I wanted to make a post this year for my 10 year veganversary, because ten years is a crazy milestone to reach – for anything, not just veganism – but, ironically, I’m having trouble finding the words.
Not only does ten years vegan sound crazy because I’m proud of how long it’s been, but mentally, it’s also crazy to think that something I chose basically on a whim when I was 20, was long enough ago to be ten years old.
Time marching forward is nuts, and all that.
My actual anniversary isn’t until Friday (Feb. 6th) so I won’t actually be celebrating until then, but even looking back to write this article has got me in my feels.
Ten years…
I remember sitting here – yes, on the same laptop, even! – typing out my first year veganversary post. It simultaneously feels not that long ago, and almost a lifetime ago. There was so much back then I didn’t know, and obviously, I still don’t know everything, but the amount I’ve learned since then is almost comical.
I also remember, being so excited to finally reach the day when I could say I’d been vegan for ten years, and now that it’s here…
It’s a very surreal feeling, to put it mildly.
I know I mentioned this in my 5 Year Veganversary post, but being vegan is just part of who I am now. I don’t even really think about it as being a ‘thing’ anymore. Checking ingredients, reaching out to companies to answer ingredient questions I couldn’t find answers to on their website, pre-researching a restaurant’s menu before going out – it’s all just become second nature at this point.
The concept of any of that being ‘weird’ or foreign is so long gone, it’s actually funny to think of it as something I used to have to remember to do.
It’s also crazy to see how big the movement’s gotten now. Back when I first went vegan, everyone was talking about how great and accessible it was – that there were tons of options and mainstream stores carried so many vegan products.
Now?
It’s not even a contest.
I’ve watched this movement bloom exponentially since I started on this path, and it truly blows my mind to see all the options in stores nowadays. Even big meat places like KFC have vegan options!
Veganism has become so mainstream, it’s crazy!
It truly feels like we’re living in that dystopian vegan paradise we used to dream about.
Obviously, I know, this is not indeed the case. Unfortunately, animal exploitation is still alive and well, and happening all over the world.
But there have been a ton of wins, too. (I’m not going to list them all here, because that would take forever, but if you want to jump through and take a look at some of the biggest food wins from 2016, check out this VegNews article)
I couldn’t find exact yearly stats – because, of course I couldn’t – but I was able to find that apparently, in 2015, there were 700,000 Canadians who followed a vegan diet, and that number’s jumped up to 850,000 in 2025.
That’s 150,000 new vegans in the span of ten years!
Andthat stat is not counting vegetarians, and other non-meat eating people. That is strictly the veganism stat.
That’s crazy!
I know I’ve said that like, six times already, but it is!
This milestone… I truly don’t have the words to express how beyond ecstatic I am to finally be able to say I’ve reached ten years.
Veganism, contrary to popular belief, has opened up my food world so much more than I ever thought would be possible. And, I think, it’s also opened my heart.
I liked to say I was compassionate and empathetic before I found veganism, but wow. There is no doubt in my mind that I would be even half as empathetic as I am today if I hadn’t stumbled across Earthlings all those years ago.
It’s crazy to think that an idea I picked out of the blue changed my life, and who I am, so radically.
I think back to that New Years Eve a lot. How I was sitting in the chair, staring at the ceiling, racking my brain just trying to pick anything for a resolution. How ‘no meat’ just hit me out of nowhere, almost like a bolt of lightening.
Sometimes I wonder if that ‘choice’ was truly as random as I first thought?
Interested in the lifestyle? Check out my Vegan section!
Lately I’ve been getting an increase in comments here, and I wanted to say two things:
Hi! Welcome. It’s good to know I’m not just speaking into a void. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and share your opinion with me! I love waking up to see new comment notifications. I don’t want you guys to be shy about leaving comments at all. If my writing made you feel something, or you have any tips/tricks to share about lifestyle things I talk about, feel free to leave them!
The second thing is the reason for this article. Due to the increase in comments, I’ve noticed an increase in comments on older posts and those comments are… let’s just call them non-constructive. And I know, this is the internet! People are going to find old things in newer years and have different opinions about them.
But that’s not what I want to address. I’m talking about receiving comments telling me that certain information in my articles is ‘wrong’, and then delving into what is frankly just very unimaginative hate because I’m ‘spreading misinformation’. Maybe part of that is because I’m a writer, but some of those hate filled comments I see and all I can think is, ‘that is the best insult you could come up with? Really?’
Not that the content of the insults is the point.
Anyway, to help mitigate these kinds of comments, I wanted to write this article, to give you guys a more guided approach to how you should be reading informational articles. These tips should help you not only on this blog, but everywhere!
So, let’s get into it.
And actually before we jump into it, I’m going to add this little disclaimer: I’m talking strictly about regular/every day folks who blog. Not like, scientists or professional information people. They play by different rules than us mere mortals.
Step 1. Look At How Long Ago The Article Was Written
If you’ve spent any amount of time on the internet (or y’know, the planet Earth), you should know that what is considered ‘correct’ information changes all the time. Very quickly, depending on the subject!
And, I’ll even give you a hint: people who write articles? They are not psychic! (Or at least, not always) They won’t be able to tell at the time their article gets published if the information in it will become disproven in five years, ten or hell, even later that same year!
As with everything else humans do, you gotta do the best you can with the information you have at the time.
So, if after reading an article, you think the information is not correct, scroll back up and look to see what the date of publication is. If it’s an older article, chances are the information was accurate when they wrote it.
Also, many bloggers don’t add updates to articles, because well, speaking from experience, that in itself could become a full-time job and not leave time to write anything new.
Specifically for myself, once I publish an article, I deem that subject ‘done’ and I move on. I don’t want to keep making articles on the same topic, because I would find that boring to write, and I assume you guys would find that boring to read.
Unless it’s something very specific and/or I feel very strongly about it, there’s usually only going to be 1 article about it. That said, if you guys have anything you’d really like to see me update/get a fresh opinion on, let me know!
Step 2. Who Wrote The Article?
Are you on a scientific or official government website, or are you reading Joe from the bar’s blog to see if he posted today’s boner joke?
Taking into consideration what type of blog you’re on – and therefor, the kind of person who wrote the article – should help you determine the level of scrutiny you’ll need to read it.
If it’s an official government website, yes, you should expect the information to be as accurate as it can be, and that it was written by someone who is very knowledgeable on the subject.
But if it’s one of those stay-at-home-mom blogs? Well, Sharon is just trying to share her tips from personal experience! She doesn’t have a doctorate in Mothering, she’s just trying to help people in the same boat as her!
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: not every single person knows everything about a subject.
Why doesn’t Sharon know about the new Swedish article that was published 5 months after her article about the ‘proper’ way to clean baby bottles? Well, speaking as a blogger, most of our articles are written in advanced – sometimes by months – and I would guess because she’s busy actually y’know, living her life!
Especially when we’re talking about lifestyle bloggers, people engage in different lifestyle in many different ways! You could walk outside and find five vegans (or carnists, activists, etc.) and none of them would be living the exact same way.
So what ‘qualifies’ someone to write an article on a lifestyle subject? Usually, it’s just whether or not they are living that lifestyle, or they are interested in/will be living it soon.
That’s it.
No PhD’s required.
Step 3. Where Is The Person Who Wrote The Article Located?
I kind of briefly touched on this in the point above, but another reason Sharon might not have heard about the Swedish article? Because she’s busy living her life in the suburbs of the mid-western USA.
While the internet has made it a lot easier to access information from all over the world, people still need to take the time to search for the information!
And unfortunately, a lot of people are just too busy to take dedicated time out of their day-to-day to research certain things. Especially if it’s a thing they already think they’re knowledgeable on. Why would you spend time looking up tips on something you already think you know how to do well?
You wouldn’t!
Or at least, most people don’t. There are exceptions to this of course, but they are called ‘exceptions’ for a reason!
Speaking specifically for myself, I don’t do nearly as much veganism research (for example) as I did back when I was first transitioning. (Which was all the way back in 2016)
That doesn’t mean I think I know everything there is to know about veganism, but I know enough information to get through the day-to-day stuff, and for the most part, know enough to write articles about it with confidence.
Do I still check vegan-specific news websites? Yes. Am I still following vegans on social media, listening/watching their videos? Yeah!
But I’m not dedicating huge chunks of my day to veganism research anymore. I don’t need to. (Also I don’t have as much time, but that would be a different article)
So the next time you come across an article that you think is inaccurate, I want you to keep these tips in mind before you leave a comment.
If you’ve done the above and still think your comment is warranted, see if you can re-phrase it to not sound so… mean/condescending. People are always much more receptive to listening to others if they aren’t feeling attacked.
Especially if you want the person you’re commenting to to actually listen/take in what you’re trying to tell them, instead of having them just write you off as a ‘hater’.
Good luck!
*The stay-at-home-mom blogger example was just the first example I thought of to use as a ‘regular’ person. It in no way was meant to be an insult or anything. Also the name Sharon was just the first one that came to mind. If your name is Sharon and you run a stay-at-home-mom blog, I wasn’t trying to insult you, I promise! (If you’d like more clarification, feel free to message me!)
I don’t really have other articles in the same vein as this one, but if you’d like to check out more of my blog, a good starting point would be the front page!
Know your way around? Consider signing up for my Patreon to help me keep the lights on around here! Tiers start at just $1 and you’ll get some cool insider perks for signing up!
That’s right, I’ve decided to make these teaser posts annual!
As you should know by now, I’m taking the last half of December and first half of January off from posting. (The last article for this year will be December’s product review)
I’ll be back January 13th (9am, ET) with the first product review and first short story of the new year.
I hope you all have a relaxing holiday season, and get excited for the new year!
I’d also like to thank you all for continuing to read and support this website. Your support means the world to me! If you’re looking for a way to support me and this website more, consider signing up for my Patreon. You’ll get cool insider goodies like getting first looks for upcoming books (including cover and plot reveals), for as little as $1/month!
National Eat Your Noodles Day, Coming March 10th
Reusable Pads: My Experience, Coming May 8th
How to Make Water (PHSH Effect #23), Coming March 27th
Vegan Fast Food: Dairy Queen, Coming June 19th
So Delicious Salted Caramel Cluster Ice Cream Review, Coming July 13th
National Toasted Marshmallow Day, Coming August 25th
I hope you all had a relaxing break and are ready to get back to it.
This year, I wanted to do something a little different. Instead of jumping right into a brand new article on the first day, I thought instead, I could do a post that would show you what’s to come.
I figured this would be good for two reasons:
It gives you guys adequate time to get excited for what’s to come, and
It gives me an extra week to get some posts scheduled.
I’m (mostly) kidding on that second point. But, I have been doing lots of research in my time off from posting and, apparently, people like to feel like insiders, and like to see teasers of what’s coming up, so they can build the anticipation for the thing, have time to prepare, etc.
And while my blog doesn’t put out heart-stopping excitement, I still thought it might be cool to try out.
So, below, you’ll see some previews of posts to come.
Enjoy! (And get ready)
Puddles (PHSH Effect #19, Coming Apr. 4th)
Make It Count (Unlearning Series Fic #9, Coming May 9th)
Lens Flares (PHSH Effect #21, Coming July 25th)
Vegan Fast Food: KFC (Coming Aug. 22nd)
Curses (Coming Oct. 14th)
Who Gives a Crap Review (Coming Mar. 28th)
The Long One (A SPN x Marvel crossover, Coming Sept. 2nd)
Like seeing teasers of what’s to come? Sign up for my Patreon and never miss another exclusive!
I hope you all had a rockin’ holiday (and a relaxing few weeks to recover).
I wanted to let you guys know that the first fic of the year will no longer be going up this Friday (Jan. 17th). Instead, it will go up Jan. 31st. I got unexpectedly busy with launching Patreon and a few other ‘real life’ happenings, so I will need to push it back.
I apologize for the semi-short notice – I was trying to get it done, but it’s looking like I’m not going to be able to meet Friday as a deadline.
I don’t want you to fret though! Since you can keep yourselves busy reading all the other fics I’ve already posted.
So yeah… Enjoy yourselves rediscovering old favs and I’ll see you all in two weeks!
As you may or may not know, my newest book, The Haunted Corpse is coming out October 18th.
Now that it’s crunch time, I’m going to focus all my efforts on releasing the book, so there will be no new content now until the 18th.
After the release, we’ll get back on track with Surprising Vegan Chips on Oct. 21st , and a Halloween fic on the 25th. Then it will be back to regularly scheduled posts every 2 weeks, until December 9th, which will be the last post of 2019.
I apologize again, but right now putting the book out is my number one priority.
I will still be posting on social media, etc. just no new content until the book release.
If you’d like to support me, please feel free to check out my other books, (perhaps drop a review?) and by getting excited with me for the newest release!
The Haunted Corpse is going to be not only my longest book to date, but it’s also my first non-collection book. (My first book that is just 1 continuous story.) It’s a dark fantasy and is the first story I wrote way back in gr. 8 when I first started seriously considering becoming an author. I can’t wait for you guys to get your hands on it!
If you want a little preview, part of it is in First Try, though I’ve since changed/added some elements to it.
I’m taking a vacation starting today (Dec. 17th), and I won’t be back until Feb. 1st, where there will be a brand new TAF waiting for you. (Feb. 8th) Don’t worry though, I’ve already uploaded this years’ holiday fics. You can find them, as well as other fics here.
I can’t believe it’s already the end of 2018! Wow.
What a year, huh? I started a Subscriber List, started a new vegan series, got new/more merch in my Zazzle shopand published my debut, non-fanfiction book! (Which is 50% off until Jan. 4th!)
And, that’s not even counting the Vegandale Festival I went to in the summer. So much has happened!
I can’t believe how much this site has grown in just two years’ time. It was really only last year when I had decided on focusing on the website. And now look at it – it’s amazing to see the difference.
See for yourself:
I know, it was pretty bad, right? That was called the Aladdin theme. (In case you were wondering) And that terrible, terrible very first Don’t Get Caught cover… *shudders*
Needless to say, I’m very proud of how far it’s come since then. And it’ll only keep getting better!
I have some new things in the works for you guys, including new merch, my second non-fanfiction book, and more! Sign up for my subscriber list (linked above) to keep up to date with all the news.
One thing I’d like to do is to try moving farther from fanfiction for the Throw Away Fics. I’d like to start posting more non-fanfiction short stories, with the exception of posting fanfiction on holidays. So that will be one change you can expect to come.
All the content on the site will stick to the posting schedule it’s already on, so there’s no need to worry about that.
For simplicity sake, here’s the schedule:
TAF: Every 2nd Friday (starting Feb. 8th, then Feb. 22nd, etc.)
Articles: Every 2nd Monday (beginning Feb. 11th, then Feb. 25th, etc.)
Product Reviews: 13th of every month
And of course, none of this would be possible without all you guys out there who read/visit the site. I want to thank all of you so much for your support of what I’m doing.
That’s pretty much everything, I believe. Oh, during my vacation from posting, I will still be posting on social media, so feel free to follow me if you’d like to keep up with all the holiday baking/cooking/etc. I’ll be getting into. (You can follow me by clicking on the I’m Over Here Too! icons in the left side-bar)
Okay now that’s everything.
I hope you guys all have a wonderful, relaxing holiday season, and I’ll see you all in 2019!
Liking the site? Consider signing up for my Patreon, so I can continue bringing you the content you love!
Chucky, Friday the 13th, Halloween, Scream – these classic horror movies have one thing in common that, when put against Saw, well, something just seems off. I’ve heard many people complain about the franchise as a whole. People say that it’s not good, doesn’t deserve to be on lists with other classic horror movies, etc. and, they’re right. But not for the reason they think.
People get so irrevocably enraged when they see Saw in lists with other classic horror movies. But why?
Because John Kramer isn’t actually a horror movie villain.
Okay, that may not be their reason, but it’s mine.
And here’s why:
(Spoilers ahead – read at own risk!)
1. He’s Never Actually Killed Anybody
Whether you hate, love or love-to-hate the franchise, you can’t deny that, upon watching the eight (yes, eight) movies, you never actually see John Kramer stab/shoot/behead or otherwise kill a character on screen with his own two hands.
He puts his subjects in games and always gives them a way to survive. It’s not shown once that John Kramer himself straight up murders anybody. That’s one of the biggest differences between him and the classics.
The closest John gets to actually killing somebody would be in the first movie, two detectives are about to arrest John, when, he slashes Detective David Tapps’ throat. He does this in a bid to escape, (which works), and though it’s never outright said whether done on purpose, Detective Tapp survived the attack.
2. He Doesn’t Condone Murder, Either
There’s a scene in the 3rdSaw movie where it’s revealed that one of his disciples, Amanda had killed someone who had survived one of the traps. At this point, John tells her, he ‘despises murderers.’
In the same movie, Amanda designed a trap to kill Detective Allison Kerry. John again, tells her, ‘I selected you for the honour of carrying on my life’s work. But you didn’t. You didn’t test anyone’s will to live. Instead you took away their only chance. Your games were unwinnable, your subjects merely victims.’
John also voices his thoughts on intentionally killing again in the 5th movie. John is talking to Detective Hoffman, who had killed a man in a Saw-style trap. John took issue with the fact Hoffman hadn’t given the victim a chance to escape (much like Amanda), as evident by the following:
J: ‘They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but I find it somewhat distasteful to be given credit for work that’s not mine. (Holds up newspaper with the headline ‘Jigsaw Killer Responsible for Pendulum Murder’) Especially inferior work. …Vengeance can change a person. Make you into something you never thought yourself capable of being. But unlike you, I’ve never killed anyone. I give people a chance.’
3. The Whole Point of The Games Is Rehabilitation
This is something that John has said multiple times throughout the movies, whenever someone asks him why he does what he does, or what the point of it is. These movies aren’t slasher movies! He takes no pride when the people in his traps die, and he doesn’t want them to.
Here are just a few quotes (not including the ones from above) from the man himself on his work:
It was the police and the press who coined the nickname Jigsaw. I never once encouraged or claimed that. The jigsaw piece that I cut from my subjects was only ever meant to be a symbol that that subject was missing something. A vital piece of the human puzzle. The survival instinct. (Saw 2)
You can dispense justice and give people a chance to value their lives in the same moment. (Saw 5)
Until a person is faced with death, it’s impossible to tell if they have what it takes to survive. (Saw 6)
Once you see death up close, then you know what the value of life really is (Saw 6)
There are many other quotes, but I feel these are some of the best to represent the point he, and I, am trying to make. He’s not a stone-cold killer – he hates murderers! He believes that if you push a person to the limits, they will have a newfound respect for their life. And, call me crazy, but I can understand that train of thought. Not saying him putting them in life threatening situations is rational or a good idea – just… I can see the logic.
4. When People Pass, He Helps Them
Amanda is probably the biggest example of this in the series. Once Amanda passed her test, he congratulated her on surviving, took her in, and gave her life a purpose. She was lost and he gave her what she needed. She’s the one who kept messing it up. He kept testing her, and she kept failing. He was giving her chance after chance, even admits to wanting to leave his legacy to her but no. She went off the deep end and look what happened, she ended up getting killed because of her choices.
Doctor Gordon is similar. After he passed the test, it was revealed John took him, cauterized his leg and nursed him back to health. Both ended up being so grateful, they wanted to help John continue his work. Because being in the traps gave them a new outlook on life. (Aka, his rehabilitation worked.)
5. He Has No Signature Weapon
Freddy has that claw hand, Michael has his machete, Leatherface has a chainsaw, Ghostface uses a knife, Chucky is a doll – all the great horror movie villains have that one weapon you see and instantly associate with them. John… doesn’t. Sure, the traps used in the movies are very specifically his, but he doesn’t stick to one type of ‘killing method’… mainly because his objective isn’t to kill.
Even putting the fact he doesn’t use the traps to murder aside, he’s still used everything from an incinerator (Saw 2) to spraying someone with cold water until they froze to death (Saw 3), to a cyclone powered by a motorcycle (Saw 8). Perhaps the most notable trap used during the series was the reverse bear trap, but not because that’s the one John preferred over the others, or that it was the trap that was used the most – it’s just because it’s really friggin’ cool.
You can’t deny you can’t be a notable villain without having that thing.
6. He Tells His Victims How To Survive
He literally tells them, every time without fail what they need to do in order to survive the game. He makes it a point to be the first thing that happens when they wake up: the tape/thing with the rules on it plays automatically. He makes it hard, but fair. They always have a way out, every. Single. Time. The only traps in the whole series that aren’t escapable, aren’t even his! And, once he finds out what they’ve done, he yells/reprimands them and tells them that’s not what they’re trying to accomplish.
In what other horror movie does the killer say, ‘if you run this way you’ll escape,’ or, ‘my weakness is *insert random object*,’ ‘I can’t swim! Better hope you don’t head for the lake!’ No. None of them give their victims a chance. The only objective on their minds is to kill, just because they can.
7. He Doesn’t Get Pleasure Out of It
Another classic horror villain thing: killing for pleasure. John would probably scoff at that if someone accused him of such things. Just as he never adopted the Jigsaw nickname, he doesn’t put people in traps for the fun of it. He uses it as a learning tool. (Albeit an extreme one) When the people in the traps don’t make it – though he left it ultimately up to them – it’s not hard to see he even looks sad when they don’t make it. You can see it pains him that they didn’t have what it took to survive. Though it’s never outwardly said in the franchise, you can tell in his face when they talk about victims not making it, it pains him.
8. He Doesn’t Use His Back Story as an Excuse
Let’s be honest, losing your unborn son and then learning you have inoperable cancer has got to suck, but all things considered, he handles his past pretty well. He doesn’t burn down a school because people were mean to him *cough, cough* Carrie! *cough cough*, he doesn’t blame a voice in his head for making him murder, and he most definitely doesn’t pin his kills on avenging his mother.
It would be so easy for someone as smart as John to use the traps for straight up murder, or, even screw the traps and just go on a killing spree like other horror villains, but, instead, he allows his past to give him a new purpose. He instead, dedicates his life to helping other people. He openly tells people throughout the series his beliefs and what he plans to do. He’s never dishonest or lies to the people in the traps to get what he wants. He omits certain truths, or withholds certain information, but never straight up lies. He doesn’t need to.
9. He’s Got a Plan (And Doesn’t Deviate)
If you’re not on his list, you’re most probably safe. He doesn’t suddenly switch targets because that person happens to be closer/easier to kill then the one he was planning on getting. He doesn’t distract himself with people not already on his radar. He’s got a very concrete plan in his head of how everything’s going to go. His plan even accounts for when his disciples inevitably differ from what he expects them to do. He’s ready for it. He’s anticipated every possible angle and outcome and is rarely (if ever) surprised/caught off guard during the series.
Throughout the series, and, perhaps one of the coolest parts about it, is that it’s revealed everything ties together in the end. Even characters you had no idea even knew each other all had an affect on the events that transpired. It’s one of the things I hands-down love most about the series.
10. He Doesn’t Hold Grudges
Most (not all) of the notorious big baddies in horror movies all have the same M.O: Revenge.
You could argue that John does get revenge by placing the people who he feels have wronged him/their mistakes somehow affected his life in his games, but he doesn’t do it from a selfish stand-point. He doesn’t put you in the game unless you deserve to be there. And, almost all of the people he puts in there belong. Throughout the movies it’s always explained, even the seemingly random people at the beginnings who die before the title shows up – throughout each movie, (if you pay attention) they reveal how all the characters are connected. It’s actually one of the cooler aspects of the movies.
So, whether you love, hate, or love to hate the Saw franchise, I hope this list has helped you realize that John Kramer doesn’t deserve to be lumped in with Freddy, Jason, Chucky or the rest of the horror movie baddies.
He might be a bad guy, but there’s no denying he’s just not a bad guy.
In a horror mood? Check out my debut, text-based horror game Always Check Under The Stairs – it’s sure to leave a chill down your spine!
Liking the site? Consider signing up for my Patreon, so I can continue bringing you the content you love!
Update: My grandfather is finally out of the hospital and is in a rehab center. (He’d suffered a stroke while there) He’s doing much better. I want to thank-you for any positive vibes you’ve sent my way. I should be back to posting on my regular schedule. (TAFs every 2nd Friday, articles the following Mondays, and Product Reviews on the 13th)
I wanted to make this post to let you know I won’t be posting any new stories/articles this week.
A family member is in the hospital (they’re bleeding into their brain), so I’m going to be focusing on family for the next little bit. We’re not sure yet about how long they’ll be staying (it’s already been a week), but I’m keeping hopeful it’s not much longer.
I hope you can understand that this takes precedent over posting articles/stories, and I’ll do my best to get back to posting when I can.
Thank-you for reading/understanding, and I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you by not posting.
Two years. I can’t believe it’s already been two years of being vegan. I don’t even really know what to say. I could go cliché and say that if I could do it, you could too. Or I could go into detail about why I went vegan, but I feel like I’ve already covered that. I did have a post I wrote about my 1 Year Veganversary, but apparently I didn’t post it, and after re-reading it, it didn’t really say much except for, ‘wow! I can’t believe it!’ So, I’ll spare you. In case you’re wondering (although I’m pretty sure I’ve written this out somewhere else) here’s why I went vegan:
New Year’s Eve 2015, I decided to make my New Year’s Resolution to be vegetarian. There wasn’t really anything specific that triggered it, I just wanted to do something different that year. (Usually me and my family just made stupid resolutions, anyway) I was ‘successfully’ vegetarian until about June or July. By that time, it had gotten to be 40+ Celsius, and, me being the idiot I was, I was on the subway and didn’t eat breakfast or drink any water.
Guess what happened next.
I started getting dizzy and had black spots dancing at the edges of my vision. I got home okay, (luckily) and chugged some water. That incident didn’t do very well for quelling my mother’s concerns about it being an okay/healthy diet. And, while now I know why that happened, at the time I somewhat agreed with her. So, after that, I decided I’d be pollotarian (someone who only eats poultry), but was still curious about vegetarianism, and I had ended up stumbling across a Reddit thread that said something like, ‘If you want to go vegan, watch the following documentaries’. Being a curious person, I decided to check out the documentaries.
The first one I watched, Vegucated I didn’t really like, because they were coming at veganism as an aid for weight-loss. A few months after that, I watched Earthlings, and well… let’s just say that one stuck. Even though I still didn’t really know anything about the products, or this or that, I just couldn’t continue non-vegan after that. It was pretty much an instant resolve to stop, which was a bit hard because I still lived with non-vegan family. So I started researching, anything that related to veganism, I read. That was back in Feb. 2016, and I’m still going.
I’ve learned so much within just the past two years, it’s crazy. It seems all that was so long ago!
I do still have some non-vegan items, and while I’m not proud I still have them, I’m not ashamed to say I’m not 100% vegan yet. (But, I mean, is that really a thing?)
During the first year I went vegan, I had focused on just switching over my diet, because while I wanted to immediately change everything overnight (… can you tell I’m an ethical vegan?) that was neither practical nor possible. I didn’t have thousands of dollars sitting around to allow me to switch over everything I own, so I decided the best place to start would be the kitchen, and I could continue to replace other aspects each year/couple months, once I found out more information, had the means to do so.
And, I’d like to say, if you’re thinking about going vegan, but think doing something like the above (not immediately getting rid of every non-vegan thing in your house) would mean you’re not a ‘true vegan’ – don’t even go there. You are 100% a true vegan as long as your heart is in it. Don’t worry too much about being perfect.
It’s not a cult. No Vegan Police are gonna show up and haul you off to jail. Relax. Change over in your own time, as long as you’re committed to doing so, you’ll get there eventually. And, by you even just thinking about changing already puts you on the right path. It’s about getting on the right path, not being dropped at the end of it. Life is a journey and all that crap.
Also, unless you were born with literally all the knowledge ever, you’re going to make some mistakes, or use something that you’d think would be fine (like, say, a plastic bag, or your phone) only to discover later that it’s actually not vegan. And that’s fine. You’re not gonna throw your phone off a bridge – that’s just not practical. There are, unfortunately, some items you use/have to use in today’s society that aren’t vegan.
That does not mean you are a lesser vegan, or aren’t a real one at all. It’s about trying.
Hell, the definition is even: Is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.
So, again, relax. As long as you’re trying, and not eating straight up flesh you’re doing fine.
During this second year, I focused my efforts on beginning to switch non-food items, like toiletries (toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, etc.). I even discovered some ‘hidden’ food items that weren’t vegan I was unknowingly eating. Lays plain (original) potato chips, for instance is made with pork enzymes, and food dyes such as Red #40 is made out of crushed cochineal beetles, and the others (Yellow #5, 6, Blue, etc) are tested on animals. Sad to discover, for sure – especially because Lays doesn’t have the information readily available on their website. The only reason why I even found it was because I was doing research for the vegan cookbook I’ve been working on, and stumbled upon a comment on some vegan forum somewhere. From there, I had e-mailed the parent company (Frito-Lay) about multiple products, and only after asking about it, was I linked to this list* that has all the chips that are made without pork enzymes. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s disappointed to learn some of the plain chips contain enzymes.
Things like this always bring about the same question to me: how far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?
Obviously, pork enzymes is pretty bad, as well as food dyes tested on animals, but should I be expected to contact the parent company every time I’m faced with a situation that is a bit unknown? Of course, I contact the company as often as possible, so that I’m making the best decision, or, if I don’t know, and aren’t able to get an immediate response, (say, for example at a family gathering, where I wasn’t expecting to have said item called into question) I’ll always just pass. Or, if it’s something they bought/cooked ‘specifically for me’ I’ll research, call the company (stay on hold for as long as it takes), or (if I’m not able to get a response, or get an ‘I don’t know’), I’ll take the item home (if able) and continue researching until I get an answer.
It sucks to do that for sure, having to stop the fun of the party or make that person worry when they thought it was fine, but sometimes it’s necessary. Some of you reading this might think that’s rude and will say to just accept it, even if it’s questionably vegan, but I say: why would I put something in/on my body if I don’t know what’s in it, whether or not I was vegan? I don’t think I’ve ever done that, I’ve always asked what’s in something, not even just because I had an allergy, but because I honestly am confused why people would just accept something. There could be literally anything in that, and you don’t know. I’d much rather not eat/use it, and offend the person for a minute, (or, better yet, share the new information so they can avoid the mistake in the future) then have something that I use/is in my mouth when I find out it wasn’t vegan. It’s just… ‘safer’ to not accept it.
If they get offended (which, c’mon, really?) just apologize and tell them you appreciate the gesture, and (if it was a ‘hidden’ ingredient like the food dyes, or something else) tell them they were so close/on the right track! It’s not their fault companies don’t list everything on their packaging (going back to the Lays Original, no where on that bag does it say it contains pork enzymes), so please, please don’t get mad/upset at them for not knowing. Try to remember that not only is it not their fault, but also, would you have known that before you went vegan? No, so don’t go shaming them for not doing hours upon hours of research. Also, some items do say Cruelty-Free or Vegan and have the food dyes or honey, so they might’ve assumed (the same way I’m sure you do sometimes) that if it says vegan right on it, it’d be safe.
Going back to the how far down the rabbit hole thing, I really think it depends on the person. Same as how some vegans eat honey, while others don’t. (I don’t, in case you wondered) It’s all about perspective, and, while it might seem blatanly obvious to some, others either don’t see it that way (and never will), or, haven’t done enough research to know, so they eat/use it unknowingly.
Bottom line: It takes time to learn what’s vegan and what’s not, so don’t be ‘that guy’ and be an asshole because they don’t know something. Instead, why don’t you try helping them discover information. For example, if your non-vegan friends come over, get them to try some vegan food. Don’t force it down their throats, but maybe make it a rule: when you come to my house, you eat vegan. That’s a very reasonable request, and if any of your friends cause a fuss, then tell them they’re not welcome in your house. It’s not that hard. Or, (if you’re okay with it) tell them they can bring their own non-vegan dish (that’s already cooked, unless you don’t care about having non-vegan food ‘contaminate’ your kitchen). It’s your house, you can set the rules, and if they don’t like it, or (for some reason) aren’t comfortable with that, well, then maybe they shouldn’t come over?
You know, as a living, breathing vegan that you don’t need animal products to survive, so if they really can’t eat those 2 out of how-ever-many-meals-you-eat-in-a-lifetime vegan when they come over, then that’s definitely a problem. Also, don’t be afraid to bring subjects like this up with your friends. Don’t attack them, obviously, but ask them their views, and if they’d be okay with it. Present your point of view, and why it’s important to you, for example, to keep your kitchen vegan.
That said, again, it’s 100% up to you, what you’re comfortable with. No one can (or should) tell you what you’re okay with.
It’s been awesome so far, I’ve discovered so many new, amazing products. Nooch is now a staple in my kitchen, when only two years ago I didn’t even know it existed. Same with black salt, and a bunch of other products. I even went to my first vegan festival this past year! That was such an amazing experience, I’m definitely going again this summer. If you haven’t seen it, you can read my review of it here.
I’m super excited to discover even more vegan products in the coming years. I can’t wait to see what else they come out with!
*That list is just the Canadian one, this is the US one, and I haven’t been able to find one for other countries. I recommend getting in contact with them to see if there’s one available for you’re country. (I know usually, UK and Canadian products are produced pretty similar in the ways that they’re produced, so if you live in the UK, I’d suggest using the Canadian list if there isn’t a UK one)
Want to learn more about veganism? Check out The Veg Life, for awesome recipes, product reviews and more!
Liking the site? Consider signing up for my Patreon, so I can continue bringing you the content you love!
Puddles (PHSH Effect #19, Coming Apr. 4th)
Make It Count (Unlearning Series Fic #9, Coming May 9th)
Lens Flares (PHSH Effect #21, Coming July 25th)
Vegan Fast Food: KFC (Coming Aug. 22nd)
Curses (Coming Oct. 14th)
Who Gives a Crap Review (Coming Mar. 28th)
The Long One (A SPN x Marvel crossover, Coming Sept. 2nd)
