Why does it bother you so much?

Question

I've not eaten meat since Jan, personal choice i'm not bothered that friends and relatives choose to eat meat, so why, especially at parties do i find myself cornered and made to feel ridiculed because i don't. I don't preach to people about it, but i do answer their 'questions' truthfully which leads to more ridicule, whats the best comeback in these situations without causing an arguement, or debate?

Andhow on earth do i explain to older relatives that i'm still healthy for not eating meat!!?

Answer 1

I think it has to do with insecurities.  Like the first poster said, he feels embarrassed because he feels he can't give up meat, but he would like to.  

Our presence reminds them that there are people out there who choose not to eat meat for personal beliefs.  They may think that we think we are morally superior because of this so they try to back you into a corner with questions about health and if it's really ethical to stop meat consumption.

You can't do much about it because even if you counter their argument/question, if they are stubborn, they will be unwilling to listen to what you have to say.  People often turn their ears off when you will try to justify your actions, which is a shame, and shows a lot of ignorance on their part.  In time though, they will see that you are healthy and happy and that will be all that matters.

You can tell your older relatives something about how meat is never said to lower the risk of anything: arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, cholesterol, etc.  Actually meat is always shown to cause more problems than it solves.  And you can let them know that it's almost impossible to be protein deficient in the Western World and that protein is in almost all foods.  And we only need 40-50 grams per day anyway.  I'm vegan and I regularly get 70 or 80 grams a day without even thinking ahead.  Tell them of any materials that they can read to brush up on the subject.  Best of Luck!!

Answer 2

Forget them do what you want don't feel uncomfortable do like to them if they do this.

A dose of this will make them feel even more uncomfortable.

WARNING THIS IMAGE IS VERY DISTRESSING DO NOT LOOK IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfpFyyQ1M...

Answer 3

Again---vegetarians like to make it a religion and spend all of their time whining about defending their choice.

I don't discuss it---I just don't eat meat.  If anyone asks, I tell them I don't want any meat.  End of discussion.

It's similar to feeling that it is necessary to explain what you are and then justifying being vegetarian or Catholic or a democrat or g*y.  I don't seek anyone's opinion about being a vegetarian.  It's none of their business and simply not up for discussion.

So if you have problems with feeling ridiculed over being vegetarian, look at how you present your preference and work on your own issues.

Answer 4

don't know, I was vegetarian for many years and I've been vegan for 12 years, and I've truly never had this problem. There weren't as many vegetarians when I first went veg, and there was a little good natured teasing but nothing I couldn't handle..

Adam h, there is no proven link between meat and ovarian or breast cancer. As far as colon cancer goes, what cancer specialists are prepared to say is that a diet HIGH in meat MAY contribute to colo-rectal cancers.

1 second ago - Edit - Delete

Answer 5

Maybe they assume that you are silently judging & condeming them for making different choices than you.  Insecure people always imagine that other people are looking down their nose at them.

Answer 6

There are no comebacks...Meat is supreme!

I'm going to get some KFC chicken...Nice

Answer 7

i feel for you, just stick to your guns, dont let them make you feel bad, when i was in grade school we had a pizza party, i picked the pepperoni off of my pizza, the teacher actually made a rude comment to me about it, i was so upset i gave my pizza away and didnt eat that day.  but i never questioned the reason i was a vegetarian. people are insecure and feel bad becuase they know they are doing something wrong, and they jsut dont have the will power to correct it.  tell them you cant stand to kill a animal, and you are choosing to live a healthier lifestyle, i have actually won over a friend and family member to becoming a vegetarian after they got the facts about what happens to animals at the facilities, and slaughterhouses. Dont give up, dont feel bad  www.peta.com has some vids you might share with ppl, also, www.boca.com  will give you some nutrition facts !!

Answer 8

hey personally i enjoy meat, but i always felt a little embarrassed when some one tells me they are a vegetarian, i don't have the control to give up meat.

Answer 9

Just stick to your guns. Just smile and say ' Its eating meat that causes people to be rude and ask ridiculous questions' and smile sweetly. I think its awfully impolite of people to question you on it. Its not as though vegetarians are a rare species!

Answer 10

well there is no problem with it as long as you eat like beans

Answer 11

i think that they should respect you choice and stop bugging you. just say no thanks and walk away so then they can have a debate with you. keep strong

Answer 12

It's a never-ending struggle, isn't it? We are constantly having to defend our beliefs and motivations for following a veg*n diet.

Like others have said, any bonehead who attempts to poke holes in your belief system must feel threatened by you and your choice in some way. I think it's common for uneducated people to get up in arms when someone is different from them. (And by uneducated, I simply mean that they are not familiar with veg*nism - it has no reflection on overall intelligence). Perhaps your choice to not eat meat represents something unnatural to them - as our culture is crazy about meat and animal by-products. It's pounded into our heads from an early age that meat, cheese, milk, yogurt, etc. are good for us and a LOT of people truly believe that.

At any rate, I think you should just answer their questions with as much grace and tact as possible - no matter how nasty they're trying to be. As others say, you can always turn the question back on them and ask why they eat meat...what's so natural about it?...what are its health benefits?...where does their food come from?

Personally, I would field as many questions as I could and if it was too much or I felt that the convo was getting petty, I'd change the subject. Just remember that you don't have to ridicule them back and stoop to their level. Nor do you have to let them ruin your cookouts.

:-)

Answer 13

There is no "best comeback".

Any participation is such childish behavior only makes you out to be a fool just as they are.

You need to stop caring if people agree with you. There is no way that you'll ever get everyone to think like you, so you'll have to laugh at them for being stupid or pretend that they aren't even there.

Answer 14

Since they are being so rude to you I  say you should carry the most grotesque picture of you know what around with you to hand to them as soon as they take a giant bite of their meat sausage! That hopefully will make them puke and embarrass themselves.

Answer 15

doen't bother me.  I don't eat -

Tuna  (because of the dolphins)

Cauliflower (awful)

Lamb (greasy)

MSG

I wonder if you just prefer not to eat meat, or do you check every label for traces of gelatine, fish extracts etc etc

Answer 16

Id stop going to parties with people that ridicule you, that doesn't sound much fun, get a new circle of friends.

Answer 17

tell them ur trying to avoid colon ,breast and ovarian cancer.red meat consumption is linked to all 3,not to mention heart disease.people try to argue with me about caring for animals,but when i say "im trying to avoid colon cancer,it runs in my family",i get instant understanding and we go on to other subjects.animal rights,not every1 gets-cancer,every1 understands."avoiding family history of heart disease" is understandale too.

Answer 18

reverse the qeustion

they ask

"why are you a vegitairen"

you say

"why do you eat meat "

the ask "your not healthy for eating meat"

you say

"how do you know or who said eating meat is healthy"

most vegitairens think that when some one ask that qeustion the persone is atacing them but there not there just curiouseso you be curiouse back to warn them to stop

Answer 19

answer each of their questions with the opposite question eg,

why do you not eat meat?

why do you eat meat?

do you find it hard?

do you find it hard?