...to wonder why people are so rude about vegans?

[CheekyWombat101]

Obviously not everyone, but in general, I can’t go a single day without hearing a comment or spotting an eye roll if the word ‘vegan’ is spoken out loud. It’s like a dirty word. Ironically a word usually brought up by someone who isn’t vegan, but starts the conversation and then takes offence at it. It’s really bizarre.

Over and over again you hear associated words like... fad, militant, extreme, unhealthy...

Why? Why do some non-vegans take such an interest, and such an offence to it all?

Non-vegans who don’t care or are supportive - you are awesome! Please keep doing what you’re doing, it’s really refreshing.

please If vegans dont eat plant based foods what exactly are they eating

I had an apple and some blueberry porridge with oat milk for breakfast.

I've just had some butternut squash soup with a roll for lunch, plus a bag of crisps.
It's veg and 'chicken' (vegan quorn) fajitas for tea with sweet potato fries.

Outlandish eh.

@hither12

They eat regular foods like cereal (with almond milk), quorn, lentils, chickpeas, crisps, mock meats, veggie burgers, they don’t live off lettuce?

eeerr all those foods are plant based aren't they? as in they had to be grown to be made ?

The only vegan who really fucks me off is DH. I find it stressful making different meals for different family members, and I'm not ready to let the kids go vegan yet (I've told them they can when they're 16 - they want to do this because they agree with DH's arguments, which is fair enough), as mitigating the health implications are too complicated for my poor brain. I feel like if they're eating eggs and fish a couple of times a werk I can relax more about nutrition.

@Ticklingcheese

I have never hosted a party in my life so perhaps that's what my problem is

queenofthetofutree

Perhaps instead of fixating on our deferences in eating habits, we should all strive to treat each other with more compassion .

@Tessalectus, I’m a meat eater. 😊 My son - who has been a vegan for 10+ years is the healthiest person I know. Frankly, you’re talking bollocks.

Or perhaps even our differences 🤣, sorry auto correct.

I also wish they'd accept basic biological facts about the damage a vegan diet can do to the body, which is adapted to an omnivorous diet, and the wider environment.

An omnivorous diet can vary from almost all animal based to no animal based food.
Humans can live on either because of adaptation.
Any vegans using evolution to argue their point are wrong, as are meat eaters doing the same.
High meat diets are proven to be unhealthy though, I'm pretty sure vegan diets aren't (unless you're talking about "someone you know" who went vegan and nearly died).

@Hithere12
Sorry if I wasn't clear. I wasn't questioning at all the facts of your statement. Of course by having no kids you have a smaller carbon footprint.

What I meant was the fact you feel you need to make the comparison is a shame. If I tell someone I am vegan I am not trying to get one up on them. I have a diesel car, 3 kids and have taken I don't know how many flights I have taken with my job. I am not going to eco heaven.

I think for a lot of people the word vegan stirs up certain feelings regardless of how reasonable the vegans they meet may actually be.

Not RTFT.

I am an omnivore who enjoys vegan cuisine - it's healthy, tasty and super cheap, so I eat vegan food very often. That said, if I fancy a steak I'll eat a fucking steak, die mad about it.

I also have quite a few vegan friends. These friends know and accept that I'm not vegan, and don't intend to be vegan, and there's no changing my mind. They are not preachy or evangelical - they eat their food, I eat my food, we don't comment on each other's food, and the world keeps turning. And they most certainly don't try to convert me to veganism, knowing that I rarely eat meat or animal products.

However, recently I did come across a very rude, very evangelical vegan who saw it fit to comment on my food in a rude manner. It was the first time that I ever met One Of THOSE Vegans in my life, and because I'm not a particularly kind person, I have zero mercy when that happens - I made that vegan cry.

She made remarks about me eating flesh - I said I don't give a shit.
She asked if I don't care about the suffering of animals - I crossed my arms, smirked and said I didn't give a single shit.
She kept appealing to my emotions - in the end, the sensitive little soul started sobbing.

Was I rude? You bet your life I was. Did she bring it upon herself? Certainly. Will I carry on being rude to those who think they have the right to stick their beaks in MY plate? Oh yes.

@Alsohuman

The outside doesn't always reflect the inside. Protein consumption has already been mentioned. So has vit B12. There are other nutrients that are virtually impossible to consume enough of to convert them into something useful in the body.

And can we just talk about the structure of the intestines for a moment? There is a reason the appendix is no longer functional in humans. It's because our intestines are adapted to efficiently absorb nutrients from a variety of sources, but all-plant-based foods are not it. If we were meant to eat such a diet, our intestines would be far longer and our appendix functional.

How about brain development? Meat eating and cooking foods allowed our ancestors to develop brains in a way impossible beforehand.

Ever seen what veganism does to skin and hair in older people? That's more of a cosmetic than a health issue, but the differences are stark.

But don't let Biology get in the way...

ODFOD.

@placemats

I've been at and hosted lots of parties where there is vegan, vegetarian and food for those with wheat intolerance (not vegan, nor vegetarian). They are always eaten first by those who then tuck into the meat non gluten versions, leaving those who do want these foods hungry/hangry.........I've spent time and effort to make my vegan, vegetarian and gluten free guests welcome. Yet, despite my efforts the meat eaters just pile in

Yes!! I’m gluten free and this is EXACTLY what happens every time I’m at an event where the food is buffet style. I always let the host / caterer know in advance but even though they usually provide something, I know there’s a 90% chance I won’t get to eat it because some selfish pig will decide that the one dish marked gluten free is the one he should take.

One work conference I go to regularly is now reduced to putting a plate with the Gf food on the buffet, covering it with cling film and attaching a larger label with my name on it. Because just writing “gluten free “ Didn’t stop the people who have “ always fancied trying Gf food “ .

Well, all meat, fish, dairy, fruit , veg and some grains are all gluten free so just open your fridge door and try some, asshole.

Now when I’m invited to a buffet type meal I always eat first, as I know I’m unlikely to get anything . If it’s an all day event like a wedding then I seriously consider not going, as I can’t go all day on lettuce and it’s usually impossible to take your own . Sometime I don’t even get lettuce as it’s in with pasta or crouton.

Once at a wedding in a 4 start hotel I was brought an apple for desert. While everyone else tucked into half a dozen delicious desserts. Clearly a 4 star hotel had no other fruit, cream , ice cream, meringue, caramel, fruit or chocolate sauce in their cold store.

Rosemary

The selfishness of some people just amaze me when it comes to food. Wheat intolerance is a chronic condition and should be respected.

Good to see your work respects your eating habits, which are essential to your continued good health.

Re the apple for dessert: Reminds me of The Royle Family episode when the vegetarian mum came to dinner and got a hard boiled egg, without the shell off.

My only issue is that I don't force my beliefs on others but I've had a number of vegans try to do it to me.

I wouldn't waste my breath Tessalectus they're ideologically possessed. It's the new religion.

I wouldn't waste my breath Tessalectus they're ideologically possessed. It's the new religion.

It is exactly this, it is a way of keeping oneself 'pure'. It is so ideologically flawed it is within the realms of the word 'cult'.

Although again, I don't care about other people's choices but I do think we should be accurate.

Several PPs have criticised vegans for the amount of plants we eat and how much water that uses

This is from a study by Cornell university:

Grain-fed beef production takes 100,000 liters of water for every kilogram of food. Raising broiler chickens takes 3,500 liters of water to make a kilogram of meat. In comparison, soybean production uses 2,000 liters for kilogram of food produced; rice, 1,912; wheat, 900; and potatoes, 500 liters.

I doubt there is any point in posting this. Even though I am not doing it to attack meat eaters but to defend vegans from the accusation that we use excessive water in our food production.

I could sit here all day and say how many nice normal vegans I know but it won't change anyone's view of us

I will just sit here with my tofu and avacado sandwich, slowly wasting away from my B12 deficiency whilst my bones crack from a lack of calcium and the weight of having to judge the eating habits of everyone I meet on my shoulders.

or have toast and Marmite for breakfast and get ready for rugby training (Bank holiday where I live)

I think it’s because some vegans are openly very hostile to meat eaters.

“I think it’s because some vegans are openly very hostile to meat eaters.”
When you’ve got a moment- maybe you could glance through one of the multiple threads that have appeared in this subject over the last few days and consider where the open hostility is coming from!

I loved how one vegan earnestly told me all the land used for animals can be used for plants I pointed out to her we raised sheep in land unsuitable for plants that's why we put the sheep on there she hit the roof at me 🤷‍♀️ I eat vegan food all the time I choose to eat meat fish and vegetarian foods too but I'm tired of being told my choices are killing the planet

I eat meat

I have children

I keep pets

I drive a car (to get to work to feed myself my children and my pets)

I fucking breathe

I've nothing against vegans I wish they would show me the same courtesy and stop jumping on me in town trying to show me videos stop picketing the bloody supermarkets live their lives and accept I'm going to live mine

I don’t know a single vegan and have never had a discussion about it with anyone apart from dd when she tried a vegan sausage roll from Greggs.

Which apparently was very nice.

I’m beginning to feel left out. I have never been accosted by a vegan in my life. Do they really picket supermarkets? I knew I lived in a rural backwater......

BertrandRussell I live in trendy east London and it's never happened to me either 🤷