Why are vegans so preachy?

One thing that puts many people off veganism are the actual vegans themselves, more specifically the preachy vegans. Veganism has created many stereotypes over the years and decades. Vegans used to be those skinny malnourished hippies who walk around barefoot with baggy clothes and jute bags. These days, it’s flashy attention-seeking people with blue hair, piercings and tattoos.

(Disclaimer: I’m a big fan of each and every single thing I’ve listed here – apart from the malnourishment of course)

The stereotypical look of vegans is one thing, but there is something far worse: their behaviour and attitude towards non-vegans. Why are vegans so preachy? This is actually a (not so surprisingly) frequently asked question.

I will answer this question in this article and help you understand the vegan mindset and I will also explain, why I personally believe the preachy vegans are doing more harm than good.

The preachy vegans – When veganism becomes a religion

Becoming vegan is a profound and life-altering decision. It can feel like you’ve found the holy grail, the so obvious solution to so many huge and horrific problems. It is our nature as humans to want to share good news with the people around us. We want to be the messenger, the pioneer who brings added value and advancement to the tribe.

Look! I have discovered that we can survive, thrive and actually live healthier without killing animals for food. Isn’t that the best news ever, since none of you actually like the suffering and death of animals? … *crickets chirping* … *eyes rolling*…. What the heck?

The truth is, no one cares. Not no one of course, but most people simply don’t. Every new or experienced vegan therefore needs to find their personal coping strategy in order to deal with this painful indifference that other people display.

And for some vegans, the coping strategy is going on a mission to veganise the world by hammering the topic into everyone they cross paths with. Because veganism is the answer, for goodness sake! Therefore, they become missionaries spreading the word, their ultimate truth.

What I’m about to say next will ruffle a few vegan feathers and stir the preachy vegans’ hornet’s nest: This is how many religions work and forcing religious believes on others usually doesn’t lead to great results in the long run.

You might argue now that it’s not comparable, because as a vegan, all you want is for others to also stop causing harm. But what do you think religious fanatics believe they’re doing? It’s always “for the greater good“.

Just because something is so logical and obvious to you, it doesn’t mean, others can even begin to see it, too. This goes for absolutely every believe, every preference and every “fact“ you or anyone can think of. So how DO you open someone’s eyes to veganism?

Sorry, not sorry – but: live and let live

What I’m about to debate next goes against my own grain. But sometimes the harder road is the faster, or even the only one, that actually leads to the goal. Live and let live – this is actually what many non-vegans will casually say while biting into their steak. And the vegans will say: Let live? Tell that to the cow that was murdered for your damn steak.

And why don’t we say the same about murderers, rapists, abusers, huh? Live and let live! Just because you don’t steal from people, doesn’t mean you need to force your believe on me and stop me from stealing from people, then!

An insane train of thoughts? Well, in more than a decade of being vegan and discussing with other vegans I’ve actually heard it all. And actually, I can personally feel the logic behind it. Obviously as a vegan myself I do not condone the murder and torture of animals and it’s painful to see that people I deeply care about do not share these feelings.

But, the reality is, the industries that torture and murder animals on behalf of said people are entirely legal. Yep, we may not like that, but this is the world we live in.

So, I have the choice: I can become one of those preachy vegans, be people’s enemy, bombard them with vegan facts, create tension and risk to push them further away not only from me but also from the topic itself – or I can let them live. I can still care about them, be their friend, be there for them when they’re in need, keep harm from them and try to understand why they still can’t see what I am seeing.

Don’t be a preachy vegan – Be the advert for veganism

Why do people actually make life altering decisions? They do it with the goal or at least the hope of making their own lives better. To even reach the conclusion that something will improve their life, they need to see evidence that it has already improved the lives of others.

That’s how advertising works. Companies present their products or services alongside the happy faces of people who are already using them. The advertised item has made their lives better, they look relaxed and they radiate joy.

So how do you sell veganism? Make it look attractive! Make it desirable. Present it for what it is: A way of living that DOES make other people’s lives better. Or don’t you believe that that is the case? I personally do.

I have seen enough evidence of how being vegan changes people – their lives, their health, their minds – for the better. I wholeheartedly wish for them to discover this for themselves. But I can’t force it on them. I can only lead by example, and if I’m lucky, they’ll decode the message all on their own.

And many of them won’t and that’s a shame. But you wouldn’t reach them either if you play the preachy vegan and tell them that they’re a murderer or will get cancer from all the meat they eat. Some people you will never reach. That’s a fact.