why do meat eatters answer the vegan/vegetarian questions?

Question

I imagine most of us have made our choices for our reasons and aren't asking to hear from the meateaters point of view. Rather we are asking our fellow veg heads.

"Someone has to defend the meat eaters from dickheads like you and kuntster." wow! A little touchy not to mention bitchy aren't we?! Exactly how am I a "********"?

I have been reading post after post of meateaters lending post their snide comments and I truely didn't understand why a meat eatter would want to post comments like that. I mean if someone makes a post about how good the steak they ate was me being a vegetarian wouldn't post even if I find it offensive. It just wouldn't relate to me.
For Gods sake this was my 1st post over here I don't think I asked anything that deserved the "********" lable.

Answer 1

I don't mind meat eaters answering vegan/vegetarians questions, as long as they are done with respect. There are some meat eaters who will unknowingly answer a vegetarian question or stroll through the v&v forum and will give a very good answer... or there are some meat eaters who will ask a veg question with genuine curiosity. I don't mind it at all.

But people who are purposely rude do not get any respect from me, and I only wish they would learn to be accepting of different people and their different lifestyles.

Answer 2

I eat meat. I'm in culinary school.

You have to cater to everyone. I don't know enough vegetarians in real life to get a good feel for what I should be making.

But, I have been trained on what to use besides meat, and I don't mean tofu burgers.

If a new veg wants to know a good source of protein, I happen to know that quinoa is a plant-based complete protein. Not a lot of people know about it, and I also happen to like it so I'm spreading the word.

People sometimes ask the difference between different types of vegetarianism. I happen to know, so if I don't see an answer on there that's correct, then I will submit my own.

Every answer I've left on V&V (with the notable exception of Ashley's questions, but that's a whole other story) has been encouraging and informative.

If I ever have a preachy vegan/vegetarian in MY establishment, going on about how the flatiron is murder, I'll call the cops.

But I will happily accomodate any and all who ask politely. :)

Answer 3

There is nothing wrong with people who eat meat to answer questions in the vegetarian & vegan section if they are giving actual answers. I'm sure you are referring to the people that intentionally come in this section just to harass. These people are looking for attention.

It amazes me when I see some of the meat eaters that come into the vegetarian & vegan section just to harass, or get people not to become vegetarian. Questioners are looking for genuine answers and answerers think just because they write google flexatarian diet, just eat meat, etc that they are going to convert the questioner looking for advice on becoming vegetarian. What is even more funny is that the majority of their answers are in the vegetarian section when they have no idea what they are talking about. These are the people that need a new hobby, not the meat eater that accidentally clicks on a vegetarian question because they saw it in Food & Drink.

Too many meat eaters forget that this is a forum for genuine questions, not debate.

For the most part it is easy to ignore these people. The die hard trolls are easy to recognize. There are certain people on here that I know are trolls(by name and avatar) and when I see the avatar I don't even bother reading the garbage they wrote. I suggest doing the same, they are not worth the 5 seconds it takes to read thier rubbish response.

Answer 4

I don't really care about anyone's dietary choices. It's the political aspect I find interesting to debate. For some reason, it seems as though few veg. do it simply for the diet; nearly all have political reasons. Additionally, I think too many people here have been misinformed about the realities of dairy/beef/poultry etc by some ridiculous website that has a clear (and skewed) agenda. I feel as though I am a voice of reason (probably not listened to, however) among the PETA wackos. I live and work in agriculture, and have a far greater grasp of the situation that the average urbanite who answers the question:

"Where does food come from?" with, "the grocery store."

Incidentally, I read the other day that PETA destroys (meaning kills) the vast majority of animals released to them by people seeking a sanctuary for pets they can longer keep. They were busted in their hypocrisy when audited for buying an industrial sizer freezer for their NY offices. When questioned why they needed a freezer, the person asked (and fired shortly after, I'm sure) admitted it was to hide away all the animals they euthanized so the public wouldn't find out.

Research it.

Answer 5

But I occasionally answer questions asked in the general food section. Does it mean that I shouldn't just because I'm a vegetarian.

Answer 6

Some of them are just big losers who peruse this section for ways to offend us.

Some of them are looking for the questions written by the vegi-nazis which THEY find offensive. (Don't try to deny the existence of those folks; there are quite a few of them.)

Still others are in some way acquainted with a vegetarian or vegan, and perhaps believe that their knowledge is useful.

Most, however, are just answering a question that showed up on the main answers page.

Answer 7

I think it's because, at least in America, the consumption of meat is a culture norm. By being veggie and vegan, essentially you're a deviant towards that accepted cultural practice. Secondly, I think you're inadvertently challenging their lifestyle. We've all grown up thinking there's nothing more wholesome than a glass of milk (which we later find out is loaded with horomones), and that having three squares a day with meat as one of the major components is perfectly healthy.

Keep in mind veganism didn't really gain popularity until Donald Watson started the lifestyle and coined the word.

Answer 8

I'm vegetarian and it depends on the question for me. Certain questions may actually ask for a meat eater's input. Sometimes meat eaters might actually have good answers. But if they are here just to snipe at vegetarians, I don't see why they can't find something better to do.

Answer 9

If an omnivore has an intelligent answer to a question, I don't mind him/her answering. It's the trolls who come in to rile us up that tick me off.

It's also quite possible they see a question in the Food & Drink main section and click on it, not realizing it's a veg*an question. In which case, they should maybe take a better look before answering a "what do I have with dinner" question with a meaty response.

Answer 10

I'm a meat eater & i have no problem with Vegetarians. i respect everyone's right to eat whatever they want. I always think that those who bash Vegetarians are people with no lives & fighting over somethign so petty as someone's eating habits.