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?

They would have no need to tie themselves in knots trying to persuade everyone that veganism is unhealthy or unethical

I don't see why ethics and health are being linked.

@Formerbabe, on every discussion about veganism I’ve read, there have been both types of comment.

Because people who are picky and awkward about food due to their beliefs make life 10x more difficult for people who have genuine allergies and medical diets. We all get tarred with the same brush, even though “won’t eat it” and “can’t eat it” are completely different. Being picky about food is also very first world and over privileged.

I think being vegan is really admirable. I wouldn't make a young child vegan (veggie would be fine) due to concerns about adequate calcium and choline intake, but after the age of 10, assuming the child wants to, I'd be happy for them to be vegan.
It's obviously possible to raise a healthy vegan child, but it's a lot of hassle trying to create a balanced diet, and if DC is a fussy eater it's almost impossible. You have to give extra supplements too which is fine, but just something to be aware of.

The thing is people talk about food a lot- I mean loads. Not many vegans or meat eaters are going to approach you and tell you about it. But if you are talking about food, it will come up. I know loads of vegans and I’ve been one for 18 years or so. Nobody I know preaches - what would be the point? But someone saying oh I don’t eat meat or animal products, or answering questions about it is often seen as preaching, which is really odd. And then you get a backlash on a conversation you never started or wanted.

I don't hate vegans or vegetarians either.
You can be vegan until you're blue in the face for all I care It's the sanctimonious whinging that gets on my wick.

Being picky about food is also very first world and over privileged
Well. Most of the world's vegetarians do not live in the first world. Never mind the extreme "pickiness" of Muslims and Jewish people wherever they may live.

You eat your diet, I will eat mine. Simples.

One thing though, if we go vegan, what happens to the livestock which are now valueless from a commercial standpoint?

These animals are suffering, in their trillions. In horrific conditions. They are not preachy,or sanctimonious but they sure as hell are dying. They are the ones we should be outraged about.

I have a relative who's vegan and it simply defines who they are in every part of their life. They only like other vegans (and sincerely dislike non-vegans) and laud all the vegan celebrities as if they're in the same gang, they only attend special vegan eateries and events, the dog is vegan, they won't vaccinate their children because it's not vegan...

For many vegans it's not just a case of eating a plant based diet and cracking on with life. It is their life.

These animals are suffering, in their trillions. In horrific conditions. They are not preachy,or sanctimonious but they sure as hell are dying. They are the ones we should be outraged about.

Absolutely.

And that is the reason that vegans become quite passionate about sharing this with people. It's up to other people if they listen or not - it is only called "preachy" because the person doesn't want to hear it.

But it is the truth.

As a PP said, it is largely cognitive dissonance. There is no ethical argument against veganism, but there is against consumption of animals.

People want to feel better about the choices they make. You can even see it here with posters replying to individual messages suggesting that it is guilt...

Sherpas keep sheep and yaks. Yak butter features heavily in their cuisine.

Only the cunty ones

You see, I can respect the choice and the right to be vegan. I might not agree with the diet, for a variety of reasons, but I'll respect the choice and the right.

However, there seem to be vegans who cannot expect my choice and right not to be vegan or vegetarian. They don't have to agree with my diet, for a variety of reasons, but they can't even respect the choice and the right.

They feel the need to assume that I feel 'guilt', because they would feel 'guilt'. Because they think I should feel 'guilt'. Sorry old chaps, I really, really don't. But if you need to think that I do, because you feel I should, then you go hard. You are, however, wrong.

I didn’t know there was hatred towards vegans until Romesh Ranganathan’s video popped up on social media explaining that people hate vegans because they know that they are better than other people! I thought it was a bit weird, I’ve always felt indifference and certainly not hatred. I think a lot of celebs spend half their lives on Twitter/Facebook reading keyboard warriors slag anyone and everyone off and assume it reflects reality. In actual fact 99% of people are happy for vegans.

I apologise for my misinformation about Sherpas. I saw in a documentary that they ate a vegetarian diet, I was clearly wrong.

Nearly all the vegans I know are a bit like most of the rather religious people i know, they want to tell me about it, regularly. The apparent health benefits, the importance to the environment, how persecuted vegans are, and just how much they are loving it.

I'm not interested . I don't want to hear about it especially, and they insist on harping on about it.

Same reason car drivers hate cyclists i suppose

There is no argument against veganism as an individual choice. The suggestion that humanity as a whole should eat less meat is a good one, and vegans do more than their fair share of assisting this.

It's when you get to the suggestion that everyone, or everyone in wealthy developed economies who can afford it, should turn vegan. Here there are practical considerations with ethical implications for the British countryside, most of which is good only for pasture. The catastrophic effects of palm oil cultivation would be massively multiplied by a rich world needing to import vast new quantities of soya etc.

Anyway, lab meat is coming.

I hate it when vegans complain about the sausage rolls in Greggs.

Oh wait.......

Your post is exactly why we don’t like you. You can’t be vegan without having to tell the whole world about it

I don't judge vegetarians or vegans but I do sometimes ask them about their choice/how they get protein etc. Just out of interest but I guess it could get annoying if everyone did the same as me every time you sit down to eat!

I like vegans

(but I couldn't manage a whole one.)

Sherpas keep sheep and yaks. The absolute bastards
And yet I am part of the devil's work because I'm a sheep farmer.

Vegans need to check their privilege