how do you deal with critcism about being pro animal rights?

Question

I am proud of my choice to be vegan and support animal rights, but there are times when I just get really ticked off when people joke about it or even try to defend animal cruelty as if its ok. My dad is one of them and most of my family makes joke about meat and animals. I usually just ignore it, but sometimes they try to get me involved in their jokes and it becomes tiring trying to constantly explain to family + friends about why i make the choices to eat and buy differently.

while i wish everyone were not so ignorant to this kind of stuff, it seems like almost all non-vegetarians are disrespectful and don't understand! what is ur experience with this, because i know most veg people have to deal with this, and how do you do so. thanks

Answer 1

Many people are ignorant about animal rights issues..so instead of getting angry at them, rise above them and either ignore it or teach them the reasons why you support animals. Or you can put a PETA flyers in their mail box until they leave you alone about it! (just kidding) but really, the reason people joke about it is because they are not aware of how serious of an issue they are joking about. i think it is our duty to inform them the best way possible, or learn to ignore the criticism because you know better than them.

Answer 2

Well, I play along with it. I actually find that I've offended more meat eaters by saying, "Enjoy your dead stuff" than they have by talking about how tasty the cow is or whatever.

I think the best way to deal with it is to remind people that you're not judgmental about their decisions, so you'd prefer if they didn't question yours. If, however, you criticize people for eating meat or animal products, you should try to be prepared to accept their criticism. If somebody asks you why you don't eat xyz, don't go into a long, detailed explanation about factory farms and battery cages, etc. Even if you're not trying to judge them, it may come across that way (you know, like you're trying to talk them out of it). Just say, "I like this kind better" or something along those lines. Keep it simple and personal. The message shouldn't be, "It's wrong to consume that" (even if that's what you think) but "It goes against my personal beliefs."

One good joke that often works pretty well, especially if you can say it seriously, is, "Oh, I'm not a vegan because I love animals... I just really *%&ing hate plants." That often makes people laugh and drop it.

Answer 3

Been there and dealt with that. Two wrongs won't make a right, so making mean jokes back or trying to argue with them isn't going to help any. Unfortunately it's a part of being vegan. There are people who aren't going to agree and sometimes they never will. That's their belief, you can try reasoning or carefully explaining to them (i never try to force my ways on anyone else) but some people will never understand and that's just how it is. It always helps to spread awareness, though. There are always people who are willing to listen and I know there many non-vegans or non-vegetarians who are still respectful and understanding. I believe some day animal rights will be a much larger issue, just like women's rights, minority's rights, etc. We just need a modern day martin luther king for animals! so don't give up..I admire you for being able to go without dairy..I haven't been able to do that yet!

Answer 4

Not all of us are disrespectful and don't understand. I understand and the only time I get disrespectful to one that believes as you do is when they disrespect me first, or state misleading things about omnivores on purpose to try and make them look good and us look bad.

Your family and friends know by now what your views and feelings are, and they are now doing what you dislike BECAUSE they know you dislike it and are pulling your chain(it's what our loved ones do:P). They are either doing it because they are just a bit mean spirited and if they are either avoid the issue or just ignore them, or they feel that you've gone past explaining to preaching. Try to think about what you are saying to them, do you come off as a person riding a high horse or as someone that is humbly explaining? Maybe you should ask them why they treat you like that, they might surprise you and tell you why and you guys can come to an agreement on how to handle this issue in the future. I am not saying that only you are at fault, I am just suggesting that you may be coming off in a way you don't realize that they may find offensive and are being retaliatory. Since it is your friends and family, your best bet would be to try and get to the root of the issue. When it comes from strangers or mere acquaintances, just ignore them and move on, they aren't worth your time like friends and family are.

Answer 5

I am constantly bothered about how plants rights are being violated being vegan. And its from my dad, boyfriend and mom. And to top it off, all my co-workers.
My co-workers are always making jokes about animal rights and ask me if their food smells good, and want me to try their food, or baking, like cookies, and laugh when I say I won't eat it.
My boyfriend gets into it with me about plant rights, and how I can look at eating animals as wrong when I am killing plants by eating them. He says just because they don't have a spinal cord and a voice doesn't mean they should be chopped up. All the while he eats liver and nasty stuff. Its really hard.
Honestly, I cope with it by thinking in my head all the suffering of animals I am saving by being strong in my choice not to eat animal products. It can be a pain in the butt sometimes, but in the end it is very worth it.

Answer 6

most people think being vegan is a joke, its their fault n they should read up on it. i don't take animal issues very lightly, so yea i get offended if someone trys to make a joke out of it.

i think most ppl believe that vegetarians dont eat animals cause they are in love w/ animals. yes, partly true, but we dont eat em because we dont support cruelty. let ur dad or family members know why u are vegan, go to youtube & show them the horror videos of farm animals they might get goosebumps if they watch them, and maybe it will make them think twice.

Answer 7

If the criticism is in a joking or stubborn way, I just ignore it & either change the subject or simply blow it off. If someone asks a genuine, though critical question I answer it with as much information as the asker seems to require-- I learned a long time ago that if I try to "force-feed" my beliefs to someone who's not into it, we *both* end up gagging ;-)
When I 1st went veg, I got a *lot* of criticism, weird remarks & simple rudeness from ppl but most of it stopped after they realized that it wasn't going to hurt me (or them) & it wasn't some fad that they could insult me out of. A *very* few ppl never stpped the criticism, but this is their problem, not mine.

Answer 8

Isn't it just so crazy that a person would get criticized for something so awesome as being pro animal rights?

To most people animals are meat and meat is food. To them it's no different to make a joke about a cow or a pig than to make a joke about a turnip, and when you get worked up, to them it's as silly as you getting worked up over a turnip. If a person in your life is important enough, try having a heart to heart with them and calmly explain how you feel. If that doesn't work, decide if you want to be around them, and if you do still want to- you'll have to choose just to shake it off.

Answer 9

Log on to PETA and get a copy of "Meet your Meat" - you can buy a dvd for cheap or just send them the link to the video. Anyone who can watch a video like that and still defend the meat industry has some serious issues. That should keep them quiet, or at least have them respect your choices.

Answer 10

Yea, I get annoyed when people bug me about it too. The main thing is when people ask me ?'s like "How do you live without meat?" "Where do you get protein from?" And of course, "Do you eat animal crackers?" And, "Plants have feelings too, why do you eat them?" I normally ignore them or explain them my decision, but sometimes they like to annoy me even more.

One guy at lunch loves to eat beef jerky in my ear and say "This a really good cow that was tortured for my beef jerky." It can annoy me sometimes. But, I respect people's decisions to eat meat, if they respect mine not to.