I've recently become vegetarian and a lot of the time people will say ignorant comments like, "If you don't eat meat, what do you eat?" or "That's so stupid, you need meat to survive." When people say things like this to you, how do you usually respond?
I still get some of this, and I've been a vegetarian for over 2 years now. Lately when people tell me that I need meat to survive, I point out the elephant. If a 12-ton critter can live for 70 years without meat... I guess I can do it too. As for what do I eat? Oh, that's a fun one to answer. Depending on who I'm talking to I'll either explain in detail or say something like, "Oh rice, pastas, veggies, fruit, CHOCOLATE, salads, Mexican, Chinese... I practically STARVE you know!" (edited to add) I just noticed that your ID says you're from MN. After talking to people on this board for awhile, I've come to the realization that this just might be the least-informed State on all things vegetarian. Try to go a little easy on our common neighbors - you honestly could be the only veggie they've met! love, mom
I get this STILL and I've been a vegetarian for over 5 years. I say, " I probably eat a bigger selection of food than you." I also say, "It has been three years since I've been sick."
I usually tell them that I eat everything except meat/animal products...and then invite them over for dinner to show them how easy it is...I'm also a serial recipe giver!!
My real friends respect my choice. My parents do, too. But there are always some dumb classmates who know nothing, and I mean nothing about health, exercise and the likes. So I always keep hearing that crap. "Why don't you eat meat?!" "But meat is sooooooooooo good!" "Not even chicken?! " Etc. I always tell them that they're not gonna get me to eat meat with that crap. Anyway, a "friend" of mine was a real asshole one time. I had been a vegetarian for a week, I think and I asked him for some cheese sandwiches at his house. He was also hungry and made a bunch. I started eating and suddenly heard this disgusting crunch. I looked at his face and he was trying to hold back his laughter. Bastard put a piece of meat in there. But I caught on before I could swallow so I spit the meat in his face and threw the sandwiches all over his floor. I laughed when he had to clean it up, though. : )
Thats messed up!! Anyway yeah I have friends who like to be like "hey why don't you eat some meat" like its supposed to be funny or something. But I decided from now on, since they don't like soymilk, I'm just gonna be like hey want some soymilk? why don't you drink some soymilk?? mmmm yummy! I've realize that people are always gonna be like this because they know we're doing the right thing, otherwise they wouldn't tease us about it. So another thing I say is, "If I can live and be healthy without harming an animal, then I'm going to, why wouldn't I??" I think that just makes so much sense. If people are asking you what you eat then they're dumbasses...
I agree that some people can be assholes about it but sometimes you just gotta take a joke, you know? Just like how all white people can't dance, black people are all crack heads, and mexicans don't work. Its a joke. People are going to make fun of you no matter who you are. If someone picking on you for being a vegetarian makes you not want to be their friend anymore then you're just immature. And I'm just saying all this in general. I'm not talking about anyone in particular.
I agree with fondfarewell, but only to a point. I can take a joke as much as the next person, but there are times when it just gets stupid. There are two ways of joking about things. And sometimes, its done purely to hurt, and the so-called friends that do that need a well-aimed foot in the rear! But in saying that, it also doesnt hurt to grow a nice thick skin about these things. People ridicule that which they dont understand, getting all offended and upset isnt going to help them understand what we're all about. And with the meat on the cheese sandwich thing, that is just downright rude!! I've heard that Gordon Ramsey did a very similar thing with a layer of meat (pancetta or something that was really thin) of a pizza made especially for a vegetarian. Apparently Ramsey was absolutely gleeful when he saw the look of disgust and nausea on the veggie guys face. He can be so nasty!
Ya dude, that's completely absurd for someone to do that. I mean, the fact that people have such strong and emotional reasons for being veg, that that sneaky meat thing is just soo, sooo....ugh. Oh well, I guess. Thanks everyone for the help btw.
Exactly, their comes a time when a joke gets old. If someone continuously picks on you for being a vegetarian then that’s a different story. But every now and then I can take it, just like any joke. And if someone is serious about it and is truly being a dick, then those guys aren't your friends. For example, being a racist is one thing. Making fun of your black friend when cops question him before anyone else is another. <- true story Oh and the guy who put the meat in the sandwich is an asshole. That crosses the line from making it a joke. I'd forgive him though. He might not have thought you were as serious in your beliefs as a vegetarian or something.
since it's on the subject in here if someone put meat in anything of mine I would have no choice but to brutally beat the ever living shit out of them until they were almost dead.
"Why don't you eat meat?" "It's too hard to catch and when you do it gets blood stains all over my pants." "I hate the taste of broccoli. This is my way of eradicating the species."
