Wow, I feel like such a star, being discussed and all!
vvalkyri is quite right. I never gave up milk products, instead I would say that I've never intentionally consumed them, just as I have not intentionally ingested strychnine, cyanide, arsenic, mercury and the like. For me avoiding dairy would not be a choice but a necessity, so in assessing my veganism, one must ignore such products.
As for the rest of my veganism, that started from a very early age by rejecting baby foods containing meat (and my parents didn't want to force the issue) making me an early vegetarian on taste grounds. Later on I was persuaded to eat meat until I figured out what it was, at which time (around age 9?) I would be somewhat vegetarian again, this time for more ethical grounds. From then on I slowly rejected more and more of what I consider to be the cruelty towards and exploitation of animals, who have no voice to protest with.
I would say I was a true vegan once I got to university at around age 18 or 19, avoiding not only food products but clothing and such.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2006-08-09 05:19 pm (UTC)As for the rest of my veganism, that started from a very early age by rejecting baby foods containing meat (and my parents didn't want to force the issue) making me an early vegetarian on taste grounds. Later on I was persuaded to eat meat until I figured out what it was, at which time (around age 9?) I would be somewhat vegetarian again, this time for more ethical grounds. From then on I slowly rejected more and more of what I consider to be the cruelty towards and exploitation of animals, who have no voice to protest with.
I would say I was a true vegan once I got to university at around age 18 or 19, avoiding not only food products but clothing and such.