Do you try to make people vege?

Question

To all the vegans and vegetarians: Do you try to get people to be veg*n? Why or why not? and how far do you go, like forcing people to watch peta videos and ranting about the mistreatment of animals, or just casually talking about with someone whos interested?

And to meat eaters: Does it make you mad when vegans tell you about why they dont eat meat or try to "convert" you?

Just curious. (:

Thanks guys. Oh and I was just wondering what other people did. I don't try to force people to be vegan or anything.

Answer 1

No I am very respectful of other people rights. My path is not their but that is what FREEDOM is all about. Being kind to others is more important than them being like me.

I am that lady who always brings interesting Veggie food to the potlucks. I hope my youthful good health is a enough to get people interested in the best way of eating.

Slainté (to your health)

Answer 2

I'm vegan and I haven't tried to convert anyone as I feel its important that everyone can choose what they eat. Most people have personal reasons why they choose to not eat or choose to eat something, and that's they key point they are personal. You can't expect everyone to think the same. If somebody asks for your opinion or rational that's one thing but to force it on someone is unnecessary. This works both ways of course I don't expect to be lecture on the benefits of eating meat by those that do anymore than they want me to lecture them on the benefits of not doing so.

Answer 3

Of course I talk about it casually to someone who's interested... duh, they're interested. I have never tried to force my views on anyone who is not receptive; there's just no point. Here I can be more vehement about my views because anyone who is here is here voluntarily, even if they are anti-veg. I've never watched the peta videos myself (although I have some on DVD, which I was given free at a concert a couple of weeks ago...) because I don't feel the need to. Anyway, if it comes up and someone is curious, I will tell them all I can about vegetarianism. But I don't have any desire to alienate friends and coworkers who are perfectly respectful of my choice but aren't interested in exploring it for themselves; if anything, I have a better chance of "converting" them by being an example of health and vitality.

Answer 4

Not to a point to be irritating. I only offer the suggestions to those who are curious...
I look at it like this....
It is very healty to eat AT LEAST a primarily vegetarian diet, and it is.
You see infomercials all the time and very strong encouragement for exercise, being anything from machines to gym memberships to a doctor's encouragement, simply because it is healthy, and it also is.
Why not offer when you have a chance to tell someone how healthy it is and good it makes you feel... I don't try to convert them, but I do get them by explaining what a difference it has made in my life.

Answer 5

I don't convert people unless they ask me about it.
If people are having health problems, I might mention how healthy a vegetarian diet can be, but I certainly don't expect people to convert if they don't want to.

I've found those videos and ranting over animal rights really puts people off. And even if it does affect them, guilt never makes someone vegetarian for too long. A good example goes a much longer way.

Answer 6

I'm a veg and I don't try and "recruit" people to be anything. If it happens to come up in conversation, I am more than happy to answer any questions that people have about my lifestyle and eating habits. I rarely go above and beyond what they ask. If they don't ask about the animal cruelty issue, I don't go off on a rant and talk about it.
I'm also glad to share resources and recipes that I have, but again, I don't just offer it.

Answer 7

actually, i try to avoid telling people i've vegan cause more often than not, they immediately try to defend their lifestyle (unfortunately, this is the first thing my sister usually tells people about me..grr)

i would love it if my family went veg*n, just because i know how great their health would improve (read the china study, and you will wish everyone went veg*n for the sake of their health.) but i only tell people about why i went veg if they ask and seem like they genuinely want an answer.

Answer 8

I don't say anything unless they express an interest and then I inform them. I have done leafleting but I just passed them out and unless they wanted to know more then I didn't go any further. I beleive in giving person knowledge to make an informed decision. Think about it. If you secretly found out that they were using cockroach parts inside the meat preserve packets wouldn't you want to know? Or if there were a way to help reduce your chances at getting cancer or heart disease wouldn't you want to know?

Answer 9

No...people should eat what they want to eat whether it be because they like it or for other reasons. It's really not anyones buisness what you eat.

I have nothing against meat eaters unless they, knowing perfectly well I don't eat meat, wave a hamburger or the like in my face and try to get me to eat it.

Answer 10

Actually no it doesn't make me mad. I see their point of view. They are trying to make me see that animals are being killed for food, and I see that!! And I talk and discuss the topic with them, it doesn't make me mad at all, in fact it really makes me alot more open-minded, im still a meat eater but I eat vegetables lot more than meat now!