Why do people have a bad opinion of vegetarians?

Question

I don't get it. How is it so hard to grasp not wanting to eat meat? We don't pick on people who don't eat pickles. We don't make fun of people who don't like tomatoes. Meat is gross. It's dead and bloody and rotting...sick. I don't care if someone else wants to eat it, but I don't want dead cows and pigs rotting away in my stomach. It's really not that big of a deal. It doesn't affect anyone else but me. It doesn't seem strange to me either...the fact that so many people still eat meat seems strange. So what's the problem? I noticed one person on here who said vegetarians were the most hated "race" on the planet. lol We're a race unto ourselves now? Awesome.

I consider meat to be rotting the instant it is killed. I'd rather have a carrot rotting away inside of me than a chicken breast. :) I don't think my post was condescending. Believe me, I can be condescending, and this post wasn't me being that. :P

Andy, you're just nit-picking. :)

For the record. I love meat eaters. I love many of them in fact. My own daughter for one. I bet you'd be hard pressed to find a vegetarian who doesn't love a whole bunch of meat eaters. We're very loving know it alls...I mean people!

I offended meat eaters? By what..stating facts about meat? By stating my opinions about meat? I didn't say anything that wasn't true, and not just "true to me", but true. If non-vegs want to say bad things about vegetables, I'm not going to be hurt, I promise. Say all you want about tofu, I won't be offended. The thing is I'm not saying anything bad about people who eat meat, I'm saying meat itself is gross, whereas certain people are saying very negative things about vegetarans in general, not just about the food we eat. I used to eat meat, I wasn't a bad person then. My mom eats meat, she's a wonderful person. My little girl eats meat, she's the love of my life. I would never say anything bad about them just because they eat meat, but I do hold up my right to say that I think meat in and of itself is gross. And to be honest, If I want to say (God forbid) that eating animals is wrong in my opinion, believe it or not- I have a right to say that too without being hated for it.

Answer 1

I don't i have respect for them
but not people who do it for a trend and hate people who eat meat.
it's personal choice
i have been wanting to become veggie for ages.
but i find it hard
i don't know where to start
what to eat instead
im 15. nearly 16 and i dont wanna make it harder for my mum
but i really wanna not eat meat

i'd appreciatte it if you could help me somehow please
x

Answer 2

I believe that for the most part people are tolerant of others. Among my group of friends I am the only one that does not eat meat, we never have a problem eating out or ordering in. If they want to eat meat that is fine with me, and I think the fact that I do not eat meat is fine with them.

When I first became vegetarian, or when people found out, they were more curious about it than anything. Some would ask why, or how, etc. I would answer and then the topic would usually never come up again. I didn't push my ideals on them and they did try and get me to eat meat. Respect is a two way street.

While most people are tolerant of others there are a few who are not. Many people who eat meat think that vegetarians are pushy and rude because they have not seen the other side of the coin, as a vegetarian I have run into my fair share of omnivores that criticize my eating habit, ridicule my beliefs, or poke fun. It is not whether someone eats meat or not that make them rude or obnoxious, it is there personality. Even though I have met rude meat eaters I do not judge all of them that way, and people that have met rude vegetarians shouldn't judge all of us the same(which many do not, but there are some that talk about their once or twice encounter with a vegetarian and then group all together as rude/pushy).

Intolerance is the real problem. People need to worry about themselves and not what other people are doing(I think that is something we all learned in grade school).

Answer 3

I don;t know, I'm a vegetarian, but I guess some vegetarians, like members of any group, can be preachy, not all, not even most just some, just like any group. I'm vegetarian and I don't really have a problem with meat, I'll prepare it and cook it but for some reason I just can't eat it, it just seems wierd to me.

Answer 4

I wouldnt say bad things bout vegetarian
but in Chinese way of vegetarian
we ate artificial meat, made of flour and a bit chewy as meat and it is completely unhealthy
if it is a pure Vegetarian on pure Vuge
It is definately healthy
I love your point
it is indeed that it's bloody and stink
but it is just the pleasure for eating it
it is our habit and preference of having meat

Answer 5

I wonder if there are two kinds of vegetarians - one kind of vegetarian quietly goes about their vegetarian business, enjoying their menu choices without making a fuss about it, and leaving others to enjoy theirs. The second kind of vegetarian may at times rub others the wrong way, not by having different menu choices, but by complaining and criticizing others' choices. "How can you eat that?" "That's so gross!" "Don't you know that meat is bad for you?" Remarks such as these may make an otherwise nice vegetarian appear to others like a know-it-all . . . and, let's face it, nobody likes to be around a know-it-all.

Answer 6

I personally don't notice one way or the other what people eat or don't eat.
But, apparently I am supposed to notice. On spur of the moment, I invited some work folks back to my place and ended up ordering pizza. The vegan got really pissed about the order and let me know. Loudly.
Like I was supposed to be examining her lunch every day to figure out her dietary preferences?

So, it isn't the fact that she doesn't eat meat that is the problem - it was assumption that I was obligated to adjust my behavior to accomodate her preferences- and the attitude that not eating meat makes her a superior being. It's not the dietary choice that grates on the nerves, it's the talk and attitude that often goes with it. Just be a vegatarian quietly and I'll be an omnivore quietly, and there will be no issue.

People who don't eat tomatoes don't typically make a big deal out of explaining why they don't eat tomatoes. Or say things like "I just don't understand how you can put that into your mouth" to those of us eating tomatoes.

Answer 7

It's two reasons, mainly.

1. People don't like something that's "different."

2. Vegetarians are thought of as "preachy" people who won't shut up about their views. Some folks have this impression right away even if they have never met a vegetarian.

Answer 8

Wow, I didn't know that there was such hostility towards vegetarians. I'm sorry to hear that, hun.

It's your personal choice to not eat meat, and there ain't nothing wrong with that. Live your life the way you want to. Eat what you want, drink what you want, and exercise the way you want to exercise. :-)

But as for you thinking meat "rots" in your belly, I am going to have to disagree. I've never had meat rot in my belly (it comes out within a couple of hours, for me personally).

But, I have gotten sick on eating pinto beans. They did not digest well, and I puked them up about 20 hours later, it was weird! Beans are my favourite food, and I love them dearly, but the gas and the indigestion is horrible. lol

Cheers

Answer 9

I really don't pay attention to what people eat. So I don't even know what if the are veggies or not. However, read your own post and you might understand how some omnis will take offense at what you said and show some antagonism towards veggies in general. If people said the same thing you did about veggies, how would you feel? If I called plant foods, "manure stained, dirt filled, worm infested rotting compost in my belly" would you feel friendly towards me or would you be defensive and a bit peeved? I think you can answer your own question.

Answer 10

Have you met Ashley? My opinion is that people like her who are always wanting to "convert people to vegetarianism" and think it is "morally superior" is the reason some people don't like vegetarians.

Answer 11

well,i'ma meat eater and i'm fond of vegetarians,i wish i had the will power to throw away a juicy steak for a salad but i think most of ''my kind'' think that you guys are disgusted by us,if i were a vegetarian i would be digusted