Some perspective is important here. From the point of view of the average person, what a vegan might call the “carnist” worldview, there’s a cultural perception that being vegan is a kind of monolithic puritanical religion. As if to live a life without using animal products is comparable to the self-flagellations of the penitent Christian.

But it has to be recognized, that perception is a stereotype perpetuated from outside perspectives looking in. Inexperience vs experience.

In real life, there is constant disagreement and debate among vegans, so definitely not a monolith. With today’s food options (at least in western countries), there’s nothing puritanical or self-punishing about living a vegan lifestyle - to the point that “junkfood vegan” is a badge of pride from some. At the end of the day we’re just regular people, like everyone else. All we’ve done is decided that other animals should have basic universal rights, and then we try to live in accord with that.

It’s not perfection, it’s a moral baseline.

And it’s worth striving for that baseline, because reducetarianism doesn’t work.