To think that the question 'why are you a vegetarian' is exceptionally rude

[Partypartyrings]

I've had twenty-five years of it and I'm hacked off with it.

I don't give one flying shit what you eat, so why is what I eat so interesting?

Being a vegetarian is not something exotic, surely you've heard/met one before, don't bloody ask me, use your imagination.

And no, I don't fucking miss bacon, in fact it makes me heave.

And no, what I choose to eat is not some sort of judgement on what you eat so stop being so defensive about it.

Develop some manners- it is rude to question/comment on what somebody is eating.

Grr. There. Public service announcement over.

I would ask as I'm interested in getting to know more about you and it would be a natural conversation starter.

will not bother in future and just talk about me then!

Try some 'creative' answers: "Well, I used to be a cannibal, but I wanted to give it up, and I find bacon reminds me sooooo much of human flesh..."

(I haven't eaten meat since 1987 by the way. I can't even remember why I'm veggie any more! )

Strawberry - it doesn't matter what you do, does it? because if you raised your children veggie, you would be asked why you were depriving them of meat jsut because of your silly fad.

I have been veggie for 38 years a long time and I am struggling to remember a single instance of being asked this question. I'm sure it must have happened but I simply wasnt' riled enough or bothered enough to note the occasion.

YABU. Except about the bacon. The smell of bacon frying makes me want to upchuck too.

YABU- it's certainly not an "exceptionally rude" question. Perhaps people are just curious. I'm surprised they are, actually. I've never asked anyone. Often vegetarians will announce why they are (though if I'm honest, that's mostly vegans ) but otherwise, just let me know so I don't serve you roast beast, and it's fine.

But it's a fairly innocent question, hardly a rude one.

" Often vegetarians will announce why they are"

This is bollocks. I have literally never seen anyone do this, ever.

The answer is simple. You are just lacking bacon in your life. Start eating bacon and everything will seem better and you won't be so unreasonable.

Seriously. Human beings want to try to find each other interesting and asking questions about someone is a way to show interest. You are like my DH's boss who was bitterly rude to me at a bbq we hosted for his team at work. She mentioned she was one of 11 siblings, I asked her about it, she went off on one and ask me if I had any idea how TEDIOUS it was to be asked about her 10 siblings every time she mentioned it. And all this, standing in my garden, drinking my wine, eating my food. I bit my lip and did not bother to mention that of course I couldn't give a flying FVCK about her huge family and was only asking to be polite in the first place because I didn't have the first idea what to talk to her about otherwise.

Probably people are just trying to show an interest. Get over it.

YABU. 'You are a useless cunt' would be a good example of exceptionally rude. 'Why are you a vegetarian?' just isn't in that league, however tiresome it might be when the umpteenth person asks you.

Actually, human beings want to be interesting themselves, or rather appear interesting. You can seem very interesting if you make the other person have a good time by asking them lots of questions about themselves and having them talk about themselves

but why are you a vegetarian?

Erm... I've never been mocked or ridiculed or discriminated against for being vegetarian (though I've sometimes gone a bit hungry at parties). Am I doing something wrong?

I think the only time I've shown an interest in what others eat is when I'm catering for them.

I do know I've asked at least one 'vegetarian' this question though and I found out then they eat chicken and other poultry and fish.

Perhaps I am being a bit judgy though as my Jewish and Muslim friends when I?ve catered from them? I just ask what they like ie what can I give you and allergies I personally don?t question ? I assume they are allergies and not fad diets and cater round.

Never had to cook for a vegan or a fruitarian lucky really as that would daunt me.

Sweet Jesus, what are we going to be left with to talk about?

I'm not a veggie now but was raised as one and didn't eat meat until my mid-20s. No one has every suggested my parents were in any way negligent or abusive

YANBU, it's like breast feeding, ok ask me about it if you're pregnant and want some tips; or discuss virtues of bottle feeding but don't question me when I've got screaming hungry child and about to get my baps out. Friendly question about vegetarian cuisine fine but interrogation rude- let me eat my tea in peace!

Whenever I meet a new vegetarian now I am going to ask "Do you use mumsnet and have a username a bit like an exciting biscuit with pink icing and a hole in the middle"

In case I get a nut dropped on me for being conversational!

It's rude to ask if someone is on MN - they'll probably think you're going to out their relationship problems, and the biscuit question is a decoy. And then they'll spend the rest of the week stalking you on the Internet until they work out your user name. I would never do this.

I wasnt being serious there shelby...

Didn't really think you were.... [failed humour emoticon]

Dear oh dear, why the grumpiness?

I am a vegetarian, and I could not care less if/when people ask why i am a vegetarian. what does annoy me is when people then try to convince me that my opinions are wrong and I should eat meat!

BUT....

Do you eat fish?

EmmaBemma Well, you may think my statement is bollocks, but just because you personally have never experienced a vegetarian announcing why they are vegetarian, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It's often a "oh I just can't eat anything with a face" or whatever, but it certainly happens, without anyone asking.

If it matters, it happened a lot more when I was younger, Uni days especially. Nowadays people don't really announce why, but I have one particular friend who enjoys a good "THATS why I am a vegetarian!" injected into a mealtime conversation. :)

I've had 50 years of it. (Being vegetarian)
Get over it.
Being vegetarian is abnormal. Humans are meant to be omnivores.
You choose to be vegetarian; and you deal with the questions.

I kind of get where you are coming from OP. I've been a vegetarian for 23 years and yes, it can occasionally get a little tiresome repeating the same story of 'How I cam to be vegetarian' ...... especially - as some posters have already said - it can make you sound a bit preachy / critical of the meat-eating person who asked the question.
I've lived in Japan for 17 years and have yet to meet a Japanese vegetarian (other than strict Buddhist monks), so the question is generally posed with undisguised horror and fascintation. One former student of mine actually spluttered 'but...but..you will...die!' (well, yes, I eventually will, but not of vegetarianism).
Finally. One point to non-veggies:
[Disclaimer: I enjoy a good joke]:
It is not funny to say 'oh, you just need to eat a good burger/piece of wafer-thin ham/bacon sandwich/insert meat item'. Seriously. It's not even remotely humourous. Please stop.

You're a bore OP.
Some of us are just vegetarians and live with our choices.
If asked I give an honest answer.
It isn't hard unless you choose to make it so.
You sound "prissy"
I've been veggie for 50 years. I've never had a problem (apart from boarding school)