What should i call myself?

Question

There seems to be a lot of definitions of vegan out there and i don't know if I am or not?

I am vegan in the sense that i don't EAT any animal products. But i still wear make-up and I'm sure at least some is tested on animals. I also own stuff made out of leather. I also wouldn't have a problem taking medicine that was tested on animals if I needed it. Is it part of veganism that you don't take medicine tested on animals?

I know a lot of people, vegan and nonvegan, get offended when someone who is not 'purely' vegan says they are vegan. So should I call myself something besides 'vegan'? Eventually I want to revert to most of the vegan (or at least what i think are the vegan) practices, but I just started so I'm a little confused. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

You can use medications tested on animals.  There are hardly any that haven't been.

You are not a vegan if you use cosmetics tested on animals.  You need meds, but not cosmetics.  It's not like they put mascara on the bunny's eyelashes and see if it looks pretty.  The put the rabbit in a device that holds it's eyelids open and the poor the mascara into it's eyes.  Then they wait and see if it goes blind...while it is suffering with nothing for the pain.

You are just a vegetarian.  I am not trying to be rude, but I can't understand why you won't support one kind of animal cruelty but you will gladly support another.

You can buy pleather, it looks just like real leather.  You can find all sorts of cosmetics that are not tested on animals.

People who are uninformed and don't go out of their way to avoid buying products that support cruelty are not vegans and shouldn't call themselves vegan.  It makes people confused about what a real vegan is.

You have come this far, so why not dump the leather and the cosmetics.  It's not like you have to throw out all of your makeup.  When it is all used replace it with cruelty-free makeup?

You are practically there...I don't see why you would want to buy cruel products.

Answer 2

I've heard of people who eat a vegan diet but don't follow the lifestyle are called "strict vegetarians."   If you can find cruelty-free makeup, you may want to make that change.  As for the leather, some vegans will keep leather they got before going vegan and use it until it wears out.  Others, like me, will give it away.  As for the medicines, many vegans will take medication if a doctor deems it necessary.  I personally would have to be pretty sick to take conventional medicine beyond painkillers for a migraine.

It seems you just decided to go vegan, so you have a lot of stuff you got before you made that decision.  Go ahead and use everything up and wear it out and then replace it with animal-friendly items.  I won't judge you harshly for wanting to reduce waste.

Answer 3

Why stick yourself with a label.  Do what you think is right and don't worry about what anybody else thinks.

Answer 4

sorry, there is only one word for that is vegan

Answer 5

You eat a vegan diet but you don't follow a vegan lifestyle.

Answer 6

Veganism is not a diet, it is a lifestyle and philosophy.

If you eat a vegan diet, you are a strict vegetarian.

People that eat dairy and eggs are not strict vegetarians because the creators of the word did not eat any animal products.

Vegan people take whatever medicine is needed to to make them healthy again. Veganism is not extreme and does not breed martyrs. It is based on reality and the truth. Only people that base their lives on faith in mythology feel a need for martyrs.

Women don't need makeup. They usually look better without it.

Answer 7

ur vegan. but i hate labels. im "vegan" but i consider myself "healthy" because i eat healthy.

Answer 8

If someone wants to accuse you of not being vegan because they don't think you're as vegan as they are, that is someone whose opinion you should ignore anyway, because their entire identity is determined by what they consume.

Answer 9

I would call you a hypocrite. You cannot be vegan and still support the use of animal products (though in my opinion items bought at thrift and second hand stores don't count since you are not supporting the industry.) Medicine, however, in my opinion, does not count if it is necessary. If you need something to survive you need to take it.