Why do meat eaters often get so angry when they find out someone is a vegetarian or vegan?

Question

What does it matter to you meat eaters what we eat or don't eat?

Actually, I don't criticize meat eaters for their dietary choices, and neither do most of the other vegetarians I know. Unfortunately, however, meat eaters DO sometimes preach to ME.

Also, why are some of you so concerned about our health? Studies have shown that vegans and vegetarians are less likely to have heart disease, cancer, diabetes, strokes, and osteoporosis than meat eaters.

Also, I would like to mention the fact that people who eat fish and poultry only are NOT vegetarians!Vegetarians abstain from all flesh, but they still consume eggs, dairy products, and honey. Vegans, on the other hand, abstain from ALL animal products and don't wear animal fibers and avoid as much as possible using products that have been tested on animals or have animal byproducts.

Answer 1

i know what u mean...why do they care what we do not eat...i hate it when people try to tell me it is dumb that i dont eat meat... i dont come back at them saying its dumb they dont...im kinda big on animal treatment but i dont go around preaching it to everyone...but yet they alwys find a reason to preach to me about why i should eat me...let everyone make their own decisions!

Answer 2

i do not what so ever agree with gemmyt ,I think b/c we are different and they have a hard with that . I don't push my belief on anyone.I really don't care what other ppl put in there mouth i know i ant eating the flash of an dead animal and letting it rot in my belly that is me . B/c they can't accept who we are and most vegan and vegetarians or pushy way to push .But i became a vegetarian b/c of my health . Does that mean I am right and they are wrong ? No that means that i just made up my mind to be healthier and for all of you think that vegan and veg ant healthy well you are wrong i eat right and take care of myself and i also get alot of protein in my diet to .I also believe that other veg and vegans out get enough protein to .so if you can just understand why we do this then Rather put us down and open ( not the one asking the question but everyone that is not veg or vegan ) your mind some to understand us b/c why does it really matter are we really bugging the meat eaters that much to have all this cut down i think not .I just think that they can't accept for who we are but we seem to accept who you are and we don't even have to like what you do So I think that is the human in us to nick pick on ppl then to try to understand them . The meat eaters don't want to even know how the animals are treated . What about the mad cow and the brid flu when i hear of that that done it for me .so that is my opion

Answer 3

The consensus here seems to be that vegans and to a lesser extent vegetarians often try to convert others or appear to look down on meat eaters. My niece and nephew became vegetarians during their teenage years but eventually decided that it had only been a fad for them and began eating meat. Most of the experiences I have had with vegans have been negative. They seem to be a little more radical than vegetarians. I fully understand their position and agree they have a point but at the same time I do agree that we humans do appear to be omnivores. I guess the best solution is to learn to be more tolerant of other's differences.

Answer 4

I think many meat eaters become defensive around vegetarians/vegans because they feel that their beliefs/rights/ideas are being challenged. I can think of many instances in which my polite refusal of meat has resulted in "Well I like steak and there's nothing you can do about it". I think that generalizations have a lot to do with it. In my opinion, most vegetarians do not look down on meat eaters or think they are bad people because they decide to eat meat. On the other hand, meat eaters need to respect the decision of vegetarianism as well. Most vegetarians are not extremists and PETA fanatics, just people who choose not to eat meat! Either way, I do not think that either side should preach to the other. It's a personal decision that is up to the individual. Who cares what anyone but themself eats? I am a vegetarian with a meat eating boyfriend. I don't try to get him to stop eating meat, and he doesn't try to get me to start again. We both understand and respect the other's views.

Answer 5

Not angry, hungry. I think they're eyeing you for dinner...

No that's gross. Seriously though, I do have a hard time respecting a choice to limit ones own chances of nutrition and survival when so many are dying of want. Bulemics and Anorexics and Vegetarians are all pretty much in the same category to my line of thinking, but there's no anger towards anybody. Maybe a little frustration if I'm worried about their health, but that's it.

Also, food is a hugely communal event for me, and when I go to eat with a vegetarian it gets about 5 times more complicated. Vegans cube that number.

Answer 6

It's because some meat eaters feel almost threatend and really can't justify their eating habits so they steep as low as they can to belittle people who actually give a crap about other living things and the environment. They think they gain power by putting vegetarians down. It's all about insecurity. You have to feel sorry for those who have so little purpose.

Answer 7

Same reason that a vegetarian or vegan gets angry when they find out someone is a meat eater. If its not ur believe its quote un quote wrong and so different.

Answer 8

Well you can't generalize meat eaters or vegetarians. The people who have a problem with what another eats are just jerks. Jerks come in all forms.

Answer 9

I think it's because many meat eaters assume vegetarians are going to preach to them. These sort of people generalize and thing we are radicals or something. Most vegetarians don't care what other people eat... we are not all PETA preachers.

Answer 10

I think they feel somehow that they are being criticized for being meat-eaters. It's more a defensive response rather than anger. Also, it sometimes seem that the veg. is implying that they are somehow superior, but not always. Bottom line, anything different can make one uncomfortable.

Answer 11

Ah, now, lets not generalize like that. I am a meat eater, though many of my meals are meatless because the love of my life does not eat meat.