Imagine you’re in a room which is empty other than a puppy in the corner and a button next to you. You cannot get near the puppy. The button looks super inviting and you begin to want to push the button. You push the button… But you quickly find out that every time you push the button, the puppy gets hurt. You really like the feeling of when you push the button, it’s something you don’t think you could live without, but you don’t like that the puppy gets hurt. So, do you keep pushing the button?
Let me know your answer in the comment section please 🙂
Vegans decided against pushing the button after they found out the puppy gets hurt. We may enjoy the feel of the button but the feeling of hurting the puppy trumps any other fantastic feeling that the button could give us. We learnt to live without pushing the button.
What would happen if you stopped pushing the button?
The puppy would no longer get hurt. With time your cravings for the button would subside, you’d learn about other amazing buttons that would provide you with limitless options to press that don’t involve hurting puppies and you’d be left with a sense of invaluable peace knowing that you are no longer contributing to the puppy’s pain.
Veganism is mega.
If you’d like any help in not pushing this particular button then please get in touch. You can find ideas for cruelty-free buttons on my Instagram and Button-Idea page.
I’m here to help 💚
The Crumby Vegan 
Excellent argument Zoe. xx
Sent from my iPad
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah thank you! 💚
LikeLike
This was a nice simple way to explain veganism! 🙂 thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhh thank you Seanna 💚
LikeLike
This is so true! all the animals are hurt and even when we don’t see them and we only receive the satisfaction of tasty food, cruelty is happening!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right! So does that mean you would stop pushing the button? 💚
LikeLike
Hi! My name is Mariah Roelfs and I’m a vegan animal rights activist in Portland, Oregon. I am so proud of you and so glad that we met. Being a vegan animal rights activist and trying to convince the masses that we need to STOP supporting the dairy industry and all that is involved with nonhuman care is so frustrating. People still want to abuse animals 😮 Thank you for speaking up comrade, I will see you in the streets. Are you going to Berkley!?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mariah it’s so lovely for you to comment with such wonderful support. I’m actually not based in America (although San Francisco is one of my favourite places), I’m currently based in Spain. Here there is less awareness for the animals but it’s growing at a fantastic rate and I’m so happy with the changes going on. Please do keep in touch! It’s lovely to hear from other like-minded people 💚
LikeLike
Good explanation. Are there a lot of places to eat Vegan food in Spain? I see more and more menus offering the option in America
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great question… There are vegan restaurants popping up all over Spain at the moment. Barcelona has actually been named as the most vegan city in Europe!
I’m interested to know though, in that scenario, would you keep pushing the button? 💚
LikeLike
So I appreciate what you are saying and I truly appreciate your cause. However, there is a flaw in your theory. You didn’t stop pushing the “button” but replaced it with another button. So our decision has to be which button to we want to push and what are the affects of us pushing whichever button we choose.
I do agree with you on the fact that if you commit to stop “stop pushing the button” that after a while it becomes easier to “quit it and not hit it”…(haha, I thought I was a wee bit witty there!) But for real, I do intermittent fasting and dont eat my first meal until 3pm every day. People look at me like I am crazy and often tell me that they couldnt manage it, but I always respond after a while it becomes easy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahah you noticed the flaw in my plan… So what I forgot to mention is when you stop pushing the button, the puppy comes over to you and shows you this more amazing button (he can totally get close to you now, randomly) lol!
I think you got the point I was trying to make though. Once we realise the seriousness of our decisions (especially when they are directly in front of us like the puppy) then we can make responsible decisions that will actually feel amazing and not limiting (as people like to think of veganism). I don’t remember the last time I ate a salad haha!
I appreciate your comment… I’m still not sure as to whether you’d stop pushing the button, or in your case, which button you woulld choose though 💚
LikeLike
This is a really thought provoking way of looking at veganism. I’ve thought about not eating meat a couple of times, more from a diet perspective than anything. I never really thought about veganism as an option for me, but you bring up important things to consider when deciding to eat animal based products.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I genuinely appreciate the thought that you’ve put into your response. It’s also mega that you’re thinking about cutting out meat for your health. If you’d like any more information on the topic then I’d highly recommend watching ‘What The Health’ available on Netflix.
From your response though, I wasn’t sure whether you would carry on pushing the button? 💚
LikeLike
First I was like, I don’t understand how simply pushing a button could bring one person such joy — puppy or no puppy. But I see this is actually about eating food that might hurt your body. Interesting analogy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep you’re right, but it’s also about how eating animal products hurt (and kill) animals (like the puppy). Do you think you would keep pushing the button? 💚
LikeLike
This is a really interesting way to look at veganism. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m guessing because you have completed avoided the question that you’re still pushing that button haha 💚
LikeLike
Ahh, Very clever. A good analogy to a point, but I don’t eat puppies. Cows are cute. I don’t eat much red meat. It is so bad for you. I’m just not feeling too sad for a chicken or a fish. They are pretty stupid. I do respect your choices for sure. Kudos for the discipline.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s quite an interesting point you’ve made. Many people are born with mental illnesses that unfortunately make them less intelligent than chickens and fish… Does that mean you’d have no problem eating them? Intelligence should not be grounds on whether to eat something or not – we’re not supposed to take advantage of the less intelligent, we are supposed to take care of them 💚
LikeLiked by 1 person
Boom, Zoë
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a great and easy way to explain this concept. The thing is, so many don’t see the consequences of their actions of eating meat or buying products tested on animals. We’re all conditioned to think of eating meat as part of our culture but all you have to do is look behind the curtain and realize how completely awful and unnature it really it. Great article!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Christina! I know you’d stop pushing the button for sure 🙂 💚
LikeLike
I’m not vegan and of course I wouldn’t push the button to hurt the puppy. It’s a great metaphor to make us think about different issues related to being or not being a vegan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You win the prize for being the first person to tell me whether you would keep pushing the button or not, haha! I think it’s lovely that you wouldn’t and of course the whole reason for this post is to make people think, as you said – so thank you 💚
LikeLike
I’m with Natalia. I love puppies and I would never harm them, but I will continue eating meat and don’t really see that it’s a fair comparison. It is an interesting way of putting it, though.
LikeLike
It is an absolutely fair comparison if you don’t value one animal above another. It’s like racism, sexism etc… I treat everyone the same, regardless of features that they had no control over when they were born. I also do this with animals. However, you are treating farm animals differently because they were born farm animals and not lucky enough to be born dogs (for example). That is called speciesism 💚
LikeLike
I would def stop pushing the button! Poor Puppy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic to hear that! 💚
LikeLike
Your argument is so strong. And you have put everything very clearly out here. Great job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind comment.
Would you keep pushing the button? 💚
LikeLike
I respect when people are vegetarians or vegans or whatever they choose to be. It’s certainly a good cause. But I find your analogy with the button a bit far fetched.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I imagine you think that because you eat animal products and the analogy doesn’t make you feel good (you’ve also not noted whether you would keep pushing the button but I’m guessing you would).
The analogy is closer to reality than people realise. People take a few seconds in choosing what to eat at a restaurant, for example. You may choose the beef burger whereas I would choose the tofu burger because I care more about the cow (not because I like tofu more than beef)… You would choose to push the button because you like it, I would choose not to push the button because I care more about the puppy.
I’m sorry if you are sensitive to this sort of thing but this is what my blog articles are designed to do: make non-vegans think 💚
LikeLike
I”m not vegan and am not interested in becoming one but I applaud those who are and respect their choices. my college roommate was vegan and she was always the easiest person to ever dine with because she always said she could find something to eat anywhere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So you’re smashing down hard on that button? 🙂
I like your point about your friend though. You’re absolutely right, there is no such thing as a fussy vegan (or at least that I know of). I live in Spain and it’s getting so much better, but there were days where I would make chip sandwiches when eating out because there was nothing else available. Now I’m very grateful for the progress and awareness in my little town but I’ve learnt to skilfully find something on the menu wherever I am now 💚
LikeLike
I’ve been vegetarian for more than half my life. I initially made the choice for arguments similar to this post. I also just never really liked the taste of meat. As a baby, I spit it out. So maybe it’s just kind of easy for me. Anyway, this post is a great way to explain why someone would be inspired to be a vegetarian or vegan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So happy to hear this, Erica! That’s so funny that you were spitting it out as a baby – I wish I had been like that and not eaten meat for so long. Very happy that you’re not pushing the button 💚
LikeLike
This was a unique way of explaining it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mary. Did you decide how you felt about pushing the button? 💚
LikeLike
While I appreciate your stance and your lifestyle, I don’t think your analogy is sound. There are many people who rely on farming for their lives- it’s not as simple as you state and it’s unfair to make this generalization
Everyone should be educated on where their food comes from.
Vegetables too
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s ony unfair because it makes you feel bad, Christine. In fact it’s absolutely fair to make the point that millions of people on this planet choose to eat meat because they like the taste of it (like enjoying the feel of pressing a button) and they don’t take a second to think about the animals. This post is designed to make people think…
If you had ever bothered to ask me how I feel about the people that eat meat because otherwise they would starve then you would know my standpoint on the matter… However you have not and you continue to make assumptions.
Not sure what education about food has to do with this post. The point you made is irrelevent. I would like you to stick to the point of the article (like I do with your blog) 🙂 💚
LikeLike
I”ve always been curious about vegan and now I can understand alot better after this post. Thanks – it really puts things into perspective!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m very glad to hear that, Sandy. If you have any more questions then feel free to ask 🙂
Would you keep pushing the button in this scenario? 💚
LikeLike
Wow, this was a super powerful analogy! As huge animal lovers, we’ve really struggled with eating meat. It’s so reassuring to hear that eventually you get over the cravings and move on. This is the motivation I needed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah Kate it’s so lovely to read your comment. As you can see above, a lot of people become defensive after reading this article so I’m so, so, SO happy to hear you being open-minded and hearing the positive rather than the negative 🙂
You absolutely do get over your cravings with time, but even with the advancement of plant-based foods, you can totally satisfy your cravings these days. I’m here for you if you ever need me and good luck if you do decide to transition to a more plant-based diet 💚
LikeLike
I wouldn’t even think twice to push the button because I would be too afraid that something would happen to me or the puppy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s mega 💚
LikeLike
Of course, I wouldn’t push the button to hurt the puppy. I have 3 dogs and thinking about that makes my heart hurt!! It’s a great metaphor really, and could apply in many situations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Renee… Lovely to have another animal lover commenting 💚
LikeLike