I’m with you. I made it 9 months as a vegetarian. One day I wanted meat. I can’t tell you the number of people who freaked out on me. I never wanted to call myself a vegetarian but it’s easier for people to understand when you put a label on it. It didn’t occur to me that the label made them more comfortable until THEY got upset when I decided I wanted a freaking rib at rib fest.

Jenny, I would just like to share with you that I don’t put stock in my mashed taters. Just lots of butter and cream. :-0 Just as healthy!

Oh man, I totally know what you’re getting at. The weirdest thing is my family. They treat me like I’m crazy for being veg and act like its such a big hassel. The thing is, I bring my own meat substitutes or make an alternative entree for family dinners (and who am I kidding, I’ll eat an entire meal of mac and cheese with glee). So who am I bothering?

If people ask my why I’m veg, I tell them. Otherwise I just keep my mouth shut about it. Live and let live!

That’s the only way you can do it.

more animals are killed in the production of grains and vegetables than are killed for consumption, but I suppose field rodents don’t deserve anthropomorphization.

:-)

They do deserve it. I love “Secret of NIMH.”

I’ll stop eating grain. Err…

I’m just gonna throw one more little point out there – as the only meatlover on this post so far – whether you think you’re being judgmental or not, whining about the lack of vegetarian-friendly items on a menu or rolling your eyes about the same plight at a dinner party, does not do you any favors with the wider world. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but a vegetarian magazine recently listed your kind as representing nothing more than 2.3 percent of the population. You’re gonna have to deal with slim pickings on most buffets for a while longer.

i agree to an extent, but i ask, is the wider world annoyed with them because they don’t eat meat or because they’re whining and complaining?

There are some people who eat meat and also like things that don’t have any animal in them, Konrad. I do wish there were more options for people who don’t eat meat but what your saying assumes that EVERYONE who eats meat always eats it, with every meal. It ain’t necessarily so.

I don’t think that wanting to have more variety in cuisine is necessarily being judgemental. It depends on the individual and how that desire is voiced.

I try not to whine about it and make do. I also eat at home a lot, which saves some money.

What magazine, Konrad? Find it for me. Because actually, far more people than that consider themselves to be “vegetarian” — even if they’re not actually “vegetarian.” I’d like to see this data.

No judgment?
Yeah, right.
Vegans and vegetarians are getting almost as annoying as the kids in the stupid MTV anti-smoking commercials. I don’t smoke, but sometimes I feel like lighting up and blowing it in the face of those obnoxious brats. You don’t want to eat meat? Fine, that’s your choice. When I get a steak, reuben, or plate of shrimp scampi, stay off my back, though. I don’t need your dirty looks, disparaging remarks, or generally snooty attitude. You are no better than I am. And trust me, the more of a jerk you are about it, the more meat I’m going to eat.

I believe this is further evidence of my previously stated theory. I see signs of delusion and paranoia. EVERYONE IN THE RESTAURANT IS JUDGING ME!!! I mean, this is Indiana. There aren’t that many vegetarians. Maybe people are looking at you funny because you have three eyes or something, but more likely it’s all in your head. Do you smoke cigars?

I would really like to know how many times people have really gotten dirty/weird looks on either side for what they’re eating, versus getting a bit paranoid and assuming that people are judging.

There are way too many comments being posted that make sweeping generalizations about people based on their eating habits. That shows how ingrained these biases are in our thought processes.

Sure, there are people who have gotten rudeness and attitude from people who eat meat because they are vegetarian. That sucks. There are also others who feel attacked because they’ve encountered snootiness from vegetarians and feel like all vegetarians/vegans are judgemental and elitist. That’s unfortunate, too. But none of us need to go throwing shots at EVERYBODY because of some bad apples. There are jerks in all walks of life. But they don’t represent the whole.

Would it HURT anyone if vegetarians had more options when eating out? I doubt it. That doesn’t mean people get to throw fits and be brats if they go to a restaurant every now and then and have to eat a salad or a baked potato. But to say that vegetarians don’t have the right to want to be able to eat out at more places is just rude and biased.

Is it really so offensive to some vegetarians that there are people who don’t see things the way they do and choose to eat meat? Is it really your job to chastize or subtly make your objections known? Are you doing any good by that? Not really. This is equally rude and biased.

We all should just keep in mind that making generalizations about people never does any good and just makes you sound like a jackass.

You’re trying to have a rational conversation with nutters and Australians. I believe it might be futile.

I’d wager to say there’s a whole lot more eye-rolling from carnivores toward vegetarians of their lifestyle than the other way around.

Now that doesn’t mean some vegetarians aren’t pushy about eating meat, but like I said, I think it more than makes up for the burly steakeaters who get huffy or snicker when the townie in the front of the McDonalds line asks for a veggie Big Mac or something.

I think you’re probably right, Joe.

Hey, drinky Mcgee, you know what you can do with your lame insults.
It would also be nice if you’d get your facts straight when critiquing someone elses post. I never said vegetarians were in every restaurant throwing dirty look and nasty remarks towards those who eat meat. The vegetarians and vegans I’ve encountered have been very judgemental, though, and that’s what I was referring to. The next time you respond to one of my posts, try not to take things out of context.

My, you are touchy. It must be all that meat you’re eating out of spite. Thanks for the advice regarding how to think and write, but I don’t usually take instruction from meat eaters, as I find them to be intellectually and morally inferior. See what I did there? Totally judging you. It’s not in your head. Every whisper you hear is a secret verdict.

Meat is murder! ;)

But it tastes sooo good.