Why do people hate vegetarians?

Question

I don't understand the hate. I'm not a militant veg. but people stick up their noses at me when I tell them I don't eat meat. I'm not criticizing anyone's lifestyle choice. I just don't like meat - the idea of it or the taste. A lot of people have food preferences. For example: I know a person who won't eat mushrooms because the idea of eating a fungus turns her stomach. Its the same thing with meat for me.

P.S. I also am a veg for religious reasons. I don't understand how hate for vegs. comes from "overly religious people."

Answer 1

Who said they hate vegetarians? Not me. No one I know says it.

I usually have one or two 'vegetarian' meals a day.

You could be being 'tarred' by the reaction by more militant vegetarian members who say that eating meat is murder. Or even worse, those who suggest that humans are naturally vegetarians and have no reason to eat animal protein.

Our alimentary canal from our teeth to the rectum and all the 'support' organs along the way, suggests we are omnivores, not vegetarians. Most humans eat animal protein, the vast majority of it comes from insect protein, possibly the best type of animal protein for humans to eat. But we are not, by any sense of the word, vegetarians by nature, or if you prefer, by evolution or creation.

Your brother and sister Vegetarians have colored many people's reactions to being a vegetarian. I no longer mention the fact I eat so little red meat, because of the backlash I get from the 'carnivores' out there, even though they are not 'carnivores' and I'm not a vegetarian.

Answer 2

They dont! I'm a vegetarian. If people ask me questions about it, I answer them truthfully. I don't act mean towards people who are not vegetarian. You are not going to be struck down by lightning for eating meat, I just don't like it and I love animals. My whole entire family is... not vegetarian and none of my friends are, it's okay. People accept me because I never get in people's face about it. Vegetarianism does not make me better than anyone else. (I just eat a little bit healthier than the avg. American, even before I was a veg)

The only vegetarians that get harrased are when peopel do not understand or the veg is just being really rude about not eating meat. It has two sides though because some meat eaters are like "Dont you want some delicious bacon"?
"I like the eat animals they are good".
"I'm going to keep killing animals". (Do you know how that sounds?) That is obnoxious! I'm respectful of Muslims and I'm a Christain. There is no reason to insult people especially when they have said nothing rude to you.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T is good (It isnt "tolerance" it works for everyone, lets all try it)

Answer 3

My husband and most of my friends are vegetarian for various reasons. I don't know why people turn up their noses as if one's choice is an indictment of someone else's.

I have had a few vegetarians hound me throughout an entire meal to change my ways, but then I've had other diet aficionados nag me, too. There are the Atkins and/or carnivores that tell me I need to eat MORE meat, there are the "purists" who excoriate me if I don't eat organic and locally grown everything, there are the raw food advocates, the blood-type gurus, etc.

In the end, it's not the diet but the personality that bugs me.

If he knows that someone is cooking a special meal from scratch for a special purpose, he might mention it to the host beforehand to see if it's okay to bring a substitute side dish for the entree and will eat the other items without meat. He'll eat a bite of turkey at Thanksgiving if someone else is hosting it, but it's never been a problem.

Honestly, self-righteousness and defensiveness runs both directions. I'd give the person a chance, but if they can't even respect my decision about what I eat, who needs them to judge me in other areas of my life?

Answer 4

As a vegetarian, you would also agree that some nuts are harder to crack and the people you are referring to, belong to that kind of category.During my last visit to States,I was surprised to find that by and by,more and more people are turning towards vegetarianism , though some only on nominated days of a week.Therefore,it's just a matter of time when people would accept it as a variation in a menu and nothing more.By the way,it appears that vegetarianism appears to be an idea whose Time has come,Historically,no body has ever succeeded in blocking an idea,whose time has ever come . So be it.

Answer 5

I don't know anyone who "hates" vegetarians - I have many friends who are vegetarians - some as a lifestyle choice, some, like you, who just don't like meat.

It's no big deal to the carnivores among us - and makes for some great variety on the table.

I also have a very strict vegan friend - no meat, no dairy, no gluten. I tell her she is my culinary challenge - she forces me to be seriously creative in the kitchen. She says she's waiting for me to give up & just serve her a bowl of noodles LOL.

Answer 6

are you seventh day adventist, by chance? i don't know anyone who truly *hates* vegetarians, but yeah, people do like to judge. there are a few vegetarians out there that are pretty flaky, so the rest get a bad rap. i suppose it just goes with the territory of living life (or at least a part of life) based on an ideal, or even just being a part of a group. i can't eat chicken on the bone because of a childhood experience. i grew up on a farm. we had chickens, and to save money, my dad took them to some menonites to have them processed. we didn't realize that there were still a few feathers on it (small ones, mind you, but still feathers) until mom had cooked some of it. my dad was so stingy that he made us eat it anyway. LOL. so now i can't eat any kind of chicken with bones or skin on it. sorry for grossing you out... people are just quick to judge. think nothing of it. people who worry about what other people do don't have anything going on in their own lives.

Answer 7

I like all of the above: meat, veggies & fungus.

People are idiots sometimes, whatever makes them uncomfortable they'll lash out at. It's a defense mechanism.

Sometimes when in the presence of someone different from themselves they will confuse someones personal preferences as a personal attack. They certainly do not want to feel inferior so they try to justify themselves by putting down that which has suddenly "rocked their boat".

Answer 8

Because all you people do is eat vegetables. I used to have a small garden, a few turnips, squash, radishes, a cucumber here & there and a huge prize pumpken that was sure to win 1st place in my towns annual pumpkin contest. Well, I began to date a vegitarian and within a week she ate everything up. She even ate my pumpkin! She was worse then a whole family of rabbits or gohphers, whatever.

Answer 9

I don't think its the idea that your a "vegetarian". Its the idea of ignorance. When people don't fully understand something they turn against(or away) from it. Same thing as being a christian to someone who don't believe in God. One more, same as a straight person to a gay person. If you choose to not eat Delicious steak or crispy bacon, that's your prerogative. :)

Answer 10

Because like many overly religious people, some of them try to impose their way of life on others