Ve*ganism and School Life

TheSixthStitch Aruba • Posts: 988

11 12 Feb 2011

Mean people wear fur said:

I've had some bad experiences, especially at first, and my friends were a little curious as to why I chose to become Vegetarian, then Vegan, but they are very supportive and stick up for me if someone tries to insult me about it.
At the moments, there is this one guy in my form and science class, who for some reason will occasionally hang around me and my friends at lunch (we all find him annoying and never talk to him, so it's kinda weird he'll sit with us some days), who keeps bringing me being a "vegetarian" into everything. I say "vegetarian" because I'm actually Vegan but haven't told many people, and after I finsish typing what this guy says all the time, you'll see why I haven't including him in the people that I've told, so he thinks I'm currently vegetarian.

He brings me not eating meat into EVERYTHING. Seriously, EVERY single topic, he brings it up. One day he squirted us (me and my friends) with water, so I jokingly picked up my water bottle like "I'm gonna squirt you back!" and he says "BUT YOU'RE A VEGETARIAN!" and I just say "what the heck does that have to do with anything?" and he just ignores me.

He'll also things like "What do you eat if you don't eat salad then?!" (One time my friend offered me some of her salad, but I said nah I don't feel like salad, so he assumes I hate salad.) and this morning he was extremely annoying just standing next to me going "Meat meat meat MEAT MEAT MEAT DEAD ANIMAL DEAD DEAD DEAD ANIMAL DYING ON A BURGER STEAK STEAK SAUSAGES BURGER YUM MEAT DEAD ANIMAL" I was seriously considering just punching him and getting a suspension. I ignored him for about 10 minutes, but he kept going (even though my friend was having a go at him) and then he goes "I'm gonna make her crack, she'll end up vomiting and crying!" and continues on saying "MEAT MEAT MEAT" until the bell rang for class. I should add that the conversation that was going on before he said that had nothing to do with food, we were talking about how they are making a movie about the guy who got stuck under a rock and cut his own arm off in order to escape, and he brings up the whole salad thing, then does this. (Sorry if I'm not exactly correct about the story of the guy who cut his arm off, I'm pretty sure he got stuck under a rock but it could have been something else.)

I've just been ignoring him, but nearly ever since we've got back to school (this is ony our second week) he's been doing things like this, and it's really getting annoying. I'd punch him, and as I said, this morning I nearly did, but I'd rather deal with it in a way that I DON'T end up getting suspended.
I'm thinking that if (I say if, but it's most likely) he says something again tomorrow, I'll just say this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0
Though I might change some of the wording so it fits the situation better, it'd be weird if I said "everyone in this entire room" if we were outside, ya know? Oh, and I won't say the thing about point either, that'd be kinda weird, people would probably think I'm a nut, haha.

Does anyone have ideas or ways I can get this guy to stop? I'm thinking about going to one of the teachers, counselors (at our school you can talk to them about anything, and if it's something like bullying, which this is, i guess, they do something about it) or even the deputy or principal. I'd rather not have to go through all that just to get this guy to stop though, so any advice is welcome! Sorry for the long post, btw!

Sorry for the late reply, but I would definitely recommend seeing a teacher or counselor. They really shouldn't let 4yr olds in your year wink

But yeah, I would consider that to be harassment (and in a way, bullying). The mischievous part of me would suggest something far sinister to alleviate the situation but we do want to set an example for others, right?

Thankyou all for your replies. I'm very much impressed and [insert elusive word that means I have great respect] and that you're able to commit to veg*ism whilst at school. I became vegetarian and vegan a good while after highschool and thought that doing so whilst at school would suck so hard, especially being at an all boys catholic school. I salute you all!

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...2 WA • Posts: 2307

12 13 Feb 2011

Ah. Yeah. Well, this is my first year out of high school, and I can safely say that both as a vegetarian and later as a vegan, it was pretty hellish for me. Even my best friend would accuse me of "pushing the vegan agenda" if I so much as mentioned how I'd found out that something I liked was vegan. I had a vegetarian teacher, which was really awesome, but then I had another teacher who would routinely draw attention to and make fun of my lifestyle in class. Other than that, I was far from the popular kid, so only my small group of friends (and the class in which that particular teacher made fun of me) knew I was vegan. Kind of sad that these "friends" gave me so much grief about it. My best friend still gets awkward and uncomfortable around me when I mention food, cooking, or veganism. My other two highschool friends are fine, but he just flinches like I've slapped him every time it comes up.

Oh yeah, and I remember I asked the canteen lady once if she had any vegan options and she yelled at me. That was pretty embarrassing.

+ 1

...2 WA • Posts: 2307

13 13 Feb 2011

TheSixthStitch said:

Mean people wear fur said:

I've had some bad experiences, especially at first, and my friends were a little curious as to why I chose to become Vegetarian, then Vegan, but they are very supportive and stick up for me if someone tries to insult me about it.
At the moments, there is this one guy in my form and science class, who for some reason will occasionally hang around me and my friends at lunch (we all find him annoying and never talk to him, so it's kinda weird he'll sit with us some days), who keeps bringing me being a "vegetarian" into everything. I say "vegetarian" because I'm actually Vegan but haven't told many people, and after I finsish typing what this guy says all the time, you'll see why I haven't including him in the people that I've told, so he thinks I'm currently vegetarian.

He brings me not eating meat into EVERYTHING. Seriously, EVERY single topic, he brings it up. One day he squirted us (me and my friends) with water, so I jokingly picked up my water bottle like "I'm gonna squirt you back!" and he says "BUT YOU'RE A VEGETARIAN!" and I just say "what the heck does that have to do with anything?" and he just ignores me.

He'll also things like "What do you eat if you don't eat salad then?!" (One time my friend offered me some of her salad, but I said nah I don't feel like salad, so he assumes I hate salad.) and this morning he was extremely annoying just standing next to me going "Meat meat meat MEAT MEAT MEAT DEAD ANIMAL DEAD DEAD DEAD ANIMAL DYING ON A BURGER STEAK STEAK SAUSAGES BURGER YUM MEAT DEAD ANIMAL" I was seriously considering just punching him and getting a suspension. I ignored him for about 10 minutes, but he kept going (even though my friend was having a go at him) and then he goes "I'm gonna make her crack, she'll end up vomiting and crying!" and continues on saying "MEAT MEAT MEAT" until the bell rang for class. I should add that the conversation that was going on before he said that had nothing to do with food, we were talking about how they are making a movie about the guy who got stuck under a rock and cut his own arm off in order to escape, and he brings up the whole salad thing, then does this. (Sorry if I'm not exactly correct about the story of the guy who cut his arm off, I'm pretty sure he got stuck under a rock but it could have been something else.)

I've just been ignoring him, but nearly ever since we've got back to school (this is ony our second week) he's been doing things like this, and it's really getting annoying. I'd punch him, and as I said, this morning I nearly did, but I'd rather deal with it in a way that I DON'T end up getting suspended.
I'm thinking that if (I say if, but it's most likely) he says something again tomorrow, I'll just say this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0
Though I might change some of the wording so it fits the situation better, it'd be weird if I said "everyone in this entire room" if we were outside, ya know? Oh, and I won't say the thing about point either, that'd be kinda weird, people would probably think I'm a nut, haha.

Does anyone have ideas or ways I can get this guy to stop? I'm thinking about going to one of the teachers, counselors (at our school you can talk to them about anything, and if it's something like bullying, which this is, i guess, they do something about it) or even the deputy or principal. I'd rather not have to go through all that just to get this guy to stop though, so any advice is welcome! Sorry for the long post, btw!

Sorry for the late reply, but I would definitely recommend seeing a teacher or counselor. They really shouldn't let 4yr olds in your year wink

But yeah, I would consider that to be harassment (and in a way, bullying). The mischievous part of me would suggest something far sinister to alleviate the situation but we do want to set an example for others, right?

Wow, sorry to hear about your situation. =/ That guy sounds like quite the arse.
I agree with TheSixthStitch though, as tempting as it is to sort it out in a more "sinister" manner, you don't want to go getting a reputation as the stereotypical "hysterical vegan". I'd go speak to a teacher or counsellor about it.

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Mean people wear fur QLD • Posts: 1087

14 13 Feb 2011

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it happy

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sophxx NSW • Posts: 169

15 1 Apr 2011

I'm vegan in high school and I have no troubles at all.
When I began year seven there was me and one other girl who were vegetarians, now at the beginning of year 8 there's nine, including one vegan - me (:
It's definitely a big thing at my school now, random people come up to me and ask questions about it. I've done an art project on factory farming, written projects in religion on loving ALL of God's creatures and other things like that.
In food tech i just substituted - soy milk in cakes, mushrooms and vegetable stock when making wanton soup. A couple of times I just left off cheese but it wasn't ever a big problem for me.
Other kids think it's cool that I'm vegan and apart from one or two people I've never been teased about it.

+ 1

TofuUnleashed TAS • Posts: 986

16 1 Apr 2011

Mean people wear fur said:

I've had some bad experiences, especially at first, and my friends were a little curious as to why I chose to become Vegetarian, then Vegan, but they are very supportive and stick up for me if someone tries to insult me about it.
At the moments, there is this one guy in my form and science class, who for some reason will occasionally hang around me and my friends at lunch (we all find him annoying and never talk to him, so it's kinda weird he'll sit with us some days), who keeps bringing me being a "vegetarian" into everything. I say "vegetarian" because I'm actually Vegan but haven't told many people, and after I finsish typing what this guy says all the time, you'll see why I haven't including him in the people that I've told, so he thinks I'm currently vegetarian.

He brings me not eating meat into EVERYTHING. Seriously, EVERY single topic, he brings it up. One day he squirted us (me and my friends) with water, so I jokingly picked up my water bottle like "I'm gonna squirt you back!" and he says "BUT YOU'RE A VEGETARIAN!" and I just say "what the heck does that have to do with anything?" and he just ignores me.

He'll also things like "What do you eat if you don't eat salad then?!" (One time my friend offered me some of her salad, but I said nah I don't feel like salad, so he assumes I hate salad.) and this morning he was extremely annoying just standing next to me going "Meat meat meat MEAT MEAT MEAT DEAD ANIMAL DEAD DEAD DEAD ANIMAL DYING ON A BURGER STEAK STEAK SAUSAGES BURGER YUM MEAT DEAD ANIMAL" I was seriously considering just punching him and getting a suspension. I ignored him for about 10 minutes, but he kept going (even though my friend was having a go at him) and then he goes "I'm gonna make her crack, she'll end up vomiting and crying!" and continues on saying "MEAT MEAT MEAT" until the bell rang for class. I should add that the conversation that was going on before he said that had nothing to do with food, we were talking about how they are making a movie about the guy who got stuck under a rock and cut his own arm off in order to escape, and he brings up the whole salad thing, then does this. (Sorry if I'm not exactly correct about the story of the guy who cut his arm off, I'm pretty sure he got stuck under a rock but it could have been something else.)

I've just been ignoring him, but nearly ever since we've got back to school (this is ony our second week) he's been doing things like this, and it's really getting annoying. I'd punch him, and as I said, this morning I nearly did, but I'd rather deal with it in a way that I DON'T end up getting suspended.
I'm thinking that if (I say if, but it's most likely) he says something again tomorrow, I'll just say this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0
Though I might change some of the wording so it fits the situation better, it'd be weird if I said "everyone in this entire room" if we were outside, ya know? Oh, and I won't say the thing about point either, that'd be kinda weird, people would probably think I'm a nut, haha.

Does anyone have ideas or ways I can get this guy to stop? I'm thinking about going to one of the teachers, counselors (at our school you can talk to them about anything, and if it's something like bullying, which this is, i guess, they do something about it) or even the deputy or principal. I'd rather not have to go through all that just to get this guy to stop though, so any advice is welcome! Sorry for the long post, btw!

For some reason get the feeling that this guy has a crush on you. I think guys can tend to be complete d*heads when they like someone. ashamed

Just a random thought.

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ShadowDoubt QLD • Posts: 753

17 2 Apr 2011

TheSixthStitch said:

To those who go to school, be it primary or secondary school: What's it like being a veg*n while at school?

Are you given a hard time by others, or are you generally left alone?

Assuming there aren't many veg*ns in your year, do you sometimes feel like an outcast, or does it not bother you if you're in the minority?

Are you active at school with your veg*nism, or do you keep it to yourself?

I'd love to hear from people about their experiences, and please don't limit yourself to these questions.

Uni students are also applicable.

I'm in grade 10 at an all-girls boarding school and most of the girls are from cattle country. There's only 2 vego's in the whole school so it's pretty awful, we get crap food and I get told often my food looks like 'dog sh**" etc. I actually went off the other night at the girls and told them to shutup because they're not the ones eating it.
I don't do any sort of activism whilst at school because you know what omni's are like... defensive. Plus I don't want to make myself a target since I have to live with them. But overall it's sometimes good sometimes bad. happy

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ecochick SA • Posts: 214

18 2 Apr 2011

I'm currently in year 10 and 98% of the time its pretty good. When i first tell people, they dont really understand then (occasionally) i get through to them after explaining. I do have this one friend though who will bring up something about it and when i start having a conversation with her, she accuses me of pushing it on to her! we fight a lot actually. a bit of a personallity clash there. But other than that and a bit of eye-rolling its usually okay with the rest of my friends.

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What's your experience?