Why do people get so provoked by vegans?

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.