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

[CadyHeron]

Ok, genuine question, and I've been around here long enough to know this is probably going to descend into a bunfight but meh
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 )
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
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.
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...

I think some meat eaters possibly feel silently judged by vegans/vegetarians because many choose that lifestyle because they feel its wrong/cruel/whatever to eat animals. So that can make a meat eater feel defensive... maybe? hence the hostility.

So that can make a meat eater feel defensive

Being hectored makes people defensive. Once the dinner table is dominated by someone who hasn't washed for a while and could use a haircut yelling that everyone else's meals are the product of rape and murder and the stench of the cowcentration camp (do you see what they did there?) is going to make them vomit, of course people get defensive. It's not that they're having their ideas challenged, it's them thinking "why does has veganism turned this person into a frothing idiot, why am I here and what do I do if he actually does vomit on my meal?"

sorry posted too soon.... its the sitting in front of someone who might be thinking you are a cruel, heartless or ignorant person that some meat eaters struggle with l think.

No problem in what you eat. And no interest either. Could the actual issue be that you are a bore?

All the comments in OP are from silly people. I suggest you get better friends and don't mix with these idiots. I've never said any such thing to s vegetarian or vegan.

Couldn't care less who eats what and will always try to cater meals to whatever diet the person is following. What is annoying though is recent vegans posting shit all over Facebook. Like they were eating meat a week ago . Sometimes I think it's to help them get over their meat cravings like if they can't enjoy it anymore then nobody else should either.

OP - you're getting a bit of a hard time in here (which kind of proves your point). I'm not vegan but have been veggie most of my adult life. I don't tend to bring it up, but when people notice what I'm eating they are frequently fascinated. It usually goes one of two ways - people either apologising and telling me how they don't eat very much meat really (it's fine - do what works for you) or quizzing me and trying to 'catch me out', e.g; "ah but you eat eggs!", "or, what about leather shoes?" I remember at a wedding once someone asking if I ate eggs and cheese and then saying, "oh, so you're not a complete freak then!"

It does get a bit tiresome! I actually never share my true feelings about eating meat (my family know how I really feel) because I don't think it's my right to tell people what they should eat, but clearly not everyone shares that view.

I think bores and bores whether they're vegans or meat and 2 veg for every meal types!

*bores are bores (not and)

I would never comment on someone's food choices but honestly it can make me feel uncomfortable. If I meet a friend and order coffee and cake and she says " I never eat cake", it just takes away some of the enjoyment of eating my cake. I think it's 1, food is a shared experience and 2, I know why she doesn't eat cake- she thinks it a BAD THING TO DO. This feeling would extend to vegans and people who order salad at a celebration meal also.

I think some meat eaters possibly feel silently judged by vegans/vegetarians because many choose that lifestyle because they feel its wrong/cruel/whatever to eat animals. So that can make a meat eater feel defensive... maybe? hence the hostility
I never feel silently judged when I am enjoying time with people who don't whine endlessly about how great their esting habits are.

As is abundantly clear on here, nobody is feeling 'silently judged'. They are pissed off at a certain tyoe of vegan who far from being silent, actively think any silence needs to be filled with vegan chat.

The assumption from some vegans that omnivores get irritated because thry know we are right only highlights the sanctimonious twattery which people are laughing at. It's based on the premise we are right and enlightened... and you can't handle the truth man!

No issues with vegans particularly but I do find it hard to go out for dinner with my one vegan friend-as there is only one place he will go to locally to us and I don't really like it...it got dull going to the same restaurant every time. We just meet for drinks now-problem solved.

Meat eater, no problem with vegans here. I was on an activity day the other day sat next to two vegans that were discussing the limitations on the menu for vegans etc. Doesn’t bother me I tucked into my burger.

Similarly I would have no problem if someone said they didn’t like spicy food, are lactose intolerant, or allergic to eggs etc.

I don’t see a food choice as being any different.

My partner has been a vegetarian since he was 20 - he’s 51 now - and about 5 years ago, he went vegan. I have a problem with it because after the first two years his health declined and he became very poorly, because he had not been taking care about what he ate. I was very worried about him, but he steadfastly refused to admit he was declining because of his new diet.He now takes supplements recommended by the vegan society, and tries to eat a wider range of foods, not just cut out the cheese, honey, eggs etc. I do find it daft that he still drinks beer that is refined using fish guts but at the same time refuses to eat in a restaurant where cross contamination might occur. I guess it’s the hypocrisy that irritates me.

When I say I have a problem with it, that probably sounds more intense than it should do. Actually, I really do admire his stand, and I know it is not always easy for him to stick to his principles.We eat vegan meals together at home,and I always ensure that if we eat out we go somewhere where he has a wide range of foods to choose from.

Well obviously it makes a Meare after defensive when a veggie is openly berating tbem /guilt tripping them but the op is talking more about when they aren't doing this a d don't make a song and dance about ordering etc. but some meat eaters still get the huff. I just think some meat eaters get defensive even when no outward signs they still feel they are being silently judged

a Meare = a meat eater

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

Skipping the whole thread.

I am a carnivore. I do not have a problems with vegans. However your faddy eating is your problem - do not expect me to rearrange my life and catering to accommodate you. If I invite you for dinner, you eat what's put in front of you, don't phone in advance and dictate a menu comprising stuffed mushrooms and nut cutlets. Ditto, you invite me for dinner and I won't be phoning and demanding a large rare steak.

Oh and don't be a complete hypocrite and wear leather etc.

In short - don't inflict your lifestyle choices down my throat.

Newyearnewme- I don't eat my leather shoes

Can't stand preachy vegan's.... Piss me right off.

If I meet a friend and order coffee and cake and she says " I never eat cake", it just takes away some of the enjoyment of eating my cake

Ooh, that winds me up too so you'd really love me!
I'm not a big fan of desserts.I seriously can take them or leave them.
I've come across people before who can't compute the fact sometimes I just don't want one after going out for a meal.
"Oh, that means I can't have one then!"
Or apologising to the waitress for me if does decide to have one.
Why? Just enjoy your damn dessert, would you rather I force fed myself something I don't like and don't want just to make you feel better about your choices?
People are strange!

OP point certainly proved here....

Cross post with op
Yes, I'm the one eating cake, if others don't want it I don't care
Oddly, I can't drink wine, it makes me feel really unwell
I can drink vodka, gin etc
Some people are funny that they won't have a glass of wine if I'm not having one
I don't get it
I've learned not to be friends with people who are that worked up about what others eat or drink

I'm not in a dinner party circle like some people though but that's my idea of hell anyway.

But what if you invite someone to your birthday dinner. Everyone is eating drinking and being merry but one person sits there just sipping water because they don't care for cake or wine or food. They are perfectly entitled to but it's not the makings of a great party either.

However grin your faddy eating is your problem - do not expect me to rearrange my life and catering to accommodate you.

It isn't faddy though. It's just a dietary choice. Surely if you're catering for guests you'd take their diets into account?
What about someone who had food intolerances? Would you take the same stance with them? Surely you'd just include dishes that everyone can eat if you're catering, I know I would.