Why is there so much hatred towards vegans?

[keysonthehighshelf]

I'm veggie, and slowly cutting down on certain things with the aim of being fully vegan by the end of the year. I'm not perfect, and I in no way dislike those who eat meat. I know some vegans are really aggressive but the vast majority are quietly vegan for their own reasons. I am raising my son vegetarian simply because I have never prepared meat before. I've seen a nutritionist and they've confirmed it's absolutely fine to raise a baby vegetarian and has given me meal plans and advice re supplements (which aren't actually needed). I still have had at least 4 people imply that I'm damaging him, and have had people aggressively tell me that 'vegans are hypocrites for wanting their food to look and taste like meat' - it doesn't really bother me but my sister who is vegan finds it upsetting. AIBU to think it's odd that people have such annoyance towards vegans? Or is it in my head?

There’s already a thread on this exact subject, OP - you might want to post there and get this thread deleted.

This is at least the eleventy billionth thread on this

Some vegans can be annoyingly sanctimonious. Or tell other people often about their veganism.
The problem with taking a loud ethical stand is you leave yourself open to criticism.
Be vegan, be vegetarian - most people really have no interest. But don't feel the need to proselytise.
No need for hate though

Sorry. I only joined Mumsnet a few days ago I didn't realise. I'll try and find it now.

Because people who meat are mightily offended that you don’t. I’ve been a vegetarian for nearly 16 years but still have people tell me I’m wrong, it’s a phase, I must be so unhealthy, what do I do about protein?!

I just remind them that I never tell meat-eaters to stop eating meat as it’s their decision so please respect my decisions.

some vegans are really aggressive but the vast majority are quietly vegan

Same can be said for meat eaters.

Same can be said for all of humankind in. Some are aggressive. Most aren't. That's about it.

Some people just love to hate on people who make different life choices to them. There is also the fact that a very small minority of vegans/veggies indulge in being very vocally up themselves and putting non-vegs down. Really though, it's just a battle of empty barrels making lots of noise. Most people don't give a shiny shit either way what others do as long as they do it quietly and respect the rights of others to make their own life choices.

No idea OP

it baffles me

it's definitely there

Romesh Ranganathan says "the hate I get for being vegan makes me miss racism".

previous generations of my family were vegan or veggie from birth and lived to 90 or something scary. Don't let anyone tell you your child is missing out. I wish I'd been raised veggie.

I just remind them that I never tell meat-eaters to stop eating meat

You're in the minority then! Vegans I know preach constantly.

I couldn't care less who eats what.

I find it irritating being lectured for consuming a low meat diet and being told that everyone should go vegan to save the planet etc by people who eat lots of soy, avocados, nuts that need to be flown half way round the world etc and take multiple flights a year.

It's the high horse and hypocrisy that annoys me about some vegans

In my local town there is a vegan group who write all over the pavements in chalk and stand outside the local supermarket car park abusing people and telling everyone they're murderers. I have no issue with people who are quietly being vegan for their own personal reasons, I feel hatred towards these people who aggressively impose their beliefs on the general public, including the elderly and children.

How could I hate people on the basis of something I don't know about them?

If they're 'just quietly being vegan' I won't know they're vegan.

formerbabe

Loads of people don’t even realise I’m a vegetarian until something forces it (eating out, they’ve offered me sweets, etc.).

My DH was practically a carnivore in the beginning but is more open to veggie options now due to us cooking together. If it means making a separate dish, he’ll just eat veggie. If I had preached to him, he’d only eat meat just to wind me up. My DD isn’t a vegetarian because I’m firmly of the belief that it should be a choice.

Unfortunately it’s the preaching, I don’t hate them and one of my dearest friends was a vegan, she sadly died a couple of years ago. I always catered to her needs no problem. If we had lunch out together she would not start on at me if I had a ham sandwich. But I worked with a couple of vegans who would start to bang on about it if you ate meat in front of them in the staff room.

Unless you are actually preparing food for someone or are choosing a restaurant there is no need for a breakdown of food preferences.

You're in the minority then! Vegans I know preach constantly.

That's just confirmation biase and logically flawed reasoning.

"I find it irritating being lectured for consuming a low meat diet and being told that everyone should go vegan to save the planet etc by people who eat lots of soy, avocados, nuts that need to be flown half way round the world etc and take multiple flights a year."

where do you find these people? (I don't actually want to find them, just grateful they are not in my life!)

Vegans I know preach constantly.

What, they never stop to sleep, go to work or eat?

Amazing.

Because, deep down, many people don’t feel good about eating meat, so they try to disparage veganism to make themselves feel better. I see the following generalisations/ straw men/ false dichotomies over and over again:

Vegans are preachy and live miserable lives.
I knew a vegan who was really unhealthy.
Veganism is unnatural.
Veganism isn’t better for the environment, as many vegans live off avocados and quinoa flown in by private jet.
Animals get killed by crop-harvesting, so vegans are hypocrites.
Eating meat is less harmful for the environment than having multiple foreign holidays.

I find it irritating being lectured for consuming a low meat diet and being told that everyone should go vegan to save the planet etc by people who eat lots of soy, avocados, nuts that need to be flown half way round the world etc and take multiple flights a year.

This mentality annoys me. I have by no means managed to perfect a carbon neutral lifestyle. No one I know has. I drive a petrol car, I buy food that is grown abroad, I wrap my presents in pretty paper. I know I could be better.

You saying they can’t give up meat for the environment when they don’t do everything is contributing to our planet continuing to fall apart. Why bother if we can’t go the whole way? Well, if we all tried in some way, it makes a difference.

Because the vegans I know preach and preach about being vegan. And it gets very very boring

I attempted to add these to my post. Not sure where they went...

And now I can see them.

Because SOME vegans are very preachy and evangelical. They believe that their way is the only way and that everyone else is wrong. And never pass up an opportunity to witter on about poor little baby calves or the evils of eating chicken.

Not all vegans are like that, but lots are with their sneery "Oh I could never eat a burger" stuff rather than just shutting up, quietly getting on with their lives and leaving the rest of us to make our own choices.

@BeingATwatItsABingThing

What brilliant pictures! So very true

As a meat eater of many decades I've never once been preached at by a vegan.

As a veggie/vegan for about 10 years on and off I've been preached at by a meat eater almost every day.