Unsure if I am too harsh on meat eaters

One could argue that the opinions of meat eaters on animal issues are even more important than those of vegetarians, because meat eaters are the ones who are still financially contributing to those industries. So it is these people we most need to reach and inspire a change of opinion.

With this in mind, I do my best never to get into arguments that would leave anyone with a negative opinion of veg*ns or animal rights.

I truly believe that deep down almost everyone agrees with the underlying values that have motivated us to go veg (ie. unnecessary cruelty is bad and we should avoid creating situations that cause such unnecessary suffering to others). So I always try and find that common ground with people and make them realise that I share their values (and visa versa). Even if you can't win someone over completely to your way of thinking, if you leave them with a positive impression of veg*ns and the cause then they will be more likely to think about what you've said and will be more receptive to future animal rights messages.

see in most of these replies you're talking about personal experience with people confronting your Veganism... those people are just f**k faces...

most people who eat meat and are passionate about animals, have a personality, which entails warm and discerning qualities... never needing people to explain themselves...

as they don't need to justify their existence by scrutinizing anything which puts their ethics into question, their dumb, blind and bold ... stupid opinion...

i'd call them f**k faces, you call them 'meat eaters'... we both know who you're referring to and it isn't the mass population of life on this planet which eats animals.

haha you guys are intense! im so glad im not the only one!  

I'm not sure if this counts....

But I see ALL meat eaters as walking graveyards.... it's where flesh goes to decompose.

So therefore, I do not believe you are being to harsh

I just think they are hypocritical moles. I'm at a point now where when meat eaters die I don't feel as bad because as if they ever cared when animals where tortured while waiting to be killed for every meal they have.

Whenever I start to get frustrated, I try to think back to when I ate meat - I honestly didn't know the truth back then. And I'd never really thought of animals being *killed* such was the disconnect I had with my food.

Very very few vegans have been that way their whole life, almost all of us ate meat at some point, and it's not because we were bad people. For most of us there was one person or moment that made us stop and think "what AM I doing?"

In my case it was meeting both Lyn White and Jill Robinson on the same day and us all having a genuine discussion about farmed animals - they left SUCH a positive impression on me, they didn't look down on me for not being aware of the truth, they simply let me know why they didn't eat meat - that was enough, I haven't eaten meat since that day.

If I ever get questioned about my diet, I take the opportunity to try to leave a positive impression, like Jesse said above. And I secretly hope I can be the moment that makes that person think "what AM I doing?"

I agree with most of you. That whole misconception and ignorance based on the "you aren't getting your protein and nutrients" myth. You can't ever convince these people that they are wrong either, Someone is either open minded and when you correct them they will go and do their own homework or they will battle a pointless argument to the bitter end.

I lost two of my good friends that I'd known since I was 13 (I am now 27) this week after getting into an argument.  

I posted an article on Animal Cruelty and Vegans and my friend though it was a good time to call me names, I had basically compared the treatment of the Jewish and Polish during World War II by the NAZI's to what meat eaters are doing every day and somehow justifying it to themselves.

He is polish and he thought the concept of having his people be compared to Animals was that offensive that it would be worth ending a friendship. Personally I would consider it a compliment, If I was told that I had eaten meat the majority of my life out of instinct and not plain and simple gluttony or ignorance that would absolve a heap of guilt.

The thing I really don't get is when someone asks you about being Vegan they act like your diseased and like there is something wrong with you for choosing to do no harm. How can choosing to go out of your way to do no harm possibly be considered a negative on them.

The only reason for this behavior that I can see is that they are intimidated when confronted with their own guilt when considering our reasons for choosing this lifestyle.

Very sorry if I offended anyone with my comparisons it's not meant to be a race thing, just a comparison between all human beings.

yeah He didn't realize that 'animals' was a derogatory term used against his people and others, which was misguided.. and the way it made him feel, was merely transferred weakly onto the chosen insult, not being understanding enough to see through the hate . hey look, in the future people will think the same about being called meat eaters.. hated by association

those MEAT EATERS havn't developed as wise and strong constitutions as us upper class, important people of SOH-Si-Ety. oooOOOOOhoohoOOOooOhoohoho what folly, those filthy beasts.

Look at them suckle on the cows teat and chew their food..

I prefer injecting my nutrients into my eyeball and wearing hemp panties.

I agree with Jane. Not everyone was born vegan or vegetarian. You have to remember that you are changing people's lives, or at least trying. Alot of people genuinly believe they are making the right choices for their bodies and don't have an issue with what they consume because that is what they have been lead to believe their whole lives. One person saying otherwise is not going to change their minds immediatly, let alone one person getting fustrated that they don't have the same point of view and decide to get abusive/disregard that person's opinion because of it.
It took me two years just to become vegetarian. And personally, it was a long process. I've grown up in a rural area where farming is the lifestyle most people undertake, the majority of people eat what they grow here, so when I started questioning the food on my plate, people looked at me like I was asking ridiculous questions.
I was pescetarian for a year before I put my foot down and said no, fish are animals too. And how I got to that point? People like Jesse and Jane who took the time out to explain their point of view and not attack me for my opinions, little did I know I was just repeating what had been drilled into me since I've been born, we "need" animals to live, and if you don't eat fish, you won't receive enough protein and will become critically ill. That and the information people like Jane and Jesse kindly and respectfully led me to, so I could make the connection myself if I didn't want to take their word for it. Part of the reason it took me so long was because I had others on here attacking me because I still ate fish, others who couldn't understand how I didn't make the connection, and transformed their anger at the industry towards me, as I was a living example of why the industry gets away with what they do.
This is something important we need to try and remind ourselves, we are changing people's lifestyles, and alot of the arguments we are given against our diet is what those people know and believe, be kind, open-minded, and patient.. because the majority of people, like me, if treated that way will make that conncection themselves.
It took me two years to make the connection to go vege, and already again thanks to people like Jane and Jesse, I plan to go vegan as soon as I have the resources. People who attacked/got fustrated at me because I couldn't see what they saw yet left me wanting to shut down, put my foot down and ignore everybody.


Ok so that was a massive tangent.. hope it makes sense! n_n

*swells with pride* Amen, Emma!