Chapter 4: 6 most common excuses
After everything we’ve talked about so far, is there anything stopping you from being vegan?
Here are some of the most common excuses people use to justify continuing to exploit animals.
Can you relate to any of these?
1. Habit
We’ve grown up in a society where eating animals, drinking milk, or wearing leather is normal.
Habits are powerful, and changing them can feel uncomfortable.
But habits can change.
When you see the reality of the suffering you support, you have the power to choose differently.
2. Convenience
It’s easy to follow the status quo.
Animals are used for food, clothing, and entertainment all around us, and society doesn’t hold anyone accountable.
But even when everyone around you participates, that doesn’t remove your responsibility.
Imagine if your life, body, or freedom depended on someone choosing convenience over justice - would you make the case for convenience then?
3. Tradition
Humans have exploited animals since the dawn of time, but just because something has been done for thousands of years doesn’t make it right.
Slavery, denying women the vote, racial segregation - these were traditional too, and yet they are now universally accepted as wrong.
Every culture has blind spots.
Tradition doesn’t excuse exploitation.
4. Taste
You may want to keep eating animals simply because you enjoy the taste.
But does personal enjoyment act as a justification?
We wouldn’t let anyone exploit another person for their own selfish pleasure - so why should it be acceptable here?
5. Health Concerns
You may have been told that you won’t get enough protein, iron, or calcium on a vegan diet - but scientific and medical authorities around the world - including the NHS*, the Academy Of Nutrition And Dietetics**, and the British Dietetic Association*** - confirm that a well-planned vegan diet is healthy and suitable for all stages of life.
Plenty of vegan athletes and bodybuilders thrive on plant-based diets.
6. Vegetarianism
You may believe eating eggs or drinking milk is okay because they are ‘by-products’.
In reality, both industries are deeply exploitative - even in so-called ‘free-range’ or ‘organic’ systems - and all animals are killed at a fraction of their natural lifespan when they become unprofitable.
Vegetarianism isn’t morally consistent - why oppose exploitation in one sense but allow it in others?
The question comes back to you:
If you were in the victim’s position - being used for your flesh, milk, or skin - would any of these objections hold up?
Click here if you have any other objections.