsibility. They are responsible for their own health and well being. By continuing on an unhealthy diet they avoid that.

I think it's a matter of unawareness of the consequences of their unhealthy lifestyle. And it can be pretty hard to break through that.
But it's important not to loose your temper. You have to use good arguments. I use scientific reports and my own experiences for that.
But it won't always help. I suppose a lot of people are just not ready to wake up.

If someone would call me an SJW I could also tell them that Jesus Christ ended up on the cross back in His days. Let them chew on that one.

[Debrah]

What is an SJW?

[mogenblue]

I figured it out as Social Justice Warrior.

And I am not even English, Debrah!!!!

[Debrah]

I never heard that abbreviation. When I first read Flexi-Girls comment, I thought she was making a reference to some sect of the Jehovah's Witnesses. In Canada, we just shorten that to JW's.

Too many abbreviations to keep track of these days. And then there's the references to 'left-wing, right-wing' (does that depend on where you are standing and what are the extremes of those???). And conservatives, liberals or is that democrats, republicans? Well that depends on which country you're talking about......And then there's all the EU descriptors...... so good guys/bad guys, whose who and where's my program to keep track of all this?

[Debrah]

I wouldn't get upset if someone called me an SJW (now that I know what it means) because it denotes someone who fights for justice in a society that doesn't care about it. Nor do I care if someone calls me a bleeding heart because the way I figure it, it just goes to show that the insulter is recognizing that 'I have a heart and that I care deeply'. That's one that I actually wear as a badge of honour.

[Flexi-Girl]

Originally Posted by mogenblue

I think I would try to counter it by pointing them on their own responsibility. They are responsible for their own health and well being. By continuing on an unhealthy diet they avoid that.

I think it's a matter of unawareness of the consequences of their unhealthy lifestyle. And it can be pretty hard to break through that.
But it's important not to loose your temper. You have to use good arguments. I use scientific reports and my own experiences for that.
But it won't always help. I suppose a lot of people are just not ready to wake up.

If someone would call me an SJW I could also tell them that Jesus Christ ended up on the cross back in His days. Let them chew on that one.

I agree that it doesn't always help. I certainly believe that my vegan diet has kept me very healthy, but I was also very healthy before I became vegan. I do see how many vegans become insensitive towards other people who are not healthy, and blame it on their non-vegnan diet when they suffer.m That kind of attitude turns me off . I think anyone willing to invest time and effort in changing their diet and lifestyle are always going to get some good benefit regardless of if they are vegan or not.

Haha Good analogy about JC! However if I am going to compare myself with Jesus, I am not so sure I would enjoy the ending.

[Flexi-Girl]

Originally Posted by Debrah

I wouldn't get upset if someone called me an SJW (now that I know what it means) because it denotes someone who fights for justice in a society that doesn't care about it. Nor do I care if someone calls me a bleeding heart because the way I figure it, it just goes to show that the insulter is recognizing that 'I have a heart and that I care deeply'. That's one that I actually wear as a badge of honour.

It depends on where you are aligned politically. SJW's is a term loaded with negative connotations mainly associated with radical fringe activism. I think the majority of vegans getting attention generally fall on the far left.

I consider myself a slightly right of center libertarian. As much as I want people to be kinder to animals, I don't want to push veganism on others. Often people just assume that all of us vegans are SJW's. It is sad because it takes the focus off animals who are in desperate need of compassion, and places it on a specific group of people with a specific ideology.

[Debrah]

I think the focus only moves away from the animals because that way they don't have to give thought to what they are participating in. And while I never advocate violence against anyone or destruction of property, I don't think that telling the truth about what happens to the critters or what they are participating in is at all wrong. The moment speaking the truth becomes something that we hide from is the moment the victims (of any crime) have no hope. And next time, it might be us who are the victims. Would we not pray for the appearance of a SJW on our behalf?

[Miss Hepburn]

Never heard of Sjw in my life and I know many 20-30 yr olds that
only deal with ethically oriented foods and clothes, etc...I'm surprised they
put gas in their cars!