Interpret this
Second hand clothes, old clothes, work clothes, sport equipment, medical research, transport, political candidates, honey, respectful horse riding, fair trade, organic, GMO, mussels and oysters, companion animals, working animals, shell collections, children’s birthday parties, strategic exceptions, chosen and thought-through exceptions, rescue hens’ eggs, rescue sheep or alpacas’ wool, pet food, wild animals, big chains, mainstream restaurants, omni partner, shared accommodation, shared bbq, random wines …
These topics shouldn’t be, and aren’t, black and white, “in” or “out”, nor vegan or not-vegan. The Vegan Police attitude refuses to accept grey, and as such, discussion.
The Vegan Police attitude means hiding behind “The Definition” in order to dismiss people or practices, to make sure that they can’t ever be thought of as vegan and, unfortunately, to establish oneself as a real vegan and as a keeper of the One and Only True Interpretation. Because, in fact, it isn’t behind a definition we are hiding when we adopt the Vegan Police attitude, but well and truly behind its interpretation. By interpretation, I mean our perception of what veganism means. Our perspective, our own understanding of the definition.
Playing the Vegan Police means not allowing someone to call themselves vegan if they do one thing or another which does not perfectly fit in with our personal interpretation of veganism.
Moreover, what is animal exploitation exactly? When does animal use, or sharing something with an animal, or controlling an animal, become exploitation — and who would dare say that the answers to these questions are obvious and straightforward? Does veganism oppose animal exploitation or does it go further? How does one decide what constitutes “as far as is possible and practicable” for someone else? What to say of specific situations when a “not vegan” choice following a strict interpretation may lead to fewer animals being killed? Do intentions matter more than the consequences of our choices? These are valid questions, which will arbitrarily be brushed aside by the Vegan Police.
The Vegan Police attitude also means judging and examining in the most minute details every habit, every practice of someone we don’t really know, instead of worrying about the consequences of our choices and about what really matters for things to progress.
Battles of interpretations — let’s leave them to religious wars and let’s care about the animals.
