Attention All vegetarians(especially teens)! Have you ever had anyone laugh @ you because you wer a vegetarian

Question

And if so, what did you do? I am scared of what my family will say about me becoming a vegetarian(my parents know,though)! I'm scared they'll laugh at me, and I'm shy,so that makes it hard for me too speak up. NO ONE in my family is vegetarian.What do I do?

Answer 1

I'm actually a pretty shy person too, but being a vegetarian (as well as other things) has helped me to ignore what other people think. I'm a vegetarian living with three omnivores and I don't know anyone personally who is a more strict vegetarian than I am. Every other "vegetarian" I know eats fish or "secret" slaughterhouse by-products like gelatin. Basically, I've had to learn to face any anti-vegetarianism argument alone.
Most recently, I was called a pansy for voicing my opinions about eating meat and performing dissections--however, you have to agree that standing up and sharing what could be a very unpopular opinion is far from what a "pansy" would do.
It doesn't matter if people laugh at what you're doing. Vegetarianism is a good thing. Educate yourself on various arguments against vegetarianism and think of what you'd say if someone said each one to you. You don't have to be nasty to people when speaking up for yourself, just be respectful and show that you know what you're talking about.
You have to exercise your voice in order for it to grow, and with time you'll become much more comfortable with the thought of speaking up.

Answer 2

Hey, I know how you feel. Ive recently become a vegetarian, for health reasons, and personal reasons, but Im loving it!! Not only have I never felt better in my life, with more energy and Im much less depressed but weight is just melting off. My family doesnt understand how I feel, and why Ive made this choice. They say that eating meat is harmless etc, and offer me meat constantly...to the point where I dont want to eat with them... none of them are vegetarians, but you need to remember that they are ignorant of your choices, and you are making a positive choice for yourself. Just make sure before you go out with friends that they are aware of your vegetarianism, or it might put you in a awkward situation if they have cooked meat for you...

If they laugh at you, then you should ignore them, as its your choice, and they dont have to understand why you choose not to eat meat, but they do have to respect you, and the decisions that you have made.

Good luck!

Answer 3

My family laughed at me. Most families do that. But if you present them with the facts and they allow you to be a vegetarian (sometimes you have to use a stronger force) then after a while they will accept your decision. Don't be sad if they laugh at you or taunt you or even force-feed you meat. After a while, they will accept your decision as a mature one. And if not, you'll leave the house to go to college anyway! (Vegetarians have roven in scientific studies to have higher IQs on average than meat-eaters; Einstein, Pythagoras and Gandhi were both vegetarians)

--samTHEman

Answer 4

Have lots of info ready to back up your point. Know your reasons and be able to explain them with stats if you can. Know the benifits of being vegetarian both health (longer life, less heart problems, etc) and environmental (ie 100lb of potatoes can be grown with the resources required to produce 1lb of beef). I became vegetarian at 12. Some people will always tease you. Just something you need to learn to shrug off. I was shy too so I know how hard it can be. If you need an ear, drop me a note. :)

Answer 5

I'm STILL in my 'piercings are cool' segment haha. I received what could be my 10th pierced the opposite day (however its simplest honestly my 7th nonetheless on me seeing that 3 are long gone for more than a few motives). Once you get the piercing trojan horse, its like a few variety of scrumptious dependancy ;] I discover that watching again at myself whilst I was once approximately fourteen is the strangest. That was once whilst my quite rebellious level took situation and all people was once a goal- my mother and father, my lecturers, my peers mother and father (seeing that my peers have been being similarly as rebellious haha). I took up smoking whilst I was once fourteen for a few dull rationale, I could exhibit off ALL the time with out being consciously conscious of it and I'd constantly be strolling my mouth off. I received into drawback plenty at university as good. I feel plenty of it was once that I weighed approximately fifty kilos greater than I do now, so I was once very self-aware and really protecting. I went to an all-ladies university and women can also be very merciless whilst they are cooped up in combination. I additionally was once variety of into punk rock and stuff and so I feel I variety of absorbed the 'f-you' angle that each one the ones bands considering I adored them such a lot. I quite notion that I was once so grown up at fourteen which I feel is the funniest factor. I'll most commonly be pronouncing the distinctive equal factor approximately eighteen in ten years time, despite the fact that.

Answer 6

I have people laugh at me all the time. They will ask why and I just respond by saying it's healthier and I feel it's more ethical. If they try to provoke you with jokes just reply with "your choice is your own." Don't make a big deal about it and if they want to laugh let them. Just keep in mind that you are 80% less likely to develop colon cancer, 90% less likely to have heart problems, and 50% less likely to develop diabetes or cholesterol problems. Stay confident and laid back and don't let them know it bothers you. Otherwise they will make a bigger deal out of it.

Answer 7

Some of the kids at school did when I was younger...but I always had religion as an excuse and half of my family is vegetarian too.

Answer 8

It shouldn't matter what they think. You have chosen a certain lifestyle that is not harming them. So I don't really see what the big deal would be. If they laugh just calmly explain to them that this is something that you have chosen for yourself and it would be nice if they would support you and that you would be happy to explain to them why you have chosen to become a vegetarian. But to be honest I don't see why it would be a laughing matter.

Answer 9

It baffles me as to why a person would be ridiculed for the food choices they make. It your body so do as you see fit for it. If people laugh at a choice in foods then feel sorry for them for they are ignorant.
Be the bigger person in this case and be prepared with credible information and show that you have done your homework on the subject. That will show them you are serious and may make them see that you or your choices in life are not a joke.

Answer 10

If your parents support you, ask them to speak up for you! Even though yes you are a teen and can speak for yourself, this is new territory for you. Your parents (as they should be acting like parents) have far more tact and can speak kindly in your favor. For example, when I was younger, I used to love to color my hair (not for attention but because colors are fun!). My relatives had a number of things to say about me doing it. My mother decided to cut them off nicely and using other words told them to get over it!