Friday, May 8, 2009
Dating Non-Vegans?
Bruce Friedrich talks about dating in a recent PETA podcast. He says something like, "there's no downside to dating meat-eaters. He says if you date only vegetarians
or vegans you're excluding a bunch of wonderful
people who might become vegetarians or vegans later.
Here's a link to the podcast, which talks about other interesting things, too, so definitely check it out
http://www.petatv.com/downloads/podca...
My thoughts:
First, yes there are downsides. He's wrong about that. Being vegan or vegetarian is not just about the animals, it's also about you. Dating meat-eaters can be very uncomfortable for some vegetarians or vegans. Dating is hard enough. Why make it harder? If you want a vegetarian or vegan companion, don't count on converting a meat-eater; start by dating vegetarians or vegans!
I say that from experience. Everyone is different, but for me - and I didn't fully realize it until it happened - I could only truly fall in love with a vegetarian.
My love advice is the same as my financial advice
as my animal advocacy advice as all my other advice...
First, get your priorities straight: what do you want?
Next: how do you get it? What's the process to achieve your goal?
Then, work on it. Take it one step at a time and try to achieve that goal.
Here are some more vegan-themed podcasts:
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/podcasts/
And here are some veg dating websites:
http://www.veggiedate.org/
http://www.veggiefishing.com/
http://www.vegconnect.com/
http://www.veggieconnection.com/
http://www.ethicalsingles.com/
http://www.greenfriends.com/
http://www.greensingles.com/
http://www.vegetariandating.com/
http://www.vegetarianpassions.com/
http://www.executivevegetariandating....
http://www.veggielove.com/
http://veganmyspace.com/
Are you waiting for someone to date and convert you? Don't wait! Go vegan now! You know you want to ;)
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Wow! this is a great debate.
ReplyDeleteI have dated three vegans and ended up living with two of them (not at the same time), and I have to say it was soooo much easier. I've never made the same commitment to a meat eater.
I think it's really interesting that you talk of "core" values - this isn't something I'd considered before. Whenever I've discussed dating with my friends and mentioned that they would have to be a vegetarian or vegan, their response is that I'm limiting myself. This limitation is true in one sense, because if you live and work in a small city or a village, the chances of you meeting someone who is vegan is reduced dramatically.
A life partner and soul mate, might be a vegan, but you might not get on personally. I am not convinced that purely on the strength of veganism that I'd be able to be romantically involved.
Also when you say that meat eaters don't love animals and you are being offended if you are at the dinner table with them. How far do you take that? I feel really uncomfortable saying that I'm more compassionate about animals BECAUSE I am vegan, because it implies that meat eaters don't care or care less. Not sure what I'm getting at here. Some of my work colleagues have said they really care about animals.. and its hard for me to then say.. well actually if you cared you wouldn't eat them! even though that's what I think!?
Hi Elaine,
ReplyDeleteThanks for this wonderful post. I agree with: Dating meat-eaters can be very uncomfortable for some vegetarians or vegans.
It's not about limiting yourself to a specific group when you're part of that group - because your values and views on life define you as a part of that group.
If you have banned meat from your life, why would you be with someone who still eats it, regardless of all the info out there on the health issues rising from a carnivore's diet.
There's a whole bunch of website for vegetarian dating, so people, go and meet your veggie soulmates!
Oh, you've missed one other site where vegetarians and vegans can meet other like-minded people:
http://www.singlevegetarians.com/
Hope it helps.
Keep up the good work!!!
This is very interesting! I used to eat meat at one point! When I started dating my husband I was a Vegetarian. I've been trying to change my husband for years! I just feel like it's impossible! I'm vegan now and my feelings are much stronger about this lifestyle! I'm teaching my kids to eat better. I would never leave my husband of 12 1/2 years because of his choice! But I can't change everyone and I just so happy that I'm a vegan for many reasons and I'm happy with who I am! it's also a wonderful thing to see my kids eating mainly vegan. I truly understand you because I guess if I was in the dating world I would look for a vegan myself! it would make meal time and such much easier! But there's nobody else I know that is a vegetarian or vegan! So I kinda feel like i live in my own little world by myself and have a hard time with people understanding me :(
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