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Gatekeeping is the activity during which someone takes it upon themselves to decide who does or does not have access or rights to an identity and its goods.

Like the time when a guy said watching Star Wars movies and liking them does not make you a Star Wars fan.

But instead of telling you about this phenomenon, we decided to show you more examples of it.

After doing a bit of research, we landed on a subreddit of the same name (r/gatekeeping) and quickly realized that probably all communities have their "guardians."

This time, however, we'll focus on vegans. Not because we have something against them or anything. It's just that their gatekeepers are as funny as they are popular on Reddit.

#1

Because Heaven Forbid Non-Vegans Eat Vegan Foods

Because Heaven Forbid Non-Vegans Eat Vegan Foods

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NsG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"with all due respect, since you are showing me none..."

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#2

Apparently I'm Not A Vegan, Even Though I Don't Buy Animal Products. There Are Toxic People In Every Community

Apparently I'm Not A Vegan, Even Though I Don't Buy Animal Products. There Are Toxic People In Every Community

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KJ
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope orange doesn't drink water, it's essentially stealing fish habitat, lets see how long they last until they are craving it.

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But even if we disregard, let's call them, extreme vegans such as the ones we see in the pictures, many people are still wary of this community. To understand them a little better, let's look at the situation from their perspective.

"The caution around our dietary requirements is arguably warranted," Dejan Jotanovic wrote in The Guardian. "Many assert that veganism just isn’t an option to a large chunk of the population. The labour and cost of sifting through nutritional requirements, alongside inflated pricing for plant-based meat alternatives, is often too great."

Jotanovic also raised the issue of food accessibility. "Many live in areas – popularly termed 'food deserts' – where access to fresh produce or even supermarkets is difficult. Meat, dairy and other animal products are also staples to a variety of cultural and religious groups. In Australia, for example, our overtly masculine and sunburnt culture has a real appetite for red meat, namely beef, as per the annual promotional campaigns. The intersections of class, race, culture and veganism makes for a recipe that’s pretty damn hard to swallow."

#3

Gatekeeping Being Vegan

Gatekeeping Being Vegan

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Nathaniel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You also need to stop using the letters a e, m and t because they can be used to spell meat.

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#4

Eat Dairy? You're A Misogynist

Eat Dairy? You're A Misogynist

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Black Pearl
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me: *Looks at this while drinking milk and eating scrambled eggs* Also me: Guess I'm not really a feminist

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However, Jotanovic argues that most people find vegans annoying because "it's one of the only social justice causes whose point of entry is entirely negotiated by real, quantifiable, fundamental behavior change."

"Everyone thinks of themselves as a good person. But it's much easier to slap 'Feminist as F**k' on your T-shirt and #BlackLivesMatter in your Twitter bio than it is to actively support animal welfare and the climate through an upheaval of your current lifestyle."

#6

Vegan Gatekeeping

Vegan Gatekeeping

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#7

Apparently You Have To Be A Vegan To Post About An Animal Rescue

Apparently You Have To Be A Vegan To Post About An Animal Rescue

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Buren
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I enjoy bacon and seafood, but I fed more strays and rescued more animals than you, broccoli and lettuce murderers

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#8

Hypocrites vs. Real Vegans

Hypocrites vs. Real Vegans

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Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wrong. You're a hypocrite for being vegan and wanting people to know you don't want to hurt living creatures but don't mind hurting humans by not getting vaccinated. Idiot.

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#9

Vegan Gatekeeping

Vegan Gatekeeping

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Nathaniel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder how many vegans are volunteering to replace blind peoples guide dogs?

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However, Jotanovic understands that vegans are constantly splashing around in their own hypocrisy too.

"What we need to do instead is look internally and reconsider what it means to care," he said. "I can, for example, say that I care about labour exploitation around the world, but it's obviously not bountiful enough considering my current purchasing habits. Saying that we care for absolutely everything – because we want to be deemed as fundamentally good – just isn’t sustainable or done with any real integrity."

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#10

Ok So Called Vegan

Ok So Called Vegan

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rspanther
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Trying to impose a vegan diet on a non vegan animal is just straight up cruel.

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#11

Faker Than The Fake Tofu Meat They Make

Faker Than The Fake Tofu Meat They Make

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#12

Non Vegans Cant Make Salads

Non Vegans Cant Make Salads

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Anton Kider
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not quite true. I make beautifully coloured salads with many taste matching ingredients.

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#13

Only Vegans Are Allowed To Care About The Environment

Only Vegans Are Allowed To Care About The Environment

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TyrantrumGogoat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But methane coming from cow farts is causing global warming. So isn't eating the cows so there'd be less a good thing?

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Regardless of their diet, most people recognize that factory farming is a moral problem. Nearly 70% of Americans have "some discomfort with the way animals are used in the food industry."

Things is, many simply believe that going vegetarian or vegan is too demanding — and too annoying — to be sustainable.

#14

My Sister Is Eating My Vegan Ice Cream... But She's Not Vegan?

My Sister Is Eating My Vegan Ice Cream... But She's Not Vegan?

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Nathaniel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But.... the more people eat vegan ice cream, the more gets produced. And production costs drop.

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#15

Gatekeeping Being Vegan

Gatekeeping Being Vegan

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NsG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is that because of the lesser known salt wasp that's involved in the processing of table salt? I facepalmed so hard at this one I think I punched last week. I'm done.

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#16

These People Give Vegans A Bad Rep

These People Give Vegans A Bad Rep

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DennyS (denzoren)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I share my chicken dinner with my cat...so you're saying I don't love my cat? Are you ready to defend that because Mr. Fuzzyboots would disagree.

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#17

Vegan Gatekeeping

Vegan Gatekeeping

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Nunya Bus
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its like it's never good enough. And there's a difference between veganism for ethical reasons and veganism for health reasons. What I personally see on the right is a health nut using "veganism" as righteous fury. The left side tells me that they'll eat whatever is available to keep themselves from eating animals.

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Subconsciously, people don't hate vegans. In a 2017 study, for instance, researchers tracked the meal purchases of over 300 people at a Stanford University cafe who were asked to fill out a survey while waiting in line.

Some patrons were told that a fixed minority of Americans reduce their meat consumption. Others were told that these people represent an increasing trend in those avoiding meat. Patrons in the second group were almost twice as likely to order vegetarian meals when they reached the cashier.

#18

Only Vegans Have Sweet Smelling Private Parts!

Only Vegans Have Sweet Smelling Private Parts!

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Nathaniel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Non vegans are also blonde apparently. Just following the logic of this picture.

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#19

You Can't Care Unless You Are Vegan

You Can't Care Unless You Are Vegan

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User# 6
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so sick and tired of ill informed people calling forests 'the lungs of the planet' They're exactly the sodding opposite of lungs. Lungs absorb oxygen and exhale CO2, you nitwits.

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#20

Ohhhhhh Peta

Ohhhhhh Peta

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Black Pearl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why can't we apparently eat eggs? Is it because we have eggs inside us? People do realize we aren't eating our own eggs, right?

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#21

If You’re Vegan For Reasons Other Than The Animals I Have News For You... You’re Not Vegan Sorry Bud

If You’re Vegan For Reasons Other Than The Animals I Have News For You... You’re Not Vegan Sorry Bud

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TyrantrumGogoat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again! People have there own reasons for being vegan, why does it hurt you if they are vegans for health reasons? They are still helping!

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Bella Jones
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Vegan means not eating animal products. The reason why doesn't affect the meaning of the word. These people are absolutely insane. I described them earlier as 'sanctimoniously annoying'. Can anyone come up with a better description?

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ghost
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Correction: if you wanna be vegan for whatever reason, you’re vegan. End of story

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Idiot. Want to get less people eating meat? Praise people for eating less meat, offer delicious meatless meal plans as bait, don't snot at them for not being exactly like you! Or what you claim to be!

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Vision Jinx
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've heard of people stop being a vegan for health reasons too. Like the diet wasn't providing enough nutrients/protein for their specific body.

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Candia Lee
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I buy protein drink; company sells whey protein and pea protein shakes, but the pea protein flavors are horrible. How do they ruin chocolate and vanilla?

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xolitaire
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I am the only true vegan because I love animals" has the same vibe as "I am not like other girls!" ... sorry sweety you are

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KieLeaHar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These morons are hurting my brain and it’s only 8am here!!

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MimSorensson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, my agitated friend, you don’t get to invent a whole new definition of a word that already exists, and already HAS a definition. Nobody has, nor ever will, give you the authority to decide a new meaning of he word vegan. Unless you are over 150 years old, the word “vegan” existed long before you were even conceived - and for all its 170 years, is has never included a demand for a specific reason. It’s not a lifestyle. It’s not a personality. It’s not a religion. It’s just the description of a person that doesn’t eat or use products from animals. It’s a dietary preference. Chill. None of this is up to you. Slowly put the word “vegan” down, then step away quickly.

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DylJohBar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This confusion exists because the plant-based movement co-opted the word 'vegan' and now everyone thinks it's a diet 🤦‍♂️ Veganism is about ending the exploitation of all non-human sentient beings, in all the ways it's done. It's about recognising them as individuals and respecting their rights to live free from harm - their rights to not be seen as mere human property. It's not a diet. People go plant-based for personal health and/or environmental reasons. People would only go vegan for the animals - the actual victims of non-vegan choices.

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Sasha
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Vegan: lies bleeding out. Paramedic rushes over. Vegan "excuse me, but are you saving me because im an animal suffering". Paramedic: looks confusedly at dying vegan "ummm no? Im saving you cause its.... My job?...". Vegan: "well i dont want your help then, ill just lie here and bleed to death"

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L.a. Williams
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again only on this list stupid. I imagine there are smart vegan people I've just never met one

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Lady Goldberry
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some vegans are absolutely brilliant at discouraging people from becoming vegans.

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Nikki Sevven
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well now they're splintering into sects, and I think we all know how it'll end.

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Benita Valdez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew someone who was vegetarian because he had an allergy to animal protein; was he not a real vegetarian?

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Nadine Bamberger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you only do it for animal welfare and don't care about the environment and where the food you eat comes from and what it does for example to water, soil and the humans who have to harvest it you might just as well eat meat.

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Kai David
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again, is this another law written somewhere? It's like an evangelical telling another christian he is not going to heaven

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T Lee Mac
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a nice thick slab of prime rib last night for supper. Now you’re making check your see where steak is on sale. I could go for a NY strip with garlic butter and fried mushrooms now.

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Durably reducing your own consumption of animal products offers “social proof” of its viability. It demonstrates to those around you that a plant-based diet is consistent with being healthy and enjoying the food on your plate.

#22

Til Vegans Have Their Own Language And "Namaste" Is A Part Of It

Til Vegans Have Their Own Language And "Namaste" Is A Part Of It

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#23

More Vegan Gatekeeping

More Vegan Gatekeeping

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#24

Apparently You Can’t Be Vegan If You Believe Domestic Abuse Exists

Apparently You Can’t Be Vegan If You Believe Domestic Abuse Exists

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#25

You Can't Help The Environment If You Aren't Vegan Silly!

You Can't Help The Environment If You Aren't Vegan Silly!

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Nathaniel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You cannot be Vegan if you are a Jedi as Jedi exploit those poor Midi-chlorians.

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But social influence can quickly stagnate if people start behaving just like we see in these pictures. Moral superiority not only turns us off, but it also makes us defensive.

Studies have shown that negative attitudes toward vegetarians, for example, stem from anticipated moral reproach. In other words, we care so deeply about seeing ourselves as morally just that a mere whiff of virtue signaling or grandstanding puts our guard up.

#27

Peta Gatekeeps How Vegans Should Play Animal Crossing

Peta Gatekeeps How Vegans Should Play Animal Crossing

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rspanther
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey peta is it ethical to kill all the animals that arrive at your shelters?

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#28

You’re Not Vegan Until You’ve Done It 7 Years

You’re Not Vegan Until You’ve Done It 7 Years

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KJ
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I assume the original poster just reached their 7th year of being vegan.

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#29

Only Vegans Or Vegetarians Can Feel Bad When An Animal Dies In A Movie

Only Vegans Or Vegetarians Can Feel Bad When An Animal Dies In A Movie

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#30

Only Vegans Know The Secret Uses Of Ripe Bananas

Only Vegans Know The Secret Uses Of Ripe Bananas

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Dre Mosley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, because no non vegan has ever thought to make banana bread with overly ripe bananas. 🙄

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Note: this post originally had 58 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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