🎓 *Thesis statement:* Simultaneously recognizing the sentience of nonhuman animals while _also_ holding the necessity of their use as a foregone conclusion is the same abstraction of their individuality & inherent rights that allows one’s intellect to _shift_ from advocating _for_ them to haggling over the "appropriate" terms of their exploitation. *Get notified about new Bite Size Vegan content:* 🎉 Best way to get notified every time? Follow on Telegram: BiteSizeVegan.org/Telegram 💌 Get email notifications by joining the newsletter: bitesizevegan.org/subscribe/ 🔔 Not getting notified on UA-cam? See: support.google.com/youtube/answer/7391308 ( *PLEASE NOTE* - UA-cam *_NO LONGER SENDS EMAILS ABOUT NEW VIDEOS_* - even though that article says they do! *_SO, for more reliable notifications, please subscribe to my newsletter or follow on Telegram:_* bitesizevegan.org/subscribe/ ) ✧ The article for this video: bitesizevegan.org/why-smart-people-stop-being-vegan/ 📗Get your free guide to going vegan: bitesizevegan.org/get-started/go-vegan/
Plant based dieting =/= Veganism Besides, even most so-called intelligent people are manifestly plagued with the desire to rationalize and excuse their choice to choose convenience over adherence to a principal.
@Jonah Whale I can't comment on the study you're alluding to, but I do agree with much of what you've proposed. When I was considering the focus for this video, I debated a larger-scope of the relationship of "academic intelligence" (for lack of a better term) and veganism. While I did touch on how intellect can be a hindrance to the core ethical concepts that one can "easily" connect with via basic empathy, it would need a whole video to itself. It's always an extreme challenge determining not only the scope of a video, but also the tone/delivery/approach. I purposefully went with a more informal and sarcastic delivery precisely in order to "cut through" the intellectual bloviating that can plague (as you said) "moralistic/psuedo-intellectual, "logic bro" -circle jerks- debates". There's also the fact that the (primarily male-dominated) academic gas-baggery is given infinitely more respect and “legitimacy” than any ethical argument with a slightly empathy/emotional tone. Or even an equally intellectual-sounding basis uttered from a non-certified-by-whatever-academic-standard person. I worry equally about my more academic presentations being non-relatable as I do my more informal content being "non-legitimate". Though, let's be honest, I am easily discounted by many as "a UA-camr" regardless of the format :) I experienced similar aversion to the (also primarily male-dominated) gas-baggery of the art world while getting my MFA. In many ways it's not the importance of your work but rather it's HOW you talk about it...so those with the best bloviation abilities are often deferred to as budding geniuses. There was someone in my program who never actually produced any work but knew how to talk in a way that made anything sound profound. I felt like I was in "the emperor's new clothes"...like no one else seemed to notice the guy was naked! They were so caught up in his cerebral-sounding pontificating that they didn't seem to realize he'd made NOTHING.... There is also the tendency with in the art world, as well as academia, for it to become an echo chamber of commenting upon art (or theory) that commented upon art (or theory) that commented upon art (or theory). Such that anyone outside of the circle has no way of relating. I always wanted my art to be something anyone from any background could get something from. That they didn't feel they had to go through a masters program to relate to it. That's the same manner in which I approached my activism. Though I do always battle with the intellectual/academic aspects of myself and the "cut through it" aspects... Yes, were I to go back to school and get a PhD, anything I say would then have a greater assumed legitimacy. Were I to publish journal articles instead of videos and articles on my own website, that would also have higher legitimacy. But what audience would I be reaching? Part of my goal with Bite Size Vegan was to "bridge the gap" between such (often paywall-protected) academic literature/studies/dense governmental documentation and the accessibility of social media and digital content. To take on the burden of the research and parsing that most people don't have the time for, access to, etc... It is not an easy task to balance all the aspects of this. Especially with attempting to produce researched content on a social-media schedule :P ANYWAYS, I wanted to reply more thoroughly and with better structure, but am doing so on my phone at the moment, and am rubbish at typing on these things :) Please forgive any poor formatting or scattered thoughts :) I think I got way off the original point. (Another difficulty in trying to "nutshell" complex topics without being overly reductive) ps - this doesn't mean there is NO place for academia within animal rights... but as I said within the video, it has to be kept in check as (even within the animal rights side) it can lead to the conceptual abstraction of non-human animals.
@jonahwhale9047 Thats funny. As a long time whole food ethical vegan, I was under the impression that most vegans have a higher educational level than non-vegans. Not lower.
you're amazing, I am hyperbollicaly grateful for what you do, and I think you have been changing the world and as you say, the way you talk about things is one the most valuable parts of it. @@BiteSizeVegan
this video reminded me just how much i missed your content when you were gone from youtube. the intellectualization, the snark, the humor. i just love everything. Telling you again: Your videos helped me to finally go vegan 8 years ago. your videos what made me take the leap after being vegetarian for 12 years. still going strong, never going back. thank you
The Nerrdpit, thank you SO much for this! Really brings me much encouragement and hope. It means the world to me, truly...I'm honored. As trite as that sounds, it's absolutely true :) And I'm also always thrilled when my blend of snark and intellectualization hit the spot :)
Same here! Emily is one of the OGs when I went vegan, around april/may of 2014. Emily, Gary, James, Joey. The movement was rapidly expanding back then and it is so awesome seeing so much vegan content these days ✊️
Yeap, we're deeply ingrained by our cultural and belief environment. As a child, I never wanted to eat meat. Because, I think, there was something in me telling me that it was wrong, whatever my parents were "teaching" me (nurse mother, butcher father = "that's good for your health, you'll grow bigger and stronger"). Alas, it took me decades to realize by how much I had been lied to. Sorry, animal kingdom 😢
Yep. I started refusing to eat animals about as soon as my mom starting trying to feed them to me. She said if I could TELL something was from an animal I refused to eat it. It was only if she disguised it that I would. I think that's true for most kids. If they KNOW they're eating the bodies of animals, they don't want to.
Wow, me too. I hated meat as a child. My mom told me that I cannot leave the table until I will show down my throat big chunk of cow. I hated the taste and I always LOVED animals so I was deeply confused and traumatized when my family slaughtered animals during summers I spent at my grandparent's house. It was horrifying!
I love that people like Emily and Hannah McNeely (another vegan youtuber) make a pointed effort to address this issue, which is staying vegan. They offer solutions, rather than judgement.
Why? Because people think being vegan is about just beating healthy and about us. The fact is being vegan is about THEM and living as selfless as we can on this planet. Of course nothing in life is perfect but living vegan causes the least amount of harm to animals and the world. Another GREAT video Emily!!!!.🙏🙏
I don't know, I don't see myself a much of a carrying person. I just respect animals' right to life. I've been vegan for over 7 years now. I don't love animals, I don't care much about them, I would never say I prefer animals over humans. But just as any sane human being can refuse to hurt other people without the constant threat of imprisonment I can refuse to hurt or finanse the abuse of animals without being forced to do so.
I don't get how your veganism is about other people that aren't vegan? Isn't the whole purpose of living vegan to not contribute to animal cruelty? There won't be a world where people aren't cruel to animals as this sadly isn't in our nature. Humans are predators and we can't change that. Going vegan is the best thing to not contribute to animal cruelty but I need you to understand that there also is another way. Many people don't want to stop eating dairy and meat and that's totally fine if you a) Don't impregnate them forcibly only to take away their baby to have all the milk for yourself. Which also makes you cut back on dairy. b) don't have too many animals for too few space. c) don't kill your cattle just for food. If you do need to, do it in a humane way. d) simply cut back on these products and look for alternatives. HOWEVER the MOST important thing for more people to try out to be vegan is for EVERY Vegan that is trying to get others to be vegan to STOP. I need you to understand that there are many people that are really fed up with (out of their view) "people who think they are better for not harming animals" and some are even eating more meat out of spite. Studies have shown that the way to get people in the hospital to consume less meat is to simply not state that it's vegan. This should really say a lot. We want them to accept our lifestyle and we need to accept theirs. The reason behind the cruelty nowadays is literally that people ARE cruel and they don't care about it. We need to stop trying to convert them. We get annoyed when they tell us to eat meat and they get annoyed when we tell them to stop doing so. There also shouldn't be such an issue with humane leather. If the cow was not killed for it's skin but either died because of sickness or age then there is no issue in wearing leather!(like a belt[which also typically lasts longer then alternatives and is therefore better for our climate in the long run.])
Oh, sorry for the wall of text. I didn't realize how long it got. I hope you don't feel attacked as this was in no way my goal. I mean this in the politest way possible
Thank you, this was very profound. I had to hear it several times 😅it’s so hard for me to understand how someone who claims to have made the ethical connection and has claimed to be an advocate reverts to meat eating and in occasions becomes a monster attacking Veganism like Tim Shieff. He was the first vegan UA-camr to shock me when he announced his new stance.
Thank you so much, akanne1! Also, if you want a written reference, you can always check out the article that has it all written out: bitesizevegan.org/why-smart-people-stop-being-vegan/ :)
Thank you for this. I've long maintained the view that anthropocentrism is the ultimate destroyer. So many 'lesser' belief systems can only exist in dependence of it or are upheld in service of it. Higher intelligence just means you can easily rationalize madness. Come to think of it, "rationalizing madness" seems to be an apt summary of most of history.
You're very welcome. And I appreciate your thoughts on this. Anthropocentrism is indeed extremely problematic. I appreciate your concept of rationalizing madness. I think we can intellectualize any absurdity into sounding profound if we try!
The developments of the last few weeks have taught me an uncomfortable lesson. Making the ethical connection isn't a guarantee of lifelong commitment. Maybe that's obvious to others but I'm prone to black & white thinking & always thought it was. It's easy to dismiss ex plant based dieters who never seemed to connect with the ethics. But he clearly got it. I think poor mental health can make anyone act out of character & weaken their resolve but it's sad that this was the outcome
I can't of course speak to any particular individual, but what I wanted to explore in this video is that it's possible that making a connection to the ethical concepts of veganism _purely_ on an intellectual level, there is the risk reducing sentient beings to conceptual abstractions. (Even within the animal rights community) Then non-human animals can end up relegated to faceless data points just as much as they are within the animal products industries... And, as I said on one of the "thesis points" (such a dork), simultaneously recognizing the sentience of nonhuman animals while also holding the necessity of their use as a foregone conclusion is the same abstraction of their individuality & inherent rights that allows one’s intellect to shift from advocating for them to haggling over the "appropriate" terms of their exploitation.
I think Alex never quite understood it.. Or at least the rationalizations started very early. For instance, he infamously said he doesn't think animals deserve rights because we're not giving them rights right now as vegans in crop production. Which of course is not true, nor is it a justification for doing the most amount of rights violations rather than the minimum.
I think he "got it", but he appears to have consumed a malnourished "diet" which led to his deteriorating health...and so he decided animal protein was the solution.
It is perplexing to me how someone who was vegan could go back to eating meat, but a situation like that sort of tells me they were vegan for the wrong reasons.... Maybe they were just vegan because it felt trendy at the time or maybe they were eating to much of one thing and that caused digestive issues or a slue of other reason why, but knowing how animals are treated and still deciding to eat meat on a regular basis is perplexing to me.
meat paradox also for many humans, being accepted and fitting in is very important. It takes a lot of courage to be different and swim upstream of your friends, family, co-workers and society. You have to make a commitment and stick with it... me, for over 26 years...
Thank you. I think that it's more than acceptable that some people need help/support/guidance for staying vegan, whether due to social pressures, health concerns/conditions, or any reason. There is a difference between having questions, concerns, and seeking guidance vs rationalizing and justifying the exploitation of sentient beings. There's nothing wrong with asking for help.
They'll be back if/when the banks go bust. People literally can't afford to put meat on the table. Water is cheaper than milk as is plant protein v animal protein.
I don't need help, but I can see why some might. I get so much resistance, it can be kind of demoralizing at times. Some people treat me like an inconvenience. My own partner claims it makes our grocery bill higher (fortunately I can do math and see this isn't true, and frankly, it doesn't matter enough to change). Some people claim it's antisocial, and as such, shouldn't be practiced. All of these could lead to people feeling like the decision is a mistake; so many people will work against it rather than support it.
@@steve-adams That is so true. It's hard when you are surrounded by people who are not vegan. I can see how social pressure would cause someone to rationalize a decision to revert to eating meat. I've become stubborn enough in my old age to resist the pressure, but it gets me down sometimes.
I think smart people, including those who _think_ they're smart and may not be, tend to assume they're rational and logical at all times. This blinds them to all the ways they can be manipulated/influenced by others and even their own rationalizations. Also, very few people have the strength of character to do the right thing while most people around them don't.
As a serious over-thinker myself, I know it's possible to think oneself into absurdity :) I do think we all have to be wary of how deep we can get into though processes to the point of being so far from reality in the end that it is absurd. This occurs even within the intellectual animal rights sphere where non-human animals do end up (as I said) relegated to conceptual abstractions... That's also why I like to inject sarcasm into much of my educational content. Sometimes it helps to "clear the cobwebs" of intellect and reconnect to the basics :)
Loved every word of this video! As a teenager, I hated hunters, yet justified eating livestock animals by saying I was doing them a favor by eating them, since they weren't wild and free. Your video made me reflect further, and yes, it is what we're taught. My Dad passed on his anti-hunting views to me, and he also ate livestock animals. What he didn't have was documentaries like Glass Walls, Earthings, Forks Over Knives, etc., which woke me up :) And yes, our identities are closely tied to animal exploitation. It was challenging giving up certain family food traditions and personal habits like the soaps I used and clothes I wore. Worth the work, that's what I wish I could get people to understand. It's so worth the initial difficulty/unease.
Emily, what an intellectually-stimulating yet also entertaining exploration on the interplay of intellect and ethics! As always, I greatly appreciate the care and depth you approach every topic with-even when adding in some sarcasm to punch it home. Really enjoyed this one...and it also helps me better understand why some people I've discussed vegan ethics with, though very intelligent themselves, present arguments that have no rational foundation. Think I'll be giving this a few more watches :)
Anesh, thank you as always for your thoughtful feedback and kind words. I’m glad that you found this helpful in potentially understanding some of the interactions you’ve had. I do hope it helps also highlight the true individuality and inherent rights on non-human animals. They are not conceptual abstractions, but rather living, sentient beings.
It might be a no brainer to you, but to some there may be genuine barriers even if they are really emotionally moved by the plight of the animals. It’s more than about being motivated, there needs to ease of practicality as well.
@@nicolesapphire3696 Great news then: going vegan is easy, cheap and convenient for most people. There have been few atrocities in human history that could be ended with such convenience and ease.
Cosmic Septic @cosmicskeptic never even got to the point that animals have a right to their own lives, even when he was "vegan" I think that was the real difference, and we can honestly say he was never vegan because he never stopped seeing animals as food - he saw them as "something" with no rights.
@@antoniusnies-komponistpian2172 AO has very clearly stated repeatedly, as has Singer, that he does not believe that animals have rights. Neither one is vegan.
You are so amazing...your videos...just the most informative out there...love it when you are "snarky" but actually find your snark is just speaking the truth.
Thank you so much, Kathleen Butler :) Glad you enjoy my snark. I do find sometimes it's more effective at highlighting truths...to cut through all our mental gymnastics ;D
emily, i think you hit the nail on the head when you spoke about the difficulty for someone to overcome childhood indoctrination and commodification. for most this seems to be completely impossible. even when these early beliefs, like in the case of an animal based diet ultimately leads them down a path of chronic lifetime illness and early death. i am now 70 and have been on an organic wfpbd for many years and i am so sick and tired and heartbroken of just having to stand by and watch friends and loved ones suffer horribly for years of debilitating chronic illness and early death just because they are unable to change their diet. i think your approach with the early education of children will really be the most positive way forward. thanks for your great videos and inspiration.
We all have free will to make our own choices, but with that comes the consequences. do not put that burden of others choices on your emotions, thats wasting your energy. I met a woman one day as I was reading a vegan book. She was nice, but told me "she would rather die than give up her "meat". And I thought, well, thats' your choice.
You're the best. People who are interested in living in alignment with their values of anti-oppression seriously need to commit to learning about how deep speciesism goes, and speciesism itself teaches us how supposedly better and more intelligent we are than other animals, to the point that we disregard completely how much everything we do is very... emotional and ideology based.
Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson and Neil Degrasse Tyson are examples on how really smart people regress into child like reasoning when it comes to basic moral principles and basic plant based nutrition.
Sounds like an incomplete approach that is more sociopolitical since neither of these three have made solid arguments for or against veganism. In fact, for someone like Jordan Peterson, it may be argued that his admonishment of treating veganism as a religion with its dogmas IS THE REASON how people could leave veganism as they would the Christian church. This is especially when he speaks of rights within the framework of a social contract theorist. I.e. "my rights can only exist when everyone else shoulders their obligations to preserve my rights, as I would with theirs." Most animals do not have the basic capacity to shoulder that obligation, no different than a cat "respecting" my dead body 8 hours after my death.
i don't think u even need to love animals to decide not to pay for unwatchable suffering. I mean, I know I definitely don't love most humans - but i would definitely never pay to torture them to eat them!!
Thank you, Emily, for sharing your gift of compassion, logic, and common sense with the world. What a great video, and something that weighs so heavily on my mind, surrounded by seemingly loving people who still choose to consume and exploit non-human sentient beings. I only wish I were half as eloquent as you--we earthlings are so lucky to have you in our corner!
Thank you Emily. You put so much care and effort into your work. Backing it up with written articles is so useful, the videos are great but I enjoy going to the written article to be able to take some time to consider some of issues for or against.
I’m honored to hear this! I do really pour a great deal into my work. The articles do take SIGNIFICANT time on top of the video work. But I feel they are important and I hope they are useful and referenced :) always thrilled to hear from people who do find them of use!
So many golden quotes in this video. As always i love how you word things and the delivery is everything. i reckon we would have a lot of fun hanging out. We have a similar sense of humour it seems. Thanks for all you do for our animal friends, you and Miyoko Schinner are my vegan heroes!
Thank you so much Ysari :) I always put a great deal of thought (sometimes too much) into my wording and delivery. Always rewarding when it seems to come across as I was hoping :) also glad you share my sense of humor. :D
I’ve been vegan at first 5 years ago for health reasons so Dr Michael Gregor is my mentor but after watching Cowspiracy, Seaspiracy, What the Health, Forks Over Knives and more I am vegan for all reasons. It’s difficult dealing with others blasting me for my beliefs but I hold strong. Never going back to any other way but a whole food plant based mostly raw unprocessed no refined sugars vegan diet. Thank you for your videos. Glad to find you. I want to do more.
@rachelgoodkind6545 I'm generally accepted. I don't preach to people. Simply existing is a protest. People see it and feel ot enough. It normalizes the movement. Just go and be a human doing it. If someone asks just be concise and move on...then people are comfortable asking about it again...maybe in 3 days or maybe 3 years...but they're at least apt to not think it weird.
Stalin (in)famously said, “The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of a million is a statistic.” It is not hard to see how this applies to animals. To most, it is not convenient to think of animals as an individual with the exception of a pet and even that is not universal. At first, some effort is needed and then it becomes the norm. There are many roads to becoming vegan with ethics usually being the one that endures.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment. Spot-on with the "inconvenience" of their individuality. It's also on an emotional level horrifying to truly connect to their individuality. I think even as ethical vegans, it's near impossible to really grasp the sheer numbers....trillions a year. That's beyond our comprehension on any truly tangible level. It's devastating to consider that each of them is an individual. I think about the slaughterhouse trucks every time I pass. It can seem like this never-ending conveyer belt..."just another truck of pigs/cow/chickens." Yet for every single being in there...this is their life. It's their only life. This is them on their way to their execution. They aren't statistics. They are individuals.
Thank you so much, Kathleen! Oh and just FYI, in case you weren't aware, I've been "back" producing content for over a YEAR now :) Unfortunately, UA-cam doesn't see fit to TELL most subscribers that I am making videos. You can check out the NEW videos on my channel and website. If you are NOT getting notified, you can check out this troubleshooting article from UA-cam: support.google.com/youtube/answer/7391308 (be sure to click the bell and select "all notifications" etc) BUT please note that UA-cam NO LONGER SENDS EMAILS about new videos - even though that article says they do! SO, for more RELIABLE notifications, please subscribe to my newsletter or follow on Telegram: bitesizevegan.org/subscribe/
I had no idea you were back, didn't get any notifications. It's good to see you, your channel was pivotal to my transition to veganism, been vegan 7 years now. Your work is appreciated.
UA-cam content creators have an additional motivation to return to paying for the needless killing of innocent sentient individuals. They are likely to get more subscribers, since about 90%+ of viewers are not vegan.
Thank you! I recently watched (apprehensively) a vegan video by Rationality Rules and the host spoke of kinship with nonhuman animals. Your video reminded me of that!
Thanks! Keep up the great work. I would love to see where you and I disagree on how and what the world really is one day, to see if we could work past those differences...
Sorry I'm so late replying! Yes, UA-cam now does such a CRAP job of letting even subscribers know when I'm publishing... Been "back" at it for almost a year and a half! Yet so many don't even know I've been active... Ah, UA-cam!! I'm honored to have had a role in your journey. Means the world to me! Also, for notifications...if you are NOT getting notified, you can check out this troubleshooting article from UA-cam: support.google.com/youtube/answer/7391308 (be sure to click the bell and select "all notifications" etc) BUT please note that UA-cam NO LONGER SENDS EMAILS about new videos - even though that article says they do! SO, for more RELIABLE notifications, please subscribe to my newsletter or follow on Telegram: bitesizevegan.org/subscribe/
Thank you for this video Amy. This has been really bothering me. You rock! I get so angry when I see Vegans going back to eating animals. I know I will never go back. I LOVE ANIMALS, I cannot be the reason any of them would be suffering. My husband became Vegan as well (the biggest steak eater). He loves the food even more. He tells me that every day. I just made Mushroom steak strips and roasted 6 kinds of veggies. I made Vegan Tiramisu for dessert. We are eating so well, not hurting animals and healing our bodies. #veganforanimals
When CosmicSkeptic started idolizing non-vegan Peter Singer, only spoke of veganism in utilitarian terms, denied the principle that other animals could even have rights, highlighted slaughterhouses instead of all animal exploitation, and in one video literally begged people to talk him out of veganism, I knew that it wouldn't be long for him.
A great example of intelligent people doing or believing unintelligent things is being religious in a modern world with all the history of organized religion that no person should want to be apart of once they learn about it. It’s interesting how of the thousands of religions that have popped up throughout humanity, the one that you were born into is the right one! Ignorance is bliss…for the end user. A lot of my major life reversals from what I grew up with only happened once I let myself sit down and think through it unbiasedly, and thinking about the bigger picture beyond the bubble that I grew up in.
3:55 I like this part. Recognizing when a question ISN'T BEING ASKED is more 'intelligent' than being able to answer all the questions that do get asked. Something-something "when a man's paycheck depends on him not understanding..."
So smart - thank you. I sort of feel that if you eventually stop being Vegan, you were never Vegan to begin with. If your mind truly goes to 'that place' and gets it, you would never be able to later use your teeth to tear flesh.
I thought you'd disappeared. It's good to see you back. Your focus on science is always so satisfying. Your points here reminds me of that quote; "Smart people are good at coming up with smart reasons to believe non-smart things".
Thank you :D Make sure you do the whole "bell" dance to the UA-cam gods or you still won't ever know that I post ;D If you are NOT getting notified, you can check out this troubleshooting article from UA-cam: support.google.com/youtube/answer/7391308 (be sure to click the bell and select "all notifications" etc) BUT please note that UA-cam NO LONGER SENDS EMAILS about new videos - even though that article says they do! SO, for more RELIABLE notifications, please subscribe to my newsletter or follow on Telegram: bitesizevegan.org/subscribe/
This was an excellent, matter-of-fact analysis, Emily. I have commented elsewhere, after the last "apostate" appeared, that super smart people are experts at manipulative reasoning and there should be an expectation that they use it on themselves, as well. Thanks for posting
Thank you so much, tamcon72. I'm so glad you found this to be an effective analysis :) I was hoping I found an appropriate balance of intellectualizing myself and down-to-earth sarcasm :)
Brilliant video Emily. The collective delusion that one can be an animal lover and a good person while casually paying for the slitting of an innocent animal's throat (among other atrocities) is indeed the twisted cornerstone of human anthropocentrism, imagining that nothing is more important than the homo sapiens and that everything and everyone on earth is only there to serve him and his selfish needs, to the point where he would destroy the entire world for his selfish greed and gluttony.
What gets me is all those "former vegan" videos go on and on about diet alone and barely or never even mention the animals. Yeah, former vegan, ok whatever.
I'm always excited when I see one of your vids drop! I'm glad you aren't breaking down CS's latest nonsense directly again because so many people have done that already.
I'm so glad you enjoy my content :) Yeah, I'm generally "out of the loop" with commentary kinds of things. I did want to explore this concept of the relation of intellectualization and the ethical tenets of veganism. I have observed (and experienced myself, though not in relation to ethics) the over-intellectualization of things creating such a distance from the most basic realities in life... It's something I found (and find) frustrating in the academic world, as well as the art world when I was getting my MFA. While I love myself some in-depth research and citing and such, I also value cutting through all that when it begins to cloud rather than contribute...
Thank you for sharing. Humans want to be accepted and belong, therefore we are willing to conform to societal expectations rather than have the courage to stand up for the victims. We fear change, do not want to "be different" and stick out from the crowd. My experience is, it takes COURAGE to become vegan and swim upstream. However, I have been doing this for over 25 years and I am just as perfect as everyone else is, or is not. cheers.
This is SO true! It’s really very simple. Why are we using non-human animals? So deeply ingrained! I live in VT. -SUPER liberal, college town, and “earthy”. But, still this “blind spot” prevails. This is what I hear: they are “making a difference in other ways” and “being vegan is too hard”
Another great video - thank you Emily! We need to fearlessly question the belief systems we protect and coddle so dearly, and be willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of our values. People become so apathetic about doing the right thing, like it's just too much hassle to think and act in a (morally) new way. It's NOT enough to just know it.
I've always found ex-vegans ridiculous and intriguing at the same time. This video really connected everything together for me. Can't wait to drop this at the next dinner :) Thank you.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. I try to structure my videos with a purposeful flow trough the thought process. In my more "formal" educational videos, I also provide the visual outline on screen to help the viewer track the information and structure throughout. If you've not seen those, this one gives an example of that approach: ua-cam.com/video/tSc91Nd2Kw8/v-deo.html
Great video! Especially the point about the individuality of nonhuman animals. Had I intellectualized or rationalized being vegan, I would have stopped because I was sick and stopped eating properly. Turns out the end adolescence, undiagnosed autism, being an African in the arctic, and trauma can do quite the physical number. Would have been so easy to single out diet, or lifestyle. 7 years later, a lot of mental work and a whole lot more food later, I’m still vegan. Even after all my personal experiences and all the great arguments I’ve heard about how veganism alone won’t solve the world’s problems; there are still no actual reasons not to be vegan
This is a fantastic take. I have always had an issue with how classist the concept of intelligence is. Access to education, and being "intelligent" has nothing to do with ones moral compass. Ty for addressing this topic. CS is doing his thing...wish he would not have blasted his "non vegan" status; and just deal with his "accessibility" issues on his own. I would like to think, that with all his awareness, getting back to being veg is only a matter of dealing with his obstacles ✌️
Peer pressure is stronger than ethical convictions for most people. If you are convinced that veganism is the only ethical option, the fact that all your friends and family are not, and will likely push back on your new lifestyle will motivate smart people to use their intellect to find justifications to not go vegan, or return to paying for the needless killing of innocent sentient individuals.
Yes that pressure if a true factor. As I talk about towards the end, you don't even have to have good reasoning to be in good company when it comes to rationalizing the exploitation of non-human animals... most of the world agrees and is more than happy to offer confirmation.
If your heart is the reason, that becomes your anchor. Your world view changes in phases and it’s not easy especially in the beginning but vegan awareness is never going to be easy in a flesh eating world. So - you find a way to make peace to stay sane and healthy but the heart is the biggest motivator IMO.
Maybe we should start changing our line of questioning, to asking people why they believe murder, rape, torture and enslavement is bad, why they accept this as a moral construct for our society
It literally took me until I was 31 to go vegan. All I had to do was watch all the footages of the meat, dairy and egg industries and that was enough to make the switch. I now could never imagine going back to eating the SAD diet ever again. I’m vegan for life now.
Good luck with that. Nothing more wonderful than being malnourished just because you care about animals more than you do yourself. Once you start losing teeth and develop anxiety; bodies response to why you are no longer eating fundamental nutrients in meat. Then I can only feel sorry for you. You were given this paradise to enjoy the pleasures of life and you through it all away and focused on suffering instead.
In my experience, I've been Vegan for 3 years. I will to manifestations for the right's animals, and I loose my self in a relationship abuse. I was vegan, and my ex (not vegetarian person) in the first time, seems understanding and will talk with me in the compreensive way. Gratualy the aproach change, and he become my king, and for not discuss with him, I think the problem is with me... He don't help me with cooking, and we lived together (tremendous error, my fault to be permissive about that!). With veganism turn my diabetes in 2018 better, I have more energy, more empatic with insects and bugs, I open my mind to a new world! And I feeling so good! Everything change, when my blood analysys demonstrate albumin protein (one of the 3 fonts of celum protein, was down... I ate nuts, peas, tofu, but the value of protein is low for my organism. He penetrate in me that is not healty... The discussion's was so hy, than I will eat egg, just for not discuss and have more peace... He forced me to cook meat, and cost me the world, because is against my principles, and I see a animal, not a piece of a product. In 3 years I feel so lonely... But I finish the relashionship in 2019 and now I have peace and today I saw in facebook one you're publication, and I remember "Wow, I saw this chanel with so nice content, in neutral way, with scientific demonstrations, and I will follow again
It seems to me that veganism is not at all about nutrition and science, and mostly about an ethic based in an emotional attachment to our food sources. I do appreciate the explanation of your viewpoints.
This is what I'm worried about, that my brain will become a "downright bastard". Been a year and a half now, and I worry all the time that I will relapse, that one of family or friends will work on me at a low point. I was at a drinks reception last night at a conference and I was discussing with an attendee how 80 billion land animals are killed every year for food, a third just rocked up and said "so what?". I didn't know what to say to that, I could have insulted him but it wouls have been counterproductive. You are a great UA-camr.
🎓 *Thesis statement:* Simultaneously recognizing the sentience of nonhuman animals while _also_ holding the necessity of their use as a foregone conclusion is the same abstraction of their individuality & inherent rights that allows one’s intellect to _shift_ from advocating _for_ them to haggling over the "appropriate" terms of their exploitation.
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Plant based dieting =/= Veganism
Besides, even most so-called intelligent people are manifestly plagued with the desire to rationalize and excuse their choice to choose convenience over adherence to a principal.
@Jonah Whale I can't comment on the study you're alluding to, but I do agree with much of what you've proposed. When I was considering the focus for this video, I debated a larger-scope of the relationship of "academic intelligence" (for lack of a better term) and veganism. While I did touch on how intellect can be a hindrance to the core ethical concepts that one can "easily" connect with via basic empathy, it would need a whole video to itself.
It's always an extreme challenge determining not only the scope of a video, but also the tone/delivery/approach. I purposefully went with a more informal and sarcastic delivery precisely in order to "cut through" the intellectual bloviating that can plague (as you said) "moralistic/psuedo-intellectual, "logic bro" -circle jerks- debates".
There's also the fact that the (primarily male-dominated) academic gas-baggery is given infinitely more respect and “legitimacy” than any ethical argument with a slightly empathy/emotional tone. Or even an equally intellectual-sounding basis uttered from a non-certified-by-whatever-academic-standard person. I worry equally about my more academic presentations being non-relatable as I do my more informal content being "non-legitimate". Though, let's be honest, I am easily discounted by many as "a UA-camr" regardless of the format :)
I experienced similar aversion to the (also primarily male-dominated) gas-baggery of the art world while getting my MFA. In many ways it's not the importance of your work but rather it's HOW you talk about it...so those with the best bloviation abilities are often deferred to as budding geniuses. There was someone in my program who never actually produced any work but knew how to talk in a way that made anything sound profound. I felt like I was in "the emperor's new clothes"...like no one else seemed to notice the guy was naked! They were so caught up in his cerebral-sounding pontificating that they didn't seem to realize he'd made NOTHING....
There is also the tendency with in the art world, as well as academia, for it to become an echo chamber of commenting upon art (or theory) that commented upon art (or theory) that commented upon art (or theory). Such that anyone outside of the circle has no way of relating. I always wanted my art to be something anyone from any background could get something from. That they didn't feel they had to go through a masters program to relate to it.
That's the same manner in which I approached my activism. Though I do always battle with the intellectual/academic aspects of myself and the "cut through it" aspects... Yes, were I to go back to school and get a PhD, anything I say would then have a greater assumed legitimacy. Were I to publish journal articles instead of videos and articles on my own website, that would also have higher legitimacy. But what audience would I be reaching?
Part of my goal with Bite Size Vegan was to "bridge the gap" between such (often paywall-protected) academic literature/studies/dense governmental documentation and the accessibility of social media and digital content. To take on the burden of the research and parsing that most people don't have the time for, access to, etc... It is not an easy task to balance all the aspects of this. Especially with attempting to produce researched content on a social-media schedule :P
ANYWAYS, I wanted to reply more thoroughly and with better structure, but am doing so on my phone at the moment, and am rubbish at typing on these things :) Please forgive any poor formatting or scattered thoughts :) I think I got way off the original point. (Another difficulty in trying to "nutshell" complex topics without being overly reductive)
ps - this doesn't mean there is NO place for academia within animal rights... but as I said within the video, it has to be kept in check as (even within the animal rights side) it can lead to the conceptual abstraction of non-human animals.
@jonahwhale9047 Thats funny. As a long time whole food ethical vegan, I was under the impression that most vegans have a higher educational level than non-vegans.
Not lower.
you're amazing, I am hyperbollicaly grateful for what you do, and I think you have been changing the world and as you say, the way you talk about things is one the most valuable parts of it. @@BiteSizeVegan
this video reminded me just how much i missed your content when you were gone from youtube. the intellectualization, the snark, the humor. i just love everything. Telling you again: Your videos helped me to finally go vegan 8 years ago. your videos what made me take the leap after being vegetarian for 12 years. still going strong, never going back. thank you
Sweet!
The Nerrdpit, thank you SO much for this! Really brings me much encouragement and hope. It means the world to me, truly...I'm honored. As trite as that sounds, it's absolutely true :) And I'm also always thrilled when my blend of snark and intellectualization hit the spot :)
Same here! Emily is one of the OGs when I went vegan, around april/may of 2014. Emily, Gary, James, Joey. The movement was rapidly expanding back then and it is so awesome seeing so much vegan content these days ✊️
Yeap, we're deeply ingrained by our cultural and belief environment. As a child, I never wanted to eat meat. Because, I think, there was something in me telling me that it was wrong, whatever my parents were "teaching" me (nurse mother, butcher father = "that's good for your health, you'll grow bigger and stronger"). Alas, it took me decades to realize by how much I had been lied to. Sorry, animal kingdom 😢
Yep. I started refusing to eat animals about as soon as my mom starting trying to feed them to me. She said if I could TELL something was from an animal I refused to eat it. It was only if she disguised it that I would. I think that's true for most kids. If they KNOW they're eating the bodies of animals, they don't want to.
Wow, me too. I hated meat as a child. My mom told me that I cannot leave the table until I will show down my throat big chunk of cow. I hated the taste and I always LOVED animals so I was deeply confused and traumatized when my family slaughtered animals during summers I spent at my grandparent's house. It was horrifying!
I'm vegan for 20 years, and I do not have the intention to stop.
Woot :)
Meat is death.
Vegan for life!
That’s great!
Hi vegan for 20 years, I'm dad
6 years and same
You made a WONDERFUL video from an AWFUL topic. Thank you, Emily. For helping people to GO and STAY vegan.
Aww thank you as always for your kind words and encouragement!
I love that people like Emily and Hannah McNeely (another vegan youtuber) make a pointed effort to address this issue, which is staying vegan. They offer solutions, rather than judgement.
Why? Because people think being vegan is about just beating healthy and about us. The fact is being vegan is about THEM and living as selfless as we can on this planet. Of course nothing in life is perfect but living vegan causes the least amount of harm to animals and the world. Another GREAT video Emily!!!!.🙏🙏
Thank you, Jr.
I don't know, I don't see myself a much of a carrying person. I just respect animals' right to life. I've been vegan for over 7 years now. I don't love animals, I don't care much about them, I would never say I prefer animals over humans. But just as any sane human being can refuse to hurt other people without the constant threat of imprisonment I can refuse to hurt or finanse the abuse of animals without being forced to do so.
I don't get how your veganism is about other people that aren't vegan?
Isn't the whole purpose of living vegan to not contribute to animal cruelty? There won't be a world where people aren't cruel to animals as this sadly isn't in our nature. Humans are predators and we can't change that. Going vegan is the best thing to not contribute to animal cruelty but I need you to understand that there also is another way. Many people don't want to stop eating dairy and meat and that's totally fine if you a) Don't impregnate them forcibly only to take away their baby to have all the milk for yourself. Which also makes you cut back on dairy.
b) don't have too many animals for too few space.
c) don't kill your cattle just for food. If you do need to, do it in a humane way.
d) simply cut back on these products and look for alternatives.
HOWEVER the MOST important thing for more people to try out to be vegan is for EVERY Vegan that is trying to get others to be vegan to STOP. I need you to understand that there are many people that are really fed up with (out of their view) "people who think they are better for not harming animals" and some are even eating more meat out of spite.
Studies have shown that the way to get people in the hospital to consume less meat is to simply not state that it's vegan. This should really say a lot. We want them to accept our lifestyle and we need to accept theirs. The reason behind the cruelty nowadays is literally that people ARE cruel and they don't care about it.
We need to stop trying to convert them. We get annoyed when they tell us to eat meat and they get annoyed when we tell them to stop doing so. There also shouldn't be such an issue with humane leather.
If the cow was not killed for it's skin but either died because of sickness or age then there is no issue in wearing leather!(like a belt[which also typically lasts longer then alternatives and is therefore better for our climate in the long run.])
Oh, sorry for the wall of text. I didn't realize how long it got.
I hope you don't feel attacked as this was in no way my goal. I mean this in the politest way possible
Thank you, this was very profound. I had to hear it several times 😅it’s so hard for me to understand how someone who claims to have made the ethical connection and has claimed to be an advocate reverts to meat eating and in occasions becomes a monster attacking Veganism like Tim Shieff. He was the first vegan UA-camr to shock me when he announced his new stance.
Tim Shieff is proof that intelligence is not a prerequisite for going vegan.
Thank you so much, akanne1! Also, if you want a written reference, you can always check out the article that has it all written out: bitesizevegan.org/why-smart-people-stop-being-vegan/ :)
@@audiogarden21another one would have to be Cosmic Hypocrite or whatever his name is
@@Osc1llateW1ldly I am, thankfully from the sounds of it, unfamiliar with that one. =)
Everyone needs to watch this.
Well thank you :)
Thank you for this. I've long maintained the view that anthropocentrism is the ultimate destroyer. So many 'lesser' belief systems can only exist in dependence of it or are upheld in service of it. Higher intelligence just means you can easily rationalize madness. Come to think of it, "rationalizing madness" seems to be an apt summary of most of history.
You're very welcome. And I appreciate your thoughts on this. Anthropocentrism is indeed extremely problematic. I appreciate your concept of rationalizing madness. I think we can intellectualize any absurdity into sounding profound if we try!
Anthropocentrism is the root of all evil! It’s beyond obscene 😾
5:16 - That is literally the first fact I learned which put me on the path to veganism, can't believe I was so stupid lol
You are NOT alone in that being a massive blind spot. That's the power of how deeply ingrained all this is within us!
The developments of the last few weeks have taught me an uncomfortable lesson. Making the ethical connection isn't a guarantee of lifelong commitment. Maybe that's obvious to others but I'm prone to black & white thinking & always thought it was.
It's easy to dismiss ex plant based dieters who never seemed to connect with the ethics. But he clearly got it.
I think poor mental health can make anyone act out of character & weaken their resolve but it's sad that this was the outcome
I can't of course speak to any particular individual, but what I wanted to explore in this video is that it's possible that making a connection to the ethical concepts of veganism _purely_ on an intellectual level, there is the risk reducing sentient beings to conceptual abstractions. (Even within the animal rights community) Then non-human animals can end up relegated to faceless data points just as much as they are within the animal products industries... And, as I said on one of the "thesis points" (such a dork), simultaneously recognizing the sentience of nonhuman animals while also holding the necessity of their use as a foregone conclusion is the same abstraction of their individuality & inherent rights that allows one’s intellect to shift from advocating for them to haggling over the "appropriate" terms of their exploitation.
I think Alex never quite understood it.. Or at least the rationalizations started very early. For instance, he infamously said he doesn't think animals deserve rights because we're not giving them rights right now as vegans in crop production. Which of course is not true, nor is it a justification for doing the most amount of rights violations rather than the minimum.
I think he "got it", but he appears to have consumed a malnourished "diet" which led
to his deteriorating health...and so he decided animal protein was the solution.
It is perplexing to me how someone who was vegan could go back to eating meat, but a situation like that sort of tells me they were vegan for the wrong reasons.... Maybe they were just vegan because it felt trendy at the time or maybe they were eating to much of one thing and that caused digestive issues or a slue of other reason why, but knowing how animals are treated and still deciding to eat meat on a regular basis is perplexing to me.
meat paradox
also for many humans, being accepted and fitting in is very important. It takes
a lot of courage to be different and swim upstream of your friends, family,
co-workers and society. You have to make a commitment and stick with it...
me, for over 26 years...
It seems difficult to believe that there are people that need help to stay vegan. Great video!
Thank you. I think that it's more than acceptable that some people need help/support/guidance for staying vegan, whether due to social pressures, health concerns/conditions, or any reason. There is a difference between having questions, concerns, and seeking guidance vs rationalizing and justifying the exploitation of sentient beings. There's nothing wrong with asking for help.
They'll be back if/when the banks go bust. People literally can't afford to put meat on the table. Water is cheaper than milk as is plant protein v animal protein.
I don't need help, but I can see why some might. I get so much resistance, it can be kind of demoralizing at times. Some people treat me like an inconvenience. My own partner claims it makes our grocery bill higher (fortunately I can do math and see this isn't true, and frankly, it doesn't matter enough to change). Some people claim it's antisocial, and as such, shouldn't be practiced. All of these could lead to people feeling like the decision is a mistake; so many people will work against it rather than support it.
@@steve-adams That is so true. It's hard when you are surrounded by people who are not vegan. I can see how social pressure would cause someone to rationalize a decision to revert to eating meat. I've become stubborn enough in my old age to resist the pressure, but it gets me down sometimes.
@@deutziana4370 Honestly, I find its' just easier for some humans to stick their
head in the sand and not change.
I think smart people, including those who _think_ they're smart and may not be, tend to assume they're rational and logical at all times. This blinds them to all the ways they can be manipulated/influenced by others and even their own rationalizations.
Also, very few people have the strength of character to do the right thing while most people around them don't.
As a serious over-thinker myself, I know it's possible to think oneself into absurdity :) I do think we all have to be wary of how deep we can get into though processes to the point of being so far from reality in the end that it is absurd. This occurs even within the intellectual animal rights sphere where non-human animals do end up (as I said) relegated to conceptual abstractions... That's also why I like to inject sarcasm into much of my educational content. Sometimes it helps to "clear the cobwebs" of intellect and reconnect to the basics :)
Spot on. But everyone can believe in the essence of what they are doing but still
be influenced by society and those they know and revert back.
Loved every word of this video! As a teenager, I hated hunters, yet justified eating livestock animals by saying I was doing them a favor by eating them, since they weren't wild and free. Your video made me reflect further, and yes, it is what we're taught. My Dad passed on his anti-hunting views to me, and he also ate livestock animals. What he didn't have was documentaries like Glass Walls, Earthings, Forks Over Knives, etc., which woke me up :)
And yes, our identities are closely tied to animal exploitation. It was challenging giving up certain family food traditions and personal habits like the soaps I used and clothes I wore. Worth the work, that's what I wish I could get people to understand. It's so worth the initial difficulty/unease.
Emily, what an intellectually-stimulating yet also entertaining exploration on the interplay of intellect and ethics! As always, I greatly appreciate the care and depth you approach every topic with-even when adding in some sarcasm to punch it home. Really enjoyed this one...and it also helps me better understand why some people I've discussed vegan ethics with, though very intelligent themselves, present arguments that have no rational foundation. Think I'll be giving this a few more watches :)
Anesh, thank you as always for your thoughtful feedback and kind words. I’m glad that you found this helpful in potentially understanding some of the interactions you’ve had. I do hope it helps also highlight the true individuality and inherent rights on non-human animals. They are not conceptual abstractions, but rather living, sentient beings.
Being vegan has changed my life for the better! Mentality, spiritually, and physically💕🌱
I find this video extremely encouraging to maintain my Whole Vegan lifestyle 🌱🙂
Glad to hear it!
Never heard anyone explain it better or more eloquently, bravo!!!
Thank you so much! Really glad to hear this came across well. I’m never sure how much sense I’m making ;)
Once you learn enough and make the ethical connection, going vegan is a no-brainer. 💚🌱✊
It is the logical conclusion :)
You mean no more brain :)? Just kidding :) Sorry, bad joke
True!
It might be a no brainer to you, but to some there may be genuine barriers even if they are really emotionally moved by the plight of the animals. It’s more than about being motivated, there needs to ease of practicality as well.
@@nicolesapphire3696 Great news then: going vegan is easy, cheap and convenient for most people. There have been few atrocities in human history that could be ended with such convenience and ease.
Cosmic Septic @cosmicskeptic never even got to the point that animals have a right to their own lives, even when he was "vegan" I think that was the real difference, and we can honestly say he was never vegan because he never stopped seeing animals as food - he saw them as "something" with no rights.
That's a good point!
Have you heard his arguments about it? It's actually compatible with being vegan.
@@antoniusnies-komponistpian2172 AO has very clearly stated repeatedly, as has Singer, that he does not believe that animals have rights. Neither one is vegan.
Yeah he was plant-based, not vegan.
@@vegancolleen Veganism is about minimizing animal suffering, not about animal rights
Very well said elaborated on an reasoned video fair play to you. Thank you for sharing Emily.🌱💚🧠🌅☘️
Thank you so much, Pjvenom1985! So glad to hear it came across well.
I think they went plant-based eating, not vegan.
You are so amazing...your videos...just the most informative out there...love it when you are "snarky" but actually find your snark is just speaking the truth.
Thank you so much, Kathleen Butler :) Glad you enjoy my snark. I do find sometimes it's more effective at highlighting truths...to cut through all our mental gymnastics ;D
emily, i think you hit the nail on the head when you spoke about the difficulty for someone to overcome childhood indoctrination and commodification. for most this seems to be completely impossible. even when these early beliefs, like in the case of an animal based diet ultimately leads them down a path of chronic lifetime illness and early death. i am now 70 and have been on an organic wfpbd for many years and i am so sick and tired and heartbroken of just having to stand by and watch friends and loved ones suffer horribly for years of debilitating chronic illness and early death just because they are unable to change their diet. i think your approach with the early education of children will really be the most positive way forward. thanks for your great videos and inspiration.
We all have free will to make our own choices, but with that comes the consequences.
do not put that burden of others choices on your emotions, thats wasting your energy.
I met a woman one day as I was reading a vegan book. She was nice, but told me "she
would rather die than give up her "meat". And I thought, well, thats' your choice.
Thank you, Emily, for making a huge difference in the world!
You're the best. People who are interested in living in alignment with their values of anti-oppression seriously need to commit to learning about how deep speciesism goes, and speciesism itself teaches us how supposedly better and more intelligent we are than other animals, to the point that we disregard completely how much everything we do is very... emotional and ideology based.
Your message is REALLY important, and the world is a MUCH better place with you in it, thank you.
Wow thank you, John Q! I'm not really sure how to respond. Means so very much to me.
Thank you for your time and attention to detail in all of your videos Emily💗
Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson and Neil Degrasse Tyson are examples on how really smart people regress into child like reasoning when it comes to basic moral principles and basic plant based nutrition.
Agreed!
Sounds like an incomplete approach that is more sociopolitical since neither of these three have made solid arguments for or against veganism. In fact, for someone like Jordan Peterson, it may be argued that his admonishment of treating veganism as a religion with its dogmas IS THE REASON how people could leave veganism as they would the Christian church. This is especially when he speaks of rights within the framework of a social contract theorist. I.e. "my rights can only exist when everyone else shoulders their obligations to preserve my rights, as I would with theirs." Most animals do not have the basic capacity to shoulder that obligation, no different than a cat "respecting" my dead body 8 hours after my death.
Once a vegan always a vegan.
It is not hard to decide to love my friends and not eat them.
Yes...as I say, the core concept of the individuality of non-human animals is not a deep, intellectual concept to grasp
I am right there with you! No "middle ground", no bullshit (even in our food)!
Once a vegan always a vegan.
Else, was never a vegan.
i don't think u even need to love animals to decide not to pay for unwatchable suffering. I mean, I know I definitely don't love most humans - but i would definitely never pay to torture them to eat them!!
"tHEy WeRe NEveR veGAns iN tHe fiRSt plACe", right?
Thank you, Emily, for sharing your gift of compassion, logic, and common sense with the world. What a great video, and something that weighs so heavily on my mind, surrounded by seemingly loving people who still choose to consume and exploit non-human sentient beings. I only wish I were half as eloquent as you--we earthlings are so lucky to have you in our corner!
Great video! It put into words something I have been thinking about lately. Thank you for that! 💛
So glad to hear it :) And you're very welcome!
Thank you Emily. You put so much care and effort into your work. Backing it up with written articles is so useful, the videos are great but I enjoy going to the written article to be able to take some time to consider some of issues for or against.
I’m honored to hear this! I do really pour a great deal into my work. The articles do take SIGNIFICANT time on top of the video work. But I feel they are important and I hope they are useful and referenced :) always thrilled to hear from people who do find them of use!
❤
Quite eloquently put! 👍👍👍
✊ #BoycottMeat and all other animal products of cruelty and exploitation in any way possible!
So many golden quotes in this video. As always i love how you word things and the delivery is everything. i reckon we would have a lot of fun hanging out. We have a similar sense of humour it seems. Thanks for all you do for our animal friends, you and Miyoko Schinner are my vegan heroes!
Thank you so much Ysari :) I always put a great deal of thought (sometimes too much) into my wording and delivery. Always rewarding when it seems to come across as I was hoping :) also glad you share my sense of humor. :D
I’ve been vegan at first 5 years ago for health reasons so Dr Michael Gregor is my mentor but after watching Cowspiracy, Seaspiracy, What the Health, Forks Over Knives and more I am vegan for all reasons. It’s difficult dealing with others blasting me for my beliefs but I hold strong. Never going back to any other way but a whole food plant based mostly raw unprocessed no refined sugars vegan diet. Thank you for your videos. Glad to find you. I want to do more.
The worst is hearing other people pointing to those who quit as some sort of debunking of veganism. There are so many bad arguments it is exhausting!
They wanted to be a part of the crowd again...
@rachelgoodkind6545 I'm generally accepted. I don't preach to people. Simply existing is a protest. People see it and feel ot enough. It normalizes the movement. Just go and be a human doing it. If someone asks just be concise and move on...then people are comfortable asking about it again...maybe in 3 days or maybe 3 years...but they're at least apt to not think it weird.
Stalin (in)famously said, “The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of a million is a statistic.” It is not hard to see how this applies to animals. To most, it is not convenient to think of animals as an individual with the exception of a pet and even that is not universal. At first, some effort is needed and then it becomes the norm. There are many roads to becoming vegan with ethics usually being the one that endures.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment. Spot-on with the "inconvenience" of their individuality. It's also on an emotional level horrifying to truly connect to their individuality. I think even as ethical vegans, it's near impossible to really grasp the sheer numbers....trillions a year. That's beyond our comprehension on any truly tangible level. It's devastating to consider that each of them is an individual. I think about the slaughterhouse trucks every time I pass. It can seem like this never-ending conveyer belt..."just another truck of pigs/cow/chickens." Yet for every single being in there...this is their life. It's their only life. This is them on their way to their execution. They aren't statistics. They are individuals.
Emily, I'm so glad you are back! Thank you for your informative videos.
Thank you so much, Kathleen! Oh and just FYI, in case you weren't aware, I've been "back" producing content for over a YEAR now :)
Unfortunately, UA-cam doesn't see fit to TELL most subscribers that I am making videos. You can check out the NEW videos on my channel and website. If you are NOT getting notified, you can check out this troubleshooting article from UA-cam: support.google.com/youtube/answer/7391308 (be sure to click the bell and select "all notifications" etc) BUT please note that UA-cam NO LONGER SENDS EMAILS about new videos - even though that article says they do! SO, for more RELIABLE notifications, please subscribe to my newsletter or follow on Telegram: bitesizevegan.org/subscribe/
I had no idea you were back, didn't get any notifications. It's good to see you, your channel was pivotal to my transition to veganism, been vegan 7 years now. Your work is appreciated.
This is one of the best videos that explains what's been going on with all these youtube peeps that are going back to eating animals. Great video!
UA-cam content creators have an additional motivation to return to paying for the needless killing of innocent sentient individuals. They are likely to get more subscribers, since about 90%+ of viewers are not vegan.
I'm glad you found this helpful.
Underrated as always 😭 thank you for this
Thank you!
I recently watched (apprehensively) a vegan video by Rationality Rules and the host spoke of kinship with nonhuman animals. Your video reminded me of that!
Thanks! Keep up the great work. I would love to see where you and I disagree on how and what the world really is one day, to see if we could work past those differences...
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it :)
Nailed it and thanks for taking my request
I just got an ad for you... I missed you so much holy shit.
You helped me so much early on my journey. I went vegan over 10 years ago.
Sorry I'm so late replying! Yes, UA-cam now does such a CRAP job of letting even subscribers know when I'm publishing... Been "back" at it for almost a year and a half! Yet so many don't even know I've been active... Ah, UA-cam!!
I'm honored to have had a role in your journey. Means the world to me!
Also, for notifications...if you are NOT getting notified, you can check out this troubleshooting article from UA-cam: support.google.com/youtube/answer/7391308 (be sure to click the bell and select "all notifications" etc) BUT please note that UA-cam NO LONGER SENDS EMAILS about new videos - even though that article says they do! SO, for more RELIABLE notifications, please subscribe to my newsletter or follow on Telegram: bitesizevegan.org/subscribe/
Thank you for this video Amy. This has been really bothering me. You rock! I get so angry when I see Vegans going back to eating animals. I know I will never go back. I LOVE ANIMALS, I cannot be the reason any of them would be suffering. My husband became Vegan as well (the biggest steak eater). He loves the food even more. He tells me that every day. I just made Mushroom steak strips and roasted 6 kinds of veggies. I made Vegan Tiramisu for dessert. We are eating so well, not hurting animals and healing our bodies. #veganforanimals
When CosmicSkeptic started idolizing non-vegan Peter Singer, only spoke of veganism in utilitarian terms, denied the principle that other animals could even have rights, highlighted slaughterhouses instead of all animal exploitation, and in one video literally begged people to talk him out of veganism, I knew that it wouldn't be long for him.
Exactly.
Love you Emily. Thanks for all you do, and thanks for being in the world
Emphathie is a type of intelligence. One can be considered a genius while being a emotional robot
A great example of intelligent people doing or believing unintelligent things is being religious in a modern world with all the history of organized religion that no person should want to be apart of once they learn about it. It’s interesting how of the thousands of religions that have popped up throughout humanity, the one that you were born into is the right one! Ignorance is bliss…for the end user.
A lot of my major life reversals from what I grew up with only happened once I let myself sit down and think through it unbiasedly, and thinking about the bigger picture beyond the bubble that I grew up in.
I love your hat. Please may I find out where I can get one? Sorry for the super keen comment on it before finishing the video
That's some profound and well written analysis. Very well done.
I’m so happy to find you again. I followed you a decade ago. I’m still vegan btw 😊 subscribed again!❤
3:55 I like this part. Recognizing when a question ISN'T BEING ASKED is more 'intelligent' than being able to answer all the questions that do get asked. Something-something "when a man's paycheck depends on him not understanding..."
So well said. Thank you.
Thank you! And you're very welcome :)
Thank you for your work. My 5 year old is vegan with me now thanks to your kids videos
So smart - thank you. I sort of feel that if you eventually stop being Vegan, you were never Vegan to begin with. If your mind truly goes to 'that place' and gets it, you would never be able to later use your teeth to tear flesh.
I thought you'd disappeared. It's good to see you back. Your focus on science is always so satisfying. Your points here reminds me of that quote; "Smart people are good at coming up with smart reasons to believe non-smart things".
I just realized I wasn't subscribed. Now I am. I am so grateful for these videos!
Thank you :D Make sure you do the whole "bell" dance to the UA-cam gods or you still won't ever know that I post ;D
If you are NOT getting notified, you can check out this troubleshooting article from UA-cam: support.google.com/youtube/answer/7391308 (be sure to click the bell and select "all notifications" etc) BUT please note that UA-cam NO LONGER SENDS EMAILS about new videos - even though that article says they do! SO, for more RELIABLE notifications, please subscribe to my newsletter or follow on Telegram: bitesizevegan.org/subscribe/
This was an excellent, matter-of-fact analysis, Emily. I have commented elsewhere, after the last "apostate" appeared, that super smart people are experts at manipulative reasoning and there should be an expectation that they use it on themselves, as well. Thanks for posting
Thank you so much, tamcon72. I'm so glad you found this to be an effective analysis :) I was hoping I found an appropriate balance of intellectualizing myself and down-to-earth sarcasm :)
Brilliant video Emily. The collective delusion that one can be an animal lover and a good person while casually paying for the slitting of an innocent animal's throat (among other atrocities) is indeed the twisted cornerstone of human anthropocentrism, imagining that nothing is more important than the homo sapiens and that everything and everyone on earth is only there to serve him and his selfish needs, to the point where he would destroy the entire world for his selfish greed and gluttony.
Thank you so much. And yes- anthropocentrism is at the core of so much...
What gets me is all those "former vegan" videos go on and on about diet alone and barely or never even mention the animals. Yeah, former vegan, ok whatever.
Former plant based, they were never vegan to begin with
This is why evil is so banal... most evil in the world is committed by normal ordinary people just following orders/culture
Indeed.
I'm always excited when I see one of your vids drop! I'm glad you aren't breaking down CS's latest nonsense directly again because so many people have done that already.
I'm so glad you enjoy my content :) Yeah, I'm generally "out of the loop" with commentary kinds of things. I did want to explore this concept of the relation of intellectualization and the ethical tenets of veganism. I have observed (and experienced myself, though not in relation to ethics) the over-intellectualization of things creating such a distance from the most basic realities in life... It's something I found (and find) frustrating in the academic world, as well as the art world when I was getting my MFA. While I love myself some in-depth research and citing and such, I also value cutting through all that when it begins to cloud rather than contribute...
Thank you for sharing. Humans want to be accepted and belong, therefore we are willing
to conform to societal expectations rather than have the courage to stand up for the victims.
We fear change, do not want to "be different" and stick out from the crowd. My experience is,
it takes COURAGE to become vegan and swim upstream. However, I have been doing this for
over 25 years and I am just as perfect as everyone else is, or is not. cheers.
Great work, Emily! Salute from HOLLAND.
Thank you so much! Hello in Holland! 🇳🇱
Spot on, Emily! I'm so glad you're back.
Thank you, Jane! Glad to be producing content again...though always feel I can't ever get it out as much as I'd like!
This is SO true! It’s really very simple. Why are we using non-human animals? So deeply ingrained!
I live in VT. -SUPER liberal, college town, and “earthy”.
But, still this “blind spot” prevails.
This is what I hear: they are “making a difference in other ways” and “being vegan is too hard”
Cosmic Skeptic quit veganism because he has a crush on Mikhaila Peterson.
Another great video - thank you Emily! We need to fearlessly question the belief systems we protect and coddle so dearly, and be willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of our values. People become so apathetic about doing the right thing, like it's just too much hassle to think and act in a (morally) new way. It's NOT enough to just know it.
Great video!! I'm happy to see you back on here more!
Thank you so much!
I've always found ex-vegans ridiculous and intriguing at the same time. This video really connected everything together for me. Can't wait to drop this at the next dinner :) Thank you.
So glad to hear this connected some dots for you :)
Love you Emily💙💙💙
Awww thank you so much, Sohar Bennett!
I liked this vidéo. Good flow. And many ideas. I would enjoy more content liké this.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. I try to structure my videos with a purposeful flow trough the thought process. In my more "formal" educational videos, I also provide the visual outline on screen to help the viewer track the information and structure throughout. If you've not seen those, this one gives an example of that approach: ua-cam.com/video/tSc91Nd2Kw8/v-deo.html
Do a video on Alternative Proteins & Material, as probably the only RELIABLE way for systematic animal liberation!
Great video! Especially the point about the individuality of nonhuman animals. Had I intellectualized or rationalized being vegan, I would have stopped because I was sick and stopped eating properly. Turns out the end adolescence, undiagnosed autism, being an African in the arctic, and trauma can do quite the physical number. Would have been so easy to single out diet, or lifestyle. 7 years later, a lot of mental work and a whole lot more food later, I’m still vegan. Even after all my personal experiences and all the great arguments I’ve heard about how veganism alone won’t solve the world’s problems; there are still no actual reasons not to be vegan
"So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for every thing one has a mind to do."
You are so articulate and absolutely awesome. A wonderful spokesperson for vegans.
Well thank you so much. That means a great deal to me.
This is a fantastic take. I have always had an issue with how classist the concept of intelligence is. Access to education, and being "intelligent" has nothing to do with ones moral compass. Ty for addressing this topic. CS is doing his thing...wish he would not have blasted his "non vegan" status; and just deal with his "accessibility" issues on his own. I would like to think, that with all his awareness, getting back to being veg is only a matter of dealing with his obstacles ✌️
I live in a college town and the vegan restaurant, bakery and coffee shop do great even during the pandemic.
“I’m going to get a bit existential and weird.” Two of my favorite things!
Peer pressure is stronger than ethical convictions for most people. If you are convinced that veganism is the only ethical option, the fact that all your friends and family are not, and will likely push back on your new lifestyle will motivate smart people to use their intellect to find justifications to not go vegan, or return to paying for the needless killing of innocent sentient individuals.
Yes that pressure if a true factor. As I talk about towards the end, you don't even have to have good reasoning to be in good company when it comes to rationalizing the exploitation of non-human animals... most of the world agrees and is more than happy to offer confirmation.
thanks for posting this, very well articulated
You are very welcome. And thank you!
vegan for the animals FOREVER ✊🏽
If your heart is the reason, that becomes your anchor. Your world view changes in phases and it’s not easy especially in the beginning but vegan awareness is never going to be easy in a flesh eating world. So - you find a way to make peace to stay sane and healthy but the heart is the biggest motivator IMO.
It's hard for me to characterize people who willingly consume items that ensure a sicker life and an earlier death as "smart."
I find that you always stimulate my intellect, Em. Heh heh.
I'm so proud of you... ;)
Maybe we should start changing our line of questioning, to asking people why they believe murder, rape, torture and enslavement is bad, why they accept this as a moral construct for our society
So great thank you!
You're so very welcome JDK
It literally took me until I was 31 to go vegan. All I had to do was watch all the footages of the meat, dairy and egg industries and that was enough to make the switch. I now could never imagine going back to eating the SAD diet ever again. I’m vegan for life now.
Good luck with that. Nothing more wonderful than being malnourished just because you care about animals more than you do yourself. Once you start losing teeth and develop anxiety; bodies response to why you are no longer eating fundamental nutrients in meat. Then I can only feel sorry for you. You were given this paradise to enjoy the pleasures of life and you through it all away and focused on suffering instead.
I love this video and the Bite Size Vegan Emily humor. You are a genius of the intellect and way beyond.❤
In my experience, I've been Vegan for 3 years. I will to manifestations for the right's animals, and I loose my self in a relationship abuse.
I was vegan, and my ex (not vegetarian person) in the first time, seems understanding and will talk with me in the compreensive way. Gratualy the aproach change, and he become my king, and for not discuss with him, I think the problem is with me...
He don't help me with cooking, and we lived together (tremendous error, my fault to be permissive about that!).
With veganism turn my diabetes in 2018 better, I have more energy, more empatic with insects and bugs, I open my mind to a new world! And I feeling so good!
Everything change, when my blood analysys demonstrate albumin protein (one of the 3 fonts of celum protein, was down... I ate nuts, peas, tofu, but the value of protein is low for my organism. He penetrate in me that is not healty... The discussion's was so hy, than I will eat egg, just for not discuss and have more peace...
He forced me to cook meat, and cost me the world, because is against my principles, and I see a animal, not a piece of a product.
In 3 years I feel so lonely...
But I finish the relashionship in 2019 and now I have peace and today I saw in facebook one you're publication, and I remember "Wow, I saw this chanel with so nice content, in neutral way, with scientific demonstrations, and I will follow again
Thank you so much 💓💗💛 wonderfully done my friend.
Thank you so much, 21st Century Homestead! And you're so very welcome ;)
This spoke to me. You’re right, the justification for veganism is ultimately dead simple. It’s compassion, not intelligence.
What helps me stay vegan is staying radical. Your videos help me with that.
Perfect! Thank you, Emily! 💚
You are so welcome. And thank you!
It seems to me that veganism is not at all about nutrition and science, and mostly about an ethic based in an emotional attachment to our food sources. I do appreciate the explanation of your viewpoints.
This is what I'm worried about, that my brain will become a "downright bastard". Been a year and a half now, and I worry all the time that I will relapse, that one of family or friends will work on me at a low point.
I was at a drinks reception last night at a conference and I was discussing with an attendee how 80 billion land animals are killed every year for food, a third just rocked up and said "so what?". I didn't know what to say to that, I could have insulted him but it wouls have been counterproductive.
You are a great UA-camr.
Say: well a few people won’t matter then. And then kill them.
Love this Emily!! 👍💯✨️🌱💚
So glad to hear it :)
Thank you for the public service you do ❤💚❤️💚