I've come across this picture a few times already in Facebook, and I'm sure that I'm not the only TFV writer who has. However, I decided that since there are no apparent rights indicated anywhere, that I can use it to let off some steam – and start a small debate and discussion here with you.

The picture is called the 'Defensive Omnivore Bingo', and I would like to throw Carnivore in there, too, since some of our fellow human beings survive almost exclusively on meat and animal by-products like dairy and eggs. I mean, when they consider they've had their portion of vegetables by clearing the potatoes off their plates and have some bread and beer to wash it all down, I don't count them as real omnivores...

Anyhow, here is a list inspired by the picture included here of the reasons why people believe veganism is just plain wrong. How many have you heard? How many are missing? Let's get this out of our systems!

1- But, plants suffer, too.

Plants do not have a central nervous system...

2- I could never give up ___________ (fill in with whatever meat or by-product).

Yes, you could. You CHOOSE not to. There's a difference.

3- Where do you get your protein?

Of course, we know the answer to that.

4- PETA is terrible...!!

No, it's not. Their marketing is, at times, far more controversial than I'd like it to be. But PETA accomplishes loads of good for animals and vegans.

5- We're at the top of the food chain!

So, this means we should poison our system with meat?

6- I've tried going vegetarian/vegan once and just couldn't.

Did you try hard enough?

7- Eating meat is OK because we're not like other animals.

Say what???

8- We're just like other animals that eat other animals.

Doesn't this contradict point number 7?

9- If God didn't want us to eat animals, why are they made out of meat?

We're made out of meat, too... Would you eat your little brother if you're hungry?

10- We would be overcrowded by farm animals because there is an overpopulation of these species.

That's because we overbreed them.

11- Vegans are too preachy.

Make McDonald's stop getting in my face with their ads and disgusting smell, and I'll stop getting in yours about veganism. Deal?

12- If everyone goes vegan, we'll run out of food.

Wrong. We'll have a surplus of food – most of our crops nourish farm animals.

13- You care less about humans than animals.

It's been proven that you can tell if a person cares about humans by watching how they treat animals.

14- Starts imagining scenarios where, out of some crazy and highly unlikely event, all plants die and we're forced to eat animals.

Well, this is just me – but eating animals will kill me, anyways... so die of hunger or die of a heart attack...?

15- Points out what we probably own stuff that contains even just a small amount of animal by-products.

I read labels, but of course I can't always know or always avoid it. That's why I fight against it – to ensure we won't have that happen anymore.

16- Says that because he/she knew a mean vegan, they must all be like that.

In psychology, this is called 'retroaction' and 'generalization'. Look them up in a psychology dictionary. You won't like the answer.

17- Says our canine teeth are meant to chew and tear meat apart.

Really? So that's why we have the digestive system of an herbivore? And nails instead of claws? I'll give you a rabbit and I want you to skin it and eat it without the help of any utensils whatsoever. Then I'll sit by the phone and call the hospital when you start getting sick.

18- 'Vegan' is an Indian word for 'bad hunter'.

Very funny.

19- Talks about how happy farm animals are.

When was the last time you visited a farm??? And was it a large one, or a teeny-tiny one that actually cares for its animals?

20- Expresses some type of comment about starving children to try to deter the conversation away from what you're saying.

Uh, I went vegan BECAUSE of starving children. Want to hear why?

21- Talks about cavemen and how they were hunters.

But mostly fruit gatherers. And most aboriginal tribes are vegan or almost entirely vegan. Most only hunted when plant food was scarce.

22- Wonders why you don't use your time better, like eating meat instead of all that tiring activism against it.

Say what?

23- Says you're damaging the system and has to undue all your damage by compensating for you and eating at least the same amount of meat you would have when you were omnivore, so you might as well accept becoming omnivore again.

No, I'll just sit here and wait until you get fat and ill.  (I swear, this is a true story for me.  Two work collegues sent me an email that said 'for every animal you don't eat, I'll eat three'.  I thought they were kidding until I saw them do it - eat three times their usual portion because I am vegan!!!  One became sorely depressed from his weight gain!  The other never talked about it, but since they both stopped their game, I can only assume they figured out they would truly harm themselves if they kept it up.)

24- Do you eat fish – insects – honey – meat broth – etc... ?

NO!

25- Says we have the eyes of hunters.

No, we don't. Gorillas are herbivores and their eyes are the same as us. And some hunters, like hawks and eagles, have their eyes on the side of their heads. Sheesh. Get your facts straight.

26- Starts claiming that some non-vegan food, like insects or fish, aren't animals.

Where were YOU in biology class??

27- But the Bible tells us we have to make animals our slaves because we're better than them.

The Bible also says that women must absolutely wear skirts or they'll all go to hell. All those that swear will, too. Seems like we're doomed, anyways.

Your turn! Which crazy arguments have you heard that isn't here?

Please vote for me if you enjoyed this and had fun with it!