do you have many family and friends who are vego like you?

Question

vego meaning either vegatarian or vegan.

i only know 2 vegetarians (not close friends of mine) and not a single vegan.

as a vegan myself i think it would be benefitial to have at least one person in my life who shares my beliefs, because it's hard getting people to understand me. they all think i'm some sort of tree hugging hippy who is just going through a phase. i'm not taken seriously i have no support!
it doesn't bother me so much, i'd just like to have an intelligent conversation with someone about the meat and dairy industry without the other person becoming all defensive and disregarding all the facts i tell them! (operative word being *facts*)
it would also be great to learn from them because i know i have a lot left to learn.

can anyone relate?

Answer 1

well we are Hare Krsnas.So my mother is vegetarien as well as my two sisters and my brother-in-law.My uncle has been vegan for many years,but I don't have much contact to him by now.
My brother is not a vegetarien and he is always complaining,when he is visiting us,because of the foodstuff.He is so intolerant.When I visit someone who isn't a vegetarien I am not acting like this.Some people really have problems with it,espacially if you are vegetarien because of your religion.(For me it's not the only reason,but thats something else...).
In general I just ignore those people,because I know,that being a vegetarien is much more healthy than eating meat.
I knew some one who was really upset,that we didn't eat meat.Because we could get sick,and we need protein etc.there are so many ways from where you can get protein,you don't have to kill for it.It is just important that you keep on goin.Don't listen to tghem.Some just want to challenge you.But its not worth fighting.It is just a waste of time...

Answer 2

I've been a vegan for four years and haven't met any other vegans in real life so far. Before that I was vegetarian for ten years. My sister became a vegetarian three years after I did, so I had someone to talk to at home (we're a pretty large family and all the others are enthusiastic meat eaters). But since I turned vegan and moved out, I don't have anyone in real life I can talk to or relate to in terms of being a vegan. Quite frankly, it sucks. Especially when I'm at work and have to defend my choice re: what I eat over and over and freaking over again. I just want to munch my food in peace, not discuss every piece I eat.

I don't know what I'd do without the internet and its vegan communities. Without the internet I'd never talk to people who share the same or at least similar believes that I have. Hopefully I'll meet other vegans one day in real life, too. That would be nice.

Answer 3

The only vegan I know is my mom, and I became vegan only shortly before she did. I went vegetarian first, then vegan, and she was kind of inspired (and I don't mean that in an egotistical way or anything) and went vegan herself. Some stuff she showed me prompted me to go veg in the first place, so we kind of helped each other out.

Anyway, we have each other to talk to about the industries, and there is still a lot both of us would like to know. My mom is more into the humane society and animal shelters, whereas I am more into factory farm activism, so we balance each other out well.

Honestly, the internet is such a great place to form veg friendships. There are some really great people here on Yahoo Answers that you can have some good dialogue with and not feel threatened. Most people aren't receptive to being "told" facts, no matter how well-intentioned.

Good luck on finding some people to talk to; I'm not online much but feel free to talk to me! :)

Answer 4

Just be straight with her. Tell her that your friendship is important to you and that you respect her right to eat as she chooses and that you enjoy sharing food and cooking with her. Then ask her point blank to please respect you as well. You'll have to make an effort not to come across as preachy (I say this just because you pondered that she might be pissed because she knows you're "right.") In return, you have every right to expect that she not ride you about vegetarianism as well. At this point, she may just think she's just being concerned or that she's just kidding around. Unless you're clear with her that you appreciate her friendship but that you're hurt be her behavior, you're not really giving her a chance to be the supportive friend you want her to be. And, if you wonder why she cares so much, just ask her. I'd recommend not having this discussion over food and not having it at the spur of the moment, triggered by some comment of hers. Pick a neutral time and just tell her you'd like to get something off your chest.

Answer 5

I can. I only have one friend who is a vegetarian and she lives three states away so I don't get a chance to talk to her very often. I love hosting events but no one will even come toa BBQ at my house because I'm vegetarian. Even if I actually cook mea no one will even try it. My boyfriend is the only person who really tries what I make and he says it is great but it's gotten to the point that I feel alienated for being a vegetarian. I could understand if I was very preachy about it but I don't bring it up unless I have to.

Answer 6

i have one friend who is a vegetarian but doesn't really care about animal rights like i do (she told me once she had a family she would go back to eating meat just so it is easier for her) and then i have another friend who says shes vegetarian but i know for a fact that she eats chicken! so no, i don't know any other vegans and i don't have any real vegetarians around me. so i totally know what you mean! people usually are rude once i tell them im vegan. so i've gotten in the habit of avoiding that if i could. (except that is usually the first thing my sister tells other people about me. grr)

Answer 7

Yeah, lots of my family members are vegetarian, no vegans though.

None of my friends are. Although they are understanding and respect my beliefs, I too need a person, preferably of the opposite sex, who shares my beliefs.

Answer 8

When I was in high school and middle school, yes. But now I have the tendency to accidentally turn people veg*n (I blame my cooking), with the additional boon of often running into people who are already veg*an, and living in a large city with a decent veggie population.

Answer 9

My whole family is vegetarian, it goes along with our religion. I feel for you though and I'm very glad I was raised vegetarian and that I live in a very veg-friendly city.

Answer 10

I know some vegetarians but they are not in my circle of friends. Real friends would be supportive and understand...it should not matter what they eat.