Vegetarians who say this shit say they enjoy getting encouragement from vegans, but they actually just want a pat on the back and brownie points from susceptible vegans, not actual encouragement.
This is the greatest encouragement I can give them, but because it's in an "aggressive" tone, they love to say "You're the reason why people shy away from going vegan!"
Sorry to tell ya, but if some harsh words promoting the very ideological foundation of veganism are enough to discourage you, then you clearly don't have a plan to "transition" to veganism to begin with.
Imagine telling someone "You really need to stop being fucking racist." and then they say "Ugh! I'm working on it! You being so pushy makes me want to be more racist actually!"
The cheese rots into their brains apparently.
You're right, but why are you handing them those excuses when you know yourself that it perpetuates more death? Even hardcore carnists can be hugely softened by just not making a big deal out of things. Even people that haven't gone a day in their adult lives without eating flesh and adamantly insist that they don't consider something a real meal unless a creature died or was abused for it can be taught to go a few days a week without killing something if you give them the kiddie gloves. You don't want the kiddie gloves? Fine. Your self righteous zealotry results in the perpetuation of more death.
We live in a fucking insane world. You should be mature enough to understand that it's worth tempering your disgust.
Carnists are actual fucking babies, and here comes the aeroplane. No, it doesn't have meat in it. Why? I think it would ruin it. Yeah, you can have the recipe.
Great, now your meal rotation is slightly less violent, but I'll keep that to myself for now.
I'll take less violence in the world over juvenile self indulgent anger that convinces carnist babies that blood and dairy is what normal personable people eat.
I am the friendly vegan in most of my interactions, because I live in a world full of carnists and don't want to be a social pariah. I try very hard to be patient and not burn bridges where I could be building them. I also learned to cook some pretty dope dinners for my friends that you wouldn't even think to add animals to. 90% of carnists needing kiddie gloves means that if you wanna be an activist, you gotta get used to wearing kiddie gloves. Sorry if I was unclear.
With all that said, is it not okay to vent frustration that this is the way I have to approach the mass slaughter of innocent beings? In a space for fellow vegans?
Again, you're right, I'm just keenly aware that we're being watched here by people who may be considering whether or not something should have died for the last flavorless piece of processed meat they ate. I would like to assure them that in my opinion, any time you choose to eat or use less animal products for ethical reasons, you're doing the right thing, even if you can't manage it for whatever reason all of the time, or even most of the time.
I think those curious eyes seem to have now realized this is a space for vegans.
This has not been my experience. I'm glad it's been yours, that's neat, but the two committed carnists in my life are absolutely impossible to reason with and if they weren't my (divorced) parents' new partners, I would have long since cut them out of my life. I have never seen either of them eat a vegan meal. Even when there's plenty of delicious vegan food around (and they themselves have made some of it!), the two of them go out of their way to add meat or eggs to whatever normal thing the rest of us are eating. They're both "supportive" of my parents eating vegan, but they themselves absolutely refuse to do so, and all the kindness in the world won't make them budge.
I always just ask these baby step people if they take that approach to any other moral issue. "As long as you commit to lighting 50% fewer homeless people on fire this week, you're doing great sweetie! As long as you're trying your very best to kick puppies only when you really feel like you need to let off some steam, we support you!"