Being vegan is more than just about diet, i don't believe that animals are there for us to use for our pleasure, whether that's for food or entertainment.
Although, as other people have said, I don't think you have to be vegan to not like the idea of this anyway, I can well imagine that the ducks get scared by the dogs.
Maybe it is the best idea to pull a sickie, it does feel like a bit of a cop out though
Years ago you would be expected to drive the Geese down a road that had been covered in tar. They would then be driven over sand to coat their feet for the long walk to market. It's just a bit of fun. Nothing is going to die or get eaten.
So fraud and deceit are not only OK, but you encourage them?
Ooooh fraud, Ooooh deceit! lol stop being such a massive drama queen.
It's a sickie on a day when no work would be done anyway. It's a much more pragmatic response than advising the op to make a stand over the rights and wrongs of duck herding fgs.
Being vegan is more than just about diet, i don't believe that animals are there for us to use for our pleasure, whether that's for food or entertainment.
Although, as other people have said, I don't think you have to be vegan to not like the idea of this anyway, I can well imagine that the ducks get scared by the dogs.
Maybe it is the best idea to pull a sickie, it does feel like a bit of a cop out though
Don't as it will look suspicious, especially if they know you are a vegan.
To be honest I think they should have chose a better place to go to where everyone would be comfortable.
It should be apparent vegans wouldn't be comfortable with this and I wonder if it's been done deliberately to wind you up/ put you in an awkward position.
I am an ethical vegan myself so I would obviously be totally sympathetic personally.
It is a chance to educate people about what ethical veganism means, or remind people about what veganism is. Something which it's your right to be, and so you have every right to object. I'd fight for your rights, and stand up for the animals, otherwise what's the point in being a vegan? It might stop them organising similar cruel events in the future if they know you won't be happy, and then, you'll be making a difference.
I've decided I will tell my boss how I feel, it's true that it's best to be honest and true to myself. Like I said, I'm a quiet person, I don't like making a big deal or being the centre of attention, I just want to do things the way I believe is right. And judging by some of the replies here it seems it's difficult for people who don't get it- "nothing's being killed or eaten so what's the problem?" -to understand why I wouldn't want to participate in this. So I just feel awkward to be put in this situation I guess
Yeah I'd just say you think it's cruel to the ducks and so don't want to go but you'd be up for going to an animal friendly team outing or out for drinks etc.
If you aren't happy with it, tell your boss. She can't force you to do it. I would refuse to do duck herding because I have a phobia of dogs.
The few years ago we had a team building day, and one of the activities was blind fold driving, car is limited to really slow and it's dual control, but having been involved in a bad car accident the year before, I refused to get in the car as either the driver or the navigator. Boss wasn't happy and tried to say I had to, but thankfully the rest of my team were willing to take my turn for me, especially as I had the skills to get them through 3 other challenges that day with flying colours.
Boss also tried to enforce a dress code of trousers for the day, but being a Christian I only wear skirts. He tried to argue it, but gave up, when the 2 sikhs in the team said they wouldn't be wearing crash helmets for the quad biking, and if it was fine for them for religious reasons, wearing a skirt for religious reasons had to be fine for me.
Boss also tried to enforce a dress code of trousers for the day, but being a Christian I only wear skirts.
Eh? What part of being Christian ever says you can only wear skirts?
Sikhs are legally exempted from wearing a crash helmet due to the turban. Of course any private company that rightly insists upon crash helmet wear for their activity can also prevent them from taking part in that activity on health and safety grounds.
I had the same dilemma when my team was due to go either on a cookery class or chocolate making. Luckily I moved teams (not because of that!) before the day took place so I didn't have to do anything, but I was planning to tell our team leader that I didn't want to go to such an event. I know there would have been a couple of ignorant people who would have thought I was being difficult for the sake of it, like there have been ignorant people in this thread. But on the whole people are understanding and I doubt your colleagues will care, and if they do they will forget about it in a couple of days.
[thinking about it, you never see the pope wearing trousers either]
1 Timothy 2:9 - women should dress modestly
Deuteronomy 22:5 - Women shouldn't wear mens clothes and vice versa
Generally ignored by catholics and anglicans, but Christians that more closely follow the Bible, like Baptists and Penticostals are more likely to follow this.
Sounds like a ludicrous and pointless team building exercise! How many hours did it take some bright spark to come up with that?
I am a city girl so forgive me but is there an actual point to "duck herding"
Yes, the point is to make money for the company that runs it.
The OP's employers have been talked into buying a stupid, unnecessary exercise by a good salesperson. Of course there are good team-building exercises out there but just because it's novel and wacky that doesn't mean it works.
I thought even Christians dismissed that book of the Bible as a load of nonsense. Do you follow everything written in Deuteronomy?
Many of the rules in Deuteronomy are overruled in the New Testement, but that one isnt. And I mentioned 1 Timothy first as that is more important. It is impossible to dress modestly in trousers if they are at all fitted.
Comments
Although, as other people have said, I don't think you have to be vegan to not like the idea of this anyway, I can well imagine that the ducks get scared by the dogs.
Maybe it is the best idea to pull a sickie, it does feel like a bit of a cop out though
Seems like you are a bit embarrassed about being a vegan.
If it was me, I'd put my principal first, rather than take a sickie etc
So fraud and deceit are not only OK, but you encourage them?
Ooooh fraud, Ooooh deceit! lol stop being such a massive drama queen.
It's a sickie on a day when no work would be done anyway. It's a much more pragmatic response than advising the op to make a stand over the rights and wrongs of duck herding fgs.
Don't as it will look suspicious, especially if they know you are a vegan.
To be honest I think they should have chose a better place to go to where everyone would be comfortable.
It should be apparent vegans wouldn't be comfortable with this and I wonder if it's been done deliberately to wind you up/ put you in an awkward position.
It is a chance to educate people about what ethical veganism means, or remind people about what veganism is. Something which it's your right to be, and so you have every right to object. I'd fight for your rights, and stand up for the animals, otherwise what's the point in being a vegan? It might stop them organising similar cruel events in the future if they know you won't be happy, and then, you'll be making a difference.
The thing is dogs are animals and they could try and kill the ducks.
Years ago I witnessed a poor duck being killed after the dog jumped in to the water and started chasing the duck.
Poor thing tried to get away but it couldn't sadly.
Would he tell a gay person that they have to go to an anti gay rally?
No he/ she wouldn't.
If tries that take him down discrimination/ treating you differently due to beliefs.
It's same thing.
Some bosses have no imagination for inclusive jollies.
Just say you feel uncomfortable with the idea and would rather decline (on this occasion).
The few years ago we had a team building day, and one of the activities was blind fold driving, car is limited to really slow and it's dual control, but having been involved in a bad car accident the year before, I refused to get in the car as either the driver or the navigator. Boss wasn't happy and tried to say I had to, but thankfully the rest of my team were willing to take my turn for me, especially as I had the skills to get them through 3 other challenges that day with flying colours.
Boss also tried to enforce a dress code of trousers for the day, but being a Christian I only wear skirts. He tried to argue it, but gave up, when the 2 sikhs in the team said they wouldn't be wearing crash helmets for the quad biking, and if it was fine for them for religious reasons, wearing a skirt for religious reasons had to be fine for me.
I am a city girl so forgive me but is there an actual point to "duck herding"
I am a meat eater and it's not something I'd ever be keen to partake in.
Off topic, but why?
[thinking about it, you never see the pope wearing trousers either]
Eh? What part of being Christian ever says you can only wear skirts?
Sikhs are legally exempted from wearing a crash helmet due to the turban. Of course any private company that rightly insists upon crash helmet wear for their activity can also prevent them from taking part in that activity on health and safety grounds.
1 Timothy 2:9 - women should dress modestly
Deuteronomy 22:5 - Women shouldn't wear mens clothes and vice versa
Generally ignored by catholics and anglicans, but Christians that more closely follow the Bible, like Baptists and Penticostals are more likely to follow this.
Yes, the point is to make money for the company that runs it.
The OP's employers have been talked into buying a stupid, unnecessary exercise by a good salesperson. Of course there are good team-building exercises out there but just because it's novel and wacky that doesn't mean it works.
I thought even Christians dismissed that book of the Bible as a load of nonsense. Do you follow everything written in Deuteronomy?
Many of the rules in Deuteronomy are overruled in the New Testement, but that one isnt. And I mentioned 1 Timothy first as that is more important. It is impossible to dress modestly in trousers if they are at all fitted.