Disclaimer: The images used in this post have been generated using “Midjourney” and is AI art.
Dear Readers,
I count myself lucky that I’ve been able to avoid trolls on the internet. I managed to maneuver around that bridge by doing the simple thing of not publicly expressing my opinion online.
I have opinions; however, I am a firm believer in the phrase “Opinions are like buttholes. Everyone has one, and they all stink.” - Simone Elkeles. It is fine to have one, but showing it in public will leave you ready for a spanking because:
Not everyone will agree with your opinion.
Not everyone will agree peacefully with your opinion.
Reactions, potentially violent and very dangerous ones, can easily be triggered depending on the person behind the ego.
Understanding the Ego
Our ego is our conscious mind. It’s the part of our identity that we consider to be ourselves.
When I think of my ego, I think of a little demon frog on my head. The reason behind this is due to my background in health and safety, where I deal with a lot of “frog incidents” (I am referring, of course, to the “Boiling Frog” theory).
My little demon frog likes to feed on my memories, ideas, emotions, and beliefs.
It remembers our traumas and creates a defense mechanism to protect us from potential harm.
It knows that when I cease to exist, it will also cease to exist, so it will try to protect me whenever it can.
It wants to constantly feel satisfied, and that needs to happen now! Not in 5 minutes, but RIGHT NOW.
My little demon frog also has the emotional capacity of a toddler.
If it doesn’t get what it wants, it will throw a hissy fit.
The Impact of Opinions
When we read an opinion that aligns with our own beliefs, our ego is happy. Our ego feels validated, secure, and safe.
However, when we read an opinion that goes against our beliefs, prepare for the tears. Our ego feels threatened and scared…and how do toddlers react when they’re scared or are faced with something they don’t want to do?
They’ll scream NO! (Deny the opinion).
Or they’ll throw their toy at you (Violence).
(If you need proof of this concept or if you want to feel an amazing sense of Schadenfreude, check out “Parents telling their kids that they ate their Halloween candy” on YouTube).
So, I avoid expressing my opinion, and I’ve been accused of being “very private,” which I find a strange accusation to make.
Accidentally Pulling The Trigger
However, I recently used a word online—a word that triggered a huge wave of hate against me—and that word was:
Vegan.
As you may know, I am living a plant-based lifestyle, AKA I am vegan.
One thing I’ve noticed since starting this lifestyle is that I am telling everybody about it (including you!).
Why?
Well, the benefits I’m experiencing and the health issues that have disappeared are something that I want to share. I’m not telling people to become vegan; I’m just merely stating that the lifestyle choice has been a very positive decision for me.
I’m also an amateur comedian and have a TikTok channel (elesdi_comedy), and I found it funny that I was doing the one thing that vegans are notorious for doing—talking about veganism.
So, I made a video: Link to TikTok Video
“I’m a vegan, and the 1st rule of veganism is to tell everyone you’re a vegan.”
I posted the video and put my phone away, not expecting more than the few dozen likes I tend to get.
When I looked at my phone again, I had about 200 new comments on my video—and about 195 of them were very negative.
Many of the comments involved people telling me that “they don’t give a sh..” (To which I responded that a plant-based diet may provide the additional fiber needed for healthy bowel movements).
Many of them wrote “I don’t care”—yet taking the time to leave a comment very much counteracts your comment….
Many of them told me that they were currently eating a lot of meat at that very moment.
Some of them were of a sexual nature involving my husband’s meat. I’m unmarried, but…I guess I look married?
Some told me that I looked like a vegan—without specifying what a vegan looks like. (Side Note: Nikki Glaser is a vegan, and I think she looks amazing).
One question I did ask myself: Would these people have said this to my face?
Unfortunately, when I posted what I thought to be a very cute, funny little video, I neglected to think about the ongoing war between vegans and the rest of the world.
There has been a surge in vegan activism in recent years, and the tactics used haven’t always been friendly. People will stand in the street and show images of animals being tortured; videos are shared online detailing the horrifying conditions of slaughterhouses or animal processing centers. Vegan activists can also be violent because…guess what…vegans have egos too.
I also avoid watching these videos because I am a highly sensitive person (I’ll very often check the website “Does the Dog Die” while watching a film when an animal appears).
My Reaction to the Comments
Honestly, I felt a little disbelief. I’ve been making an effort to avoid rage porn online, so I wasn’t used to seeing such negativity. I also felt sad that these people felt so negative and angry—however, I didn’t get angry. I remained surprisingly calm.
I did react to some of the comments, but this wasn’t out of anger (albeit my ego probably did feel a little peeved); rather, it was more due to having the chance to reply with what I thought was a witty comment or calling someone out on their own action.
Now that I’m reflecting on my own words, I have to ask myself this question:
Is this post an egotistical reaction? Am I currently throwing a hissy fit?
If this piece of writing has triggered your ego in any way, then please feel free to write a comment; however, before you hit “post,” please ask yourself the question “Would you say this to her face?”
Thanks for reading!