The Essence of Veganism

Published on June 29, 2024 (↻ September 17, 2024), filed under Everything Else (RSS feed for all categories).

Here’s what veganism boils down to (to me):

Veganism is about no one having to suffer or die for us.

Pretty much any other diet, life style, or life philosophy implies or insists on exactly that—that other living beings have to suffer or die, for our consumption, comfort, or pleasure.

Even though people may not mean ill, even though often, they’re quite caring, anyone asking for a steak, a cheese sandwich, a fur coat, a leather suitcase, a pet—are asking for someone to suffer or die for them. ^*

That’s the difference with veganism. A vegan acts on the awareness of the implications and consequences of such demands, and makes different choices. That may reflect better who we all are, namely not as cruel as to (repeatedly, even constantly) asking for others to suffer or die for them.

If you’re a vegan developer, tech lead, or manager, too, you might like to join Vegan Web Developers.

^* “A pet,” one may ask, “what if it has it good or better with me?” If it’s hard to connect with another species, it may be easier to connect with ours: People have enslaved people, and we’ve moved past slavery even though certainly, there were masters with whom slaves were better off than with others (or so masters said). Being better off not-free is still not the same as being free.

About Me

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m a frontend engineering leader and tech author/publisher. I’ve worked as a technical lead for companies like Google and as an engineering manager for companies like Miro, I’m a contributor to several web standards, and I write and review books for O’Reilly and Frontend Dogma.

I love trying things, not only in web development (and engineering management), but also in other areas like philosophy. Here on meiert.com I share some of my views and experiences. (Be critical, interpret charitably, and send feedback.)