r/Vystopia

This sub used to be my safe haven for venting and for talking to other vegans who understand how messed up the world is. But lately I am seeing bad social media posts here. I come here to feel better but I keep seeing dead animals and speciesist social media posts screenshots here. It's making me feel worse.

Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, in which case this post can be ignored. But I wanted this post to be an opportunity for others to discuss their feelings if they are also annoyed by such posts. Maybe there can be a rule against such posts.

I'm not really a massive consumer of TV or film productions, but I watch some and I have favourites. Animal use is so inescapable that nothing feels safe. Horse riding, leather costumes, tables filled with cooked flesh, corpses in market stalls. These are just some examples off the top of my head that have appeared in the media I otherwise find enjoyable. And I still think "I love that movie", but at the same time I am put off by it and feel painfully conflicted. On the one hand, there's a story that I find thought-provoking, moving, or relatable, and on the other - there are these vile reminders of the horrific ways we violate the autonomy of non-human animals peppered throughout. So I don't feel good about loving the movie. It feels like I'm betraying my principles for liking it. And this transfers to music as well, to a measurably lesser extent, but nonetheless...

So how do you internalise or justify the consumption of fictional productions that feature animal exploitation?

I feel a big calling to fight for the animals since going vegan and at first I joined groups like AV. I found having footage in front of people’s faces was the easiest way to convert them. But I ended up seeing so much horror footage that I had nightmares (night terrors) for years and it only just stopped now, seven years later. I ran from activism because I couldn’t cope anymore. I still feel a big calling to help save the animals but I’m scared to go back to seeing that reality every day. I have tried explaining what happens to the animals without the footage and it goes nowhere. And now, the most frustrating comment I have come across lately is “how do you know it’s not AI?”
Any suggestions on what I can do to help? I’m desperate to be an activist but I want to protect myself too.

It becomes quite clear with me with time, that the more I engage with nonvegans, the more I realize most people have no principles and if slavery was normalized and 98% supported slavery, people would be defending slavery in order to not stand up against social norms. If domestic abuse was normal and people defended domestic abuse, people would be domestic abusers. If kicking dogs was a sign of status and power, and it was normal and legal, people would be kicking dogs and mocking those who choose to not kick dogs and regarding non-dog kickers as “weak”.

We are a species of skittish individuals, who will do anything in order to get social approval, no matter how immoral and cruel the act. A species of weak narcissistic bullies whose only cares are those that are in favor of their immediate selfish interests, and anything outside their small bubbles are just abstract fantasy in their minds, even if they are literally responsible for the horror outside of said bubbles. And yet, they believe themselves to be superior to other animals, when they have no “humanity”?

I just hate the word “humanity” up to this point. It is just an empty word without meaning when so many humans have no problems being cruel. Humans don’t have humanity. Humans are selfish, barbaric and cruel. We aren’t even a "sapient" species either, as most of us know after having to deal with the same bad and old excuses over and over again with this people just being incapable of thinking critically about their own biases and habits. We are mostly a dumb species, and only because a small minority of brilliant individuals like scientific inventors and human rights activists defending human rights is that we have civilized societies. If it was for the average human, we would still be living in caves killing each other for scraps.

I am ashamed of being a human. I just wish to be a jellyfish. Not having to think about anything or having to work. Only swimming, and stinging assholes.

I love cooking, it's genuinely one of my favorite everyday activities, especially because I get to be creative in a way. But whenever I have guests over or I am just cooking something for myself, I get one of two things: backhanded compliments, or faces of digust.

Backhanded compliments such as "I usually don't like this stuff but this tastes great!" or "not vegan but I like this a lot". Arguably the worst one I've got was: "I know you don't cook meat, but if you did, I'm pretty sure it would also taste great". I like cooking vegan because that gives me a chance to not listen to others talking about dead animals at the table, and yet here we are. Sometimes I'm not even sure if they think these are compliments, or if they're genuinely being mean.

Another case was when I was out with friends and I picked the vegan almond ice cream. A friend asked what it tastes like and I said "literally the same" and they still picked the dairy one. (Such smaller things happen every time I meet with friends, but there were too many at this point and I'm afraid it'll just explode in their face sooner or later)

And then there's the faces people make. I get it, mock meat and dairy alts don't always taste like corpse or breast milk, but why are they acting like the vegan stuff is the disgusting one out of these?

I am sick to the stomach with people. I guess I'm writing this down here because I have no one in my inner circle who is vegan. Not a single friend or family member, and it's tiring. I don't even dare mention veganism at this point because I get into arguments for no good reason. Sorry this got too long, and if you made it this far, thank you for reading. I'd appreciate any advice you have regarding any of this because I don't know how to help myself anymore.

text convo explanation that turns into a vent

a friend sent our group chat an article about the big egg recall over salmonella. I responded "hell yes" which got a "???" from them. I explained I was relieved that people would be forced to take a break from contributing to egg production- which kills millions of male chicks every day- but said I hoped everyone affected would be okay.

my friend called me out, saying it read as me being excited about people potentially getting sick or dying, just because it might help animals. I clarified that wasn't it- I was glad about the pressure/exposure on the egg industry, not the harm to people. no response after

the next day I texted them and apologized for the timing and tone, especially since it was in a group setting. my friend said we're good, but admitted it sometimes feels like I care more about animals than people, even if they don't fully believe that's true. I tried to explain that in reality it's like feminism, it's called that but it's just about equality because women are so discriminated against. and it's not that I don't care about people, it's that I've been less of a people-pleaser about this specific issue because I feel so strongly about it. I reassured them I care about my friends deeply and that the last thing I want is to make anyone think bad of veganism.

they came back with a broader point about not liking preachy vegans who "don't understand that some people simply can't (or don't want to) go vegan" and that they shouldn't be shamed for that. they compared it to religious evangelizing, but said they don't think less of me for being vegan and actually respect that I stand up for animals. I responded with agree to disagree and we ended with I love you's. my message also included "thank you for saying that and giving me the opportunity to improve" 🙄 I'm worried I accidentally folded and misrepresented myself and my morals.

thinking back it just comes off like they were accusing me of being a preachy vegan? and I didn't take it that way at first, was just trying to give benefit of the doubt. it is definitely not a shock, but this is still very difficult to hear coming from this friend who is not only a "leftist" but also one of the only other activists in our friend group.

yet another friend my mind is now made up about. at least where they are at now in life. im too exhausted to know how to navigate further or have any motivation to pursue any kind of genuine connections with non vegans. it can't be genuine when my head won't stop reminding me of the disgusting excuses that have come out of their mouth that they stand on with such stubbornness.

cuz now I feel like the only way to move forward in our relationship is to re-visit the topic and represent myself authentically. but I feel like that means starting an argument and then boom I'm labeled preachy. why does peace have to be so unpopular. this is so fucking depressing and I feel so isolated by everyone and myself and I'm wondering if I need to just live alone and cut everyone off who makes me nauseous

i began my journey to veganism a while ago ( was a vegetarian for longer but realized even vegetarians contribute to the abuse of animals ), ive been fully vegan for a bit now.. but i have realized i dont know how to handle the sorrow and pain i feel in my soul when everyone around me is exploiting animals, i am seriously so incredibly depressed about it… i just wanna scream at everyone that they are horrible human beings and force everyone to see what the industries do to these poor animals… what can i do??? 💔 i do have a psychiatrist that i see sometimes, which ive been thinking of contacting to see if i can have an emergency appointment to a therapist or something.. but even so, that doesnt stop the world from abusing animals..

I’ve been vegan for a few years now, and I go through bouts of extreme distress and vystopia like clockwork every couple of months. To the point where the mention or even the sight of animals makes my chest feel heavy.

I don’t know how to mitigate this, but I find that when I’m cuddling with my cats or when I see a cute video of an animal online, it sends me spiralling, knowing that trillions of these creatures suffer every moment of every day. I don’t want to forget about the injustice we perpetrate against animals just so I can feel a bit more comfortable in my day to day life, but I don’t want this negative connotation with animals to override my appreciation and love of them.

I often feel this way about humans too, but it’s counterproductive to any change or pursuit of justice. Does anyone have advice on how to change my thought pattern?

Someone built an "amusement park" featuring things like roasted chicken corpses being loaded onto rollercoasters and spun around on big towers. I... genuinely don't even know how to react. Thousands of innocent birds killed for zero reason to have their corpses put up on some sick display. The video of it got thousands of upvotes, and lots of people expressed disappointment that it was shut down due to food safety concerns. What is wrong with humanity

So i was in the bus and next to me was a mom talking to her kids saying shes not afraid of trying new things, but the only thing she wouldnt eat are frogs. She then proceded to say she ate snails and idk what else. Then one of her kids said somewhere along the lines of: " what if you put chicken blood in the frog to make it eatable". Then she replied in a disgusted way "honey dont say that".

Ugh... this is why people are violent because of parents like her who teach their kids at a young age to eat animals.

I was so tempted to say something but i think it would have been best to just get off and try to forget about that awful conversation i had to hear since she was talking out loud. Made me feeling angry the rest of the day. Also going to a cafe were there were no vegan options, not even almond nor soy milk..just made me more angry. Just needed to rant and see wwyd?

How would have you guys handled this? Would you have ignored like i did or just try to say something?

I showed my mum the video that set veganism in stone for me and she said it was sad but she was still going to eat meat. I only went vegan afew days ago but i feel like im gping insane. No one around me is willing to change because their too greedy to think of animals. I cant look at meat anymore as it makes me want to cry and throw up. LIKE EVRYONE I HAVE NO VEGAN FRIENDS THE ONLY COMFORT I HAVE IS REMEMBERING MY YEAR 5 AND 6 TEACHER WHO WAS VEGAN AND ONE OF THE BEST TEACHERS EVER. and then im told im 'shoving it down peoples throats' LIKE YEAH I DONT WANT YOU TO BE SUPPORTING MURDER AND RAPE OF ANIMALS. Im going to be having a picnic for my birthday and none of my friends have sensative stomachs or are alergic to anything so i want it to be to vegan or at the least vegetarian but my mums like "you have to acomodate non vegans" and its like IM NOT ACOMODATING ANIMAL RAPE AND MURDER ON MY BIRTHDAY. i havent told my dad but my pearents are divorced and i see him evry other weekend. Hes just going to take the piss out of me for it and when i refuse to eat i'll be called difficult and "he will be the struggling dad victim and i'll be the bratty child". What did make me happy though was my mum told my nan (shes in her 80's and isnt the most progressive but is lovely) and she was more concerned about making sure i was healthy then anything wich made me happy. But still it makes me so angry and then im told im a snowflake or a radicalist for wanting to storm animal testing facilitys and stage protests. Like im sorry im open minded. IM NURODIVERGENT AND MY BRAINS NOT WIRED WRONG JUST DIFFERENTLY AND THATS WHY I SEE WHAT THE NARROW MINDED CANT. "See the world differently" no i see the world literly. I feel like im going insane. I hate it. How can i feel better?

My closest friend and their partner are some of the biggest animal lovers I know. They spoil their pets and are constantly going out of their way to rescue injured animals, provide food and water for neighborhood animals and strays, and have literally pulled over on the highway on multiple locations to relocate vulnerable wildlife or defend baby animals from circling raptors. And then, they go home and make meat heavy meals without a second though. It blows my mind. Clearly they have such a soft spot for animals in general, but there must just be such a disconnect or mental block about eating animal products. It’s just sad and frustrating to watch. I love their softness with the animals they encounter face to face, it’s just so frustrating that this doesn’t extend to animals they eat. Sigh. Just venting I guess. Nice to know that there are many others in this sub who feel similarly sad and frustrated about similar things.

Hi everyone,

I'm a wildlife and animal welfare worker based in North India, operating across Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali (Punjab).

My work includes:

Investigating illegal captivity of native wildlife and coordinating with the Forest & Wildlife Department for confiscation and rehabilitation.

Assisting the Wildlife Department with rescues and rehabilitation of injured wild birds, especially Black Kites.

Inspecting pet shops, documenting animal welfare violations, and filing complaints with the Animal Husbandry Department and relevant authorities.

Conducting field reconnaissance and monitoring wildlife trade and illegal hunting hotspots.

So far, I've helped confiscate 48 illegally kept wild animals (primarily Indian Parakeets and Black Kites) and assisted in the rescue of 12 injured Black Kites through the Wildlife Department.

I earn enough to cover my personal living expenses, so this isn't a request for income or salary.

What I'm struggling with is fuel.

My work involves constant travel between cities, rescue locations, villages, markets, and field sites. As winter approaches, illegal trapping and hunting of wildlife tends to increase as the forests are covered by fog, meaning I'll be spending even more time on reconnaissance and field visits.

I'm currently learning how to write grant proposals so I can secure long-term funding for field operations. My goal is to become self-sustaining and stop asking individuals for support.

Until then, I'm looking for people who would be willing to help cover my fuel expenses... about USD $100 (approximately ₹8,500) per month.

If you'd like to support my fieldwork, or even just ask questions about what I do, I'd be happy to answer them and provide documentation of my work.

My long-term vision is to make the government do its job. Fix the system.

Thank you for reading. I have added a donation link, and I will be more than happy to share proof of work as well.

Donate here https://rzp.io/rzp/IRmkdtZh

You shouldn't lose sleep or self-love over people who don't care about your mental well-being.

Bad people really aren't worth a hair on your head. You are sacred. Don't let them make you go grey.

They want you to lose sleep because they are lows that like drama. You have to protect what's precious to you.

Regardless of what other people or being, says. They don't deserve your emotional, mental, spiritual, or even physical time.

Your mind is time. Time is money. Shift your mind to yourself and off them. What you focus on grows. Focus on yourself.

What matters most is your reality, that's what you're here for. In their reality, if they want to set the world on fire. A LOT of people do. Let them. That's between them and spirit. You do you, in YOUR world. You have full control creating your reality.

Worry about yourself, because if you take your eyes off that road of yours, you could swerve your car and get in a bad accident. They are not worth your precious eyes, sweetheart. Don't get lost in other people, focus on yourself.

You and your life are first. That's how serious it is.