Why do people get offended when you tell them that you are a vegan or vegetarian?

Question

Let me clear the air. I do not go around telling people that I am a vegan. I am a teacher and I eat with others. They observe what I am eating and make comments. Then that is when I get into what kind of lifestyle I chose for myself. It was a choice I made for me and I do not "push" my personal beliefs on any one. They are the ones who get upset and defensive when I talk about it. I am not rude when I educate them nor do I say that it is "right or better". They always ask me what I have for lunch and I gladly tell them. I wonder if they secretly want to have the same lifestyle, which is fine, VEGANISM is a choice!

Answer 1

meat eaters turn there noses up at us, simply because they lack the capacity to comprehend someone being different from themselves. We all like to fit in to society, and are socialized from an early age. When we do something as radical as drastically changing the way we eat, it makes us more of a social standout, and people are uncomfortable with that. Most prefer to just be part of the herd. I think too, it makes them question their own beliefs, and most people do not like to confront that issue at all. Better to just be blissfully ignorant than to go to the trouble to learn the facts, and apply the practice-too difficult for most people

Answer 2

It is human nature to want to feel that what we're doing is right, proper, and logical. When we're confronted with something that suggests that our current practices are not the best ones, it's uncomfortable. We can either consider that our choices may not have been the best ones, which is extremely disturbing, or we can reject that premise without truly considering it, so that we don't have to feel bad about our actions. That's the more comfortable approach. And we do this by searching our minds for any arguments we can for why the challenge must be wrong, to justify our current behavior.

Think about that for a moment: Our feeling that our current actions are correct isn't based on our arguments. Rather, our actions come first and then we come up with the arguments to try to support those actions. If we were truly logical, we'd consider the evidence first and then decide the best course of action. But often we have it in reverse, because it's too difficult to accept that we might have been wrong.

This is particularly true when it comes to vegetarianism. It is quite easy to identify because the anti-vegetarian arguments are usually so weak and desperate(ie some meat eaters say plants have feelings,a logical person would never say a plant has feelings), compared to other kinds of discourse. A person who would never normally suggest something so fantastic as the idea that plants can think and feel pain, will suddenly all but lunge for such an argument when they feel their meat-eating ways are being questioned. It's human nature.

Answer 3

They're nothing more than ignorant morons that can't handle the fact that some people have different ways then themselves!

And to the omnivores...Here's an example that I got yesterday.

I had to go into town to pick up some packages and mail. I stopped off at the truckstop/Subway to get my usual order. When I walked up (never said a word) the owner said "Hi ___, the usual right? Italian bread, no cheese, all the veggies". At which point two doofs in line spouted off "Whut the hay-ull? We got us some kinda hippy vegutaree-un he-ar? Hay ole man! You don't eat no me-ut? Whut the hay-ul's wrong with you?"

Just a typical thing that EVERY vegetarian and/or vegan has had to go through.

And those PETA people that hand out the pamphlets aren't doing it to shove vegetarianism down your throat anymore than the people that picket Planned Parenthood are pushing religion! Don't blame all vegetarians for the offensive tactics of PETA!!

Answer 4

I'm the third person to laugh his **** off
because of Greenghost's post. It's just too
funny. I see why he wants to swap residences
with Foxhunter Guy.

I think some people get offended by
vegetarianism because they feel it is
a direct challenge to their bad habits.
It also means that we are outside
of their concentric eating circle.
It means we won't be coming to
any of their barbecues or super-
bowl parties because we don't
want to smell dead cow muscle
and look at dead chicken wings.

I think this is what people envision
when we tell people we are veggie.

Alas, when they see us scarf down
serving after serving of vegetation
it somehow makes some of them
feel inadequate in a way.

It has dawned on me that although
I never open my mouth to say,
" I'm a vegan", I've been labeled as
a goody two shoes. It's something
we'll all have to live with.

Answer 5

I know very well what you are talking about, because it has happened to me many times. Due to my profession (I am a theatre producer) I am very often in a position where I have to attend catered meals, and since there is most of the time nothing suitable but a salad, I get stupid comments like: Ah, you are on a diet? In the beginning I told people I'm vegan, but got tired of their comments (I also don't drink coffee or alcohol, so I'm simply the "nerd") If it is a long day I bring my own food or simply stick to the salads and think "up yours" . I think most people are aware of their unhealthy way of eating (and I don't refer to meat but junk, too much fat, too much sugar in general) and vegans remind them of all the things they shouldn't actually put into their mouth, so its a bit of a bad conscience that pops up which is often expressed in a very agressive way. Don't take it personal.

Answer 6

What you do is pretty much what you do. These people or other teachers shouldn't be judging you for crying out loud they are teachers. If they want students to respect them and not judge others. They should do the same. Just because you are a vegan/veggie don't worry about what they say. If they don't like it then its just to bad for them. Can't please everyone in this world. And it is by choice what you do. So don't sweat it.

Answer 7

Oh my gosh, Greenghost just made me laugh my aye-oss off!!

In short, those who believe in nothing, or those who feel your something makes them look bad, will get defensive, and sometimes even offensive when you state a belief system you belong to.

Just saying *vegetarian* implies a belief system of eating animals being wrong. We may just think it is wrong for us to eat meat, but such a concept warps their fragile little minds and they think we are shoving a broccoli stalk down their throats with the power of our minds.

p.s. I love how people talk about how *many vegetarians* are in peoples' faces, shoving their beliefs down their throat... I swear these people have only ever seen vegetarians on TV sitcoms.

Answer 8

I am the only vegetarian in my social, professional, familial circle, and I have never heard anyone get offended by my telling them that I am vegan. In most cases, they're just awed by my "discipline", and many of my younger co-workers think it's cool.

Hey, are you one of Foxhunter_guy's friends?

Answer 9

It's my experience that the folks who get offended are the worst eaters. Their eating habits are so horrible. Then they seem to resent someone making sound choices to eat better.

Don't be upset by them. Have compassion. If they don't now, they soon will have a lot of diet related illness. Be a good representative of the veg community. Be kind. Even if they are cruel.

Answer 10

I for one am not.
I am a meat eater, but my wife is a vegetarian. And you know what, when we cook our dinners, we cook together, and everything turns out great. I never make her eat what I eat, and she does not make me eat what she eats. There is nothing wrong with a diet choice. We live very happy having different diets.