why do people make you feel ashamed of being a vegetarian?

Question

Non-vegs always ask me why I am a vegetarian (in a mocking tone) and say that it is stupid and there is no way to help the animals. They don't ever give me a chance to even answer. Why do people do this and what is a good answer to tell people (other than for the animals.)

Answer 1

tell them that EACH vegetarian saves 100 animals every year

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Remember, some people do really want to know. Give them an abridged version of why. "Because I don't think it's ethical to kill animals for pleasure" or "Because it's healthier" or whatever you believe.

If they don't give you a chance to answer, ask them why they'd ask a question and then not let you answer. Or, return with "Why aren't you?" and then counter their arguments. Or, just walk away. Or, say "Well, aren't you charming," and walk away.

If it's ever a customer service type person, write a letter to the manager of the store saying how you were insulted and it's not the right of so and so to pass judgements on your eating habits.

Really, it depends on who is doing the asking and lecturing and who isn't. You never have to take it from people you don't know because you can either tell them that you don't feel like discussing it or you can walk away. A simple "I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't feel like discussing this right now. If you are interested, goveg.com has some great information. Thank you" can quickly end a conversation that's going awry.

With friends, you have to decide how much you want to push it. Even two sentences to dumb people can feel threatening and lecturing, so sometimes it's just better to let them pontificate and then follow with "Wow, um, ok" and then change the subject.

Answer 4

I am not fond of the taste of most meat but I eat it.
I think if you are telling them you a a vegetarian fo taste reasons or health there is no issue.
The animal ie "I eat nothing with a face thing" is a political statement not a reason to go vegan. It tells people that you think they support industries that are cruel and kill unnecessarily. People believe you are judging them not the other way around.
Also if you are wearing a cool leather jacket or shoes as you are saying it you will get blasted and mocked.

Answer 5

Oh, it's not just about being vegetarian, people in general try to make everyone else feel ashamed about something or other. It's their pathetic way of making themselves feel better by putting others down. Look at fat people, they are always being put down and asked why don't they do some exercise or eat better etc. and get fat jokes at them all the time. I'm sure bald people get bugged about being bald, and old people about being old, and young people about being young, gay people about being gay, and on and on it goes.

These same people will say something to you, then turn around and say something in a similar tone to the next person. Just quickly turn the question around on them and ask, "Why are you ugly?" or "Why are you stupid?" or "Why does your breath stink?" There's a million come-backs, and it can be a lot of fun. Well, hey, that's the negative way of doing it, but I'm not the type to just stand there and ignore these idiots.

Answer 6

you should probable eat some thing in good structure and extra filling than cheese pizza. that's probable all psychological thinking in case you eat 1/2 of a pizza you aren't any further going to be ravenous. start up protecting a nutritious diet nutrition and snacking on healthy issues extra often. once you've six small nutrition consistent with day you heavily isn't as hungry. Snack on such issues as almonds or cashews, which will fill you up. Have a huge salad with each and every meal with overwhelmed almonds on proper. Drink a pitcher of water earlier you eat. and so on. there's a lot of strategies to get finished without downing an finished pizza.

Answer 7

Nobody makes me ashamed now that im a vegetarian! there are weasels that try to pick on me but i dont put up with that kinda stuff. just tell them all the gross stuff about meat! ive gotten really good at it and now they leave me alone. real friends wont pick on you but will want to know why you would do something that is so different but ask nicely and dont mock you! if you see the ones that dont give you achance to answer just go right up to them and ask them things like how much dead cow fat is on your brain today? can you feel the mad cow eating your brain yet? then walk away from them before they can try to answer you. i know most people wont like me saying that but i live in a town full of rednecks and they dont hassle me anymore. the best defence is a good offense is what coach used to tell us when i was in school and it works well with stupid peeple that want to pick on us. you can also ask them if they enjoy the parasite worms that were ground up in their hamburger. i got lots of things like that!!!!

Answer 8

Do not worry if you are a vegetarian because I was once a Vegetarian I was for a year in till my grandma told me I got to eat some meat for proteins. I do not eat allot of meat eater, but it does not concern them any way shape or form it is your choice to be a Vegetarian or a meat eater, go with your heart.

Answer 9

Not me. I eat meat and have all my life. I have friends who are vegetarians. I never ask in a mocking tone. I figure it's a choice.
I don't like people telling me what to put in my body, so I won't tell you what to put in your body.

Answer 10

Mabey they're jealous that you have the willpower to go against something they can not. It's assumed that people have to eat meat, has been for thousands of years. That was applicable in the past when we had few choices, but now, there are many supplements and scientific advancements to prove you don't need meat. It's hard for people to accept others who aren't like them, and the bond with eachother by alienating those who are different.
I am an omnivore and have no problem with veggies as long as they don't look down on me for eating meat and wearing fur, like omnivores may look down on them. I have a problem with PETA's more negative actions however, like dumping paint on people wearing fur, or publically putting down people who do, it is wrong to be hateful.
People know this, but for some reason, we get such hateful thoughts that make us feel good. This is something we must get over, it's hard to be nice one minuet, then hateful the next, because they both feel so good.

Answer 11

basically, people don't get it cause they're incapable of doing it. u shouldn't even bother about answering but if u feel like it, have a very serious tone and look and tell them that it's very rude not respecting other people's beliefs and choices-u don't judge them anout eating meat so they shouldn't judge u. even if they don't give u the chance to answer, interrupt them and be persuasive about yr choice.