The word ” appropriation ” gets thrown around a lot these days. By and large, it’s a term we use to describe the act of exploiting other people’s cultures for personal means. But this Reddit user aims to take things a step further.
They are suggesting, quite angrily, that a non-vegan who chooses to eat tofu is therefore appropriating tofu. The ensuing text conversation has since been uploaded to Reddit and it’s left the majority of users scratching their heads.
The internet has no shortage of gatekeepers.
According to this subreddit, “Gatekeeping is when someone takes it upon themselves to decide who does or does not have access or rights to a community or identity.” Oftentimes, you’ll encounter gatekeepers in music, film, and even in sports.
But make no mistake, a gatekeeper could be lying in wait just around the corner, waiting to pounce. It’s precisely what happened to this non-vegan Reddit user after they were attacked for eating tofu.
The exchange began after one Redditor shared a recipe for tofurkey (or Tofu turkey).
A fellow user saw the recipe, complimented them on the execution of the dish, and decided to inquire as to how long they had been vegan. The Redditor who posted the recipe replied with their thanks but explained that they were not in fact, vegan.
This seemed to throw the anonymous vegan Redditor for a loop. They kept pushing the issue by asking if the person was at least a vegetarian? Once again — the answer was no.
This caused the vegan Redditor to unleash an all-out tirade.
“So you’re like pretending to be a vegan because it’s cool and in?” They sarcastically inquired. “I’ve been.[sic] vegan for 3 years now and it was the best decision I’ve made in my life. It’s not hip or cool. It’s important.”
Surprised by the sudden onset of the attack, the non-vegan Reddit user still managed to keep their cool. They explained that they simply enjoyed the texture of tofu more than most meats.
The non-vegan Redditor also insisted that they were by no means pretending to appear vegan.
They pointed out how they were and always had been open about the fact that they ate beef on their public profile . They also alluded to a number of public posts that confirm exactly what they’d already stated — that they simply liked the texture of tofu more than most meat.
Ironically enough, the vegan Redditor seemed more than intent on beating a dead horse, over and over again.
“Tofu is strictly for vegans,” they bluntly stated.
The vegan Redditor continued by saying, “You are basically admitting to appropriating us and stealing what we need for your own selfish use.” They concluded their message by threatening to have the non-vegan user banned from the subreddit.
To which the non-vegan user replied, “With all due respect, I’m not appropriating anything, I’m eating food I like you absolute [expletive].” It’s times like this that I wish Reddit had a “slow clap” button.
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Several other community members seemed to be equal parts shocked and confused by the vegan-user’s comments.
““Stealing what we need for your own selfish use,” wrote Redditor KatCorgan. “Is there a tofu shortage that I don’t know about?”
Fellow user bennzedd echoed the statement by pointing out that getting meat-eaters to eat a more plant-based diet is quite literally one of the biggest tenets of veganism. “That person is just in it for identity politics … great post, what a jerk,” they said.
One user was also quick to reason how tofu is eaten along with meat in a number of different Asian cultures.
“Cultures who use tofu also often use it along with meat in a dish,” Redditor Jump_Like_A_Willys explained. “Therefore, if a vegan who uses tofu thinks it should only be eaten by vegan/vegetarians, then they are the ones appropriating tofu.” Where I come from, that’s what you call getting “lawyered.”
What are your thoughts on meat-eaters enjoying tofu; should this only be eaten by vegans or is it fair game for all to enjoy? Leave a comment below and let us know!
