When someone is talking about why they aren't vegan or just hating on vegans, this always comes up: Vegans are "Hypocrites". It usually goes like this. "I can't stand vegans, they are so hypocritical. They act all high-horsey but then they *insert less than nice action here*."
The less than nice things include but not aren't limited to:
The definition of a hypocrite is "a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings", so by definition, if you make occasional mistakes that contradict your belief you are a hypocrite, I guess. On the other hand, if you say that you're not a good person, then no matter what terrible things you do, you are not a hypocrite. Wait what?
First of all, while vegans try to minimize suffering, it is virtually impossible to cause zero harm living in a modern, industrialized society. Vegans aren't infallible. They will make mistakes and they will cause someone some harm at one point. That does not make them hypocrites, that makes them humans. Being vegan doesn't mean to cause zero suffering, although that would be ideal. It means to try to minimize animal suffering as far as possible and practicable. In that sense, doing something wrong doesn't make you a hypocrite, as long as you learn from your mistakes and strive to be better.
Second of all, like I said, if you try to be good but then you make mistakes, you're a hypocrite, while if you say that you are bad then you are anything but hypocrite no matter what you do. In that sense, hypocrite is not a bad thing at all. I'd much rather be a hypocrite who does 20 bad things than a non-hypocrite who does 100 bad things. "Making efforts to make better choices makes you a hypocrite when you can't be perfect so I shall make no efforts at all" How does that even make sense? People act as if being a hypocrite is the worst thing ever. They act like it's worse than knowingly causing more harm than the inevitable. This is madness.
But what about _____ issue? Why do you only care about one thing? Isn't that hypocritical?
Chances are, the vegan in question either didn't know about the issue (which is an honest mistake) or already cares about it but just isn't as vocal about it. This isn't even a vegan issue. Anyone who's vocal about any issue has experienced this. Seriously, some people, most likely trolls, expect us to be vocal about every problem on the surface of planet earth all at the same time. They do not realize how ridiculous that is. Humans simply can't do everything. Not at the same time, at least. That doesn't make what they choose to be more vocal about any less valid.
Don't be afraid to be a hypocrite. Do try your hardest, but if you do act in a way that "contradicts" your belief despite your efforts, that's okay. That doesn't make you a bad person. If anything, it makes you a better person, because you'll know better next time. The goal isn't not being a hypocrite, the goal is to do your best to cause less harm. I wish you the best of luck with all my hearts.
The less than nice things include but not aren't limited to:
- Buying a thing that isn't fair trade.
- Mistakenly consuming animal products.
- Being 'mean' to non-vegans.
- Not vocally advocating a certain ethical issue besides veganism.
The definition of a hypocrite is "a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings", so by definition, if you make occasional mistakes that contradict your belief you are a hypocrite, I guess. On the other hand, if you say that you're not a good person, then no matter what terrible things you do, you are not a hypocrite. Wait what?
First of all, while vegans try to minimize suffering, it is virtually impossible to cause zero harm living in a modern, industrialized society. Vegans aren't infallible. They will make mistakes and they will cause someone some harm at one point. That does not make them hypocrites, that makes them humans. Being vegan doesn't mean to cause zero suffering, although that would be ideal. It means to try to minimize animal suffering as far as possible and practicable. In that sense, doing something wrong doesn't make you a hypocrite, as long as you learn from your mistakes and strive to be better.
Second of all, like I said, if you try to be good but then you make mistakes, you're a hypocrite, while if you say that you are bad then you are anything but hypocrite no matter what you do. In that sense, hypocrite is not a bad thing at all. I'd much rather be a hypocrite who does 20 bad things than a non-hypocrite who does 100 bad things. "Making efforts to make better choices makes you a hypocrite when you can't be perfect so I shall make no efforts at all" How does that even make sense? People act as if being a hypocrite is the worst thing ever. They act like it's worse than knowingly causing more harm than the inevitable. This is madness.
But what about _____ issue? Why do you only care about one thing? Isn't that hypocritical?
Chances are, the vegan in question either didn't know about the issue (which is an honest mistake) or already cares about it but just isn't as vocal about it. This isn't even a vegan issue. Anyone who's vocal about any issue has experienced this. Seriously, some people, most likely trolls, expect us to be vocal about every problem on the surface of planet earth all at the same time. They do not realize how ridiculous that is. Humans simply can't do everything. Not at the same time, at least. That doesn't make what they choose to be more vocal about any less valid.
Don't be afraid to be a hypocrite. Do try your hardest, but if you do act in a way that "contradicts" your belief despite your efforts, that's okay. That doesn't make you a bad person. If anything, it makes you a better person, because you'll know better next time. The goal isn't not being a hypocrite, the goal is to do your best to cause less harm. I wish you the best of luck with all my hearts.
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