...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.

because most of us feel guilty about what we eat and we all wish we had the strength and integrity to be vegan

Agree with you OP. It also puzzles me that people will respect the dietary preferences of Jewish and Muslim people on the basis that it was what people ate 2000 years ago and is contained in their holy books, but not the dietary choices of someone who has researched the environmental and ecological impact of eating meat and dairy and decided against it.

I also agree with @SleepyGuineaPig it is because it brings up their guilt about eating meat and dairy and they would prefer not to acknowledge the harm involved in doing so. I say this as a vegetarian who eats dairy so I'm also culpable here.

@Nesssie totally agree!

Personally I think it is too easy to be incredibly unhealthy. My (toddler) niece and nephew are being brought up vegan , yet as normal, fussy toddlers, they won't eat veg. So their diet seems to consist of vegan nuggets, chips and rice.
And while I'm so, so glad that a whole generation of people are that concerned about the environment, I think veganism is not the answer when rainforests are being depleted for soya and palm oil crops because of the increased demand, monocrops are not sustainable and flying avocados and soy halfway round the world makes no sense? We need to shop and eat locally and seasonally. And I bet 95% of vegans still fly on holiday, buy cheap cotton and drive cars.

I shall be pushing veganism on the next family meal I host.

Because I’m tired of catering for

The meat eaters
The ones who won’t eat fish
The ones who won’t eat dairy
The vegetarians

All at the same meal. So vegan it is.

( Luckily no one is gluten free. Yet.)

I have a child who is vegan, we eat vegan probably 2 or 3 times a week as well. I'm fully supportive.

However I worked with a vegan once who started a campaign to stop us all eating meat and animal products in the staff room as it was offensive to her, she would also lecture, show pictures, leave leaflets etc, there was also a vegan stall at a local market handing out leaflets to everyone, including children saying "What is your cheese made from? Murder, torture, rape....".

As with anything it's the militant minority who give everyone a bad name. You rarely hear about the normal people who just quietly get on with their own lives.

thinking too much about the meat and dairy industries makes people feel guilty and uncomfortable, and so they go on the defensive because they don’t want to face up to what they’re contributing to.

^ this.

crispbutty if you can do low carb vegan I could fall in love with you...

-think too many people have known one of the more annoying vegan.

I’ve known a lot of annoying meat eaters - doesn’t mean I treat all meat eaters as a massive annoyance.

*am concerned that they are pushing a philosophy based way of eating onto younger, impressionable people who may end up ill.

*I already know one 17 year old who has been told by the doctor they are low in vit B12. So yes proselytising vegans get on my nerves.

I know a lot of unhealthy teens who would benefit from a decent vegan diet cuts both ways. There’s NOTHING unhealthy about a began diet.

Because deep down we know they are right and wish they weren’t because we enjoy our meat and dairy.

I admire vegans. We are trying to eat less meat so only have it at weekends. It’s quite hard!

I'm not vegan. I'm not vegetarian. If you want to be vegan that's fine, crack on. Nothing to do with me and your choice.

However, don't assume that because I'm eating meat, cheese, eggs and the rest of it that I need "my eyes opened" or "educated". My food choices are nothing to do with you. Respect goes two ways.

I only know a couple of vegans and I'm well aware that the plural of anecdote isn't data, but all the vegans I know are incredibly preachy. They can't just watch you drink a latte and eat a slice of cake, they have to lecture you on the evils of the dairy industry.

Newsflash vegans - some of us just don't care and are really happy with our food choices.

Because deep down we know they are right and wish they weren’t because we enjoy our meat and dairy.

^ And THAT is the attitude that pisses people off. 'We are right and you are wrong and we know how you feel better than you'

I worked with a militant vegan who thought her role was to convert everyone. The irony being her diet was appalling, she ate very little fruit and veg and just ate ‘vegan meat’. No way was I going to eat like that. We actually have a few vegan meals a week, not a big deal.

My issue is that vegans need to accept the reality their food is still responsible for the death of animals, all farming has a knock on effect. The existence of humans means animals suffer. They aren’t perfect either.

Because deep down we know they are right and wish they weren’t because we enjoy our meat and dairy

Right about what? There is no tribe on earth that is vegan. I get cutting down meat is good but a lot of people do NOT do well on a vegan diet.

I’m a chunky monkey - people used to look at me and say *’you’re vegan?’ Because I don’t conform to the ‘skinny as a rake , hippy looking image they have of vegans.

Id never look at a meat eater nd day ‘wekk you’re clearly not vegan’

But it’s skeays the vegans that are accused of behaving badly.

I'd say of the vegans I know it's 50/50 whether they are the annoying sort who ram it down your throat or not. I don't feel guilty at all about eating meat and dairy.

There's a stereotype that vegans are all super militant and can't go two seconds without telling everyone that they are vegan. It's become a meme.

I think in reality there are some people like that, but for the most part people just want to eat the food that they eat and leave everyone else to their own business.

Vegan 'substitutes' 😂😂😂😂😂

So.. you vegan? And wanna meringue?
Don't eat fucking meringue!

I don't give a damn what vegans eat or do but they have no business pontificating to others about what they eat.

Because deep down we know they are right and wish they weren’t because we enjoy our meat and dairy

You couldn't be more wrong. I don't think they are right at all and think the food they eat is inedible shit but that's their choice, the same as it's mine to enjoy dairy and meat.

Because not every but many vegans are sanctimonious twats who lord it over everyone they meet ever?

I was a vegan for a couple of years and I became a preachy cunt too so I have no right to bitch at vegans who are like this. It really was as if I’d become a member of a cult and I was trying to persuade everyone I met to join. I had a word with myself one day and slowly weaned away...

Went on a date once with a vegan whilst I was also a vegan but he had no idea I was. I sat back and listened to him rabbit on about how amazing veganism is (trying to persuade me) then said ‘I’m a vegan too’ . His face completely dropped and he felt a bit embarrassed I think.

I know vegans who wear VEGAN caps and T-shirt’s, they’re probably the worst kind of vegans. Imagine if meat eaters wore T-shirt’s that said OMNIVORE across them. Weird.

I don't understand why vegan meringue is funny

The vegans I know personally are lovely people who just crack on with life.

The people who stand in the city centre wearing their edgy masks, holding their televisions showing whatever documentary they’ve loaded onto the DVD player though? Those people are knobbers.

I am not a vegan or speaking for vegans! Just my view. People get so ANGRY about them and think that’s why. Too many people eating meat is bad for the planet

One of my friend's has been a vegetarian since a child. She rarely mentions.

The only vegan I know was one for about a year and in that time just preached about it none stop. I couldn’t care what others do and think people should respect that unless they are asked about their diet.

Coming from a farming community I get annoyed that farmers are portrayed as some sort of sadistic monsters when the vast majority care for their animals and are out in all weathers doing the best they can.

Yes, some farming practices may not be great, but if possible, get to know your local producers and buy local. Shipping avocados half way around the world and causing problems in other countries isn't necessarily the best solution.

Most vegetarians/vegans I know are lovely and make delicious food, so no problems with the majority of them.

I think some vegan extremists make a bad name for them all unfortunately.

The only Vegan I know is, I suspect 'Vegan' for the fad. She drives a brand new fuel guzzling Range Rover, lives in outskirts of a big city - commutes literally 5 minutes on a dual carriageway to work and owns a designer breed French Bulldog.
She did not Rescue it, she bought it from a breeder then kept him in a cage all day every day while she worked full time!!

That to me is not Vegan. That is fake.

I was brought up almost vegan, we ate eggs from our own chickens and made ghee from a neighbours cows. I now haven’t had dairy for about 14 years, I do sometimes eat egg, but only if a friend has a few spare from his little group of hens. I don’t think I have had any egg for a few weeks.

I don’t tend to mention it unless someone is cooking for me/going out for food.