The idea for this piece came from watching a YouTube video posted by a YouTuber named Melanie Murphy titled “Why I No Longer Eat A Vegan Diet.” In this video, Melanie explained to her viewers why she no longer chooses to eat a plant-based diet, she spoke about the changes that happened in her body that influenced her decision to reintroduce animal products and she spoke about being an ethical omnivore. I personally applauded her for being so open about her life in an era when people on the Internet tend to be especially vicious. In fact, I believe everyone who shares their life on the Internet, whether it be through YouTube, blogging or any other medium, is especially courageous because they allow themselves to be vulnerable to the hateful people who make their home on the internet. After watching the video, I knew that in the comments section the vegans (who I sometimes like to refer to as Freelee’s minions) would attack, and right I was. These are just a few examples of the disrespectful comments I saw:
“There’s no such thing as ethical omnivorism. But I’m sure your 'local' animals appreciate it.”
“Very misinformed and naïve. So sad to see someone spread a horrible message of cruelty and inhumane slaughter just because you didn’t eat enough calories on a vegan lifestyle. Be an inspiration and think about what this one video is saying to hundreds of thousands of people who could’ve made the ethical choice to not contribute to the needless slaughter of billions of innocent beings. So sad.”
“Ethical omnivorism. AKA attempting to justify the cruelty involved in your own pleasure.”
“If they were selling human meat at your grocery store it would be a tragedy but it's ok to sell animal meat” (side note about this comment: even carnivores do not eat their own species…I’ve never seen a lion attack its own lion cub).
There were comments that were much more disrespectful and vulgar. I was truly appalled by the comments, mainly because these people were looking down upon and disrespecting Melanie Murphy for her lifestyle choices without any thought as to what their hateful words could do to her as she is a beautiful, strong woman with a past of struggling with eating disorders. I am just so glad that she is recovered and stronger than ever because I can assure you that making condescending comments on the eating habits of one with an eating disorder only makes things a lot worse for that person.
Had these people who were calling Melanie misinformed and naïve done their research, they would have learned that the Ethical Omnivore Movement is an actual movement. The mission of the ethical omnivores is to be “ethical earthlings.” Those who are members of this movement say that “there need be no shame in the use of animal based products…just in the cruel, wasteful, careless, irreverent attainment of them.”
These are a group of people who oppose big corporation industrial farming, which is almost single-handedly destroying the environment.
They oppose GMOs and the use of pesticides and herbicides, they support local farmers and environmentally sustainable agriculture and they believe that meat consumption should be decreased, yet because they choose to eat chicken once in a while, the value and sincerity of their work is diminished in the eyes of vegans.
I have actually heard from a lot of people that they choose not to associate with the veganism movement because of how vegans like Freelee the Banana Girl and others degrade, attack and belittle people who live lifestyles and make dietary choices that differ from theirs.
At the end of the day, if everyone just decreased their consumption of animal products by one-third, then the world would already be moving in the direction that it needs to go.
Whether it be veganism or ethical omnivorism, I urge everyone to do their research and pick the lifestyle that not only is sustainable and ethical but also best fits their individual needs.
