Edamommy’s Vegan Diary: No, You Are
I am having a major Andy Rooney moment. Not the unfortunate eyebrows part, but the “did you ever wonder” part. Did you ever wonder why all of the new
diet books on the shelves are just plain mean?
The latest trend seems to be “if we abuse you, you will lose you.” Not that I need a big, authentic, reaffirming Oprah/Eckhart virtual hug every day (Imagine a day where Oprah, Eckhart, Oz and Uma are all on one show) but even Mary Poppins knew that a spoon full of sugar attracts more bees or something like that.
I just want to know what the appeal is of all of these new books that ridicule readers, oh, and happen to have a vegan-agenda. The books remind me of that girl in my college sorority who would say something nasty, always followed by the word ‘kidding” and some smug grin.
If you bought one of those books and crossed out all of the expletives and nonsense commentary with a black marker, it would read like a redacted FBI document.
Maybe I have become a humorless, cranky vegan who needs more vitamins but I could use a little more Elvis Costello – what’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?
May 19th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Though it’s tempting to point to a lack of animal protein in your diet to explain these Miss Macbeth tendencies/viewpoints, you are anything but humorless. Bloodless, perhaps, as a Vegan…
I am having a difficult time commenting for once–If I say that I believe readers DON’T want to be ridiculed, doesn’t that foul my M.O. here (turning me into Mary Poopins)?
Maybe not RIDICULED–but I do think people respond well to a gentle, humorous spare-rib niggle which awakens self-awareness and can be quite motivating. MUCH more motivating than the rah-rah “everybody’s a powerful winner!” kiss-kiss of the Oprah crowd. And no, you would never see all those people in the same room. There are rules about having that many vowels together at one time.