Mentioning that you're vegetarian?

Question

So I was out at a restaurant with some friends (and friends of friends that I don't really know) and about halfway through the meal someone asked me if I wanted to taste a bite of their dish, and I said "no thanks, I'm vegetarian" since it was a meat dish. She stopped eating at that point, just kind of played around with her food, and ate the sides.

Afterwards, someone else told me that it was rude of me to "remind" her about the fact that it comes from animals, thereby "ruining" her meal.

What do you make of this?

Answer 1

That is totally stupid. That lady was way too overly sensitive and maybe if she didn't want to eat it anymore SHE needs to be a vegetarian too. You didn't do anything wrong! F*ck that!

Answer 2

I am a vegetarian, rather than a vegan, sorry! But people hate on me too for being a vegetarian., Just last week someone found out I was veggie and they were like "whoa don't even talk to me!" and proceeded to question me about why and look at me like I was stupid. People do this a lot to me, and I would imagine that it is worse with vegans :/ It's just that people don't understand why people choose to change their diet in this way, and some people do turn argumentative. It's annoying! However, you do sometimes meet people who congratulate them for it, or even fellow veggies/vegans, and it's lovely when that happens (: Overall, I'm not gonna lie and say that most people accept it, because many don't. But you'll get used to it and it gets easier to ignore. I say go for it! Maybe try being a vegetarian before a vegan as it might be easier. Becoming a vegetarian was the best decision I ever made, and I'm pretty sure becoming a vegan could become the best decision for you too. Don't let 'em bring you down! :)

Answer 3

There's nothing wrong with "no thank, I'm vegetarian." It's polite ("no thanks") and it keeps the asker from repeating the question or insisting (which happens to me all the time if I just say "no thanks" - I get "are you sure? It's sooo good... come on, try some..." etc.)

Now, had you said, "no thanks, I don't eat dead flesh" or "eeew nasty, I don't eat that crap" or "no, and you shouldn't be eating it either" or somesuch, that would have been rude. "I'm vegetarian" is just a statement of fact, with no judgement implied; you could be vegetarian because of a family history of heart disease rather than a concern for animals for all they know. If someone's meal is ruined because they were "reminded" that it came from an animal, then maybe they need to analyze why that makes them feel guilty.

Answer 4

what I do is just say no thank you and I really don't bring it up. Unless you feel strongly about people knowing that you are vegetarian, I wouldn't mention anything about it, but if you want someone to know say I prefer not to eat meat. I don't think you were rude in any way it might just have been that that person didn't want to offend you, and if you were the one that reminded her that meat does infact come from animals then maybe she should stop eating meat

Answer 5

omgosh thats stupid! thats not rude at all! RUDE would have been explaining in detail how the animals are brutally tortured and inhumanely slaughtered while she was eating her meat, but just telling her your a vegetarian? How did that possibly make her feel all upset about eating her meal? then why did she even get it in the first place? if she feels so bad about eating meat then she should be a vegeterian. Normal people don't get turned off their meal and go have a big WAA just cus someone said "no thanks, im a vegeterian".

I'm sorry about my intense answer its just if that happened to me i would be kind of angry.

Answer 6

First off, the guy who asked you try taste their dish.... That guy is either an idiot for not knowing that meat comes from animals or is just a moral coward.

Second off, the person that told you it was rude to "remind" her about the fact that meat comes from animals.... That guy is an absolute idiot. That's just stupid.

Answer 7

I think they are crazy. I mean if one is a meat eater then I don't see why saying hey I don't eat that would make them feel anything. It just doesn't make any sense at all. If someone says to me I am an omnivore this doesn't spoil my dinner it's just stating a fact that's all.

If they get that upset of the thought that they themselves are eating animal maybe they need to rethink their diet choices.

Answer 8

It wasn't rude to say "I'm vegetarian," provided that's all you said. If your friend couldn't stand to eat her dish after that, and someone else blamed you for her loss of appetite, it's their problem, not yours. Even the most die-hard meaters know that the stuff they eat comes from animals.

If you knew the woman, all you did was remind her you're vegetarian. If you didn't know her, all you did was inform her of your dietary choices.

Sheesh.

Answer 9

This shows only that your friend is a moral coward.

I personally adore lamb, bacon and all other meats. However I am fully aware - and accept - that such food comes not only from animals, but cute animals slaughtered in a relatively inhumane manner.

Anyone who eats meat without properly realising this is denying themself peace of mind - and with it the full enjoyment of the flesh.

On the other hand, it is somewhat inelegant to point out someone else's moral cowardice.

Answer 10

Its not your fault If she feels that guilty just because you mentioned you were vegetarian. Thats actually pretty ridiculous, that someone told you that.... Its a shame that they didn't know on their own they were eating an animal until you reminded them.