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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask why do meat eaters have such a problem with vegans?!

245 replies

CadyHeron · 23/02/2018 21:43

Ok, genuine question, and I've been around here long enough to know this is probably going to descend into a bunfight but meh Grin
Seriously. Why?! I've only recently noticed it since doing Veganuary and mainly carrying it on now even though it's finished. Up until then, I eat everything - fish,meat, cheese.....but at the same time eating lots of vegan and vegetarian food too as DH is a long time vegetarian.
(Who's gone vegan after completing Veganuary.)
Been out for dinner today.
"Surely you can have a little bit?!" (Erm, no Confused )
We've also had "but it's not healthy!" (that all depends on how you do it,surely? I know I was eating a lot healthier during Veganuary as I was conscious about what I was eating and not just mindlessly shovelling stuff in - even though I love mindlessly shoving stuff in Smile
Or you'll get a bacon sandwich shoved in your face. "You want this bacon, don't you? Don't you?"
Erm,no not really. Confused
I don't give a shit whether people eat meat, why are they so bothered that I'm vegan for a while?!
Must be exhausting to be a proper one!
not including the militant ones that tell you meat is murder as they can just go away and practise the saying each to their own...

OP posts:
SleepFreeZone · 23/02/2018 22:16

I’m not bothered by what you eat and I eat most things. I imagine though that people just get irritated by faddy/fussy eaters as they either don’t want to feed you or else don’t want to sit with you while you analyse a menu and get into deep conversation with the waiting staff.

BonnieF · 23/02/2018 22:18

I’m an omnivore, and I have no issues whatsoever with vegans. What they choose to eat, or not eat, is none of my business and I wouldn’t dream of commenting on their food choices.

All I ask in return is that they reciprocate by extending the same courtesy to me.

Unfortunately, some of the ‘meat is murder’ brigade appear to struggle with this....

MiffedMummy · 23/02/2018 22:18

Not all vegans but I find it's mainly the newbies get very cult-ish and have to tell everyone they're a vegan and everyone who isn't a vegan is a murderer (been told this). I was vegetarian for quite a long time and never felt the need to push any literature on anyone.

entropynow · 23/02/2018 22:18

"We" don't. Because "we" just as "you", don't have a hive mind.

Fluffyears · 23/02/2018 22:19

Its the preachy shove it down my throat vegans that annoy me. If you leave me alone, i’ll leave you alone. Calling me an animal hater that condones cruelty and saying i’ll get heart disease and cancer is not on. Using dodgy science to claim we are not omnivores is not on. I have a vegan facebook friend like this.? So now for me it’s almost like a sport now and for everything she posts about a vegan diet I google and post the opposite on the comments to show that you can back up any theory from the internet:

Original poster
CadyHeron · 23/02/2018 22:20

I imagine though that people just get irritated by faddy/fussy eaters as they either don’t want to feed you or else don’t want to sit with you while you analyse a menu and get into deep conversation with the waiting staff.

That's just it though, as had studied the restaurant's menu online the night before and knew exactly what was vegan and what wasn't so no faffing about.
Straight out "we'll have so and so please" when the waitresses came out and asked.
No analysing.
Still got moaned at though and apologised for

OP posts:
NataliaOsipova · 23/02/2018 22:20

Depends how many times you have loudly exclaimed that you are VEGAN!

This. I don't care what anyone eats. Or doesn't eat. I'm just not interested in hearing about it constantly.....

Esspee · 23/02/2018 22:21

I've found that vegans often make a song and dance about their preferences, criticise your leather suite, jacket, shoes etc.
Frankly I don't give a damn about what any adults choose to eat (what they feed their children is a different matter) and, as I frequently choose a veggie option (possibly vegan) myself when eating out I wouldn't ever assume someone was vegan from what they ordered.
Unless you can convince me otherwise OP I will assume you are a vociferous vegan.

Lizthefizzy · 23/02/2018 22:22

They don't.

I think vegans have an image problem and are seen as preachy and awful dining partners. This is unfair obviously because some vegans will be awful but plenty won't be. A bit like meat eaters...

lightcola · 23/02/2018 22:23

I don’t comment on people’s eating choices, but I do think all vegans are hypocrites. It’s impossible to be 100% vegan therefore they can stick their “holier than thou” lecture up their arse.

JaneyEJones · 23/02/2018 22:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RafikiIsTheBest · 23/02/2018 22:25

I don't like most meat, never have done even as a young child. But I was vegetarian for a few years and always had people thinking it was 'funny' to say things. When I'm at a restaurant or someone asks about dietary requirements I say vegetarian as it's easier than saying I'll eat such and such but don't like x, y or z and I like vegan/vegetarian food (aka food).
Still, have family members offer me bacon or other meat because you know it's 'funny'. Even my prim and proper grandma has form for this, along with my animal loving aunt who was beyond horrified at the thought of horse meat is a thing. There seems no type, but then other people (like my meat loving MIL) is totally accepting and supportive.

ThanksForAllTheFish · 23/02/2018 22:25

I think there are vegans and then there are ‘born again vegans’. The former group are fine, normal people that don’t consume anything that came from an animal.

The latter are the ones who manage to get ‘I’m a vegan’ into almost any conversation, post endless PETA / animal rights videos on Facebook etc. The ones who identify as vegan above all else and will preach the teachings of veganisim to anyone in earshot. I do find this type of vegan hard work and have distanced myself from a few friends recently who have gone down this route.

I myself am a non meat / fish eater. I don’t class myself as vegetarian as I’m not super strict about making sure everything is vegetarian. I have been known to eat some cola bottles which obviously contain gelatine or my mums veg soup made that she makes with a ham stock cube. For the most part I’m happy with my choices, I would like to find a good milk alternative but everything I’ve tried so far has not been that great and I don’t enjoy my coffee when made with them (soya/ almond/ oat/ coconut/ rice).

I’ve never had any hate from anyone or had people stick bacon under my nose. A few questions maybe (usually regarding protein) but never anything nasty.

SleightOfMind · 23/02/2018 22:28

I’m a meat eater but I’d only register other people’s preferences if I have to cater for them.
I’d have no more issue with a vegan than with a nut allergy sufferer - unless they didn’t tell me till the last minute.

Why do all these people know you’re vegan? It’s really not that big a deal.

0hCrepe · 23/02/2018 22:29

My ds has been veggie for a year but eats a lot of dairy. I sometimes worry that he doesn’t have enough protein, I think because I’ve heard that veggies and vegans don’t get enough, or have to make sure they make up for it. Fully prepared to hear this is a myth though. I also wonder how vegans manage as it seems that so much food I eat has some animal product in, though I rarely eat meat- or objects I buy have animal products in or animals have been involved in their production. It seems like it would take a huge amount of time and thought to be a vegan, checking the ingredients of everything and researching the production of everything I buy. Not critical but interested I guess. Seems like a huge step to take and I don’t blame vegans for talking about their decisions as it must be something they have to think about a lot and involves a lot of sacrifices.

Ickyockycocky · 23/02/2018 22:30

I am and I don’t.

Original poster
CadyHeron · 23/02/2018 22:31

A faddy or fussy eater is someone who will only eat chicken nuggets or chips. There is a lot of ignorance about vegan food. It is actually very easy to find and very healthy. It's just not full of processed crap. You don't see many obese vegans.

That's a good point. It really isn't faddy or fussy to be vegan. It's really easy to be vegan now even when eating out.
Even easier to be one at home.
Refusing everything as you don't like it or it "looks or sounds weird" without even trying it is a lot more limiting!

OP posts:
Justanotherlurker · 23/02/2018 22:34

I cant be arsed to RTFT, but I think the question is a bit goady.

It is Vegans who have a problem with meat eaters, Im a meat eater I can and do enjoy vegan dishes regularly but also enjoy a blue steak whilst looking at cows in a field.

I also like and care about animals and animal welfare whilst also appreciating the taste of them.

I don't need to define myself about what I eat, its fuel.

LaurelHolly · 23/02/2018 22:36

I've been vegetarian for 20 years and have never preached at anyone but have had a lot of meat eaters trying to challenge me and debate (basically tell me I'm wrong in my choice).

It usually the spiel about having teeth evolved to eat meat etc. so I'm being 'unnatural'. Hmm, because everything else about the way we eat and live nowadays is natural Confused

Or telling me how much I'm missing out on delicious meat/ will get ill without meat. I don't like meat and am healthy.

Or, weirdly, telling me how much I damage animals/the environment in other ways i.e. by wearing leather or buying food from South America etc. Like I am unaware my impact on the environment and global animal welfare is not nil? I think these type of challengers assume you feel morally superior to them so need to get in with an attack to remind you you aren't perfect. Pathetic.

backformoreanditsmyfault · 23/02/2018 22:37

I don't care whether someone is vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free etc It is not my business to tell them what they should eat and not eat.

backformoreanditsmyfault · 23/02/2018 22:38

The only time I do have a problem with vegans is when they insist I must convert to their lifestyle. Or comment on what I eat. I cannot be bothered to engage with that kind of thing

GabsAlot · 23/02/2018 22:40

i dont have a problem with what u eat just dont want to be told im evil coz i eat animals

Growingboys · 23/02/2018 22:40

Because they are so boring about being vegan.

I don't go on about being an omnivore.

Bore off, the lot of you.

slashdragon · 23/02/2018 22:41

I'm a vegan.

'So what CAN you eat?' Is the most common.

Most people don't bat an eye these days- back in my teens when I went vegan it was a big thing and there was lots of bacon sandwiches in my face Confused

Original poster
CadyHeron · 23/02/2018 22:42

I cant be arsed to RTFT, but I think the question is a bit goady. It is Vegans who have a problem with meat eaters, Im a meat eater I can and do enjoy vegan dishes regularly but also enjoy a blue steak whilst looking at cows in a field.I also like and care about animals and animal welfare whilst also appreciating the taste of them. I don't need to define myself about what I eat, its fuel

Really wasn't intended to be goady, it's genuinely what I've experienced and come across these past few months!

OP posts:
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