Is it hypocritical for a vegan to own a leather handbag?
Posted by rediscoverlife81 on Mar 24, 2009 · Member since Feb 2009 · 101 posts
let's say they are a fairly new vegan, they bought this leather bag from a vintage place (so, it's not directly benefiting the people who made it)
would it be hypocritical for them to keep it, but not wear it?
I'm not trying to sound like a moron, but would it be bad of me to keep the bag and not wear it? I got it pre-vegan and I really like color. I know I will have to give it away, eventually. But, if I keep it in the back of my closet, is it hypocritical?
I don't think it matters what you do with it. If its in a closet and no one sees it, who is going to think its hypocritical? (the closet people, lol)
I don't think you have to rush and throw it away or give it away.
But you also have to ask yourself why you are keeping it? Do you expect to use it in the future?
I'm one of those people that like to get rid of clutter, usually.
Some people just like to collect stuff and never throw it away.. guess that depends on the person.
But I haven't thought of keeping animal products in my closet, so I'm not sure what I'd think.
I'm sure there's lots of people that have old stuff they don't use in the back of their closets that they just don't feel like sorting....
Its a very awkward question... I don't know how to answer it. haha.
I'm really sorry people are being so rude to you. They think it is okay to attack you for being vegan and having a leather bag, and yet they don't attack people who still eat meat? There are plenty of non-veg people on vegweb, but everyone seems okay with them. That is what's hypocritical.
My point is, from what I can tell, people are not usually assholes like this, and my advice is do whatever the fuck you want because at least you are making a difference.
Wow, I really didn't feel like I was being rude. I was just trying to show a side of a situation, attempting to be informative. I apologize if it sounded like I was trying to shove my opinion down someone's throat.
On a side note: There are some vegans who are rude to meat-eaters.. not my cup of tea, but there are.
Attacks? I don't see any attacks, just a few disturbing (misplaced?) pictures. I don't see any reason to be so defensive, though.
If you (whomever) bought the bag, and you like it, use it. If you feel comfortable using it, then use it. If not, give it away. If people know you (whomever) are vegan, and wonder why you have a leather bag..answer to their judgment, or not. If they don't know, they don't know. I mean, most people aren't going to care enough to think about it, anyway. It's up to how you feel about it.
Oh lordy, calm down people. There is no rudeness. She asked our opinion. It's not like we walked up to her and said "ohmygod leather!" This is a vegan forum; don't expect hugs and kisses for leather. It is not inherently rude to disagree with someone. Cheeze and rice.
And I'm being totally sincere here and not rude or sarcastic, but why would you keep a bag in your closet? Really? So you can take a peak at the color every now and then? Come on now. But I'm with teade, it really doesn't make a difference if it just sits in your closet. It's kind of a moot point. I have some pregan cosmetics collecting dust at the bottom of my bathroom drawers and it's not giving me a moral dilemma.
I'm really sorry people are being so rude to you. They think it is okay to attack you for being vegan and having a leather bag, and yet they don't attack people who still eat meat? There are plenty of non-veg people on vegweb, but everyone seems okay with them. That is what's hypocritical.
You're right! Next time someone asks the question "would this be hypocritical," we should inevitably answer "No!" even if we think it is, and then start bashing meat eaters!
Really, let rediscoverlife speak for herself.
You weren't being rude, I was talking about the Vegan Police. I have seen lots of omnis or vegetarians (non-vegans) coming here for help (i.e. I eat meat but I am cooking for my vegan son blah blah blah) and they do not get yelled at just for being here and living their lives as they see fit.
Direct me to the part of this conversation where the Vegan Police yelled at the original poster just for being here. That accusation is totally unfounded. I see nothing but helpful reasoning here.
Is there where I post my picture of the vegan police siren?
Yes, apparently that would be fitting.
Posting that picture was not any more appropriate than posting a picture of an aborted fetus in a thread where someone says she had an abortion.
No, that would be like if someone marched into a room and said "Look at my new leather handbag, isn't it great?" and then we went apeshit on her and started lecturing and posting pictures. Granted that would never happen here because this is a vegan forum. She asked our opinion. I don't see what is unclear about that.
exactly, theres been zero attacks. she asked for an opinion on a public vegan forum, she got it.. attack free.
back when i first went vegetarian back in high school i had a pair of leather boots that were from before i went veg. i thought they were cool even though i had barely worn them and couldnt bring myself to give them away.. but i couldnt bring myself to wear them cus i would feel guilty and would be just waiting to get called out on it.. ppl are always trying to call out veg*ns about non-veg clothing. so i never wore em and they just sat in my closet til eventually i had kinda outgrown the style, then off to salvation army they went.
rediscoverlife, i think you're obviously conflicted about this enough that if you used the bag you'd probably not enjoy it.
Can the vegan police be this guy?
http://www.mydisguises.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/cop_stripper.jpg
Because in that case I'm cool with it.
You're not happy with THIS vegan police guy? He's freaking HOTT.
http://www.clipartof.com/images/thumbnail/385.gif
No-one tell you what to do about this.
In my opinion, being vegan isn't a case of saying "Oooh, there's a label I'd like to fall under, where's the list of requirements? Right, I'll blindly accept every single one of those, tick tick tick down the list, bam! I'm vegan."
Nope, I think becoming a vegan is more about being aware and thoughtful enough to actively evaluate what YOU feel is right and wrong. Whether or not to eat meat, whether or not to eat dairy, if you are comfortable with new leather, old leather, wool, honey, animal testing...each of those aspects of veganism is actually a different issue with an individual set of complexities and arguments involved, each one requires an evaluation and decision about where you personally stand on the issue.
The simple fact that you became vegan shows you are aware, compassionate, and a thinker - you evaluate what you think is right and wrong for yourself and have chosen to take action. If you make that first decision then decide to just stop thinking and accept what other people tell you vegans have to do... then it's no longer really a decision based on your own beliefs, morals and awareness, and I think veganism should be.
Looking for guidance is perfectly understandable and acceptable, I wanted a lot of it when I was just starting out and it certainly helped! I just hope that you can read the feedback and different points of view, think about them, maybe learn more, do a bit of your own "moral soul searching" and come to your own decision about it - one that fits with you. It may be that as time goes on and you've been vegan for longer your ideas about it might change, and that's fine too :)
Also,
Totally yea!
Can the vegan police be this guy?
http://www.mydisguises.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/cop_stripper.jpg
Because in that case I'm cool with it.
Right. So really there's two separate conflicts:
Would it be hypocritical? That depends what you believe in.
Would it appear hypocritical? Yeah, probably.
Right. So really there's two separate conflicts:
Would it be hypocritical? That depends what you believe in.
Would it appear hypocritical? Yeah, probably.
I think that sums it up quite well.
Everyone has their own opinions and beliefs that shape how they see the world and other people. You're never going to avoid judgement of some kind from everyone else no matter what you do (I don't mean in a purely negative way, we all assess everything all the time). To people who have strong personal opinions about the matter, it would appear hypocritical.
I'm not trying to sound like a moron, but would it be bad of me to keep the bag and not wear it? I got it pre-vegan and I really like color. I know I will have to give it away, eventually. But, if I keep it in the back of my closet, is it hypocritical?
I don't think there's any need to waste it if you really like it, but if you're vegan for the lifestyle and animals I wouldn't suggest you wear it.
Rory Freedman, the Skinny Bitch lady, addressed this sort of thing in her column in VegNews recently. Her take was that "people who are insecure with their own moral standards will be looking for flaws in yours." So the message you send to others "I'm vegan but wear leather things I had pre-vegan" isn't a good message to portray. Meat eaters are going to be quick to point out your hippocrisy especially if they don't know that you had it pre-vegan days.
Treat yourself to a nice alternative one, or ask for one next birthday or xmas.
(I vote that the pictures were overkill and unnecessary when the poster was being sincere in her question and is already a vegan.)
Another 2 cents:
I think we can all agree that being vegan is more than a food choice, it's a lifestyle choice. Changing one's lifestyle is no easy thing. Veganism, in many cases, is a huge worldview shift from what an individual has grown up "knowing". The process of realizing your hearts ambition can be a long and difficult one.
For that reason, I begrudge no one who needs to take time and sort out just how "vegan" they are or need to be. I read in one thread about non-vegan eyeliner, occasional dalliances with dairy, etc. Hell, I even partake in cruelty-free eggs every so often (we know the people who raise them).
On the other hand, I think it's good for there to be stark reminders of why we do what we do. hh's picture was worth a lot of words in regards to any internal dialogue on this subject.
Honestly I think the tone of this thread has been just fine. Veganism is something we all feel strongly about. If there weren't strong and strongly worded opinions in this thread. I'd be weirded out.
Everyone draws their own vegan line in the sand. Just be comfortable where you draw yours and be willing to reassess in the future.
definitely have to decide for oneself how far, how fast, one moves into veganism; upon becoming vegan, say one has leather seats in the car, can you afford to go out & buy a new vehicle the very next day? able to literally give up every single thing that has some unacceptable component? hmm ...
Everyone draws their own vegan line in the sand. Just be comfortable where you draw yours and be willing to reassess in the future.
Exactly. I've no patience for the "veganer than thou" folks because there will always be someone more vegan than the other. I'm probably the most hippocritical of the bunch here, which is why I don't lable myself "vegan"...it's a copout that lets me off the hook. LOL
However, when one asks opinions they should be prepared for what they get, including graphic pictures, anger, and calls of hippocrisy. However, as free-thinking individuals it's up to us what to do with that advice and draw our own line in the sand.
definitely have to decide for oneself how far, how fast, one moves into veganism; upon becoming vegan, say one has leather seats in the car, can you afford to go out & buy a new vehicle the very next day? able to literally give up every single thing that has some unacceptable component? hmm ...
Good point about the car.
Personally, I took it slow rather than give up everything as once. As household and toiletry items finished up I bought vegan ones. When I needed a new belt, I bought a vegan one. I now buy only vegan shoes. I buy vegan candles. I stay away from supplements and vitamins that have gelatin capsules. I still have a leather Lazy Boy in my house that my ex-spouse bought 8 years ago. I know know the cruelties of leather, but I love that chair. When it wears out I will by a synthetic one.
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