hostility towards vegetarians (choice, experience)

[----]

has any body else experienced this. people make a huge deal about my vegetarianism. my wifes parent are bush lovin rednecks and everytime i'm around them it's all they talk about. stupid questions like can you eat this or can you it that? or anytime im around food with them there always quick to point out " it doesn't have any meat in it."

[Bishka]

Welcome to the forums. This looks like this is your first post.

I had a bit of trouble when I was a vegetarian with my grandparents saying that. They didn't understand the reasnos why I did not want to eat it. Both sides of them grew up in the depression and so for me to be a vegetarian and not eat meat was a bit strange to them (and my grandparents have cows).

I don't know if it's really appropriate to call your in-laws 'bush lovin' rednecks', that may be one reason that you have trouble with them.

Just a thought.

[----]

well we have more problems than just vegetarianism between us. i also have the grandparent problem my grandma has never even heard of a vegetarian, so she doesn't get why i wont eat her food.

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by ----

well we have more problems than just vegetarianism between us. i also have the grandparent problem my grandma has never even heard of a vegetarian, so she doesn't get why i wont eat her food.

Then maybe you could explain it to her. I explained it to mine, and told them

"I love your cooking, but at the current time I'm not eating any meat to due my choice to abstain from it. If this offends you, I'm sorry but I have made my choice."

[CDRaider]

I went with a group to China and there were several vegitarians with us and a vegan and i'll tell you what, they had so much trouble eating food because almost everything had at least some tiny bit of meat in it. And for the vegan, so much is made with juices derived from fat that she couldn't eat it.

But yeah, i understand what you mean, those guys and gals that went with me trying to explain to the chinese that they were vegitarian through a translator... yeah... that was difficult.

[Ðanisty]

Originally Posted by ----

has any body else experienced this. people make a huge deal about my vegetarianism. my wifes parent are bush lovin rednecks and everytime i'm around them it's all they talk about. stupid questions like can you eat this or can you it that? or anytime im around food with them there always quick to point out " it doesn't have any meat in it."

I'm not a vegetarian, so no, I haven't experienced this. However, I have experienced hostility from vegetarians about the fact that I eat meat.

[Ciscokid]

Originally Posted by ----

has any body else experienced this. people make a huge deal about my vegetarianism. my wifes parent are bush lovin rednecks and everytime i'm around them it's all they talk about. stupid questions like can you eat this or can you it that? or anytime im around food with them there always quick to point out " it doesn't have any meat in it."

I wouldn't call that hostility. I only found vegetarians to be annoying when they're real vocal about their eating habits. I don't seem to find many of them where I live.

[YamiB.]

Eh, it swings both ways.

Some people mock vegetarians for thier choice and taunt about not eating meat. But there are also vegetarians who will become just as belligerent towards those who continue eating meat. I would bet that the simple fact of both sides doing this also causes others to repeat the same action out frustration.

I will admit that I can not understand the reasoning behind going vegetarian or vegan based on moral reasons, rather than religious reasons or taste. Depending on my mood I will probably look at such a choice as a little odd or naive. But I hold no real malice towards them, as long as it works for them in their lives.

On a side note, I feel bad for my Japanese teacher. He used to be able to eat meat and enjoyed it, but he was forced to stop eating it due to complications from appendicitis.

[GeneCosta]

I've actually been fortunate enough to meet people who think it's cool. Even my class mates, who I thought would voice their opinion about it being strange, like to ask me a lot of positive questions.

[methylatedghosts]

(posted by methylatedghosts partner)

I was vegetarian for a few years, only eating the odd slice of redmeat at Christmas (the meat was from a family farm). I did have to explain my reasons to a lot of people, but generally my friends and their parents would just cook more veges or rice for me when I was having meals with them.
I choose not to eat meat for health reasons....those went out the door when I became severly aenemic (on doctors orders to eat redmeat), I try to be as vegetarian as possible, but not only do my medical conditions inhibit this, but the fact that I am a Uni student living away from home, and the cheapest meals to have are chicken and meat (I can't eat seafood).

If you sit down and talk to those who don't understand and explain your reasons, I'm sure they will come to grips with it soon.
Though if your reasons happen to be "animals are too cute" or along those lines, it might take a little longer.

~ Mallery