Avocado Anonymous

"Feedback"

A friend of mine, who happens to work as a teacher, used this website in her class. She encouraged students to read through some of my blabber and she even gave them extra points for coming up with some written comments. She was also kind enough to let me know about it, and since the students knew that she knows me - she promised them that she'll pass them (the comments, not the students) on to me, and that I will produce some sort of a reply for them.

I received about 20 feedback messages from those students. I must admit that I was pleased and inspired by the fact that some of them proved to be quite positive. One or two people indicated that to some degree stuff they read here made them challenge their actions and beliefs. Someone wrote that they found some useful and interesting info here, someone else said that they have passed some of the featured pieces to their friends, and so on. That's awesome.

One thing that was quite frequent in those comments, I'd say at least in one third of them, was some sort of a hint that the author of this website (that is, myself) must be a pretty "weird" and "strange" dude. (Two people actually resorted to calling me a "fanatic", highlighting the need of not using the words we don't understand!). This doesn't come as a surprise. I mean, let's look at: this guy doesn't drink. Doesn't smoke. Doesn't do drugs. And doesn't eat diary, eggs or meat. C'mon, it's so obvious, he's a weirdo! Hahah. So that was pretty funny.

Several people also wrote that "this guy is too worried about our health" and that all the info featured on the website must be pretty depressing, for both myself and my readers. I'll share a little secret with you people, I don't care about your health at all. Yep, you heard that one right. I'm a selfish bastard, I don't give a damn about you lot! What I care about is me. "My, myself, myself and I". I know I lead a pretty healthy life and I'm only bothered by other people when they get in the way of it. Ha! Smoking is of course our prime example here. If you want to have cancer and die, you go and do just that. But please be considerate enough not to drag me in the same direction by your side, will you? So that's that. As for the "depressing" factor - mmm..., yes and no. On one hand, state of the world today is a cause for great concern, and it's largely because of what we do to it and how we live our lives. But at the same time, I'm not really depressed when I read about another drunk teenager killed in an accident or new findings linking drugs or meat to more and more health risks. Quite the opposite, I'm relieved and happy - because I got nothing to do with all that negative stuff, and it only proves that I'm right in the choices that I make! And if you feel depressed by the stuff you read about, just remember that if you don't read about this or that, it doesn't make it disappear. The reality is out there, no point it denying it. Think about it.

I'd like to address two comments, as I think they warrant a reply.

One girl writes: (on cigarettes) "I know that it's unhealthy and bad. I also know that it causes death, but I like it very much. In the end, we're all gonna die. In every second of our life something can happen... That's why I smoke cigarettes and I'm not very worried about my health."

Clearly, what you're saying is "I know this causes me to die, but I don't mind that at all". (And you guys are calling me strange?). I just don't understand, how is this possible? You are addicted to the point of losing regard for your own life. You say you're not very worried about your health - well, let me ask you, which one of your breasts would you rather have surgically removed, right or left? Or, if you ever have kids or a life partner, what do you think it will feel like to know that you will die ten years earlier that you could've? If you think giving up smoking is hard, try practicing telling your loved ones that you have lung cancer. I'm sure you have something or someone to live for, and it's a shame you'll probably cut your time by a decade or so. And as for "but I like it very much" part - there's nothing you "like" about cigarettes. We like things we can choose, not things we're addicted to. Nicotine relaxes your muscles first couple of times you use it, giving you a pleasant feeling, and that wears off pretty quickly and is only replaced by craving. So what you may perceive as satisfaction now, is in fact only a response to addictive qualities of a chemical substance. This sucks. I hope you can get some help or some motivation to quit.

Another person wrote: "I don't agree that meat is so bad for our organism. What about proteins and vitamins, which are needed for young people? It's difficult to find so much of these substances in another products".

In case you've been living under a rock for the last couple of decades: Meat consumption has been linked to numerous types of cancer and heart problems - beyond any doubt. Meat and animal products are the biggest source of food poisonings and they carry parasites that will pass to your body and cause harm. In addition to that, the amount of antibiotics and growth hormones in meat is another serious cause of concern. When it comes to proteins, vitamins, calcium, and all other nutrients, vegetable based diet provides plenty of these, and in most cases vegetable sources contain substances that are easier assimilated by your body, than the ones found in animal products (you can compare calcium absorption figures from milk and oranges for example). Beneficial nature of meat as a necessary part of a healthy diet is a myth. Also, if it was true that we need meat in order to be healthy, then you'd see millions of vegetarians and vegans struggling to survive on their diet of choice - and that's not the case, is it? Do some research and don't believe everything you're being told.

Last but definitely not least, my word of praise goes out to the girl that said that she's quitting smoking, and although she tried it before, this time she feels it's for real. Go girl!

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