let the hunt begin! for a roommate that is...
So, Zealia is looking for a room mate....groan! Ive decided to insist on keeping the house meat free....I'm willing to compromise on dairy...and my roomate can eat my hens eggs, but I won't compromise on eh animals fleshes....so, check out this email I got from this one girl after I told her about the house. I thought it was funny.
"Oh wow..this place sounds perfect..only down fall is..that I do eat meat..and I would feel bad if I did when someone I lived with is so against it..I am from Iowa..its what we do..my dad is a hunter..but you gotta understand that deer there are so thick they get killed by vehicles which sometimes kill the people in it...I have hit a deer and they are scarey animals..and not that pretty close up..especially when hitting my windshield..I would love to see the place though..it sound amazing..I just don't know about that little "problem" if you wanna call it that..well please get back to me..thanks so much for your time
-XXXXXX"
So this is what i wrote back. I was trying really hard not to sound mean and judgmental.
"Hey XXXXXX. Yeah, its kinda hard to find people who don't mind going meat free or who are already to room with- so I understand that whoever my roomate is will probally continue to eat meat away from the house. For someone who doesn't really do their own cooking and eats out a lot...it wouldn't be much of a problem cause they probably wouldn't have it at the house anyways. It is just an area that is really hard for me to compromise in because there are days where i will literally spend all of my time and money to save an animals (like a chicken for example) and then i come home and my roommate is cooking one in my oven...its kinda demoralizing. You know? My dad used to hunt too...I honestly I think I'm more okay with hunting then I am with factory farming! At least that way the animals gets to enjoy life as its intended to be until they die. And yes, it is a form of population control. I'm sorry to hear that you hit a deer with your car. That must have been scary (for you AND the deer...) I'd venture to say though that the deer was probably less than pretty on account of the fact that he'd just had his brains smashed out, When i lived in Maine my neighbors had a deer sanctuary and I used to pet the deer, feed them from my hand and stuff like that. They are kind of a majestic animal,. Its unfortunate that the only experience most people have with them is after they have hit them with a vehicle. I know that the Midwest is notorious for eating meat. I lived in Missouri for a while in college and believe me...I could help but notice that they put meat in EVERYTHING! So I understand that its what you are used to. I have a lot of friends who eat meat. I'm not a hater . I just don't want it in my home, you know? I'd be happy to introduce you to all kinds of mock meats and other tasty vegan dishes if you were down with that, though! Well, go ahead and think about it...if there is any room to compromise maybe we could make it work out? Let me know! Id be happy to show you the house--maybe that could help in the decision making?
-zealia"
Well....FINDING a vegan or even vegetarian roomate is hard. In some ways, I'd kinda like to have an open minded omni for a roomate...cause then i can always try to convert them...muhahaha!
On the other hand it would be nice to have a veg roommate because then We could share meals AND I would haven't to worry about what was being put in my dishes/pot/pans when i wasn't there...I think I'm gonna post something at the local colleges saying I'm looking for veg roomates./..do you know if that is a violation of the fair housing laws?
I have hit a deer and they are scarey animals..and not that pretty close up..especially when hitting my windshield.
I love how she makes it sound like the deer purposely jumped out and rammed into her car.
As far as fair housing, I see ads all the time looking for "quiet, clean female students" or whatever, so I think if it's your place, you can ask for who you want to live with. Of course I don't actually know anything about it, but I think you're fine.
A long time ago, my roommate and I were "interviewing" people to move in with us and we had TONS of requirements! No one ever reported us or anything. ;)
Good luck! I think it's a good idea to post at the colleges- even try craigslist.org.
Oh pooor Zealia! Yea! It's going to be hard finding a veg*n roommate--but i really hope one pops up for you--it's hard enough getting to know a new person living with you--but when they don't share your diet that just makes it harder :'(
That girl kind of sounded doppey--I would defentely keep looking!
Good luck!!!!!! :-*
That girl kind of sounded doppey--I would defentely keep looking!
I really, really bit my tongue on this and tried not to say anything. I just can't help myself.
If you're going to comment on someone else's intelligence try not to misspell "dopey" and "definitely" in the same sentence.
I'd keep looking. You could try posting an add in a local health food newsletter or if your local HFS has a bulletin bard. There has to be someone out there..... ;)
Have you tried roommates.com?
..I am from Iowa..its what we do..
Yep. That's brilliant.
Hey, I'm in Missouri, and I grew up in central Illinois... excuse me... I need to go grill a steak... it's just what we do.
Anyway, VHZ, good luck with your search!
From my understanding, Fair Housing laws pertain to it being illegal to to discriminate against someone based on his or her race, ethnicity, sex (gender), skin color, religion, country of birth, and possibly age (can't remember now if that's covered in it ,too, like it is for job hiring). So discriminating against omni's would not be covered under that law; it would be legal to use that as a determining factor. :)
Like someone else mentioned, I'd put up an ad on the bulletin at all your local health food stores, vegan restaurants, craig's list, and any veg web sites you can. Maybe some Buddhist-type centers around your area, too. ???
did you post on http://www.veggieroommate.com/ ???
..I am from Iowa..its what we do..
Yep. That's brilliant.
Hey, I'm in Missouri, and I grew up in central Illinois... excuse me... I need to go grill a steak... it's just what we do.
Anyway, VHZ, good luck with your search!
Yes, TKitty, I will be joining you at the grill. But since I'm from South Carolina, we must make sure there is some barbequed pork as well. My grandfather was a cattle farmer. Meat is in my genes.
From my understanding, Fair Housing laws pertain to it being illegal to to discriminate against someone based on his or her race, ethnicity, sex (gender), skin color, religion, country of birth, and possibly age (can't remember now if that's covered in it ,too, like it is for job hiring). So discriminating against omni's would not be covered under that law; it would be legal to use that as a determining factor. :)
Like someone else mentioned, I'd put up an ad on the bulletin at all your local health food stores, vegan restaurants, craig's list, and any veg web sites you can. Maybe some Buddhist-type centers around your area, too. ???
yes I like that idea too...thanks tanevab..
Oh yes,...good point about the fair housing law...says nothing about dietary discrimination...
hespedal, I was looking for that site...thanks!
I have already posted on craigslist..I'm not in dire enough straights yet to take just anyone...Ive been doing okay all this time and if it takes a little more time thats okay....better to do it right!
You might even go to your local humane society, animal rescues, and wildlife rescue/rehab centers and ask to post on their bulletins since those places attract animal lover employees and since they don't make a ton of money they might be looking for roomies and if they're not veg*ns yet they might be more inclined to go veg*n, loving animals like they would. ??? (uh yeah.. sorry for the run on sentence! ::) )
That girl kind of sounded doppey--I would defentely keep looking!
I really, really bit my tongue on this and tried not to say anything. I just can't help myself.
If you're going to comment on someone else's intelligence try not to misspell "dopey" and "definitely" in the same sentence.
Yeah--I know--you're right--I'm not the best speller in the world and I tend to type too fast and not use the spell checker--but I think a lot of people make this mistake--even dumbys like me. I'll try not to feel too offended by being called out :'( :'( :'( That being said when I refered to the girl sounding "dopey" I wasn't implying she was stupid--just that she didn't sound like the kind of person I would want to room with.
Thanks for letting me know about my mistakes.
your a good sport, Capture! ;) When you said dopey I assumed you meant that she was not using sound reasoning..."I hit a deer and it was ugly, therefore deer are ugly...." not that she was unintelligent...
your a good sport, Capture! ;) When you said dopey I assumed you meant that she was not using sound reasoning..."I hit a deer and it was ugly, therefore deer are ugly...." not that she was unintelligent...
Thanks Zealia! That is what I was aiming for! I guess I should have been more carefull with my response--but I'm glad you understood! :) :)
Too bad we didn't have some kind of Veg*n classifides on here--I bet you would be able to find someone really compatable!!!
Good luck! :)
Zelia, I thought your response was very well stated and diplomatic. :) Good luck with your search!
yeah. I must have said something right because she just emailed me back saying shed be willing to keep the thouse meat free! yay! Thank you for the compliment!
Woo hoo, Zealia :D I'm so excited for you!!
yeah. I must have said something right because she just emailed me back saying shed be willing to keep the thouse meat free! yay! Thank you for the compliment!
Thats awesome! Maybe you will have another mid western meat eater turned veg!
When I was looking for a place to live near Austin, I found a landlord that specifically stated that they would only allow vegetarian renters. Crazy! Not sure if it was for religious reasons or what, but it was pretty sweet.
The way she described not eating meat a "problem" issue and excusing killing deer because they weren't that pretty anyway, would make me a little leery about inviting her to share my home. Seemed a bit immature and she was hoping you would relent and see that eating meat was not a big deal. She obviously justifies it as ok. I wonder if she might also be hoping that she can persuade you to understanding that it's ok for her to consume meat there down the line, just as you think it would neat to convince her of going veg maybe.
It's a lot to share the space that represensts your personal, private, sometimes even "safe" retreat from the negativity of the world- place, especially with a stranger. It could be an awesome experience gaining a wonderful new friend, but just be picky about who you let into your personal space. You don' t need to come home to more stress and drama.
I'd meet with her at least a couple of times and get some more insight and intuition on her. I'd also continue to look for more people while thinking about it. It definitely can't hurt to have multiple applicants to choose from!