Why are vegetarians criticized for living their preferred way of life?

Question

I've seen several innocent vegetarian questions reap insulting comments from answerers who disapprove of the lifestyle.

If you disagree with it, why force your beliefs on those who don't? Are the insults really necessary?

Answer 1

people tend to judge anything different and to lash out is an instinct unfortunately

Answer 2

I was just going through the answers in the Vegetarian & Vegan category tonight and am appalled at how hostiles those carnivores are. One even told an asker "if you were a cow, I'd kill you, grind your meat, and make you into a burger."

It's unusual to find a vegetarian do something of this sort to a carnivore. But then I guess this is why a scientific study recently published says that vegetarians are more intelligent than carnivores (by 6 to 9 percentile points in IQ).

Vegetarians of the world, unite!

Answer 3

I have to take insults all of the time for being vegetarian/vegan. My grandmothers husband even calls me a ''tree hugger''. Just because we're different and don't believe in slaughtering animals doesn't mean that we all have to get insulted. It is just not right!

Answer 4

Some people are just jerks. That's just the way it is, unfortunately. I'm not sure if it's that their gun totin', beer swillin', cousin +\/(|{in' ways are threatened by peaceful existance or if they are just bullies. Possibly a little of each.

But to be fair, from what I hear, there are also numerous aggressive vegetarians on here who flame meat questions and hunting questions. They don't realize that flaming doesn't make people think positively and address their consicences, it just reinforces the neanderthal way of thought that "them damn veggies are just ignorant tree huggers. give em a steak and they'll come round."

Answer 5

Insults are unnecessary, but I've witnessed many vegetarians consistantly preaching to meat eaters about how much better they are for the choices they made. Our choices should be our own.

Answer 6

I don't quite understand it either because they are constantly insulting US saying that WE are the ones being forceful. However, they are the ones coming onto the Vegetarian and Vegan forum, so I don't know why they're flipping out.

Answer 7

Well lol, I'm vegetarian by choice of health (blood from meat makes me gag and my liver cannot process meat as well as the carnivors) but in saying this I also eat some meat rarely, in summer once a fortnight in winter once a month. Humans need some meat!
I have been attacked for being a vegie and for eating meat (I don't care) but lets face it folks its each individuals choice and hopefully one day we will all respect this and live in a peaceful world instead of forcing opions and ways of life on others.

Answer 8

Anyone who is different is a target for insults from ignorant people. By being different you prove you have convictions, you think about things, and you don't behave like an steak-eating android on autopilot. Insecure people are jealous of this.

Answer 9

Because meat eaters bodies are polluted from eating food cooked in it's own blood and mucous; so they don't think clearly.

Answer 10

They aren't necessary. The people critizicing them are just nosy and shouldn't be getting into other peoples business!

Answer 11

People like to believe that their way is right and they're mostly young punks and liberals who insult people. They judge you for some strange reason in their head, and perhaps they think you're a sissy or something. They need to get their butts kicked.