To ask why people are so critical/judgemental of vegans?

[abacucat]

Just wondering why?

And I used to be vegan. I developed orthorexia, went down to 6 stone and almost died.
I was pretty militant and had no fun at all. I had tunnel vision philosophy and would fantasize about Mars bars and then feel guilty. I am therefore very reluctant to go there again.
Like it or not, some vegans adopt a kind of food fundamentalism ...a religious view that the planet would be better if all were vegan.
I now feel that having an inner fire or 'killer instinct is essential to being human. That didn't mean killing living things necessarily but it does mean that need to hunt...for food, promotions, better deals, mates , decent jobs etc.
I lost my hunting instinct or fire when I was vegan as I was too busy agonising if tofu was ethical or not. It was dull as f and very unhealthy.

There is interesting research in psychology on how we adopt role models. The fact that someone does something good (which undispitedly veganism is - the practice, not the preaching) doesn’t necessarily mean that they inspire admiration. Unattainable role models are alienating, making others feel threatened. And when we feel threatened we minimize the achievements of others, we dismiss them, we negate the comparison, etc.

Some vegans are then openly critical of non-vegans which only serves to increase the threat to the self.

There's a woman who gets on my bus. She always wears a t shirt that says "MEAT IS MURDER" on the front, and a necklace that says VEGAN in massive letters. She also has badges on her clothes - not your mum, not your milk etc - there's also someone who keeps spray painting 'go vegan' all over the local bus stops. It's people like them who give vegans a bad name. Also a woman in a restaurant I was in, who kept quietly retching into a hankie. When he companion asked why, she said it was because she could see someone eating meat

Because veganism is an emotive subject.

Because vegans are seen as overly 'sensitive' to 'normal' aspects of life therefore need some meaty humour and jokes in their lives to help them 'lighten up'.

Because, in my experience, many meat eaters are very judgey of those who don't eat meat? I suspect subconsciously they are trying to justify eating dead animals and cannot justify it to themselves, so go on the attack to try to justify their life choices.

I'm vegetarian and have had to deal with extremely rude meat eaters over the years. Nothing brings out poor manners more than ordering the vegetarian option. I've had regular piss taking, yes really, I've heard it all before, wasn't funny the first time either. I've had meat eaters sit and interrogate me before, during and after a meal out, and tell me about the pet lamb they had that now fills their freezer. I've frequently had them waft their plate of meat under my nose, or sat tucking into a steak etc looking/staring at me asking if I miss meat...god their manners and judgemental behaviour is appalling.

Am I one of those veggies who ram it under people's noses? NO. I am not a holier than thou teen! The conversation only comes up if I am going to someone's for a meal or I order the veggie option for a meal.

I do know some vegans that are very outspoken and sanctimonious. Meat eaters then tar all vegans, even one's they don't know, with the same brush.

I think what it comes down to is meat eaters not being 100% happy with their own choices in life. Also just being bloody rude.

Can I also add an extra element to this...why do meat eaters rave about meat then at a buffet demolish the veggie option leaving the veggies with only the meat? Happened YET AGAIN yesterday at a party. I was starved as was my eldest who is also a veggie. So lets add, fanatical meat eaters are often hypocrites and rude to boot.

Until i started out in dog rescue i didn't know any vegans. It was interesting to see the polar opposite attitudes they had towards meat eaters who also volunteer within dog rescue; one side was just greatful for the help & wouldn't question food choices. The other would accept help from meat eaters whilst simultaneously bashing the shit out of us because we can't be real animal lovers if we eat meat. The sad thing there was when I questioned it, turned out that within many of their 'circles' the rescue folk they worked with were majority meat eaters - so if all of us walked away the animals would suffer because there wouldn't be enough vegan volunteers to make up the shortfall!

I have a lot of admiration & respect for vegans, i can't even do vegetarianism because i enjoy certain foods too much. I don't however have any time for those who want to abuse me for my choices or tell me i don't deserve to be on this planet. Make your choice, if you can live with it then nobody else's opinion matters!

@Biologifemini B12 comes from soil, as we no longer eat dirty vegetables it is now synthesised and added to animal feed, cereals, marmite etc

I agree it’s not the being vegan people are critical of, but the attitude that often comes with it.

I live in one of those places where everyone seems to be growing a hipster beard and going vegan in a superior fashion. It’s the superiority that pisses me off! I wonder how many of them will stick to it when beards and veganism aren’t fashionable any more.

I also know people who have decided not to eat animal products, but don’t bash on about it, they just get on with it. They don’t bring their food choices into every bloody conversation like the hip vegans do, and actually I enjoy trying their recipies.

I also think that round here it’s used as a mark of affluence by some. Having the time and money to choose what food you eat to that degree I mean. If you’re worried about the roof over your head, paying the electricity bill etc you’re a lot less likely to be able to afford the time or money to go to the expensive health food shops to get all the top vegan stuff (yes I’m sure you can eat vegan from Aldi, but what’s the point in that if you’re trying to show off? You need to be in Smugfoods getting your organic nut milks and mung bean cheese and £5 loaf of bread!)

@DialsMavis it's not added to marmite. It's in there naturally. Marmite was even given to soldiers in rations during WWI.

How can you tell someone is a vegan?

You don't need to, they'll tell you themselves!

I have yet to meet a vegan who wouldn't shut up about it, as if it's their life mission to inform everyone about their diet.

Most vegans i know are the judgemental ones. They act like being omnivores is not our natural diet. Even a few with "vegan" dogs..poor dog gets no choice in the matter

Because, in my experience, many meat eaters are very judgey of those who don't eat meat? I suspect subconsciously they are trying to justify eating dead animals and cannot justify it to themselves, so go on the attack to try to justify their life choices.

I am perfectly happy with my chosen level of meat eating, and I even raise some of my own animals for meat, and when I move permanently to my property next year will add additional animals for meat. Nearly everyone has already decided what they are comfortable with (eg free range eggs, pasture raised meat, etc). Just because their choice doesn't match the choice of another person, doesn't make it wrong.

Is it not animal abuse of some sort to kill and eat animals? We don't kill and eat dogs/cats due to our historic connection with them.
The slaughter house near me kills 10 thousand chickens an hour, they are culled much as we harvest a field of wheat. Will all animals ever have the same rights of a lucky chosen few?

@mousetapdancing I do know some vegans that are very outspoken and sanctimonious. Meat eaters then tar all vegans, even one's they don't know, with the same brush.

And then....

I think what it comes down to is meat eaters not being 100% happy with their own choices in life.

Unbelievable! You cannot see how hypocritical you are being? All judgey? 'Oh meat eaters cannot be 100% happy with their own choices'? Seriously, bug off with that sanctimonious and supercilious smug hypocrisy. I was at one stage a vegetarian, and I was never as smug and hypocritical as you are. I have no problem with vegetarians. They usually are decent and non-judgemental people. Vegans however, the argument can be used against them that they are not 100% happy with their choices, and perhaps know what they are doing is wrong, hence they go overboard to try to convince themselves of the righteousness of their actions.

There was a wedding thread on here yesterday where the intended bride said that her fiance refused to have any animal products whatsoever, not even a drop of milk for coffee. I remember thinking how could someone marry someone as narrow-minded and miserable as that? Clearly control and other issues there. But also, as someone above me said, they were miserable as a vegan. I honestly can think of very few things worse. Eating is one of life's few pleasures. Ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers. Milkshakes. Scrambled eggs. If I couldn't have those things -occasionally- I would feel miserable. What sort of life is that? I would rather blow my brains out or something. That would be no life. What a miserable existence. I think perhaps that is why many vegans seem so angry, so thoroughly frustrated and with control/manipulation issues. They miss out on life's greatest pleasures (and no, 'substitutes' never taste even remotely the same). No wonder they would be miserable! It's not much of a life really.

@salemblackcat I've never been called judgey before :D

I didn't articulate well enough. The meat eaters who attack my choice to be veggie with no provocation bar me ordering a non meat choice or going to their house and them asking if there is anything to be aware of before they make food. The one's who waft meat under my nose and take the piss and are just generally very rude. I was wrong to put 'meat eaters' as in 'all meat eaters'.

I am happiest when I am around meat eaters who are quite comfortable with their choices. We can have a discussion (if they peruse it) about animal welfare and why I am veggie without them being rude or dismissive of my views. My general thing is to NEVER discuss vegetarianism with meat eaters without a open invite, if they make it clear they are going to take the piss I just shut down the discussion, I don't feel the need to justify my decision with them.

I also live surrounded by farmers...the one's I have meals with always seem to take it personally when you don't order meat from the menu.

Haven't rtft. Is this because of the wedding thread?

I couldn't care less about vegans. I didn't agree with the OP though insisting all her guests are vegan food though.

I have no problem with Vegans, unless they start on about how they are morally superior and try to get me to stop eating meat.

To all of the people stating (or implying) that veganism is obviously and indisputably a better choice, if people are willing to be virtuous enough to choose it:

Ultimately, unless we eat nothing but plants, fruit or vegetables that have already fallen away from their life source without any human intervention or the meat of an animal that has either been killed for sport by another animal (or the remaining meat that the predator didn't eat) or died in an accident, we cannot eat and stay alive ourselves without taking the life of another living organism. A minority of people may indeed feel this to be the only moral choice, but
the vast, vast majority believe themselves unable (or are simply unwilling) to live without prioritising their own living existence above that of other living organisms.

Within the bounds of the law and excluding what is virtually unanimously condemned in our entire society (i.e. cannibalism), it is up to each individual to make the choice for themselves as to what level of life they are willing to take in order to preserve their own life.

It is also each individual's duty to respect the choices of other individuals who make different choices from their own. Respectful discussion and showing genuine interest is fine; any kind of name-calling, sneering, criticism etc. is completely unacceptable.

For me, it depends on their attitude towards veganism.

If they are simply vegans as that is their choice and their beliefs then I fully respect that, which is most vegans I know/have encountered tbh.

However, like with everything, there are a small number that give vegans a bad name. They become preachy and aggressive and very antagonistic towards anybody that doesn't share their views. Unfortunately, it is this group that tend to be the most vocal, in RL and across social media so is what most people see as representing veganism.

I don’t judge vegans who get on with life and are vegan.

I judge vegans who preach and rant and moan at anyone who is listening about how cruel and evil eating meat is, I judge ppl who target farmers and Harass them and I also judge vegans who make a massive song and dance about what they do and don’t eat etc and get presented with a lovey veggie/vegan menu and order chips...wtf,

No issue with most Vegans. I have two good friends who are vegan and a few facebook friends who are as well.

Its the facebook gang who go on about being better then meat eaters and post rubbish to push there agenda. Now a days I just roll my eyes.

I posted on the vegan wedding thread, asking what the difference was between vegans choosing to have vegan only and meat-eaters choosing meat only. Apart from being called stupid and other choice names, no-one gave me an answer. It's obviously different if one has a medical condition which limits diet but other than that, both would be bad hosts in my opinion.

What's next? All leather shoes and handbags will have to left outside the door

I think I gave you an answer on that thread. A vegan's food choices are made based on ethics. A meat eater's are based on preference. I'd have thought that was pretty simple to understand. Clearly I was wrong.

On the contrary, as long as I don't have to cook for them or listen to them, I bloody love vegans and wish there were a lot more of them as it means more meat and cheese for me!

I baked a cake for a family members birthday and took it round. Another friend was there, family member asked who wants cake, everyone. Cuts cake, another family member shouts out 'noodge is a vegan you know'..
Friend then says 'oh. No I don't want any then thanks'.

Why, just why.
Once everyone else was eating it and saying it was nice he changed his mind and also said it was very nice.
I asked family member why he did that and she said 'people expect vegan stuff to be fulll of seeds or something!'
Seeds? In a chocolate cake?

If anyone can explain this id be grateful.
I did tell other family member she shouldn't have said I was vegan. Because I never do unless it's absolutely directly referred to, because of things like this.