All correct. Don't think many here would disagree with you.

I agree. I've always been vegetarian but what really clenched it for me was stock yards and chicken processing plants. Both of which I visited. How can that be good for the earth?

Even if everyone went vegan right this minute the planet is still in peril. Until big business stops cranking out crap we're all going to perish with the planet. Vegan might help, but in the long run it is not enough to turn the balance. If you come out as a militant vegan you will alienate more people than you convert.

Since it was my post I’ll add how I roll, I don’t tell people what to do other than appropriate internet forms meant for such conversations. I hope my example makes a difference that can foster some change but I’m not militant about it as I have no right... after all I ate meat until I was 51 years old, I thought about it but change came in my own way and for my own reasons. I’m like a kind subtle activist, if at all. That said, I appreciate real activists but I believe unless they find ways to say it with kindness they could actually make things worse.

It's funny but sometimes being in a crowd just by ordering a vegetarian meal others get really defensive. Same as with the religious. If they ask what I identify and I say I am an atheist (or even non-believer) they start to get defensive and even proselytize.

I mind my business until the guys from work start mocking my vegan choices. Then I'll throw some shade back at them.

Me too, and the inhumanity in the animal farming industry. It’s a tough call for sure. Most people at my school know Im vegan but they have no idea I’m a non believer. Most of the staff seem to have very strong faiths, and especially the African Americans.A couple of the teacher aides have had their sons attacked, 2 killed by gun violence. I couldn’t imagine discussing atheism with them especially. My diet though, gets positive remarks by about how good I look, and idea requests for recipes, and of course the bloody protein issue, lol. So I guess it depends on the environment. My fb feed has lots of vegan posts, but not atheist posts. Hmmm

Hello group, I'm beginning my vegetarian life after my last well woman check three months ago. At that time my doctor told me I was pre diabetic and needed to either change my eating habits or go on medication. The choice was pretty easy since I detest taking meds if I can do something else. I got some information on Vegan eating from another member which has helped me so much. I decided I needed to step into this new way of eating by way of vegetarian because I really enjoy eggs and a little creamer in my morning cup of coffee. I buy my eggs and creamer from locals who raise their own chickens and cows but don't kill their animals. I am an advocate for all animals and chose this way of eating partly because of the cruelty involved in factory farming. After three months eating this way I have been taken off my blood pressure medication by my doctor as she said I don't need it any longer. My weight has been reduced by 15 pounds now! I am sleeping better, have more energy and generally just feel better. I signed up with the site Forks over Knives for help with recipes. I adjust some of the recipes to suit my taste buds. I'd appreciate any advice for finding more vegetarian recipes as the vegan ones can be, to me anyway, a little bland since they use no oils, dairy or eggs. Many thanks!

I have been living a vegan lifestyle for 31 years. My observation; In the beginning the excitement causes one to share the discovery and the desire to share your amazing find that helps the world in many ways! Now I rarely speak about it, my coworkers do not know I am atheist or vegan. If asked I speak about it to the satisfaction of the person interested. I take materials from work to recycle or reuse at other businesses, but do not "tell" my coworkers to set it aside for me or do it themselves. Climate change needs to be discussed, but I just don't have the hope that enough people give a shit about circumstances outside of their own lives.