5 ms·

I personally like the “plant based” term, because for me “vegan” was always defined as a negative (vegans dont eat this and dont eat that), whereas plant-based

I personally like the “plant based” term, because for me “vegan” was always defined as a negative (vegans dont eat this and dont eat that), whereas plant-based just means what it says. In my experience in shops in the UK at least, there will always be a little “vegan” logo stuck on the packet as well

ummonk 4y ago
This strikes me as the start of a euphemism treadmill, given that the etymology of "vegan" is no more negative than "plant based".
- catach 4y ago
  Over time, the flavors we associate with words usually comes from the contexts in which they are used, which can easily overpower their origins.
  - ummonk 4y ago
    Exactly, and I think the same context will become associated with "plant-based" if it is consistently used as a substitute for "vegan".
    - catach 4y ago
      Ah, I see now what you mean by "euphemism treadmill", and I agree that the framework is valid. If the term has a chance of avoiding the treadmill I suspect it'd be due to the awkwardness of identifying as such. "Vegan" can apply to both food and the people who consume just that food, but I don't see people calling themselves "plant-based" anytime soon. The tribal aspect of the context is potentially greatly diminished by removing that explicit identity.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
Accacin 4y ago
I'm in the UK too, and find the plant-based phrase generally useful. For example, some double cream said 'plant-based' alternative and also had the Vegan logo. I've never really thought about it, but I assumed 'plant-based' was for products like cream that would have dairy and non-dairy alternative. Saying 'vegan' might imply it's only for vegans where plant based just means 'non-dairy' and might be billed as more inclusive. I'm not too concerned about it also possibly including eggs, as I always check for vegan icon or read ingredients.
mytailorisrich 4y ago
Veganism is an extreme and therefore it tends to attract people who are seeking extremes. This brings a rather negative image because there's always a part of intolerance and/or unreasonableness in extremes. I think most people will think that, for instance, not eating honey or eggs is too extreme.
- colechristensen 4y ago
  Most people, when made aware of how almost all of the eggs they consume are produced, would be a little uncomfortable at least. Mind you I still eat plenty of eggs, but I entirely grok a person not wanting to consume the output of industrial egg production. I try to buy eggs with adjectives added to the label about how nice they are to their hens knowing full well that these are of limited benefit. Honey, on the other hand, I don't understand a moral objection to, but also who cares if somebody doesn't want to eat honey?
  - FeistySkink 4y ago
    A bit more info about bees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSYgDssQUtA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSYgDssQUtA
- sheusndudn 4y ago
  Honey and eggs are not comparable. Maybe honey is extreme, but watch a youtube video of them shredding male live chicks that won't lay eggs so aren't useful is the closest thing to hell i've ever seen.
  - mytailorisrich 4y ago
    There is a difference between being against cruelty against animals and not eating any eggs. Hens will lay eggs. That's what they do naturally and if those eggs are not fertilised they will rot and decay. In veganism you cannot eat those eggs no matter how pampered the hens are. That's obviously a personal decision, which I respect, but it should also be understandable that many people find this extreme (and not eating honey even more extreme).
FeistySkink 4y ago
Some cow milk producers label cow milk as plant-based. What exactly is it supposed to mean?
- layer8 4y ago
  Do you have a photo of that? It’s somewhat hard to believe, and I didn’t find anything by googling.

ummonk 4y ago

This strikes me as the start of a euphemism treadmill, given that the etymology of "vegan" is no more negative than "plant based".

catach 4y ago
Over time, the flavors we associate with words usually comes from the contexts in which they are used, which can easily overpower their origins.
- ummonk 4y ago
  Exactly, and I think the same context will become associated with "plant-based" if it is consistently used as a substitute for "vegan".
  - catach 4y ago
    Ah, I see now what you mean by "euphemism treadmill", and I agree that the framework is valid. If the term has a chance of avoiding the treadmill I suspect it'd be due to the awkwardness of identifying as such. "Vegan" can apply to both food and the people who consume just that food, but I don't see people calling themselves "plant-based" anytime soon. The tribal aspect of the context is potentially greatly diminished by removing that explicit identity.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]

Accacin 4y ago

I'm in the UK too, and find the plant-based phrase generally useful. For example, some double cream said 'plant-based' alternative and also had the Vegan logo. I've never really thought about it, but I assumed 'plant-based' was for products like cream that would have dairy and non-dairy alternative. Saying 'vegan' might imply it's only for vegans where plant based just means 'non-dairy' and might be billed as more inclusive. I'm not too concerned about it also possibly including eggs, as I always check for vegan icon or read ingredients.

mytailorisrich 4y ago

Veganism is an extreme and therefore it tends to attract people who are seeking extremes. This brings a rather negative image because there's always a part of intolerance and/or unreasonableness in extremes. I think most people will think that, for instance, not eating honey or eggs is too extreme.

colechristensen 4y ago
Most people, when made aware of how almost all of the eggs they consume are produced, would be a little uncomfortable at least. Mind you I still eat plenty of eggs, but I entirely grok a person not wanting to consume the output of industrial egg production. I try to buy eggs with adjectives added to the label about how nice they are to their hens knowing full well that these are of limited benefit. Honey, on the other hand, I don't understand a moral objection to, but also who cares if somebody doesn't want to eat honey?
- FeistySkink 4y ago
  A bit more info about bees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSYgDssQUtA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSYgDssQUtA
sheusndudn 4y ago
Honey and eggs are not comparable. Maybe honey is extreme, but watch a youtube video of them shredding male live chicks that won't lay eggs so aren't useful is the closest thing to hell i've ever seen.
- mytailorisrich 4y ago
  There is a difference between being against cruelty against animals and not eating any eggs. Hens will lay eggs. That's what they do naturally and if those eggs are not fertilised they will rot and decay. In veganism you cannot eat those eggs no matter how pampered the hens are. That's obviously a personal decision, which I respect, but it should also be understandable that many people find this extreme (and not eating honey even more extreme).

FeistySkink 4y ago

Some cow milk producers label cow milk as plant-based. What exactly is it supposed to mean?

layer8 4y ago
Do you have a photo of that? It’s somewhat hard to believe, and I didn’t find anything by googling.