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.

jeez

Try being catholic, muslim, american, Conservative etc.

What annoys me is meat eaters who are squeamish about eating animals/fish on the basis of fluffiness or cuteness of them.

I cook anything and everything for DS. Some people are just so pathetic when I say he's had rabbit or veal 'oh poooor Bambi!' or 'I could never ear rabbit, I had little Flopsy as a pet when I was little'. Then they get all teary eyed if you point out that cats and dogs are eaten in some places.

Silly carnivores!

You sound really snippy OP. Are you maybe a little run down? Lacking in a few meat based nutrients perhaps?

Another point, the reason people are veggie has a bearing on different things. For example, my sister is veggie due to the enviornmental cost of meat eating. She's not too fussed about eating non-veggie cheese, non-veggie wine etc. On the other hand I have friends who are eating veggie when out because they are halal or kosher and that means I really need to think about other things too.
Plus, then there's the whole eating fish thing....

@frontpaw I'll eat anything with a face

have now read the thread.

Do oysters have faces?

and more have been added

btw OP, they won't delete it - i thnk it's a good OP. anger is what makes us human.

Baskets - I'm glad someone else understands - they say to me "let her choose to be veggie when she can decide for herself" so, in the meantime, I'm bringing my daughter up contrary to my own beliefs?

@ithaka' esp last sentence.

ethelb - i would assume any vegetarian would not eat products that involve death or maiming of the animal involved.
so, unless they are vegan, free range eggs and organic dairy products are fine.

andthe Co-op is astoundingly good for food labelling - if in doubt, cater for your veggies through the co-op (especially wine)

Yes, i like Coop for that. People moan about our local branch, only supermarche in town but I like the labelling. No way is threatened tesco or sansbo quite as good, esp if you want a tipple. By that i mean this town is getting a new supermarche, but vv controversial, and I would miss Coop.

@nickelrocketgoBooooooom I wish it were that simple though. But it is not. Some get funny about non-veggie wine. Some don't.

Some aren't that fussed about death or suffering of animals, and do it for environmental reasons. Like my (bloody) little sister. Or friend who tuned up her nose at my veggie offerings at a BBQ this summer, and went down the road to buy some fish.

It's easiest to ask and not assume I think. No need to be rude though.

err on the side of caution.
always.

@nickel but is that is fookin' expensive and time consuming? Can't you just ask first?

There are totally different types of vegitarians so its a reasonable question

there are ones who do it for eithical reasons, so their dietary restrictions are usually quite extensive and are usually borderline vegans

Then there's the people who just don't like the texture or idea of meats, their diets are usually less restricted and they are often actually pescatarians or eat chicken just not red meat etc

it is NOT the same as someone saying they are Coeliac for example, as that diet always has the same restrictions

There is not one kind of vegitarian y'know OP

No it isn't. "Why are you a vegetarian you stupid twat?" would be exceptionally rude. "Why are you a vegetarian?" is not. HTH.

If I have an in-depth conversation with a vegetarian for the first time, I normally would ask if they are a vegetarian by way of animal rights angle, or the environment, or other. Mostly because I think it's an interesting topic for thinking people (I would probably be a vegetarian if I had the courage of my convictions).

i don't think it's expensive and time consuming.
but then, i'm used to it.

I've been a vegetarian for 22 years, and I think YABitU but in some ways YANBU

I don't really mind the question, if it's asked as part of making conversation or if people are genuinely interested. Mostly, that's the case, and it's fine - I just say I never liked meat or fish and I also have ethical objections. I agree with the pps who said they found it difficult to discuss this in a meal environment, as you can end up coming across judgy. I just fudge it a bit - try not to get drawn in.

However there are always those knobheads who want to bring you up on it and draw you into a big justification of it all. I am not defensive about being veggie, it's just what I eat, not who I am, but there are those who think they have all the answers and that I am lacking in some way in my refusal to eat meat. It can get tiresome. I had one friend who was South African and hugely into hunting game, and into big steaks for every meal etc. Fine, but it was when he started to grill me every time he saw me it got tedious. 'Don't you want a nice juicy steak?' 'How can you live without meat?' 'I don't get you, you're missing out on sooo much'. He started to get offensive after a while, and this was too much. We stopped asking him for dinner! (never fed him veggie, btw - dh likes meat)

So I get what you're saying, but think generally people are just being friendly/interested. Like to think that anyway :)

And no I don't miss bacon either, and had to a bit at some of the inflammatory 'amusing' comments on here about the OP being snippy because of lack of meat etc. ffs

And there was me thinking I was expressing an interest in people's ethical leanings and lifestyle choices. Norty me.

Obtaining things like veggie cheese and wine etc is expensive and time consuming if you don't already do it. And cooking separate meals is obviously twice as expensive and twice as time consuming.

Tbh I would only dream of asking if I was cooking for you, I have a couple of friends who are veggie because they just don't like meat, in which case I don't have to worry about keeping everything totally meat free, as long as there isn't a piece of meat on their plate it's fine. I have other friends who are vegetarian for moral reasons in which case I'm much more careful to keep everything meat free including animal fats etc.

I wouldn't tell you to eat meat, that is entirely your choice but please take a chill pill!! Actually, take a bottle!!

YABU, they are just showing an interest and making conversation.

Well I wouldn't care so wouldn't ask you but I expect its just a conversation starter. Could be worse!