Veggies hated on....?

Question

Have any of you ever felt that people think veggies feel superior to meat eaters? I went to a party, and when people found out I was a veggie (because I wouldn't eat any of the meat dishes), they would do their (high school level) whispering behind my back. When I got up to get some food they all looked at me like I was an alien. Granted I don't think there were many veggies in that town, but I felt like I was the one doing something bad. Any of you have had the same experience. If so, how did you deal with it?

Oh by the way, I am not saying that meat eaters are bad, I know I'll have 5 answers that tell me that I'm hating on them. READ THIS CAREFULLY: I AM NOT SAYING THEY ARE BAD!

Answer 1

I don't act superior, and usually don't tell people I'm a vegetarian unless they specifically ask. Back in my early veg days, I would try to be polite when confronted by self-righteous meat eaters going on and on about how stupid I was, making fun of me and spouting off about how humans are at the top of the food chain. I figured, I didn't want to give them anything more fuel for their fire. But one day, I just got tired of it. If I see that someone is starting to say things to make fun of me or harass me somehow, I stop them and make it clear I don't want to hear it. If they continue, I walk away. If someone were to tell me how much they love children, I would never think to "entertain" them with stories about the horribly abused and mutilated children I see in my line of work. What makes these oafs think I will be amused by their stories of animal suffering? In my experience, it is the meat-eaters who consider themselves superior, and express that feeling every chance they get. They project that attitude onto the vegetarians to justify their own idiotic behavior. I am not averse to having an intelligent conversation with someone who is genuinely interested, as long as it doesn't turn into a debate, or is just an excuse to make fun. As long as they're just staring, smile and be happy. If they see that you're not suffering without their precious meat, and not being uppity about it, they will most likely get over it.

Answer 2

Lol,i've been invited to barbies' and on learning that i don't eat meat,are thrown into confusion and turmoil,as what "to feed me".
Yeah,i know the "alien feeling" too,i recently visited my partner's parents in Germany,they are big meat eaters,at first it was like "what can we cook for you" but to be fair,after a day or two made a gr8 effort.
A lot of people think you feel superior,i personally don't find anything superior about making the decision not to eat meat and sticking to it.Good for you.

Answer 3

I went out to dinner once with a group of friends and two of the people were vegetarians. It was a family style restaurant and when it came time to order, we made sure we had veggie dishes for the vegetarians and meat dishes for everyone else. Then the two veggies started making fun of meat eaters, using "neanderthal" voices as if to suggest that all meat eaters are "lesser evolved" or just stupid. I also had a vegetarian roommate and she was awesome! It was never an issue and we used to go out to eat all the time. We both loved food and appreciated it and she just happened not to eat meat.

I don't think vegetarians are jerks and I don't think meat-eaters are jerks, I think some people are jerks and some of those people happen to be vegetarian, some of them happen to eat meat. Those people at that party were just being jerks and they are narrow-minded just like the people I went out to dinner with.

Answer 4

You shouldn't worry about what they think. People with an open mind may be interested to learn things, but people who are not probably never will be.

Just be yourself and don't push your beliefs on other people either. If there are people that respect you for who your are that is the most important thing. Everyone else needs to grow up.

This is not too different from people of a different religion or race from the majority. Most people do not know how this feels, so they don't necessarily know how they act may not be the positive way of thinking/acting.

Answer 5

I know the feeling... we all do.

As a matter of fact, this area of Y!A has been extremely hateful over the past few days. There is usually a handful of mean people here, but just checking the current page, there were around 16 (out of 20) questions specifically dealing with the following:
Spreading hate toward vegetarians and/or vegans
dealing with being treated with hate, cruelty or ignorance,
or justifying ones hate and cruelty.

How sad is that.
:(

But the key to remember is that you are different. You are making a choice different from their choice, which is so completely ingrained in their way of life, they do not even realize that it is a choice.

Simply by being you, and happy, and healthy and a vegetarian, you are a living example that things do not have to be the way they are.

Those who descent from the norm have, throughout history, always had people go out of their way to be cruel and hateful toward them. Actually, while uncomfortable, the situation you presented is on the lighter scale of things.

Everyone claims to know tons of crazy vegetarians simply by hearing about "them" from friends of friends and friends. Most people don't actually *know* any or many vegetarians at all. The proof comes out when they find out you are one.

I don't think people realize how hurtful they can be. Most all vegetarians have so many people who are mean, share stereotypes, literally put meat in their faces, joke about restraining them and shoving meat down their throats, actually forced them to eat animals, give endless hypotheticals... all to escape ever having to take accountability for their own actions.

And what is their justification? They once *knew* a vegetarian who shoved his/her views down their throat... or complained of nothing to eat.
I think it is important for them to remember that there are 95% of them and only 5% of us. Maybe that would help them to realize how hurtful the accumulation of all their hateful words and actions really are, and they can act with a bit more compassion toward those who live differently then they do.

Sorry; I went on an unbelievably huge train of thought. But it is so disheartening to see how cruel some people are, and your question allowed me to share my thoughts on the issue your question points to.

I guess I'll have a new blog entry.
:)

Answer 6

Fuggetaboudit, let 'em whisper, it's arteries. But then again, it's easy for me to say that 'cause I don't get that reaction from people, maybe 'cause I'm in Los Angeles.

Edit: Wait, come to think of it, I get that reaction but only a little. I didn't remember 'cause I don't care what meat eaters think, I'm veg for life.

Answer 7

Quite a few vegetarians act like they are superior because they don't eat meat. You know, the "I don't kill animals for my own enjoyment" kind of thing. I personally have no issues with a person being a vegetarian. I think it's unnatural, but it's their choice. But I get seriously annoyed when someone suggests they are morally superior because they've made a lifestyle choice that I don't agree with.

I'm sorry that you were put on the spot like that, but just remember that it's your decision to be a vegetarian and you're the only person that should care about it.

Answer 8

I know this is going to sound bad, but do you feel superior to cannibals? What about murders? I think it's the same thing. I am generally not rude to meat eaters unless they provoke me. When that happens, I will give them what I've got.

Answer 9

Well, my family and friends look at me like I'm crazy for doing it. They always try to make me quit being a vegetarian, especially my mom (I'm 19 though) saying my body needs meat and stuff.

As to how I deal with it, I just ignore them and keep saying that eating meat is a crime, to me at least.

Answer 10

People are curious. Don't tlet that bother you.

And really, it dpeneds on the person. Some people think vegetarianism is stupid and would think you were rather dumb for making that choice, and some people could care less.

Just live your life for yourself and realize that not everyone is going to like your choices.