Why is vegetarianism and veganism frowned upon? Why would someones diet offend anyone?

[spoonman2014]

My first experience with vegetarianism and veganism was in my teen years. I had a friend who was vegan and a girlfriend who was a vegetarian. I never understood the hate they received and I notice men seem to get more hate than anyone else with this. I tried vegan and vegetarian dishes before and I did enjoy it but I never actually made the switch until I left the military in 2014. Like many veterans I got fat. I gained about 30lbs and a lot of physical ailments started setting in, chronic back pain, my knees felt like they had arthritis, I was out of breathe, the gym felt like a chore, walking around my college campus was something I hated doing and my mood changed too. I was dating this one girl for about 6 months and in December 2015 she dumped me because she was still mourning the loss of her ex from years ago.
I became clinically depressed and I kept on thinking of ways to turn it around. I remember I seldom ate red meat before so I did that again and in an ironic twist of fate I noticed I didn't eat meat for a week because every thing is covered in bacon these days. I decided to against my own advice and "go full retard" to correct the years of damage done to my body. My mood improved, I lost about 40lbs in 6 weeks I couldn't believe it! My energy changed too and despite all these positive changes my peers ostracized me. I never came out and said I made the change they all just got really weird about it. They'd ask why I never ordered meat when we went out to eat, my own family went as far as putting bacon in everything for dinner at a cook out once. Even the sauerkraut had bacon in it... So for the veggies who read this, I'd love to hear your take and the meat lovers i'd love to hear how you feel also with open arms and no malice from me and hopefully everyone can be an adult in this conversation

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+1 y

I really like some of the replies here

[Darkfairie17]

I think it's unfair to lump all vegans and vegetarians into the same category. I feel like people have so many misconceptions about what it means to be vegetarian or vegan that they just make assumptions and don't take the time to properly understand why some people turn to this lifestyle.

I have a few vegetarian and vegan friends. I think it's great! I'm not a vegan or vegetarian, but I can appreciate why people turn to this lifestyle. For some, it's a health reason. For other's its for the environment or for animal rights.

I think your family is incredibly insensitive to you. I'm sure that must have been pretty hurtful! I'm lactose intolerant and I am worried about Christmas, as the Christmas season is coming. Since my grandparents died, my family (dad's side) has a cold Christmas meal, because they say it's 'easier'. Which I think is silly, I love a good hot Christmas meal. Most of what they make is full of mayo or dairy (think Potato salad, noodle salad, coldslaw). Mayo is one of the worst things for me, I react badly to it (I got really sick from last years Christmas). Plus the desserts are full of cream!

I'm worried they will think I am faking my lactose intolerance because I can still have cheese, but milk and mayo and cream really upset my stomach and make me ill. I'm worried they will be upset when I bring my own food. My aunt (my dad's sister) was really mean to my cousin, when they told her they were vegetarian. She used to always complain about them.

So I get it. People can be Aholes about things they don't understand. I don't get why people have such a problem with vegetarians or vegans. I get it if the person is trying to force their non-vegan or non-vegetarian friends to change their lifestyle. But if you are not doing that, then I don't see why it's such a problem for some people. It's like they get personally offended by choices which don't affect them at all!

[LunaLawliet]

Vegan here, and one of the things I learned is when you "preach your beliefs", even though they are straight up facts, people don't like it. And I gotta say, I get it. Before I went vegan, if someone were to come up to me and say something like, "you realize you're drinking breast milk intended for a baby calf, right?" or "we aren't supposed to eat meat", I would've been extremely confused because we don't question the system. We're told at a young age that we need cow's milk for "strong bones", when in fact, it leads to all sorts of medical problems, and meat for protein when there are less damaging sources. And I don't even know why we began to eat eggs. Either way, it's ingrained in us that we need animal products to function, otherwise we're protein deficient.
Granted, I do not ever "force my beliefs down people's throats", nor would I try to convert someone to this lifestyle when the topic is irrelevant, but if it does come up, I won't shy away from debating people, especially when they're trashing on vegans and vegetarians. Going vegan or vegetarian is mostly always for a good cause, whether it be for the planet, the animals, the people, or their own health, it helps, and if that person is showing ignorance to the topic, I'll do my best to educate them. If I come off as aggressive, it is usually unintentional.
When I first went vegan, my family were the first to say things, a lot of it made me want to bang my head against a wall. When they made fun of me, I showed them facts, and they denied them every time. They don't say things as often anymore, because they know I'll fight them, not physically, but you know what I mean.
But... going vegan was definitely a learning experience, and even though people still dislike us, I'm kind of glad at how much attention it has been getting recently. It just means more people are being exposed to it, and will hopefully make the switch.

[natemanuoh]

The vegans and vegetarians who want ban meat put a bad table on people like you. They try and oppress us and make us feel bad for what we eat. I'm a bodybuilder and eat half a cow In a weak. I need the meat. I've tried to go vegan for a cutting cycle and I lost a lot of muscle because while there is more protein in vegetables our bodies dont take most of it. It's a different kind of protein. I don't remember the numbers but for vegetables and stuff like that I think we only take about 30-50% of the protien while meat related protiens is 60-90%. Don't quote me on that tho. It's been a long time since I've looked at it but it's around there.

[frozenhorizon]

I'm vegan for about 4.5 years and I rarely get any hate, the only hate I see is arguments on the internet which just go on endlessly but nobody is like that in real life. The jokes never end though, which can get annoying but I try to just make similar jokes back to make them deal with it.

Also if you lost 40 lbs in 6 weeks I'm sure your calorie intake dropped dramatically! Just make sure you are eating enough and getting enough protein and vitamins and a good balance of different types of foods once you get to the weight you want.

[rsstanford]

In American especially , we are taught as kids you have to eat meat to get protein or drink pus to get calcium. I think people are in denial when you try to explain to someone the benefits of going vegan, first thing they say is where do you get your protein?, "you can't survive without eating meat". They don't want to know the truth that those burgers they are eating aren't even made with meat but ammonia and other chemicals. People are scared of the truth they want to keep the blinders are. You have a right to know what you are eating. There is a study they conducted in Canada, I believe where people who were depressed consumed meat. If you're eating an animal who is sad and tortued you're going to be sad. They are missing that connection with their food.

[melme16]

Well said?

[TokyoGhoulLover]

Eh simple human group thinking. When someone goes against the tide, or strays from normal, they are battered with ridicule and an irritation at their existence, because the majority cannot understand it, and so it forces them to think about it. Meat eating is considered the norm, where as vegetarianism/veganism is seen as a "Why is he doing that? What he thinks he's better than me or some shit? Is he trying to make me guilty for eating my steak? Fuck That" and thus the frowned upon. They assume you are trying to affect their life, because once again you are a part of the whole, and those who go against the whole must be trying to change everyone's course. (it's just stupidity mixed with panic at being different.)

[TokyoGhoulLover]

Or it is simply as these women say, They think you're trying to change them due to the stereotypes that surround vegetarians and vegans. 'Tofu slinging animal cops' or whatever. but unfortunately for me, the paragraph above was my experience making the switch to vegetarianism at an all girls highschool, where the skin is thin and the drama is large for bored people. Just mind your own business and hope for the best.

[Prettygurl12]

Meat eaters don't hate vegans/vegetarians. Vegans/Vegetarians label meat eaters as barbaric and cruel and evil. And meat eaters find that petty and annoying so meat eaters are annoyed by the silliness of the veggie club thinking their diet is better.

So don't ask meat eaters why we're offended by the other diet. We're not. It's they who are offended by our diet.

[FallOutBoy2001]

... Not all of us do that, the majority of us don't but sure, let's group everyone together!

[Prettygurl12]

@FallOutBoy2001 I'll believe you when I meet, in person, a vegan who doesn't think meat eaters are evil. Which I haven't. So...

[FallOutBoy2001]

... So apparently you've not met too many vegans, then.

[Prettygurl12]

@FallOutBoy2001 I've met my share. Enough to make a judgement call about them.

[FallOutBoy2001]

I'm telling you know you've made the wrong judgement. Also, the diet is better for most people, not saying it's wrong or right to eat meat, I eat fish, but I find most vegans and vegitarians to be healthier than the average person

[KittieCat]

People get angry usually when someone goes against the norm. Here's my take, whatever your diet is, have it relatively ethical, environmentally friendly, and if you can, support the local economy. Not everyone can be vegan or vegetarian and not everyone can be a meat eater. People should respect that.

[melme16]

All my life, I had an eating disorder. Also, I was either too skinny (anorexic) or too fat. I was constantly tired, with low energy and foul moods.

Fortunately, I discovered veganism by my sister. She told me all the health benefits and why I ahould consider changing my lifestyle. I did and my life fliped 180: my moods improved, I lost weight, and I have so much energy. I can say its one of the best decisions I ever made!

[somebodysaycheese]

Um, the cult leader of the vegan movement said all meat eaters should be killed. And that person has millions of suubscribers and viewers. No one cares if your vegan or vegetarian , its when you force those beleifs on people we have a problem. Keep them to yourself.

[Nothanks700]

My relative is a vegan and convinced me to be a vegetarian for about a year. People like to poke fun; in my experience people aren't actually offended that you don't eat meat. I had a lot of people interested that I was vegetarian, and others who made jokes. Who cares, it's your body, do what you want.

[Anonymous]

Do whatever the hell you want. No one cares about what you choose to eat. I only care if you start lecturing me on what to eat. I am not interested in hearing that shit. I just want to be able to enjoy my meal at peace without you calling me a "disgusting meat-eater".

[whattothink]

I personally don't care what you eat. When you get down right annoying in preaching to me whenever I eat/wear something THEN I care. Mainly because I feel if you want me to respect your beliefs you should respect mine.

[TripleAce]

It doesn't offend anyone. Its only offence because most of the times vegetarians frown upon meat eaters as if they are saving wild life and we are destroying it

Meat has been part of our diet for centuries now

[BrittBratt2416]

I eat meat and vegetables.. I even like some vegan recipes..

[YaBaba]

It doesn't offend me but I do roll my eyes when I hear something along the lines of, "We weren't designed to eat meat or dairy."

[RedHood7]

Your lifestyle isn't really a problem. If you preach it like a religion we're gonna have a problem.

[JCT666]

I eat meat and I don't care if someone wants to live a vegetarian/vegan diet. I've actually witnessed a LOT more hostility from vegans towards meat eaters.

[Dred1614returns]

Militant vegans can be offensive. That's about it, though.

[LesbianBusinessWoman]

People should mine their own business

[ThatBritishLad]

Very snobby.