Why do some people who choose to eat meat have such a problem with vegans and vegetarians?

Question

I am a vegetarian bordering on vegan. I do it because I love animals. I don't do it in judgement of other people, I do it because it creates a positive pro-active feeling for me. Before, I always felt like I was being a hypocrite, loving my pets so much and then eating meat. Now, I feeling like I am making my actions reflect my feelings and I'm truly happy. Why judge? I'm not judging you...

Oh, I'm totally non-judgemental that's why I'm confused. When I did eat meat years ago, I never was all mad at vegans and vegetarians. I thought it was a little weird but that's bc I didn't understand...but mad, never. Not everyone is hostile but I get met with a lot of hostility when people find out. I don't even tell people really bc its my business. Just another factoid, I honestly feel like I chilled out a lot as a person when I stopped eating meat. Ah, well...

Answer 1

You have a great attitude! I don't think it's right to judge people based on what they eat, either. Some people are miserable in their own lives, though, so they look for any reason to find fault with others. I think we should all just get along! It's pretty stupid to dislike someone because of their eating habits. Put that passion into something worthwhile...not hate.


P.S. I'm not a vegetarian. But I don't judge others for being one. I totally understand your reasoning for it. I am an animal lover too. Day by day, I am getting more and more grossed out by meat though. It broke my heart when I watched Fast Food Nation. At the end, they show how they actually slaughter the animals. It was sickening. They treat the animals like crap.

Answer 2

Yeah I know what you are saying, since I've been a vegetarian and more so since I've been a vegan, I get comments like "You are gonna be sick", "I know the reason you are so pale, It's because you don't eat meat"(oh no, it's not because I was born with my complexion *sarcasm*), "Aren't you losing a lot of protein, That could kill you", and every other thing you could imagine. Before when I was a Ova- lacto vegetarian( and even before that when I was a meat eater) I would be sick all the time, most of the time a really bad sore throat(till the point when I was hospitalized, cause I wasn't eating at all, and couldn't get out of bed) Now since I've been a vegan I get sick like twice maybe 3 times a year!!! I love being a vegan, I don't think I'll ever go back to eating meat and dairy, no matter what the meat- eaters say.

Answer 3

When I was veggie, I always had people explain to me what types of meat they ate, or that they would quit if they could...lol I was never judgemental, because my reasons for not eating it were that I didn't like it. I am adding meat back into my diet now...armed with enough information on how animlas are raised, fed, etc...But, when I was veggie, my vegan friend would always give me crap about how I may as well eat meat because dairy was a byproduct of the veal industry (not true for organic milk) and that I was stealing from the bees by eating honey. So, I gave it right back to him...where do you draw the line? Do you eat bread? Because yeast is an animal. Do you take photographs? Because film contains gelatin...etc...he finally backed off...as he could never be as morally superior as he made himself out to be. So, it is a funny thing about the human condition...some want to explain themselves when you aren't judging them, and some like to be judgmental when they have no idea what they are talking about. Also, I find that new veggies are more insufferable than those who eschew the practice for a period of time.

Answer 4

There is a lot of judging from both sides. It's usually a lack of understanding. On one hand the vegetarians may say "how can you eat meat, it was a happy alive animal....." on the other you have meat eaters who will say "We are naturally omnivores, we were made to eat meat."
It's a lifestyle and a choice, personally I love meat.

Answer 5

sometimes i think some people irrationally freak out thinking that you being a vegetarian is going to somehow impact their life...like at any moment the amount of vegetarians is going to tip the scale and all of the steakhouses, mcdonalds, butcher shops, etc... are going to close down and the meat eaters are going to be forced to chew on raddiccio at every vegans delightful behest.

on a side note, i hate that Blimpies or Subway commercial (I forget which) where the girl at the end is eating their new big meaty sandwich and she giggles all maniacally and says something like, "meat!! its what every real woman wants!!"
i cringe on so many levels when that commercial comes on.

anyway, i dont hate on meat eaters. i just hate on haters.

Answer 6

in a meat eaters mind, it is wrong to eat only fruits and vegetables, in the mind of the meat, there is only meat
don't you get it, meat, they need meat,

so yea just don't talk to meat eaters about you being a vegetarian, pretend that you're on a diet and tell em you'll eat meat when they're not looking, it's the only way to stop the morlocks

Answer 7

Great question! I've been a vegetarian now for several years, and I've had plenty of negative comments directed towards me. I think that even though we don't judge them, they somehow feel like they're being put on the defensive. If we become vegetarian or vegan for ethical reasons, it suggests that we think that they're wrong for eating meat. Of course, no one likes to feel that he's wrong or that others think he's wrong. Don't let the negative comments of others get you down. Stay true to yourself and your values and enjoy trying those new veggie recipes!:)

Answer 8

i dont know, i wonder that myself, i dont judge meat eaters at all, my whole family is and so is my boyfriend, he actually works at KFC. My step dad is the big bloody steak lover in the house and when i say i like to eat with the family (like if there having hamburgers i have veggie burgers), i say it makes me feel lonley when i dont eat with them and my step dad says it makes him mad when i dont eat meat.he thought it was a phase at first but he just hates me being vegan. its kinda sad he cant accept someone thinking for themself in the family

Answer 9

If you're talking about people making unprovoked comments, I agree with the posts that say it's probably guilt. However, my boyfriend, who has no problem with individual vegetarians, doesn't like the image of the movement.

Answer 10

Well, some meaters think that vegans and vegitarians are just nuts. I don't but some things like (the fruit may only fall from the tree, not picked) is going a little too far but otherwise, they just think they're crazy and over-eviromentalist