# Vegan Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2002, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegan-question/142134 "2002-12-11T23:21:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![moca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@moca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moca)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegan-question/142134/1 "2002-12-11T23:21:33Z")
I hope this doesn’t offend, but I REALLY need to know. Can vegans, um…swallow after giving oral pleasure – or is this against their ethics? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegan-question/142134/2 "2002-12-11T23:25:43Z")
Of course, it depends on the individual in question. However, I would think that since the “extraction” of sperm involves no harm to a man, that it wouldn’t be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegan-question/142134/3 "2002-12-11T23:32:32Z")
Ultrafilter, what does ‘harm’ have to do with it? Egg production does the hen no harm, but eggs are out. So says a Vegan friend who, “Doesn’t want to take on the karma of a chicken.” Milk products would fall under the same umbrella also, I suppose. But, speaking as a male, HEY, no problem. It fact I’m pretty sure it’s good for you. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegan-question/142134/4 "2002-12-11T23:35:10Z")
I was always under the impression that very many vegans ate that way to avoid killing or harming animals. Their definition of harm just happens to be fairly broad. ---
**Author:** ![Dravin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dravin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dravin)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegan-question/142134/5 "2002-12-11T23:36:22Z")
Not all vegetarians have the same beliefs, so the only answer to your question is the ever frustrating depends. ---
**Author:** ![UWmite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UWmite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UWmite)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegan-question/142134/6 "2002-12-12T00:02:35Z")
Cripes. As a former vegan, I used to get this one all the freakin’ time. My reasons for veganism had much to do with the environmental detriment caused my animal farming, and little with animal welfare. Swallowing semen has absolutely nothing to do with that, and so was a-ok as far as I was concerned. Even for those who are vegan because of animal welfare, as **ultrafilter** said, no harm done, so it’s probably ok for them. And **SandyHook** , egg and milk production does do harm to animals. Ever seen the inside of an industrial dairy farm? Not pretty. But, as **Dravin** said, everybody has their own reasons. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegan-question/142134/7 "2002-12-12T00:14:05Z")
This has been discussed before: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=121038](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=121038)