What should you do if you’re a “bad example” of veganism? I originally became vegan out of guilt over working in animal testing, a profession I recently quit for the same reason. I feel like the point of being vegan (on a utilitarian level) is to convince other people to do it, but I hate cooking, I eat like shit, and I have a terrible personality, on top of the fact that I spent six years of my life killing for money. I’m an evil wreck - how could I possibly convince others to be ethical?
My friend, you are absolutely not a bad example of veganism. I actually laughed when I read this, not out of any kind of dismissal of how you’re feeling but because it’s such an obviously good example of an inspiring vegan but you’re too close to the situation to see it. Someone going vegan despite their circumstances rather than because of them is the best kind of vegan story.
If you speak to anyone who writes, makes videos or podcasts about veganism, they would want to interview you. A former animal researcher who went vegan, and doesn’t eat or act like the stereotypical vegan? That is exactly the kind of person that reach those who never be convinced by someone like me. You could talk about the good and the bad of animal testing from personal experience, you can share how you began to reframe animal exploitation, advise other advocates on what got through to you to help you change your life.
People don’t want to hear from perfect, pure vegans who they can’t relate to at all, they want to hear from people like you. You should especially share your story with other people in that field or in animal farming, who will never listen to us but would listen to someone who has been in their exact position and can tell them what it was like to change. You are a fantastic example of the fact that it is never too late for anyone, and you should share that incredibly valuable and rarely heard perspective with others.
