Why are people so angry at vegetarians?

Question

I'm not saying that everyone I talk to is angry. I recently became a vegetarian, and some people are just downright angry. I became a vegetarian for the following reasons:

1) Animals are kept and slaughtered in completely inhumane and disturbing conditions.
2) Health. I believe most cancer comes from all the horomones and antibiotics and all that other crap animals are fed.

On one hand though, I commend people who keep their own animals in great environments, let them live long lives, and make them unconscious before slaughtering them, which is something slaughterhouses typically DO NOT DO.

But I get so many people thinking I'm a total nutjob for not eating meat. Has anyone ever gotten angry at you? What do you say to people who take it so personally?

Just to clarify though, even if given the option to eat meat that was raised and slaughtered in the most humane way possible, I still wouldn't eat it. I just don't like eating meat. But some people don't want to stop eating it and that is alright with me. Long as they're not polluting themselves with chemicals/antibiotics/etc.

I also did literally just become a vegetarian just over a week ago. Now that may not sound like a long time, but I'm doing my homework.

I have actually requested pamphlets from PETA about KFC and am planning on doing a demonstration, or at least handing them out if I can't get anyone to help, at my local KFC. That is my activism.

Yes, there are organic meats, but I don't like to rely on "labels" that sometimes don't mean anything. And I just decided that I don't want to take an animals life so I can eat something I like. Enjoying my food that much to take a life isn't necessary to me. I can eat other food. My boyfriend buys organic/kosher meats however.

I would never harass anyone about their eating choices; when I ate KFC, I wish someone had told me about the inhumane treatment of the animals that end up being served there. It is really most restaurants, but hey, you have to start somewhere. I plan on standing on the sidewalk (not next to the door, but on the public sidewalk), and handing out pamphlets to passerby who wish to accept them, not shoving them down people's throats. And not all vegetarians eat a ton of tofu, by the way.

If you're really wishing to expand your horizons, read about all the pollution that the mass meat industry causes. That's another point.

Everyone has some really good points. I'm going to let voting judge the best answer here, unless I see the votes are wildly crazy. Also ... I don't kill insects unless they are aggressive, like a wasp or something flying at me (I really have an irrational fear of stinging insects but only kill aggressive ones) ... I just leave most be or take them outside.

In conclusion, I want to say that I have decided, for health reasons, to become a vegan (no dairy, egg, meat, or honey), and will give my best shot at reducing my consumption of animal based products. As someone on a very low budget sometimes I have to buy things that aren't 100% the best. But, every little bit makes a difference, especially when it comes to food. Thanks to everyone for giving their honest opinion. :)

Answer 1

I did the vegetarian thing for several months, and honestly, I had to have a steak after that! I don't meat often, but sometimes I just have cravings, and that's when I know I need some iron. It's just a bit easier on me to have a steak or burger rather than take a supplement. But, I buy vegan products and organic products as often as is feasible. I care about my health and the environment. The hell with people who take thing that don't have anything to do with them personally. They have too much free time.

Answer 2

I wish had an answer for you, but I find myself in the same situation everyday. I am a vegetarian in Texas of all places and I am regularly met with disbelief, disgust, and horror. "No steaks EVER?!? Well, you at least each chicken, right? Never?!? WHY?!? Well, that's just crazy." I don't go out of my way to advertise the fact that I'm veg, and in fact, have learned to not even bring it up if possible. My reasons for not eating meat are very much in line with yours and sometimes people just don't want to listen to anything I have to say. I don't prosthelitize or try to convince other people to go veg. I just want to keep my own beliefs and live my own life. I do get tired of getting the third degree on my choices and having people expect me to defend and explain my position daily. It feels like we're expected to convince them that we're not crazy. *sigh*

Answer 3

Never forget that people are flaky and irrational. When they see you not eating meat, they are thinking "that holier than thou b---- thinks she is better than me!" Of course, since you are doing less to destroy the planet than the meat-eating folks, you can rightfully say you ARE better than them. However, you're not saying that and probably not even thinking it.

Look at it this way. You have made a life choice. Given you are getting all the vitamins you need, it is a responsible choice that does not hurt anyone. If some people don't like it, that's their problem, not yours.

* * * *

Hey, Esmerelda, your philosophy suggesting everyone has a right to put whatever they want into their bodies is a little simplistic, don't you think? Heidi has a point, though: this subject sure strikes nerves - I mean, read all the inflamed rhetoric here and look at the way the responders are doling out negative votes (heh heh....).

Answer 4

I've found that people find it threatening to their own beliefs. If you don't eat animals because they are treated cruely, then people who do eat meat therefore support cruel treatment (which they probably don't, they just turn a blind eye to it.) But it kind of shoves it in peoples faces that they are in fact supporting the abuse. So they have to defend their position somehow so they don't feel bad about themselves by saying "its natural", "we need protein" "it tastes good", etc.
I hope that made sense! It may not be that way for EVERYONE, but i'd say its defiantly a reason!

Answer 5

I only get angry at vegetarians who tell me how horrible I am and preach at me. Now I get just as angry at a person who is trying to convert me to their religion whatever that may be. Or those people who try to get you to join their health club or tell me to to go to AA because i had 1 beer last night and therefore I must be an alcoholic. Conversely there are those who say here take a puff of this you'll like it. No thanks I said no!
Bottom line I do not want to be preached at for anything!

Answer 6

I have an answer. Some vegetarian just don't shut up about being vegetarian, and they try to impose it on you (if you want to do it, its fine, but its not *wrong* for others to eat meat), or criticize you for eating meat (because the 'poor animals'), meanwhile they are wearing a leather belt etc.

*This is not all vegetarians
But people like this are out there... and I guess it is because of them that a lot of people are annoyed about them

If the roles were reversed, the animals would probably eat us too.

I think its fine to be a vegetarian...

But, for your reasons of becoming vege

1) (slaughtering) what does it matter that you become vege or not when animals are slaughtered. if you like meat, eat it, but become an activist or something against the way animals are treated. now that would make sense if you really cared about how they are treated... sorry, but you aren't really making any difference.

2) health. there are organic animals or whatever (lol forgive me if my terminology is off)

again.. this is kind of irritating. i still dont understand exactly why you are vegetarian. why not only eat organic meat (no hormones) and take action against the treatment of these animals

so yea. this is maybe other people's frustration also

ha oh and can i add
during the whole emo trend
a lot of people became vegetarians just because a certain band was vegetarian... and they would stop after about 2 months because they never really did it for any of their own reasons

lol now thats annoying!

thanks for reading until the end of this mess of an answer

-C.

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edit, ok well now that i have seen you add. details-mainly a response to my answer

-if u dont like eating meat whether its been slaughtered "humanely" or not... how is it a reason for your becoming a vegetarian? (and like i said, there are alternatives... so.....the reason might be gone)

-you just have to know how to read labels. yes, some things are phony, like approved by [invented pseudo-health group] (but 'approved' doesnt mean much). but when some things are written, it is what it is, otherwise they would get sued. there are strict laws on what can be written on labels.

and if you plan on actively fighting against what you denounce. KUDOS, most veges dont, even though they go on and on about

just dont stick an annoying sticker in some public bathroom about some chicken's ending.

THATS annoying. (lol)

also, will you cease to kill spiders, ants, whatnot and other inhumane killing???

-now you have a very thorough answer of my irritation towards some veges

basically, if you dont want to eat meat thats fine. but all of these crazy stretched out... silly ...reasons are annoying

some people might just do it because they are bored and want some meaning/purpose in their life.

Answer 7

I get irritated at vegetarians that stop eating meat, but continue to wear leather shoes, and live in homes made of trees cut down where animals live and have 3-4 children and buy houses in the burbs where animals once lived. So basically I'm bothered by hypocrites. Now if you don't eat meat for your health or don't like the taste than I can respect that.

Answer 8

i know its stupid. i dont give a f**k wot other people eat so why do they care about what i eat? i think your doing the right thing and thank you for careing about how the Animals are treated. there should be more nice people like you around

Answer 9

"Are there another Vegetarians available in the market who simply get the urge to cut a tree filled with squirells down and cuddle the **** outta the little buggers and take them dwelling with me?" that is the cutest factor i ever heard in my complete existence lovable troll

Answer 10

It's the hypocrisy about saving the animals. Regardless of choices, vegetarians STILL displace animals whether they try to or not. Above and beyond the shoes, purses, homes, etc. there are other hypocrisies.

I've helped my friend do farm work for years. Do you know how many turkeys, ducks, geese, pheasants and deer fawns are killed by farmers every year? They're killed by machinery, or nests are destroyed when the farmer plows the field to grow soybeans; IE TOFU. SO, indirectly, that tofu you're so proud of has the blood of animals on it.

On the topic of KFC, do you harass people when they go there to eat? What gives you the right to offend me with your slogans and signs outside the building when your frustration is with the chain itself? Shall I bring my dead deer this November to PETA headquarters because they frustrate me?

I don't have a problem with people that decide to go vegetarian for health reasons, but the whole 'save the animals' bullsh*t gets old. You're NOT saving animals, you're displacing them, not nearly as much as omnivores do with their factory farming or whatever, but the hypocrisy is there, just look for it. Trying to save cows and chickens from factory farms is your business, but don't interfere with mine if I choose to eat somewhere that may use that method.

I see 4 people that won't debate their hypocrisy...