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.

JessicaLub You've mentioned twice in half an hour that you've been a vegetarian for 50 years and yet it is the OP who is a bore?

I disagree too that the OP sounds "prissy". Quite the opposite, I'd say, looking at the way she's written her opening post.

I sometimes ask people out of interest. I don't mean to be rude or offend, I'm just curious. I'm not vegetarian but don't always feel comfortable with animal welfare issues etc. I do try to eat a lot of vegetarian food and I can see that as time goes on I may well eat more. Who knows, maybe some of the people who ask are also not entirely happy about eating meat and may be thinking about becoming vegetarian.

it is rude to question/comment on what somebody is eating.

I never knew this, we talk about food all the time: when eating out, eating in... We're kind of obsessed: love growing/buying/cooking/eating food.

The thought of food comments/questions being 'rude' or taboo scares and depresses me.

If someone asks why I'm vegetarian I tell them it's because I don't like to eat meat. Quite simply really.

Jesus Jessica that's not nice!
The OP isn't a bore....

Is there a list of things you consider inappropriate to discuss ?

Long list = Short conversation

I'm a vegetarian and really don't mind people asking why, but I find I try not to mention it because I find that while most people are just making conversation or are genuinely interested, there is a sizeable minority who'll use it to pick an argument and be a bit of an ass.

I don't think I've ever asked a vegetarian "why". Although I have gone a bit hmm at people who say they are vegetarians but still eat fish, though!

Same here, Seeker, I just don't get that. Fish are sentient beings that are suffocated to death. Nice. The environmental issues surrounding eating fish are just as bad as eating other meat too, and I say "other meat" because it's still an animal's flesh you're eating. I'm not a vegetarian BTW, but don't kid myself that fish don't count. If someone is a vegetarian for ethical or environmental reasons then fish do count.

"I don't think I've ever asked a vegetarian "why". Although I have gone a bit hmm at people who say they are vegetarians but still eat fish, though! "

I am a vegetarian, and for me (and most people, I think, whether vegetarian or not), there is a sliding scale of how comfortable I am with eating animals. Top of the list would be people , then large animals like cows and pigs, then may chickens, then fish, then shellfish. Not sure about insects .

I avoided leather for some years, but when I had kids it was impossible to find decent kids' shoes that weren't leather, so I gave up and bought leather shoes, but I still wouldn't buy a leather bag, coat or sofa as I see them as unnecessary - therefore a bad tradeoff of my conscience. I don't feel bad about milk/cheese as the product itself isn't from a dead animal - though I know that logically this is hypocritical as the male calves go for meat.

But many meat-eaters have things they wouldn't eat eg people, like offal, dogs or whatever, not because they don't like them but because they are in some way distasteful to them.