Who the heck are you?
Well my name is Matt Olsen but I assume you were looking for more than that. I’m not sure I can accurately answer this question since its a bit of a moving target. If you keep reading my blog though it should give you some insight.
Was that a cop out?
Yeah sorry about that 
Why are you vegan?
Why aren’t you? Sorry but I thought it was just as valid a question, because my choice not to eat animal products or use them in my daily life is as much a choice as your choice to either use them or not use them is. However since you asked I’ll give you a more direct and simplified answer…
We don’t need to eat animals or use animal products and it is harmful to do so. Therefore I decided to make the logical decision to stop using animal products. Saying it is harmful to do so is a sort of catch all so I’ll explain that one a little more but I’m not going into to much detail. If I have sparked some interest in you please feel free to shoot me an email and I’d be glad to engage in reasonable conversation about veganism.
- Using animals is harmful to the animals (duh)
- Using animals is harmful to the environment
- Using animals is harmful to our health
- Using animals is harmful to the ecosystem
- Using animals is harmful to human health in general (even the vegans don’t get off scott free here)
- Using animals is harmful to the consumer personally
I’ve seen you, you don’t look fat what gives?
Well thanks, I’m glad you don’t think I look fat anymore. If you haven’t known me that long though there was a time where the nickname Fatty Matty O was quite fitting. In case you didn’t figure it out the Matty O part came from my name, Matt Olsen. While you may not know it to look now, there was a time where my BMI was morbidly obese… it was really bad.
(usually followed by) I thought you were vegan how could you have been fat?
I’m not sure how this misconception happens… okay I lied but I wish it didn’t exist. Its important to understand that Vegan does not necessarily mean healthy. There is plenty of stuff out there you can eat that is vegan but is anything but healthy for you. People love some examples so I’ll list some below:
- Potato chips
- Oreos
- Dots
- Tons of process vegan food
Unfortunately we have to make two choices: Do I want to eat ethically and do I want to eat a healthy diet. Choosing to eat ethically doesn’t necessarily mean you will be healthy.
What does paganish mean?
Generally when someone thinks of paganism they think of the occult, witches, etc. Typically Wicca teaches that there are either exactly two gods (god and goddess) or that there are many (for example roman gods) that are worshiped. I don’t believe that’s a complete picture… but its as close as I can find in any practiced religion. So rather than telling you what I don’t believe I’ll try and lay out some idea of what I do believe, hopefully you can infer the opposite from my details. Please keep in mind that I’m always open to discuss this, I’m always willing to accept I may be wrong.
I believe that there is some quasi-sentient presence that exists. I believe that this presence has either direct or indirect control over many aspects of our life. I believe that the presence sometimes acts as if it were multiple entities interacting, almost like someone having a debate in their head.
As a result I think that the old gods work as a good representation of these multiple entities interacting. In some ways I see them as distinct and in others I see them as part of a greater whole. Either way depictions of the gods provide convenient containers to encapsulate specific aspects of this force. I am not convinced one way or the other whether these forces are aware of us or care that we are aware of them. I do think that we have influence over them and can affect them in subtle ways.
Maybe someday I’ll write more about this… probably depends on whether or not people seem interested.
