“uh-oh, I’m realizing everyone else here is v**n, I probably need to be very cautious about what I reveal about myself, do I need to hide?”
I would say, as a lacto-vegetarian who goes to vegan events, I never felt this way, though I can see how someone could. When asked, “How long have you been vegan?” I clarify that I’m not vegan—that I’ve been vegetarian since January, and, sometimes, that I am thinking about going vegan—and I ask them the question back. Sometimes they’re vegan, sometimes they’re not! But it’s always a nice icebreaker and a fun experience; it’s never been negative for me.
I also think a non-vegan answering the question and hearing back, “That’s completely fine!” or “Oh, that’s cool, I’m flexitarian myself, actually!” shows that the “vegan” community is not just for vegans but for all animal people.
And I do like “animal people” as a term, though. Sounds cool.
I’d also suggest “So, what’s your story?” / “What brings you here?” as an icebreaker, where the context of being at an animal-people event makes it clear what you’re asking, without assuming much.
I would say, as a lacto-vegetarian who goes to vegan events, I never felt this way, though I can see how someone could. When asked, “How long have you been vegan?” I clarify that I’m not vegan—that I’ve been vegetarian since January, and, sometimes, that I am thinking about going vegan—and I ask them the question back. Sometimes they’re vegan, sometimes they’re not! But it’s always a nice icebreaker and a fun experience; it’s never been negative for me.
I also think a non-vegan answering the question and hearing back, “That’s completely fine!” or “Oh, that’s cool, I’m flexitarian myself, actually!” shows that the “vegan” community is not just for vegans but for all animal people.
And I do like “animal people” as a term, though. Sounds cool.
I’d also suggest “So, what’s your story?” / “What brings you here?” as an icebreaker, where the context of being at an animal-people event makes it clear what you’re asking, without assuming much.