From: Kamchatka Charlie
Subject: Re: A suggestion for rec.food.recipies
Organization: Psychosis Unlimited International
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 92 02:03:57 GMT

Michael Traub writes:
> Kamchatka Charlie writes:
>>     And another idea:  try being more tolerant of other people's habits. 
Not
>>everyone wants or is able to quit eating meat; a simple allowance for that
fact
>>might just make this group more tolerable for the nonvegans and
nonfruitarians
>>amongst you.
>
>I  really  wonder  why  we  keep  getting  this  sort  of  thing. This is a
>newsgroup  for  *vegetarians*.  If  meat eaters want to read it fine, its a
>free  net,  but  please  remember  if  we consider meat eating intolerable,
>that's *our* problem.
     I have no problem with considering meat eating intolerable.  It's the
constantly recurring idea that MILK is intolerable.  Why is it that vegetarians
feel the need to segregate themselves in an isolative world and constantly push
up their relative self-esteem by constantly flaming those who happen to eat
meat?

>We  don't  need  you to tell us we are intolerant, we know we are, and most
>of us are quite happy being intolerant.
     Also cliquish, provencial, and fossilized as well.

>If  I  wanted  to  be a tolerant liberal, I would post to rec.food.recipes,
>wouldn't I?
     True.  This may explain why this newsgroup is well known for constant
flame wars over the acceptability of milk/grains/vegetables in diet; people who
have SO's (or family members) who eat meat, and people who give suggestions as
to ways to expand the ranks of vegetarians/vegans/fruitarians.  Tell me; do you
wish vegetarianism to be considered a religious cult?
     NO?  I DIDN'T THINK SO.
     Let me give you a scenario:  Rec.food.veg groupies start posting like
crazy to rec.food.recipies.  r.f.r readers, noticing a major influx of
OVO/LACTO, LACTO, and VEGAN titles in r.f.r, start trying out these recipies. 
Said r.f.r readers find out that vegetarian food tastes good.  Then they
discover r.f.v, and find out there's a whole world of people who have done away
with meat (or more).  They seek support and information about vegetarianism and
related issues.  HOARDS OF THEM BECOME VEGETARIANS BY CHOICE.  In response,
vegetarian resturaunts open like wildfire.  Previously sympathetic meateaters
become vegetarians thanks to the expansion of choices in their diet.  The USA
(world?) suddenly rediscovers kindness, mercy, and joy.
     Think this is impossible?  It is--as long as you continue to stay locked
in your clique, unwilling to give others help.

>I  wonder,  is  alt.atheism continually swamped with bible bashers?
     Only when bible thumpers show up trying to save the newsgroup from eternal
damnation 8+)
     But seriously, since when have meat-eaters shown up on the net to proclaim
you folks crazies who need to be shown "THE ONE TRUE AMERICAN DIET WHICH WILL
MAKE YOU HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE"  None, from what I've been able to read. 
Instead, I hear flames aimed at milk drinkers, those who hang out...(you know
the rest).

>That's what rec.food.veg seems like to me.  If we can't discuss our likes
>and dislikes openly in this newsgroup where can we? Why should we change our
>behaviour to satisfy the non vegetarian readers?
     Well...you don't have to.  If you would like more vegetarians, I would
suggest keeping the following in mind:
     1) Vegetarianism includes milk products as well.
     2) Honey attracts more flies than vinegar

>To end on a note of intolerance:
>
>I  think  *everbody*  should  stop  killing  animals  for  food,  clothing,
>experimentation,  whatever.  No  if's  no but's, no nothing.
     I hope that in your next life you're born as an Eskimo in Siberia.  If
then you can keep your vegetarian lifestyle intact, THEN you can be intolerant
of everyone else.  ;+) ;+) ;+) ;+) ;+) ;+)

>Michael Traub
>BT Customer Systems, Brighton Systems Centre. traub@rtf.bt.co.uk
>

kamchatka charlie
kamchar@ibm.cl.msu.edu
++++
"Peace"--me || "Don't make me laugh"--rec.food.veg