[431] in Vegetarian_Support_Group
Re: name change
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (noileman@MIT.EDU)
Wed Mar 22 19:36:46 1995
From: noileman@MIT.EDU
To: vsg@MIT.EDU
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 1995 19:36:13 EST
>I don't see what problem people have with the word "support". Do
>people think it has any negative connotations? If so, why? I see
>it as being very positive and descriptive.
I have to agree with Richard. This list was created from the seta list
[formerly arf], intended for those issues relevant to vegetarianism, as
opposed to issues relevant to animal rights. I like the list because I
can find out about:
* restaurant get-togethers (esp. Thurs. Night Dinners)
* cool recipes
* nutrition info
* news about ARA
for instance. I don't mind the occasional cross-postings about
livestock treatment, Company X's unethical animal testing, or even food
poisoning incidents. But if I wanted to hear lengthier discussions
about animal-centered issues, I'd be on seta; I'd read the newsgroups.
As for trying to fight stereotypes by "outsiders", I don't see how
changing our name to VEG would be an improvement. This is an MIT list
(that welcomes others), which is useful for (1) local news and (2)
general information. Many members are not vegetarian, but are
interested enough about some of the above things and answers to "Why
become a vegetarian ?" that they decided to join the list because the
members ARE supportive of "veg" ideas.
I thought the Meat Out Day was kind of nice, because it was a way to let
people know we exist, so they can add themselves to the list if they are
interested.
But otherwise, we were not founded with a "mission" to "teach" the
rest of MIT about our diets, or to try to use our organization to
convert people into our "group". We are NOT a political group, and I
don't want some misleading name that makes it sound like we are
proselytizers. That's the "veg" stereotype that I am sensitive about.
--Laura S.
