Steve, I'm glad you're not talking about all vegans. I agree with you about evangelical vegans, or, really, evangelical anything. My response to evangelical vegans is no response at all -- I just pay them no mind. If they get directly in my face I'll back them down.

Calling veganism a "tainted philosophy" because there are a few jerks among the vegans is a rather strong statement, though. Veganism isn't tainted. Evangelicalism, of any kind, is.