I think that knowing the definition of veganism is the bare minimum. Gatekeeping is one thing, but you should at least know what the thing you’re trying to join is. If you’ve done zero research, that’s on you.
I think I understand the complaint. It’s shitty when a word with a clear definition gets literally co-opted by the masses. Then you have to go find a new word for something that was already solved.
That being said, I’d rather we dilute the term vegan if it means getting more people to eat less meat. You can invent new words faster than you can convert people.
I think that knowing the definition of veganism is the bare minimum. Gatekeeping is one thing, but you should at least know what the thing you’re trying to join is. If you’ve done zero research, that’s on you.
I think I understand the complaint. It’s shitty when a word with a clear definition gets literally co-opted by the masses. Then you have to go find a new word for something that was already solved.
That being said, I’d rather we dilute the term vegan if it means getting more people to eat less meat. You can invent new words faster than you can convert people.
What I would say to folks is that they should do whatever they want. If they want to eat a 99% plant based diet, then they should do that.
It’s not gatekeeping to say that you aren’t vegan if you eat bacon, but at the same time, veganism is more about ideology than diet.