Why do people get so provoked by vegans?
Replies
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I'm not vegan myself but one of my good friends has been for most of her life and often face the same scrutiny because people don't realize they were heavily raised in a culture of eating meat that they can't fathom the idea of having a meal without it. Most people can't respect the lifestyle choice and often their reactions draw negative effects from vegans, who are constantly bombarded with questions and cynicism.
I for one have had my eyes opened and love vegan cooking or any dish prepared by vegetarian. I find people who embrace this diet handle food much more seriously and know how to play around with all spectrum of taste, like umami.0 -
Maybe I'm biased as a meat-eater, but I think that going around trolling vegan forums about the greatness that is steak is merely annoying, whereas vegans telling meat-eaters that they are murderers and slaveholders (yes, I have been called a murderer and a slaveholder on MFP) is very problematic.
That said, if someone finds that their body responds better to a vegan diet, and they can keep up with it and it helps them, all the power to them.
slaveholders? :huh:0 -
Heh, I can be like the stereotypical reverse racist (veggist?) who says:
"I'm not racist, I have 14 black friends!"
"I'm not anti-vegan, I ate 15 vegetables this week!"0 -
I disagree. I love some foods waaaaaayyy more then other foods.I love vegan food.
I also love meat.
I love all foods equally.
If vegans didn't exist I wouldn't be able to eat their yummy foods...0 -
This.I don't feel provoked by vegans, however I do get highly annoyed by ANYONE who preaches to me about their way as being the only path. This goes for diet (vegan, paleo, no carb, low carb) or religion and everything in between. People getting all preachy is just plain obnoxious and I have no patience for them online or in real life.
I am not provoked by vegans. To each their own. But as I don't look down on you for your lifestyle and eating habits, I'd like the same courtesy. Being vegan doesn't make one better than a non-vegan and that's the attitude I usually seem to get. THAT's what provokes me.
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I'm not vegan myself but one of my good friends has been for most of her life and often face the same scrutiny because people don't realize they were heavily raised in a culture of eating meat that they can't fathom the idea of having a meal without it. Most people can't respect the lifestyle choice and often their reactions draw negative effects from vegans, who are constantly bombarded with questions and cynicism.
I for one have had my eyes opened and love vegan cooking or any dish prepared by vegetarian. I find people who embrace this diet handle food much more seriously and know how to play around with all spectrum of taste, like umami.
This. It's really insulting when someone says veganism is a "cult", as in yesterday's thread. At least most vegans chose it for themselves. Everyone else on the standard diet is 'brainwashed' technically.0 -
Full disclosure: I didn't read your whole post, as it is rather long.
I don't feel provoked by vegans, however I do get highly annoyed by ANYONE who preaches to me about their way as being the only path.
Ditto.0 -
Doesn't bother me a bit...till someone gets on about the morality end of it.
Being told I'm evil for doing what every generation of humankind has done since before we walked upright sort of gets on my nerves.
It's not just that it is an attack on my morality, it's an attack on the moral existence of human beings. It's as though humanity exists in a state of original sin and only the few who have risen above that sin are fit to live in the garden.
Eat or don't eat what you will. I have an opinion on the health aspects, but I'm not informed or qualified enough to debate them with you...but if you think I'm evil for eating flesh, do us both a favor and choose not to associate with me.
Most vegans grew up eating meat. Their family did and maybe still do. If you found out after research (reading articles and watching videos about farming and slaughter conditions) wouldn't you want to save as many animals as possible? It's not so 'live and let live' as it's more like "People can do what they like as long as it doesn't harm anyone". For most vegans eating meat is considered harming something.0 -
I'm not vegan myself but one of my good friends has been for most of her life and often face the same scrutiny because people don't realize they were heavily raised in a culture of eating meat that they can't fathom the idea of having a meal without it. Most people can't respect the lifestyle choice and often their reactions draw negative effects from vegans, who are constantly bombarded with questions and cynicism.
I for one have had my eyes opened and love vegan cooking or any dish prepared by vegetarian. I find people who embrace this diet handle food much more seriously and know how to play around with all spectrum of taste, like umami.
This. It's really insulting when someone says veganism is a "cult", as in yesterday's thread. At least most vegans chose it for themselves. Everyone else on the standard diet is 'brainwashed' technically.
Yes, here we go. This is why people get provoked by YOU. You are saying that people are brainwashed. You refuse to acknowlege that many of us made the choice to eat meat. It's like an atheist saying a Christian is brainwashed or a Republican saying a Democrat is brainwashed. It's a refusal to accept individuality and thought in others.
It's ignorant.0 -
I'm not vegan myself but one of my good friends has been for most of her life and often face the same scrutiny because people don't realize they were heavily raised in a culture of eating meat that they can't fathom the idea of having a meal without it. Most people can't respect the lifestyle choice and often their reactions draw negative effects from vegans, who are constantly bombarded with questions and cynicism.
I for one have had my eyes opened and love vegan cooking or any dish prepared by vegetarian. I find people who embrace this diet handle food much more seriously and know how to play around with all spectrum of taste, like umami.
This. It's really insulting when someone says veganism is a "cult", as in yesterday's thread. At least most vegans chose it for themselves. Everyone else on the standard diet is 'brainwashed' technically.
Yes, here we go. This is why people get provoked by YOU. You are saying that people are brainwashed. You refuse to acknowlege that many of us made the choice to eat meat. It's like an atheist saying a Christian is brainwashed or a Republican saying a Democrat is brainwashed. It's a refusal to accept individuality and thought in others.
It's ignorant.
Look, I said 'brainwashed' in inverted commas because someone said that to me yesterday. Don't jump down my throat.0 -
I don't think it's people are provoked by vegans in general. I think it's like anyone else preaching their decisions as if we all have to agree with their choices. It's no different than bible thumpers shoving beliefs down your throat, Athiests shoving their non-belief beliefs (wow reads funny) down your throat, etc. While it's not every vegan, bible thumper, or Athiest, it's just a handful who act that way and people just get annoyed. In reality, most don't care and don't act out like that. But like any group, you have SOMEONE who is extreme and annoying about what they believe in.
I definitely agree with this. I am not a vegan but I definitely don't judge those that are. That lifestyle is their choice and my lifestyle is mine. I like meat, they don't. It doesn't make either of us a better person than the other.0 -
For whatever reason people think their opinion is always right, no matter what the stance. Omnivores whine about vegans, vegans whine about omnis. It's just easier for the carnivores to make fun of vegans because the majority of people are omnivores, not vegan. When you have a bunch of people backing you up, it's easy to bash people.
This.
Ha! Then why is it so easy for vegans to trash non-vegans?
It's not about numbers. It's about people not agreeing with you.
Vegans feel that they are trashed by omnivores. Omnivores feel that they are trashed by vegans. Athiests feel that they are trashed by Christians. Christians feel that they are trashed by athiests. Democrats feel that they are trashed by Republicans. Republicans feel that they are trashed by Democrats.
Simply, you are no different than anyone else.
^^ This0 -
I wonder who are all these vegans who want to cram their lifestyle down other people's throats. After 30 years of being a vegetarian or vegan, I've never met one. Not one of my real life friends has ever met one either, but they're absolutely freakin' everywhere according to the internet.0
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Because when Glascow_vegan, or any vegan for that matter makes statements like this;
"Doesn't knowing you've led to the death and sometimes torture of hundreds if not thousands of animals make you feel bad?"
It tends to put peoples hackles up a bit. There were not to many "I like steak" comments before that bombshell0 -
Im glad you found what works for you. Keep up the good work!0
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Meat eaters get very defensive every time the word "vegan" is even brought up. It's much the same way smokers and drug addicts get defensive if you try to bring up their bad habits. I think they are living in such denial that any truth makes them very defensive, because they don't want their bubble popped.0
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Because when Glascow_vegan, or any vegan for that matter makes statements like this;
"Doesn't knowing you've led to the death and sometimes torture of hundreds if not thousands of animals make you feel bad?"
It tends to put peoples hackles up a bit. There were not to many "I like steak" comments before that bombshell
That was in response to several people replying to the OP's study with "There's not a single reason to go vegan."
- Edited to say that his post was immediately met with the "I love steak!" comments.0 -
Meat eaters get very defensive every time the word "vegan" is even brought up. It's much the same way smokers and drug addicts get defensive if you try to bring up their bad habits. I think they are living in such denial that any truth makes them very defensive, because they don't want their bubble popped.
You say "meat eaters get very defensive", yet it is you who are comparing meat eaters to drug addicts. It is you being judgmental. It is you who proclaims some mysterious proof, yet offers no evidence.0 -
Most people in my real life don't even know I'm a vegan. But, there are times it comes up and my mere existence seems to challenge some people, no matter how polite and accepting I try to be.
Then you are not being as polite and accepting as you think you are. Sometimes when we think that we are just stating our opinion in a non-confrontational way, we are really coming across as judgmental.
I have vegan friends. We have no problem being with each other. I don't try to get them to change, they don't try to get me to change.
It's not veganism that bothers people.
For example: I have met people for lunch who don't know I'm vegan. I try to make my veganism transparent by calling ahead to make ordering food simple and easy, and not revealing my veganism. When the food comes, it's plants and the person I'm with will sometimes ask 'Are you vegetarian?' When I answer truthfully, they often ask 'Why?' I used to answer truthfully, but now I just say 'This isn't a good time to discuss that.' Some people still persist, or get defensive. I truthfully don't like ruining people's dinners or highlighting differences. Other than lying, I really have no clue how I could be more polite and accepting in circumstances like this.0 -
Meat eaters get very defensive every time the word "vegan" is even brought up. It's much the same way smokers and drug addicts get defensive if you try to bring up their bad habits. I think they are living in such denial that any truth makes them very defensive, because they don't want their bubble popped.
Answers the OP's question perfectly.
Positively oooozing with the sort of attitude that pisses meat eaters off.
We're defensive like smokers and drug addicts.
We're in denial.0 -
Wow, very defensive.Meat eaters get very defensive every time the word "vegan" is even brought up. It's much the same way smokers and drug addicts get defensive if you try to bring up their bad habits. I think they are living in such denial that any truth makes them very defensive, because they don't want their bubble popped.
You say "meat eaters get very defensive", yet it is you who are comparing meat eaters to drug addicts. It is you being judgmental. It is you who proclaims some mysterious proof, yet offers no evidence.0 -
Also, there are hundreds of threads every day with meat in the title. One or two maximum about veganism or vegetarianism. Now imagine if all of those meat threads had to be shut down by a moderator. How would you feel?0
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I couldn't have said it better than this. If you are vegan and don't preach to me about it then I am all for it. If you get in my face and try to convert me, I shut you out. I eat a lot of vegetarian meals, whole foods, organic, local, and unrefined food as much as possible. I stay away from the Big Ag bad boys and try to keep the chemical laden foods out of my diet. I think I do pretty well. I find it particularly offensive when vegans try to convert me, not only because it is obnoxious but also because I take desiccated thyroid medicine, porcine derived. I will never truly be able to be vegetarian unless I convert to synthetic medicine, which does not work for me.0
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Most people in my real life don't even know I'm a vegan. But, there are times it comes up and my mere existence seems to challenge some people, no matter how polite and accepting I try to be.
Then you are not being as polite and accepting as you think you are. Sometimes when we think that we are just stating our opinion in a non-confrontational way, we are really coming across as judgmental.
I have vegan friends. We have no problem being with each other. I don't try to get them to change, they don't try to get me to change.
It's not veganism that bothers people.
For example: I have met people for lunch who don't know I'm vegan. I try to make my veganism transparent by calling ahead to make ordering food simple and easy, and not revealing my veganism. When the food comes, it's plants and the person I'm with asks 'Are you vegetarian?' When I answer truthfully, they often ask 'Why?' I used to answer truthfully, but now I just say 'This isn't a good time to discuss that.' Some people still persist, or get defensive. I truthfully don't like ruining people's dinners or making highlighting differences. Other than lying, I really have no clue how I could be more polite and accepting in circumstances like this.
You could just answer the question. Asking why isn't judging. That's the problem, we all "like" to be judged. Any time that someone who is different from us asks a question about us, we assume we are being judged. You could simply say, it's what I've found that works for me. It's what I like to do. Ordering your food ahead of time is a little weird though.0 -
I don't go into Paleo threads and talk about any supposed evils of meat eating. In fact, I've shared a ton of recipes with Paleo people because there are some common interests between veganism and Paleo peeps.
You may not, but don't pretend like it doesn't happen.0 -
I'm not vegan myself but one of my good friends has been for most of her life and often face the same scrutiny because people don't realize they were heavily raised in a culture of eating meat that they can't fathom the idea of having a meal without it. Most people can't respect the lifestyle choice and often their reactions draw negative effects from vegans, who are constantly bombarded with questions and cynicism.
I for one have had my eyes opened and love vegan cooking or any dish prepared by vegetarian. I find people who embrace this diet handle food much more seriously and know how to play around with all spectrum of taste, like umami.
This. It's really insulting when someone says veganism is a "cult", as in yesterday's thread. At least most vegans chose it for themselves. Everyone else on the standard diet is 'brainwashed' technically.
Posts like this are what cause a lot of seperation between plant eaters and meat eaters. Veganism isn't a cult and most people don't think of it as a cult. On that same note, just because you eat meat DOES NOT mean you are brain washed.
I tried to eat Vegitarian and realized that I was missing alot of vitamins and minerals that my body needs because I couldn't get them from veggies. My body didn't process them well and I got really sick. I added meat (mostly beef) back in my diet and immediatly felt better. Not everyone can survive on veggies alone so why make people feel bad for that?0 -
Wow, very defensive.Meat eaters get very defensive every time the word "vegan" is even brought up. It's much the same way smokers and drug addicts get defensive if you try to bring up their bad habits. I think they are living in such denial that any truth makes them very defensive, because they don't want their bubble popped.
You say "meat eaters get very defensive", yet it is you who are comparing meat eaters to drug addicts. It is you being judgmental. It is you who proclaims some mysterious proof, yet offers no evidence.
Please, if you want to fight with me, give me some facts. You chose to compare meat to drugs. Back it up. Asking for proof isn't defensive. Just name calling "wow, very defensive". That's just immature.0 -
Meat eaters get very defensive every time the word "vegan" is even brought up. It's much the same way smokers and drug addicts get defensive if you try to bring up their bad habits. I think they are living in such denial that any truth makes them very defensive, because they don't want their bubble popped.
Answers the OP's question perfectly.
Positively oooozing with the sort of attitude that pisses meat eaters off.
We're defensive like smokers and drug addicts.
We're in denial.
Well have you tried being vegetarian or vegan? How can you judge if you haven't? All of the vegans who've posted so far tried meat eating for years so I'd say we can at least give a researched opinion on it.0 -
Because when Glascow_vegan, or any vegan for that matter makes statements like this;
"Doesn't knowing you've led to the death and sometimes torture of hundreds if not thousands of animals make you feel bad?"
It tends to put peoples hackles up a bit. There were not to many "I like steak" comments before that bombshell
A lot of vegans can be really obnoxious and annoying about it, that DOES attach a sort of stigma to vegans (unfortunately).0 -
Meat eaters get very defensive every time the word "vegan" is even brought up. It's much the same way smokers and drug addicts get defensive if you try to bring up their bad habits. I think they are living in such denial that any truth makes them very defensive, because they don't want their bubble popped.
Answers the OP's question perfectly.
Positively oooozing with the sort of attitude that pisses meat eaters off.
We're defensive like smokers and drug addicts.
We're in denial.
Well have you tried being vegetarian or vegan? How can you judge if you haven't? All of the vegans who've posted so far tried meat eating for years so I'd say we can at least give a researched opinion on it.
You've researched your opinion that meat eaters are the same as drug addicts???
I didn't see anyone judging the vegan lifestyle. What I see is a vegan calling names.0
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