Hypocritical to Be Vegetarian, but...

[Tigger&Belle]

buy leather shoes and have leather vehicle seats?

I just bought a new van and have leather seats. I'll have to say I like them a lot, especially in winter with the heated seats. I've never owned leather furniture or had leather seats. I've always bought leather shoes since I think the quality is better than other shoes and they are more stylish.

So, does it mean that I'm hypocritical? Can a person pick and choose how far they want to take a belief? I suppose it's kind of like someone who keeps kosher in their home, but not out in public.

BTW, I know that I'm happy with my decisions, just wondering what other think. And it doesn't just have to be about my decisions--it could be about someone who picks and chooses religiously, etc.

 

[vivilasvegas]

I change my mind about issues all the time. It's called life. When you are living day to day, you are bound to have your beliefs challenged and sometimes changed.

I would hate to be someone who sees everything in black and white, so I would never hold someone to a stance they previously took.

Everyone has a line they are comfortable with, and I can't judge them because I'm sure people question my decisions.



did that make any sense at all?

 

[disneysteve]

I don't think it's hypocritical at all. We all have the right to practice our beliefs as we see fit.

Personally, I am a near-vegetarian, but my reasons are purely based on health concerns. I think a vegetarian diet is the healthiest choice. I honestly give very little thought to how the animals are treated. So being a vegetarian and wearing leather shoes is fine with me.

 

[slo]

I don't think your a hypocrit

Leather would be so hard to stay away from and leather items are good quality. I think that if you are comfortable with what you are doing - that's all that's important!!!

 

[Beth76]

I think it depends on your reasoning. If you are a vegetarian because "meat is murder", then hell yeah, you're being a hypocrit.

 

[dumboiu]

So, does it mean that I'm hypocritical? Can a person pick and choose how far they want to take a belief? I suppose it's kind of like someone who keeps kosher in their home, but not out in public.

BTW, I know that I'm happy with my decisions, just wondering what other think. And it doesn't just have to be about my decisions--it could be about someone who picks and chooses religiously, etc.

You are right............it doesn't matter what others think. aw:

 

[mtblujeans]

Let's reserve 'judgement' until this summer. I have a 1997 with leather seats and I can't wear shorts on them in the summer. The back of my legs break out in - like - a heat rash with raised up bumps that itch and hurt! It's awful. I will stick with cloth from now on....

But, I am glad you got a new vehicle you love! You can always cover the leather if you don't like them down the road. We spend so much time in our cars that is nice when you find one that you really like!

 

[pumba]

a person who does not eat meat or meat by products is a vegetarian....but the other end of the ruler is a vegan if they do not own leather or fur or any of the body parts.......there were some college kids in our town that had to have specially bought seats for their bikes.......cost an arm and a leg but these are true vegans..very hard to have a car that is completely vegan too........so you are not being a hypercrit........you are being honest

 

[Pam]

I think it depends on your reasoning. If you are a vegetarian because "meat is murder", then hell yeah, you're being a hypocrit.

I agree with what she said.

It all depends on your reasoning and justification.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I agree with what she said.

It all depends on your reasoning and justification.

Uh oh, I'm toast then!

True that I don't profess to not use animal products. And the licorice that I'm eating tonight does have gelatin in it.

I guess I look at it more vivilasvegas and I'm drawing my line in the sand in a certain place and that place might change in the future.

Hopefully I'll like the leather seats in the summer--too bad they don't have seats that get cold in the summer like they have seats that heat in the winter. My reason for getting the seats, besides the fact that they came on the higher trim line that had the tv and the navigation system is that I'm tired of my kids getting the other seats so dirty with their dirty baseball clothes, etc. At least leather can wipe off.

Nope, vegan I am not. Not that I don't respect that choice, but I'm the one that told my then boyfriend, now husband that I could never be vegetarian because I could never give up steak. In all fairness, that was over 25 years ago--a lot has changed in that time.

 

[alliecats]

You know what? You do what you can. I know several people who became vegetarians because of animal issues, but still wore leather. Some of them over time phased the leather out. Some of them ate fish, but would never wear leather. I am not a vegetarian and I admire you for that. You are doing that much more than anyone else who might feel the same way, so good for you.

I would not worry if someone calls you a hypocrite, we are ALL hypocrites about something or another if you think about it. Whether we admit it or not! You do what you can, and don't worry what others think.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Hmmm, that makes me wonder if I think I am a hypocrite or not. I've never actually considered that, believe it or not. I think about my choices, of course. Actually, that's not totally true--I've had discussions with my DD in the past about leather seats and leather furniture. She might not have called my hypocritical, but she was bothered that I was ok with leather seats/furniture.

 

[Pam]

Uh oh, I'm toast then!

ACK! Not toast - I hope you didn't participate in the senseless killing of innocent wheatstalks in order to toast that bread!

Meat is big at my house. DD's BF and his family are farmers who raise cattle. I will admit that my men are big time hunters - but we eat EVERYTHING they kill and use a lot of the other parts of the carcass as well.

I do have leather seats (but drat it, they aren't heated!) in my car - and I've never had any problem with them in the hot summer weather.

 

[Nancy]

I think it depends on WHY you eat veg. Is it because you can't stand the slaughter of animals at all, or is it just because the thought if eating an animal makes you feel yucky?

I personally love to eat beef, chicken and pork...but I don't think I could wear furs or real leather...don't know why, it just gives me the heebie jeebies thinking about it. Now heated leather seats...that's a whole topic I never thought of at all! Sounds marvelous!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I have a reently turned vegetarian SIL who is appalled to see people wearing fur, yet has leather shoes on and a leather purse- what the heck is the difference? Very hypocritical.

Jackie

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Someone posted on another thread something that made sense to me...

Cows aren't killed for their hide while little furry creatures are killed so someone can wear their skins. That is the difference.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Does it matter why we kill them? We kill them for OUR benefit, whether it be food, clothing, or style.

Jackie

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Does it matter why we kill them? We kill them for OUR benefit, whether it be food, clothing, or style.

Jackie

Right.

And not everyone is a vegetarian solely b/c they don't like foods that came from something with a face.

I refuse to wear fur and I "try" to avoid leather. But it is not always possible. Kind of like trying to boycott items made in China. Doable--but difficult and not always managable.

 

[nhrenee]

I wrestle with this issue often. I'm a vegetarian because of moral issues (for 28 years, yikes! LOL!) I choose not to wear leather because it would make me feel like a hypocrite. But that is my personal choice. One of the best things about getting older is the realization that things are not black and white and that's ok. I think you get along by doing the best that you can.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

A couple things about the fur/leather discussion. Leather is a by-product of the meat industry. The cows are killed for the meat and the leather is then utilized to some degree. The animals are not killed for the leather since that demand is not as great as the demand for meat.

Also, it's difficult to find good, durable replacements for leather shoes. Some people are commited and make that happen, but they are likely getting lesser quality/durability, which is a trade-off that I personally respect, but I don't choose for myself. There are alternatives when it comes to materials in warm coats.

Even so, it comes down to the choices that people make and I'm not going to debate someone who wears furs. Maybe a "conversational debate", but I'm not condemning them, wouldn't throw "blood" on someone wearing one, etc.

Lisa loves Pooh, are you vegetarian?