Why is vegetarianism/ veganism the worst thing in the world?

je ne comprends pas NSW • Posts: 534

1 26 Jun 2012

I bet if I took up smoking my friends and family would have less of a problem with it because it isn't as detrimental to my health as veganism apparently is. I am about to lose it, I swear. I am getting so tired of the ridiculous things that people say to me. Recently my sister noticed that I had some nutritional yeast, and after making some absurd comment about me being more extreme and giving up gluten (the nutritional yeast just happens to be gluten free) I told her that I got it at an awesome store where they sell lots of vegan items. She cut me off and said, 'this isn't vegan'. I was thinking, 'what?' Apparently to her, an item isn't vegan unless it is advertised as vegan. Oh dear! I guess that makes her feel better about all the food she eats that's accidentally vegan like lettuce and masterfood's tartare sauce. Coming from a pescetarian... I just don't understand her animosity.
But it wasn't just her. My lovely "friend" (who is a vegetarian) also has the same view, and likes to correct me all the time on fb (that's why I deleted my account because of all my lovely "friends"... friends by extension really. I'd never be friends with people like that).

Anyway, I just need to know... what the hell? Do I need to put it all in perspective? Should I start selling my body on the street and ask 'is this better than being vegan?' If there are any meat eaters on here (or vegetarians), please feel free to let me know why you are, I don't know, frightened of veganism...?

EDIT: My cousin also recently denied wanting to be a vegetarian (8 years or so ago). She said she never wanted to be vegetarian and she never will be. Why? What? Is she embarrassed to admit that to people? Is it so disgusting being vegetarian? I remember it distinctly because her mother had a go to me about it, apparently I'm a bad influence (considering my sister went vegetarian shortly after me).

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KirstyGirl TAS • Posts: 705

2 27 Jun 2012

Really strange... how can things only be vegan if it has the vegan label on it? Like you said fruit and veg don't.

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Sheriff NSW • Posts: 5

3 1 Jul 2012

I'm also tired of all these people who think they can add their two-cents worth. I just came back from a family dinner where my dad thought it was appropriate to say "I thought you had woken up to yourself and were going to order a steak". Also mentioned during the night was that I don't take care of my husband because I don't cook him meat. These people think its okay to publicly slam another person for their diet choices. It really ticks me off. To add onto this, I was bombarded with pretty much an interrogation on my life- "so what do you ACTUALLY eat? I bet just beans and tofu", "what about protein?"...... blah blah blah!

Great- thanks for the enjoyable dinner.

People get their backs up as soon as they hear the word 'vegetarian'. Its like they are trying to defend themselves by putting others down.

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Casper.s2 SA • Posts: 1444

4 1 Jul 2012

If your title is a proper question then the answer would be Soya.

But anyway this is easy solved, just don't mention being Vegan and eat what you like?

Then when someone says "why are you eating what you like?"

you can tell them politely "f**k you"

happy

solved.

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The Sair Scare WA • Posts: 2303

5 2 Jul 2012

Just get informed on vegan health, learn what's so good about it, read the China Study and keep on keeping on. I promise you that eventually, they will be okay with it. It took my family a while, but they now have no fears for my health and fully support me. Not long ago my dad even looked at me and said, "you know, I can't imagine you eating meat or milk anymore. I think you'll stay to it forever"

And in the beginning he even forbade me from going vegan. Stay strong. It will get better in time.

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GoldAutumn NSW • Posts: 137

6 5 Jul 2012

I had a friend recently abuse, make fun of and delete me on facebook for posting a link about the benefits of veganism. He was mad that i called him a hypocrite because he posts a lot of religious links and preaches to people, but i can't say anything about what i believe in? They're scared, scared of what they don't understand and scared of what they feel they can't accomplish themselves.

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Kelsey1 United States • Posts: 804

7 29 Jul 2012

So being healthy means you are bad? Vegans are the best people in the world.

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Hannahcolby NSW • Posts: 93

8 31 Jul 2012

Sheriff said:

I'm also tired of all these people who think they can add their two-cents worth. I just came back from a family dinner where my dad thought it was appropriate to say "I thought you had woken up to yourself and were going to order a steak". Also mentioned during the night was that I don't take care of my husband because I don't cook him meat. These people think its okay to publicly slam another person for their diet choices. It really ticks me off. To add onto this, I was bombarded with pretty much an interrogation on my life- "so what do you ACTUALLY eat? I bet just beans and tofu", "what about protein?"...... blah blah blah!

Great- thanks for the enjoyable dinner.

People get their backs up as soon as they hear the word 'vegetarian'. Its like they are trying to defend themselves by putting others down.

i have the exact same problem with my family! even my partner questions my health because of it. ( mind you there is nothing wrong with my health, its merely the fact that im not eating an animal that makes him think its not healthy ) and that so funny that you mention " what about protien? " that is always the question people ask me, like they cant possibly see a way that a vegan can get protien from anything other then animals. I feel as though they believe it is the "right" way to live, they are so used to that lifestyle, and because we are different ( to them ) they will always be defensive about it, because in a way, they see it as offending their way of life.

It also always makes me uncomfortable to answer these questions, like the other week we had a work lunch, and there was about 20-30 people there, i put in my order for a vegan lunch, and as soon as one person noticed and asked why i dont eat meat, EVERYONE turned and looked at me for my response, like everyone was dying to ask me but didnt want to. It was so confronting, i got so nervous like they were all attacking me, and just said i dont like the taste, and tried to change conversation. i hate it.

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The Sair Scare WA • Posts: 2303

9 31 Jul 2012

Sheriff said:

Also mentioned during the night was that I don't take care of my husband because I don't cook him meat.

What, are we living in the 50s still? How about your husband is a fully grown man and if he wants a steak then I hope to hell he's capable of cooking one himself by now!

We've all had dinners like that. Thankfully, MOST of the people in my admittedly very small family are over it by now. That said, if I am asked where I get my protein from one more time, I'm going to beat my head into a brick wall. tongue

The same goes for "so what DO you eat?" My response these days is "Food. What do YOU eat? Connective tissue, blood vessels and muscle?"

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StephVeganXO QLD • Posts: 124

10 31 Jul 2012

Im proud to be vegan! You know when someone is in the wrong and you confront them about it, whats the first thing they do- get defensive! Its the same with eating meat they know its wrong deep deep down but choose to ignore it and jump to defend them self

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