Preachy vegan types

[William of Walworth]

i dont have a problem with a vegan diet... used to have one myself in fact. But like any other set of principles that become ideology, it becomes merely a vehicle upon which to prosletyse and set yourself apart from others... that becomes its raison d'etre... its function

Rubbish -- that's not necessarily the outcome. It CAN happen, but far from always -- have you ever met any vegans? Presumably you're only remembering the shouty ones because they annoyed you? How many vegans (or veggies) have you encountrred who you never realised were vegans/veggies? Probably more than you think ...

 

[tarannau]

Sadly - despite WoW's honest post above - I've found exactly the same thing happening at a couple of social centres/squats I've been loosely connected with. In both cases a significant minority of vocal vegans insisted on a purely vegan cafe/kitchen area, shouting down all objections.

The worst thing was that - in both cases - the cafes were a miserable failure. Being a committed vegan unfortunately doesn't guarantee that you can run a cafe or even, in fact, cook at all. It comes to something when you find yourself sneaking in rice cakes (not forbidden) to snack on ...and looking forward to them in preference to the cafe fodder.

 

[KeyboardJockey]

Sadly - despite WoW's honest post above - I've found exactly the same thing happening at a couple of social centres/squats I've been loosely connected with. In both cases a significant minority of vocal vegans insisted on a purely vegan cafe/kitchen area, shouting down all objections.

The worst thing was that - in both cases - the cafes were a miserable failure. Being a committed vegan unfortunately doesn't guarantee that you can run a cafe or even, in fact, cook at all. It comes to something when you find yourself sneaking in rice cakes (not forbidden) to snack on ...and looking forward to them in preference to the cafe fodder.

Agreed I've seen this in several cases (not social centres but other community stuff) Its sad as you end up with the organistion becoming the sole preserve of hardcore vegan activists. Ordinary people walk into the cafe or food area see loads of limp looking unrecognisable vegan stuff and write the whole project off as 'hippy shit'. Now if they could have had a bacon sarnie in there it might have been different.

The public face of vegans leaves a lot to be desired but that is because the ranters have made themselves into the public face.

 

[In Bloom]

The worst thing was that - in both cases - the cafes were a miserable failure. Being a committed vegan unfortunately doesn't guarantee that you can run a cafe or even, in fact, cook at all. It comes to something when you find yourself sneaking in rice cakes (not forbidden) to snack on ...and looking forward to them in preference to the cafe fodder.

In fairness, we are talking about Liverpool in this case. Have you ever been to the Egg? Anything's better than that shit

 

[William of Walworth]

Sadly - despite WoW's honest post above - I've found exactly the same thing happening at a couple of social centres/squats I've been loosely connected with. In both cases a significant minority of vocal vegans insisted on a purely vegan cafe/kitchen area, shouting down all objections.

The worst thing was that - in both cases - the cafes were a miserable failure. Being a committed vegan unfortunately doesn't guarantee that you can run a cafe or even, in fact, cook at all. It comes to something when you find yourself sneaking in rice cakes (not forbidden) to snack on ...and looking forward to them in preference to the cafe fodder.

Should have go me and Stig involved!

I suppose there's something about social centres, communal squats, activist areas at Festivals, etc. which will attract the most hardcore types. It happened on Road Protests too in the past.

In a lot of those circumstances though, I bet there'll be a number of live and let live type veggies and vegans too, who will be utterly embarassed by the militant wing ...

There's also a risk that hostile/prejudiced meateaters (and there are plenty, even in activist areas) will end up with their precinceptions confirmed.

Not fair on us 'yeah, a pint of isinglas and beer would be lovely, cheers' types

 

[William of Walworth]

The public face of vegans leaves a lot to be desired but that is because the ranters have made themselves into the public face.

Can't disagree with that. They need a spin doctor <appoints non-vegan self>

 

[miss_b]

This is why I want to start a vegan cafe, cos my cooking rocks!
That's the thing, if you did it inventively enough, the food could change a few people's minds, but often the activists offer limp salad and that's it!
Why can't we all just get along?!

 

[KeyboardJockey]

Can't disagree with that. They need a spin doctor <appoints non-vegan self>

Bloody hell WoW and KBJ are agreeing -- it's political corrrectness gone mad

We had someone at BiCon one year demand a Vegan english breakfast

What the hell do you put in a Vegan English Breakfast?

But latley the vegans we attract are more clued up on specifying diets etc in advance and the systems that the teams run are more responsive to vegans. For example if it is requested we stick all the vegans in one accomodtion block.

 

[Idaho]

Except if you find something disgusting you don't wanna eat even traces of it. Plus often once you've gone vegan you body gets used to not consuming meat, eggs and dairy, and if you do eat even little bits of it you can have a nasty reaction. My boyfriend literally explodes if he eats even trace amount of egg, and I accidentally ate a bit of milk chocolate (it was Green and Balcks and I thought it was a vegan one) and my whole intestinal system stopped for 2 days.

Hmm.. I must confess being a little sceptical about this. Sure your bf has an egg alergy - relatively common. And for some reason you got constipated for a couple of days after you ate some chocolate - but I dont think that the human body somehow becomes unable to digest traces of meat. I think the desire not to eat 'little traces' is psychological and er.. religiousesque rather than a practical concern.

 

[Pieface]

This is why I want to start a vegan cafe, cos my cooking rocks!

Did you know that the Bonnington Cafe rotates chefs and you can get in touch with them if you want to cook there? Might be a good intro to cooking for numbers if you haven't done it before?

Well yummy food too.

 

[Hollis]

Did you know that the Bonnington Cafe rotates chefs and you can get in touch with them if you want to cook there? Might be a good intro to cooking for numbers if you haven't done it before?

Well yummy food too.

Tbh.. I didn't think it was that special at Christmas

 

[miss_b]

I must confess being a little sceptical about this. Sure your bf has an egg alergy - relatively common. And for some reason you got constipated for a couple of days after you ate some chocolate - but I dont think that the human body somehow becomes unable to digest traces of meat. I think the desire not to eat 'little traces' is psychological and er.. religiousesque rather than a practical concern.

Perhaps. Or perhaps not. Seeing as animal proteins are difficult to digest (and everything else I eat isn't) and I haven't eaten them in ages, it's quite possible that my body had an adverse reaction to them. IMHO anyway

 

[revol68]

Perhaps. Or perhaps not. Seeing as animal proteins are difficult to digest (and everything else I eat isn't) and I haven't eaten them in ages, it's quite possible that my body had an adverse reaction to them. IMHO anyway

well put it this way do you think the trace amount of meats that could be left on a frying pan or fork after washing could do give you problems? If that was the case you'd probably die from giving a fucking blow job!

 

[William of Walworth]

Tbh.. I didn't think it was that special at Christmas

Appoint miss b though, and by next year -- problem solved!!

 

[Top Dog]

Rubbish -- that's not necessarily the outcome. It CAN happen, but far from always -- have you ever met any vegans? Presumably you're only remembering the shouty ones because they annoyed you? How many vegans (or veggies) have you encountrred who you never realised were vegans/veggies? Probably more than you think ...

Did you actually read my post? I was vegan myself for 5 years and its 17 years since i last ate meat.

I know fuck loads of vegans/ex-vegans and veggies. I spent a (far too) long period involved in animal rights/hunt sab stuff myself and ive met many of these personality types. Ive also met grounded, sane non-meat eaters there as well.

I think i know what im talking about

 

[Pieface]

Tbh.. I didn't think it was that special at Christmas

Did you have the potato patty thing with beetroot? Russian job? That was dull as fuck but the pumpkin pie was ace. The starter - that tomato soup was lovely!

But they should do bigger portions aswell imo

Pudding was lame though - fruit salad

 

[Hollis]

I cant remember - it just seemed abit bland and an air of 'vegan rubbery' about it..

 

[Pieface]

I cant remember - it just seemed abit bland and an air of 'vegan rubbery' about it..

Well if you can't remember then you're not the most faithful of representatives are you?

The main I had was great - I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[Hanfstaengl]

Well if you can't remember then you're not the most faithful of representatives are you?

The main I had was great - I was pleasantly surprised.

Mine smells great

 

[Hollis]

Well if you can't remember then you're not the most faithful of representatives are you?

The main I had was great - I was pleasantly surprised.

Seeing that I hate beetroot.. it was probably the pumpkin pie..i just remember it as crumbly and bland, certainly not worth remembering.

 

[Pieface]

And you pissed and moaned about the choice of cafe constantly on the run up to the night so I shun your opinion

 

[revol68]

ahh but whilst youse are complimenting the chef in making xmas dinner somewhat bearable, i was tucking into a lovely turkey.

sorry i tried to be vegan for 6 months and it was torture, I was veggie on and off for about a total of two years and gave it all up in Spain.

 

[Hollis]

And you pissed and moaned about the choice of cafe constantly on the run up to the night so I shun your opinion

I endorsed the choice of the Bonnington wholeheartedly.. why we had to go on the Vegan night remains totally beyond me.. conservative bunch the urban lot. y'know.

 

[Pieface]

I endorsed the choice of the Bonnington wholeheartedly.. .

I really don't remember.....there was something so bland about your endorsment

 

[tarannau]

Without trying to stir, I've got to admit that I find the food in the Bonnington cafe a bit average to say the least. I've only eaten there twice, but the food's competent rather than exciting.

Out of interest, does anyone know of a particularly good example of a predominantly vegan restaurant. The other contenders I knew - Cranks and Cafe Pushkar/Brunos - were pretty awful ime, backed up the fact they've both closed now.

Whilst miss_b is very, very unlikely to suffer any particular adverse reaction to eating small amounts of animal protein, I'm sure the thought would be particularly unpleasant and enough to make you feel ill. Psychosomatic or not, it may still make you ill - childhood associations I have with coleslaw make me unable to even get near the stuff without wanting to upchuck.

 

[Hollis]

I really don't remember.....there was something so bland about your endorsment

I'm very sorry.

Next time it'll be:

YAY!! BONNINGNTON CAFE Can't Wait!! I shall bring wine!!! YAY!!


Is that better?

 

[Thora_v1]

I've been involved in a social centre and we had a vegan cafe, because at the end of the day it was just easiest to prepare food that everyone could eat regardless of whether they were vegan, vegetarian, meat eaters. The non-vegans did insist on having cow milk as well as soya milk for the tea and coffee though, and even that caused all kinds of arguments - one particularly nutty vegan saying "rapist" under her breath every time a customer went for the cow milk!

 

[Top Dog]

one particularly nutty vegan saying "rapist" under her breath every time a customer went for the cow milk!

nut... fucking... roast

 

[Thora_v1]

Bless her, she is a lovely girl though

 

[revol68]

Bless her, she is a lovely girl though

yeah the mental ones are always hot, except for the ugly mental ones, they have nothing going for them.