Confession of a bad vegetarian Pt. 2 - My car has leather interior.

I bought it a year and a half before I even considered going vegan, but it still bugs the shit out of me. I really can't afford to buy a new car now, and we're not talking a serious luxury car here(it's a 1992 Toyota Camry), plus I've done so much work on it, I really don't feel like losing my investment to a shitty trade-in value.

Anyone have a Toyota Corolla with cloth seats they want to give me?

Having something that may not be animal friendly, such as a leather interior, as a result of a decision made prior to going veg, does not a bad veggie make. Tell you what, you can't have that cloth-seated Corolla either. Know why? Cow parts...in the plastic, in the tires. Can't ride the bus, either. Nope on the bicycle, too.

It's very cool that you are dialed in to seeing certain ugliness, but you can't beat yourself up over it. I'm sure you've done MORE than enough to make up for a pre-veg faux pas. I have leather weightlifting gloves, still. Why throw them away and spend money on new ones (as if I could find some)? I'd rather wear them, and donate the $30 to an animal advocacy group.

BTW...I found out, after I bought my last car, that the steering wheel and shifter knob are leather. I was already vegan. I have no excuse. It bugs me, but what am I going to do? I live with the dilemma already. It does give someone the opening to point a finger of hypocrisy at me, but I've got a thousand times better to give back...

but I love the car anyway and the car was previously owned so my money went to the former owner not the manufacturer. :shrug:

I don't think you have anything to apologize for. You bought the car before you were a vegan. And as flvegan pointed out, everything we do causes some harm. You can't erase the harm already done, so you just keep on being a vegan and doing the best you can. :hi:

If you've already got stuff, use it until it's worn out, then don't buy the same thing again.

But I also know how you feel. I'm *finally* down to 3 pairs of leather shoes (2 of which are about to go and one is a newish pair of hiking boots, which I kinda regret), and a bunch of belts. I always feel guilty wearing any of it. I'm not vegan myself, but I have tried to cut leather out completely, and I'm amazed at how easy it's been.

Anyway, try not to beat yourself up about your interior, just get the most you can out of it before it wears away.

david

I was being kind of tongue-in-cheek about it, but it still did kind of bother me.

My brother revealed to me today that when he worked at PETA, he knew someone in my same situation, so I guess it's pretty common.

:shrug:

It was also bought before I went vegan. I don't get upset about it.
I also have a leather coat, two leather belts, and leather boots.

I just remember now to be smarter in my purchases, but I will continue to use these leather goods until they are no longer useable.

My husband bought a leather couch before we got married, we still use it.

Don't feel bad, it has happened to all of us.