Why is there a backlash against vegetarians?

Question

Many people criticize vegetarians, and claim it is "stupid" to not consider that many civilizations were built on the domestication of cattle. It just seems odd to me people would actually discredit vegetarianism. However, I thought vegetarianism existed just as early as meat eating? So, i guess my question is what is the best response to the common argument against vegetarians?

Answer 1

There are two components to this:

1. Entire economies were built on (and many still run on) human slavery. Does this make slavery the "natural" choice? Or the MORAL choice?

2. Human beings have not always eaten meat. Just examine the diets of our closest ancestors- chimps and gorillas- who eat a 95% plant diet, and the remaining 5% is bugs and worms, not chickens, cows, and pigs. We possess none of the characteristics of natural meateaters, from our lack of sharp, flesh-tearing teeth (sorry, ignorants, the FOUR dull incisors we have out of our THIRTY-TWO teeth don't cut it)- to our inability to consume large quantities of meat without health consequences. In addition, humans only crave animal parts because they have been processed and packaged attractively. The reality of eating meat- hearing an animal's screams as it is ripped apart and eaten- is repulsive to humans.

Answer 2

A few loudmouth self-righteous vegetarians and animal rights activists have given some people the idea that all vegetarians do that.

It's kind of like assuming that all Christians are fundamentalists, faith healers and snake handlers.

I think the best thing is to be as knowledgable as possible about nutrition facts and don't let anyone get away with saying a vegetarian diet can't be healthy. It's generally best to stay away from philosophical talk about the rights of animals and any negative talk about people who eat meat except when you are only around other vegetarians.

Most of the negative talk against vegetarians I see is right here on Yahoo Answers. I never hear anybody say anything bad about it in person anymore.

I guess there might be a slight cultural "backlash" but it's actually a lot better than it was when I first became a vegetarian in 1984; or at least in my experience.

Answer 3

Maybe tell them that domestication of cattle has jack-squat to do with the formation of civilizations. The domestication of grains occurred far, far before the domestication of aurochsen into cattle - maybe 8000 years ago, and provided the impetus for settlement and eventually the formation of complex societies. Sheep were domesticated before cattle were, anyhow. That also ignores complex societies of North and South America and in East Asia. C

If anything, civilizations were built on the domestication of teosinte, einkorn, wild rice strains and other grains.

I think the better question is why anyone would care what YOU personally eat. There are plenty of groups, like Sikhs or Seventh Day Adventists, that have adopted vegetarianism, and seem to suffer no ill-effects. The meat we eat is loaded with unnatural hormones and antibiotics. Cattle contribute to global warming. Pick one of those and use that as a reason.

Besides, I don't understand that historical argument at all. Past domesticates weren't kept in battery cages, fed pharmaceutical products, and people in the past didn't eat them two or three times a day. Meat eating today doesn't resemble meat eating of 8000 years ago.

Answer 4

Eating vegetables exclusively or vegetarianism has existed for quite some time. Early hominids picked plants and fruits before they learned how to hunt. However, FANATICAL AND INTOLERANT vegetarianism is a fairly recent ( and mostly Western)development. These are the vegetarians (the ones with the "I don't eat meat so I am better than everyone else.." syndrome) who criticize and belittle (emphasize each diatribe with such choice name calling as murderers, savages, cannibals to name a few) others who do not share their views on diet, animals or whatever issue. These are the ones that draw the greatest response and criticism from non vegetarians. Many vegetarians and omnivores exist side by side without difficulty. Live and let live as they say. Some people on either side of the argument seem to prefer confrontation than harmony.

Answer 5

I've been a vegetarian since I was a kid growing up in a meat-eating family. I used to try to discuss it when people asked, "Why?". I've learned that it's useless. It's shocking how aggressive some people get about it.

My standard response to any provocative questions is, "It's my decision and it's personal. Thanks for asking." Shuts 'em right down (and I've been told- it's kinda nasty too- good! LOL).

After years of futile, stupid debate, I found that it's best to keep it short & not so sweet
;)
Mich

Answer 6

the only ones i have a problem with are the ones who force their beleifs on you... if you don't eat meat on your own and don't go boasting it then fine, but when I'm eating a hamburger i don't want to be harassed by people saying i'm eating dead animals, how could I??

Answer 7

So as you can see, the backlash against vegetarians is mostly because people don't want their diet criticized because they don't want to change.

- "they just talk about meat being bad"
Yes, veg*ns(being human), tend to focus on the negative. But veg*ns would be more effective talking about the benefits and pleasure of non-meat food.

Answer 8

Maybe because they hardly ever say anything positive about vegetables. Instead they just say negative things about meat.
What's up with that any way?

Answer 9

I was just about to ask the same thing!

Answer 10

some people they can't even touch the meat which is weird to me .