Posted as part of VeganMoFo (The Vegan Month of Food) 2014

When vegans are involved, things get a little tricky – for all of us. For non-vegans, that often looks like defensiveness or hostility due to the perception that vegans are telling them their food choices are unethical or wrong. For vegans, it often looks like self-righteousness and snobbery. So, I’m using the Vegan Month of Food – a month during which vegan blogs are celebrated and aggregated in one place – to teach non-vegans and vegans how to be nice to each other. If you can’t say anything vegan, don’t say anything at all.

STOP CALLING YOURSELF VEGAN!
Vegans and vegetarians, please stop saying these things.

Why?

• It’s good that people want to identify as vegan, so stop discouraging it or making it seem like an impossible and exclusive club!
• If vegan is a term for doing your best to avoid hurting animals, then it’s hard to measure and it should be left up to individuals to determine if they’re vegan or not.
• It doesn’t affect you. Sure, it further confuses people about what exactly vegans do and don’t eat. But most people are confused either way.
• Because I said so.

What are some alternatives?

• “Yay! We’re vegans! Pass the buffalo cauliflower!”
• “Congratulations on becoming vegan! Let me know if you need any advice or resources, because I fully support reducing animal suffering.”
• Don’t say anything at all.