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Dear reader,
Thank you for tuning in for today’s rant.
This article is an important exercise I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time now.
If you follow my newsletter, you’ll know that I encourage my audience to stand up for their beliefs, their values and — most of all — themselves (assuming their beliefs and values are reasonable, were arrived at using sound logic and align with what is real and what is true1).
It is in this spirit that I write this — an open letter to friends, family, and peers — and essentially lay all my cards on the table.
In an effort to stand up for myself I would like to make my beliefs, values, interests, desires, preferences, intentions, concerns, and boundaries abundantly clear.
Basically, I will be writing the majority of this post in the format of a letter, wherein I wish to express that which I’m unable to during verbal communication and conversation.
Often people will say things to me and, for whatever reason, I won’t be able to offer an adequate response in the moment (e.g., it would be inappropriate, cause a scene or the exact words and order of ideas just happened to escape me at the time).
People assume that I don’t have a good answer to what they have to say… but I have a lot to fucking say, and I would err on the side of caution when making bold claims and taking my silence to mean tacit agreement with you regarding whatever it is we were speaking about.
This post, then, exists as a failsafe against my own ineptitude to call people out on their bullshit in the moment; so, whenever I feel uncomfortable in conversation to say the words, which can now be found herein, I will simply reserve comment and then direct them to this.
If I, personally, sent YOU this, just know that it is to make myself abundantly clear regarding topics of conversation we may have had recently.
I despise conflict — although, I believe such is absolutely necessary in certain circumstances — and this is my way of meeting conflict without fear of intimidation or being shut down because the person I am talking to is aggressive or just so happens to be quicker on their feet than I.
If you, like me, have much to say on topics that tend to get heated and would prefer not to engage same in person, I suggest you formulate something like this so that you can deliver it to the necessary parties and advise them that you are only open to a civil dialogue on the issues under discussion.
If you are easily offended, you probably shouldn’t be reading this…
No More Mister Nice Guy
I, in no way, wish to alienate myself from my family, friends, or peers; however, the primary message of TPS is to stop doing shit out of sheer desperation to be liked or well-received by everyone around us.
One could see even this post as pandering to the needs or demands or desires of others, thinking they deserve an explanation for what I want, say or do.
But, I believe this open letter to my family, friends, and peers will serve two essential purposes:
- Inform the intended parties of the changes I will be making in my life so that they may plan accordingly (and determine whether we can move forward together or should go our separate ways); and
- Inspire those who read it to take a similar step in their lives; express (in writing) how they feel and the direction they are going moving forward.
I aim to establish boundaries through this article/post/letter (what have you) by explaining what I have put (or will be putting) in place based on my beliefs, values, wishes, and needs.
It communicates what I am and am not willing to tolerate and should serve the purpose of weeding the toxic people out of my life (those who are harmful to me, personally).
If you are someone this letter is addressing, then you need to think very carefully about what I have said and make a choice at the end:
- Are you and me compatible?
- Do you want to continue being a part of my life?
- Or is it best that we call it quits and go our separate ways?
Life is too goddam short to be spending it with people who aren’t (or who are no longer) serving us; or, worse, people who are actively hurting us.
It’s not about living in a vacuum or creating an echo chamber where we get off on the farts of people whose smell is similar to our own. Still, I have no interest in being around people with whom I will be constantly fighting because we can’t see eye to eye on certain significant factors.
This type of relationship is toxic for all involved, indicating that it may be time to move on.
I’d say let’s try to work it out first, but it is often crystal clear whether an issue is likely to be resolved.
With that out of the way, let’s get into it.
We Need to Talk
As it will become abundantly clear through my content, there are four topics I take VERY seriously; so seriously, in fact, I would consider them crucial aspects of my identity.
Obviously, there are many layers to the following four categories, but broadly speaking, they will serve to ground this article so as not to make it unnecessarily lengthy. They are:
- Introversion;
- Atheism;
- LGBTQ+; and
- Veganism
My flavour of personal development relies heavily on the notion that ‘you are the most important person when it comes to making decisions that have an effect on your life and when taking a course of action that affects your interests and wellbeing’. It is not a selfish attitude and, often, the people I am speaking to (much like myself) have allowed their interests to take a back seat for far too long.
Building on that, I also believe that those who don’t speak out or stand up for themselves (again, myself included) can be the most toxic element in a toxic relationship. We foster this codependent relationship and wonder why we got taken advantage of at the end of the day.
By setting proper boundaries, speaking up and being completely honest with everyone, not only do we increase our self-confidence and take ownership of our lives, but those around us also know where we stand on most issues, most of the time. We mitigate the chances of brewing resentment and allocate our time to only the most worthwhile people and endeavours.
In addition to this, I have written two other articles (along a similar vein):
- No More Mister Nice Guy — on the importance of being more assertive, honest and willing to accept that not everyone is going to like us; and
- My Liberation Pledge — on the boundaries I have personally set to further align my actions with my beliefs & values.
On that note, I wish to inform you — in a nutshell — as follows:
I Am an Introvert, Not Your Personal Doormat!
Please don’t expect me to drop everything for you, as I don’t expect you to do the same thing for me. I will be there for you as much as I possibly can but, if I feel like my own priorities are starting to take a backseat to those around me, I kindly request that you respect me when I cannot come through on every favour you may need.
I’ll do my best to be honest with you, and I expect you will be honest with me. My honesty shouldn’t be taken as a slap in the face, even if it comes across that way. Ask, don’t assume. I prefer an open dialogue, even if it means same calls our compatibility into question.
I will no longer accept power-plays or gaslighting. If I feel like I am being manipulated then, from now on, I will communicate this to you (most probably in writing) and, if our relationship cannot continue on mutual grounds, I have no qualms terminating further communication.
Don’t expect me to put myself out just because you don’t appreciate my stance on certain topics/issues. If what I do and/or say upsets, offends or inconveniences you, I urge you to let me know ASAP so that we can wrap things up and go our separate ways. We’re all adults here, and there is no honour in forcing ourselves to endure people we don’t get along with.
I do not tolerate intolerance, have no respect for people who have no respect for others, and I believe that violence begets violence. In other words, I always give people the benefit of the doubt — and treat all people fairly — until their behaviour indicates that they don’t deserve to be treated so compassionately. I grant trust tentatively, and I will not be kind to unkind people who go out of their way to be cunts.
In the past, I would’ve been extremely reluctant to write this post, concerned that it wouldn’t be well-received by others; afraid that people would think that I’m obnoxious or annoying. It is precisely because of these thoughts and feelings that I HAVE to publish this! I HAVE to not give a fuck, and be willing to lose those who think poorly of me after reading this. It is the only way I’m going to get over my insecurities.
It may come across angry, aggressive and defensive and I might be over-correcting in an unnecessarily alienating manner… but I’m still going to push forward, and go ahead strong, in the hopes that I’ll find my assertive sweet-spot.
The important thing here is that I move forward with projects quickly and just get them out. I am constantly overthinking my way out of doing things, but I can no longer afford the luxury that working in this way demands.
P.S., I will not watch my language — my language is English. The words I use reflect my strong feelings regarding the subject matter in question.
I AM AN INTROVERT, but I will no longer be used and abused by extroverts just because they may be better able to manipulate situations in their favour.
I Am an Atheist, And I Reject Your Unsubstantiated Metaphysical Nonsense!
I honestly don’t care that your faith is important to you.
I don’t care that believing in supernatural bullshit (i.e., phenomena which exist outside the natural world, yet interact with the natural world, for which no natural explanation can currently be given) somehow gets you through the day.
If believing in something (just because that’s what you really want to believe in) was limited to you (and people like you), I’d shut up and let you do your thing. But it’s not! The status quo, sadly, still leans heavily in favour of belief regarding some version of deity.
It’s like living in Bizarro World, where those who reject an entity on the basis that it cannot be seen, touched, tasted, heard, smelt or felt (as well as the fact that same finds no substantial support in science, logic, or reality) are somehow the weirdos, freaks, and pariahs who need to get their heads checked.
What kind of society do we live in? I guess people value being open-minded so painfully much that their fucking brains have fallen out. Seriously, you’re supposed to be a ‘grown-up’ now, so please do yourself a favour and let go of childish things!
Fuck, people are stupid! 🤦♂️
— Thinking Out Loud | V⃝ | Sentientist (@BjDorfan) July 30, 2021
I can’t believe that, in the 21st century, we are still rejecting science (however imperfect) in favour of utterly unsubstantiated metaphysical nonsense!
Prayer? You may as well flip a fucking coin! 🙄 #GetVaccinated https://t.co/SToFLcxzkI
Yet, far too many people are comfortable suspending their disbelief in favour of their version of ‘a perfect supreme being’, on poor (to outright non-existent) evidence — against all reason, rationality and a proper understanding of the nature of reality — simply because ‘it makes sense’ or ‘it just feels right’ or ‘natural explanations aren’t good enough’ or ‘there must be something more than this’ or ‘science and biology don’t make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside’ or ‘I’m more open-minded than you’ or (insert pretty much whatever reason you like here).
So, when your specious, unconvincing and sometimes batshit crazy theological worldview encroaches on the lives and wellbeing of civilised society… and, when you attempt to shove your particular flavour of bronze-age bigoted bullshit down my throat — as though it were an actual fucking fact — that’s when I’m going to need to put you in your place and remind you that we live in a secular society.
You can believe in magical invisible universe-farting unicorns that live in your garden for all I care. The problem, however, is that our beliefs inform our attitudes and our attitudes influence our behaviour. So, if you live your life in accordance with fiction, fantasy and an antiquated understanding of reality, what’s to stop you from acting like a complete fuck-head? In other words, your decisions will be made, not based on critical thought, evidence and sober enquiry, but rather on irrational beliefs, ignorance, scientific incredulity, blind faith and the divine guidance of our ancient ancestors (through scripture).
“Those who believe absurdities will commit atrocities” — Voltaire (paraphrased)
Religion and the god-concept (like any other supernatural or mystical belief) comes down to faith. Because nothing about theism is supported by naturalistic evidence (i.e., reliable evidence), reason, rationality, or the laws governing our shared reality. It relies heavily on blind faith, conjecture, faulty reasoning, fallacious arguments, poor (often anecdotal) evidence, delusion, a permanent suspension of disbelief, gaps in scientific knowledge and an incomplete understanding of certain phenomena (with no current natural explanation).
Theism thoroughly ignores:
- A simple/natural explanation is the more likely/reasonable explanation (Occam’s Razor);
- Something doesn’t become true simply because you really really want it to be true;
- In no other area of our lives would we just accept an extraordinary claim without requiring strong and significant evidence;
- Most people are born into the religion they follow, there have been over 10,000 distinct religions & 100,000 gods throughout history and most claims being made in the name of some or other faith largely contradict each other; and
- Atheists aren’t claiming there are no gods, we just aren’t convinced that there are any (much the same as you likely aren’t convinced of unicorns or the god/s of another mythology) due to your/theism’s failure to meet the burden of proof in this regard.
I AM AN ATHEIST, which means that I am not convinced of any gods’ existence.
Please don’t come preach at me with your unsubstantiated metaphysical nonsense.
If you can’t prove your god beyond a shadow of a doubt, then I don’t want to hear it. Don’t accuse me of being ‘just as radical, extreme, or fundamentalist as theists’.
My passionate antitheist stance stems from centuries of religious propaganda, indoctrination, and abuse levelled against those that didn’t share in a particular popular fairytale at a given place and time.
Even to this day, theism uses stupidity to argue in favour of negating the rights and freedoms of others; rights and freedoms which, I can assure you with every fibre of my being, are so much more drastically vital to the wellbeing & flourishing of humanity than is your right to religion that, if the two were to ever come into conflict, your religious beliefs should be immediately and strictly limited; prohibited from infringing on objectively more important rights.
Again, just louder for those in the back…
When your specious, antiquated, batshit crazy ideology encroaches on the lives of others & you attempt to shove your particular flavour of bronze-age bigoted bullshit down our throats, just remember that we live in a secular society & there are limits to your religious freedom 😘
— Thinking Out Loud | V⃝ | Sentientist (@BjDorfan) July 15, 2021
I will NOT be a ‘silent atheist’ and ‘just keep my atheism to myself’!
Religion — and really any sort of god belief — spreads hate & violence disguised as truth & love, makes ridiculous claims in the face of massive evidence to the contrary and allows otherwise moral, intelligent people to hold and defend dangerous beliefs, grounded not in logic and reality, but in faith that the word of lunatics from centuries past is actually the divine wisdom of a bearded ghost who lives in the clouds.
As long as people think it’s acceptable to spread malicious misinformation, packaged as kindness and compassion, while wishing those who don’t share in their particular belief system all manner of harm, I will be calling out their bullshit wherever I go.
Thinking that a foetus deserves higher moral consideration than a woman's choice regarding her own body, & thinking that human tastebuds deserve higher moral consideration than the life of sentient beings, presents a significantly catastrophic failure in perspective.
— Thinking Out Loud | V⃝ | Sentientist (@BjDorfan) July 23, 2021
We live in the real world, with real people, guided by reason and rationality. If only theists treated others with even half the decency as they do their antiquated beliefs, bronze-aged books and imaginary friends, this world would be a far better place!
I Am Gay, And There is Nothing Wrong With That!
I feel like this is a dead and settled issue, but I will still come across those die-hard few who possess some strong negative feelings towards the LGBTQ+ community (particularly those who subscribe to some version of theistic belief system).
I’d like to think that we live in a world, now, where most decent people, as members of a civilised society, have come to the realisation that there is nothing wrong with two individuals entering into a consensual sexual relationship with one another (regardless of their sex or gender).
People have attempted to force homosexuality into moral discourse, when it actually has nothing to do with morality. Homosexuality can be no more immoral than heterosexuality.
If we accept that sexuality & gender exist on a spectrum (which we should), then to argue that another’s is a choice is to accept that so too is our own. If our own is likewise a choice, then we bear the burden of proving why ours is the right one while another’s is wrong. #LGBTQ
— Thinking Out Loud | V⃝ | Sentientist (@BjDorfan) July 19, 2021
Unlike with paedophilia and bestiality, homosexuality doesn’t enter moral discourse because it exists on the same spectrum as heterosexuality — albeit on opposite ends — and, if homosexuality is immoral, then heterosexuality is automatically rendered, likewise, immoral.
If you are cisgender and heterosexual, it’s important to recognise that this world is structured in your favour. For millennia, society has been built around heteronormativity and, those who weren’t straight or who didn’t identify with the sex they were born into, were condemned to either remaining hidden (and, thus, live a lie) or live authentically and risk severe ridicule or being killed.
There’s no such thing as ’Straight Pride’ because society already accepts heterosexuals — they are the status quo — whereas LGBTQ+ individuals stand to suffer greatly at the hands of those who regard them as an abomination.
Cisgender heterosexuals don’t have to live in fear of being beaten within an inch of their life for being cishet. They just exist in a world that accepts them for who they are.
Pride, then, is designed to raise awareness, rally support from allies and help society transition into a world where being anything besides cishet isn’t a crime (or something deserving of condemnation).
The thing is, LGBTQ+ individuals really only want two things: equal rights and equal treatment; and, because this isn’t the case everywhere around the world, we have to resort to things that cishet people don’t (e.g., Pride Parades) in an effort to achieve this.
We don’t think we are special, nor do we believe we deserve (or even demand) special treatment.
We just want this idea of heteronormativity to be abandoned in favour of a worldview based in rationality & reason; one where, if we aren’t hurting anyone, our right to exist isn’t called into question every five goddamn minutes.
I AM A CISGENDER, HOMOSEXUAL MALE, which is a part of my identity and something I will be talking about as much as possible in an effort to help those also struggling against the narrative of the status quo… this notion that we are straight until proven gay.
Heterosexual people don’t understand what it is like to grow up gay. We still live in a world where you are assumed straight and, if you are not, are required to inform people of such so that they can stop making that assumption.
You think that this assumption isn’t harmful, in and of itself? Never mind the fact that society is still filling kids’ heads with this notion that to be anything other than straight is not normal. Gay pride is a necessary reaction to the trauma society can inflict on those that are made to feel insignificant, broken, damaged and pathetic for not conforming to the heteronormative narrative being peddled even to this day.
I Am Vegan, Not on a Fucking Diet!
Please, please, PLEASE… for the love of the god in which I do not believe, please! Please fucking STOP conflating veganism with a diet.
Oh my god — Jesus Christ — fuck me silly! 🤦♂️
I cannot stand this horrible (and utterly inaccurate) misconception that ‘veganism is a diet’.
Veganism is an ethical position, okay! Just because it dictates what makes it past my lips and into my stomach is incidental.
Veganism is an ideology directly opposed to animal abuse and viewing non-human animals as mere objects reserved for human consumption.
Please take a look at the following accounts for what veganism is fighting against, and what YOU (as a non-vegan or anti-vegan) support:
- https://www.instagram.com/hopeourfuture/;
- https://www.instagram.com/welsh_vegan1/;
- https://www.instagram.com/alexandrabadami7/;
- https://www.instagram.com/lala_cestlavie_4/; and
- https://www.instagram.com/stopusinganimals/
And this is just a drop in the ocean regarding the horrific, demented shit humans do to animals.
All oppression boils down to our disposition to morally value the lives of some over others; often so much so that, not only do we LEGALLY protect the former’s interests, we will even go so far as to grant them legal license to act AGAINST the interests/wellbeing of the latter. pic.twitter.com/47CbWza6Ob
— Thinking Out Loud | V⃝ | Sentientist (@BjDorfan) July 4, 2021
You think that you’re exempt; like hiring a hitman would absolve you of murder?
You think that animals aren’t suffering immensely because of your purchasing behaviour; neglecting to use your brain for one goddamn second to realise that one cannot humanely kill those who do not wish to die?
You think that we do things differently in the so-called ‘civilised West’; blinded to the fact that the cows, chickens & pigs (whose flesh you lust after) die painfully horrific deaths (often skinned, boiled & dismembered alive)?
You think that animals have it no worse than humans at the hands of other humans; forgetting that society takes human rights substantially more seriously than that of animal’s?
You think a great many wrong things when it comes to the food you eat, the clothes you buy, and the mindset you hold in regard to non-human animals.
Animal agriculture and the status quo have done a stand-up cracker of a job keeping you sheltered from the consequences of your consumerism.
And, before you feel justified in buying whatever the fuck you want because there’s ‘No Ethical Consumption Under Capitalism’ or ‘Vegans Cause Harm Too’, just know that the animals you view as nothing more than a means to an end (e.g., food, fashion, fun, labour, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals etc.) have it far, far worse than any human being that is exploited by legitimate corporations (i.e., I’m obviously not talking about gross human rights violations at the hands of illegal trades — such as human trafficking, child pornography & snuff films etc. — but this is, regardless, not something for which you pay).
Because when you are not vegan, the products you buy are LITERALLY the parts, pieces, and excretions of a (once) living, feeling, breathing, sentient creature who was forced into this world, just to suffer and die for your fleeting, disgusting pleasures.
When you think about it, you’re no better than a rapist, sadist, or murderer. Sure, the victims and sensory pleasure involved differs, but the consequences are the same — someone had to suffer and die for your comfort, convenience, gluttony, greed and selfish desires!
Sure, you can be a moral person (generally) and act immorally (sometimes)… but intentionally engage in enough unnecessary & extremely immoral behaviour and, eventually, one must concede that, not only do they do immoral things, but they are also an immoral person. #BeVegan
— Thinking Out Loud | V⃝ | Sentientist (@BjDorfan) June 29, 2021
I have written extensively on this topic, so I shan’t spend much more time on this than I have to.
You can get all the info you need by following the links below:
- Sign up to my ‘For the Love of Animals’ Newsletter (includes a FREE eBook);
- Visit my Quora pages — Cold Turkey & Sentientism; and
- Follow me on Twitter & Instagram;
I AM A VEGAN, which means that I don’t view animals as a commodity, to be used and abused for my benefit and to their detriment.
Sentience means that someone can enjoy a subjective experience of life as well as suffer. Humans aren’t superior, as much as we like to think we are. What we do have, however, is moral agency… which means we have a duty to all those with moral worth to not diminish wellbeing or cause harm unnecessarily.
Animals, children and the mentally handicapped do not have moral agency, but they do have moral worth, and we have a special obligation to protect and care for these particular individuals.
Yet, for as advanced as we are as a species (in terms of intelligence and empathy), the sick fucking shit we deliberately do to animals, on a scale that would utterly devastate our own species, is completely fucking evil.
If you know what suffering you are demanding when you purchase certain products (or suspect, but wish to remain wilfully, blissfully ignorant) and continue to support these industries… then you can actually go fuck yourself!
Don’t tell me that you’ll ‘respect my veganism if I respect your personal choice’ to fund the enslavement, torment, and death of innocent fucking creatures (who’ve been bred into existence just to be manipulated, subjugated, exploited, tortured & murdered to satiate our perverted desires), especially when it is so fucking easy to make far better purchasing decisions.
Where I can help it, I refuse to break bread with those who think so little of others that they deem it acceptable to benefit from their suffering.
To my non-vegan friends and family who did not know what being non-vegan meant for the non-human animals you ate, wore and were entertained by… well now you do, and I leave it in your hands to make the right decision to go vegan.
Obviously, we cannot eliminate all harm, but you can understand what it means to be vegan by reading the links I attached above and by reaching out to me & asking questions (but only if you are sincere; not just to get into an argument with me!)
If this is not something you can do, I’m afraid that this is a dealbreaker for me. I’ll see you when and where I absolutely have to, but your values make it difficult for me to justify our continued friendship/personal relationship.
For those who are aggressively ANTI-vegan… YOU CAN ACTUALLY FUCK OFF AND DIE for all I care!
To me, you are an evil fucking selfish prick and I honestly want nothing to do with you.
In my mind you are no better than a nazi, racist, homophobe, child molester or serial killer.
I mean, you know what you do is causing a significant degree of pain & suffering, yet you actively defend, fund, contribute to and support the industries responsible?
Fuck you, cunt! I don’t care what excuses you have, … save it and fuck off!
I’ve written the conclusion to this post in the form of a letter, below.
Where to From Here?
To whom it may concern,
I hope this post finds you in good spirits.
I don’t really have too much to say on Introversion and LGBTQ+.
I think it’s fair to assume that most of us accept such differences between people, and that it is no justification to treat others disrespectfully.
I have yet to come across someone who openly has a problem with me being gay or who thinks homosexuality is some sort of disease.
If this is you, then all I can say is that we live in the twenty-first century, and you have access to the internet; so, do some research and educate yourself on this topic.
If you are convicted in your stance that anything to do with LGBTQ is harmful or wrong, it is actually you who is harmful and wrong! (Please also let me know that this is how you feel — if you are someone who is presently involved in my life in some way — so that we may go our separate ways.)
I have no interest in being around homophobes and obviously, if you are one, you should have no desire in being around me.
However, this is usually only an issue for those who think that the delusional ramblings of prehistoric pricks (taken from an unreliable text) is a relevant source of knowledge to which one should turn to live a good and decent life.
This ‘source’ is so fantastic, in fact, that hardly anyone can agree on which prehistoric prick should be followed, which invisible arsehole should be believed, which interpretation should be relied upon, which translations from thousands of copies upon copies of which particular writings from which particular authors (who, by the way, were, at the very least, decades removed from the events in respect of which they profess knowledge) are correct and which leader claiming to know the answer to all the above has this shit-show of a joke all figured out… just for rational minds to be told, at the end of the day when all the bullshit being peddled finally crumbles at the foot of reason and rationality, that it is THEIR lack of faith that is to blame for the divine truth not being fully and properly revealed to them.
I am yet to meet an intellectually honest human take issue with homosexuality. Perhaps this is due to having never been presented with any logical argument to show how heterosexuality is morally superior to any other sexual orientation. And perhaps this is why the only people who take issue with homosexuality seem to be the religious idiots who treat their invisible monster with more decency and respect than real people (and animals for that matter) living in the real world.
Why religious idiots you ask? Well, that’s because they think the delusional ramblings of prehistoric pricks taken from an unreliable text is a relevant source of knowledge to which one should turn in order to live a good and decent life.
If it wasn’t already abundantly clear, I don’t think very highly of those who have abandoned reason in favour of faith and those who embrace the spiritual, supernatural and metaphysical at the expense of the reality we are all required to occupy and share.
The only sure way to lead an excellent life, discover actual facts and live in congruence with honest truths is through scepticism, science, reason, rationality, logic, and reality (yes, some of those can be used as synonyms).
And the only sure way to live a moral life is to become a sentientist.
… which leads me to my final points of this letter.
I grant trust tentatively and will always give people the benefit of the doubt but, in order to lead the excellent life, I have envisioned for myself, I can no longer remain quiet in the interests of keeping the peace or making everyone happy.
In doing so, and in avoiding conflict and confrontation, I have been sacrificing progress towards the life I wish to acquire… I have been sacrificing my own happiness in an effort to make everybody else happy.
It’s my turn now, so you can either hop on board this new train with me, or I’m just going to leave you at the station.
Yes, I am an introvert, but I’m no longer willing to eat shit just because what I may think, feel, do or say might upset, offend or inconvenience you.
I am proud to be gay, and I know how society can fuck a kid growing up in a world where the narrative is still heteronormative; where far too many people still think that homosexuality is so disgusting that they are willing to hurt others for living in alignment with whom they really are.
I have no space or time for homophobes, so get the fuck out of my life and go see a therapist, if you are one!
If god, religion, spirituality, and the supernatural are major players in your worldview, decision-making and day-to-day existence, I’m going to be honest and let you know I couldn’t disagree with you more.
I also couldn’t care less, nor give fewer fucks, about religion, tradition, culture, nature, or history if same is being used to defend hate, perpetuate violence or in any way, shape, or form promote suffering and/or reduce wellbeing.
Your faith and your god and how things were or how we’ve always done shit is an excuse that can go and get fucked based on how these ideas have been, and continue to be, used to dangerous and disastrous effect in society.
I wouldn’t want to legislate against religion, but until you come to your own senses and throw that bullshit in the trash where it belongs, I’m sorry to say that I don’t have much room for you in my life at the moment.
Finally, and this one is massively important and could very likely cause a deep-cleanse of the majority of my relationships presently in my life, there is something I WILL ABSOLUTELY NO LONGER TOLERATE.
Over the next couple of months, I will be doing something most people will find drastic. However, if you don’t understand then, in my mind, we are clearly not on the same moral page because this is something regarding which everybody should be crystal fucking clear!
I no longer wish to associate with those who, directly or indirectly, knowingly abuse animals.
I will, especially, no longer be breaking bread with animal abusers.
Now, you may be thinking, ‘That’s cool. I agree. People who abuse animals are disgusting!’, to which I’d enquire. ‘Amazing. So, when did you go vegan?’
You see, the thing is, if you are not vegan, YOU ARE AN ANIMAL ABUSER!
And, if you abuse animals, YOU ARE A PIECE OF FUCKING SHIT!
I am so NOT sorry, it is truly fucking frightening!
I’m honestly sick and fucking tired of people’s pathetic excuses in this regard.
“Details of your incompetence do not interest me! “ — Miranda Priestly, the Devil Wears Prada
I understand only to the extent that I, too, was brainwashed by society into believing that what we do to animals for food, fashion, and fun (amongst other purposes) is completely justified.
I was wrong and am in the process of making amends.
Unlike any other injustice, we demand the exploitation of animals and directly contribute to their suffering through our purchasing behaviour.
There is no way around it; this is precisely what you call for when you purchase and consume meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, leather, wool, down etc.
There is no such thing as humane slaughter (this being a contradiction in terms) and requiring anything with animal products necessarily demands the exploitation of a sentient being.
People say that vegans cause harm too, but it’s nowhere fucking near what is happening RIGHT NOW to an innocent creature… all for what? All so that you can enjoy a fifteen-minute fucking steak that you’ll forget about before your next bowl movement?
All you have to do is look at your dog, who stares back at you with more love and light than any other living creature in your life, and you just know there is somebody behind those eyes; someone who loves, gets sad, plays and feels pain — is ‘human’ (whatever the fuck that means, actually) in all the ways that matter — yet you are perfectly content with having other sentient life (life not very much unlike your dog) go through what can only be described as the most vicious cruelty…ALL FOR A FUCKING SANDWICH!?
You want to dismiss what I say as ‘unjustified anger’? Well…
If you know what you are funding when you buy anything that relies on the exploitation of animals, yet choose not to change your purchasing behaviour, then I DO NOT respect you… because you are an evil fucking cunt.
If you do not necessarily know exactly what you are funding when you buy anything that relies on the exploitation of animals, yet wish to remain wilfully, blissfully ignorant on the issue so as not to have to change your purchasing behaviour, then I DO NOT respect you… because you are a pathetic fucking coward.
If you do not know what you are funding when you buy anything that relies on the exploitation of animals, yet are willing to expose yourself to such horrors and agree to alter your purchasing behaviour as a result, then I DO respect you… because it reveals you to be a morally flawed human being who is able to comprehend that, since this particular so-called ‘personal choice’ involves a VICTIM, what we are actually dealing with here is a moral dilemma.
And if you’re thinking, ‘who the hell do you think you are?’ and have taken deep issue with the stuff I have said hereinabove… if you are at all upset, offended or inconvenienced by the words on this page… then I strongly suggest we call our relationship a day.
I sincerely wish you all the best in your life and hope that we don’t lose touch because of what you now know about who I am, where I’m going and what relationships I wish to take with me into the future.
But I am not willing to change who I am merely for your benefit… just as I would be deeply disappointed and disturbed if you were for mine.
Do better! Be better! Not for anyone’s sake but your own…
Unless you are not vegan… in which case, you need to be vegan for the animals…
Your morality depends on it.
Take it easy,
Brad.
- For everything related to scepticism, philosophy, atheism and the like, plus help in becoming a more rational and reasonable person, please sign up to the Sceptic’s Guide to Escaping Bullsh•t. ↩
