Oh no, not vegetarians/vegans...

[AprilHare]

Originally Posted by krisk

it would be a lot easier giving advice on this if we knew the situation. work? family? date? holiday?

It's happened twice: Work and formal university function.
I don't dine out much, but I get the feeling it's going to happen more and more... :/

[Laz116]

Originally Posted by AprilHare

It's happened twice: Work and formal university function.
I don't dine out much, but I get the feeling it's going to happen more and more... :/

I think it will too. On the other hand I think vegetarians as well get a lot of heat because they are being different. After all it's rare that you are at a gathering where vegetarians are the majority, unless you work for Greenpeace or something.

At least I have never, as an omnivore, experienced anyone giving me trouble over eating meat. On the other hand, I have witnessed lots of needling of my wife because she is a vegetarian. But she and I both come from traditional "meat and potato backgrounds". That may explain some of it.

But I agree: Nothing worse than newly reborn people.

[HansTWN]

Fortunately those militant vegans/vegetarians that want to go out and shame omnivores into submission seem to be mostly a North American phenomenon. The European and Asian subspecies are relatively harmless and only occasionally try to preach about supposed health benefits to friends and relatives. But if you make a few counter arguments they quickly change the subject and everybody is happy eating whatever they like.

[etherspin]

Originally Posted by DTM

Just a clarification: I didn't intend that as a reference to you, rather a general observation about an attitude many people seem to have. My apologies if I failed to express that properly.

totally understood, no worries

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by Patricia

It is Lesbia and her pet sparrow, as in the poems of Sappho and Catullus.
(I knew that the classical education would come in useful one day.)

Patricia, it's you and me at the first MR avatar meet-up!!

Have you forgotten??

You were telling me what the Mods really get up to - and I was promising not to tell.

[etherspin]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Fortunately those militant vegans/vegetarians that want to go out and shame omnivores into submission seem to be mostly a North American phenomenon. The European and Asian subspecies are relatively harmless and only occasionally try to preach about supposed health benefits to friends and relatives. But if you make a few counter arguments they quickly change the subject and everybody is happy eating whatever they like.

only if the host has omitted the animals considered special or sacred in that culture or region.
otherwise the "omnivore" guests are just as likely to "preach"

moral schizophrenia , got some ?

[Morken]

The Onion ('s ideas) solves everyones' problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M91dv1_QuuA

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by AprilHare

What ammunition should I bring to the table to defend myself against the verbal 'veg' barrage?

There is no excuse for rudeness. I think the "special diet" argument would work, but a direct look and "thank you for your input," delivered in an absolutely even tone, should suffice to remind people that they are being rude.

Originally Posted by DTM

If I were in China and were offered cat, I would decline to eat it. But I wouldn't lecture those who do about their preference being wrong or mine being morally superior; doing so would be rude and obnoxious.

Been there, done that. Actually, my situation in China was relatively easy, because I simply told my guides, hosts, etc. that I'm a vegetarian (I know how to say it in Mandarin, several ways), so that left all the unusual (to a Western palate) meats off the menu. People were quite considerate, and I had no criticisms of what anyone else was eating.

Originally Posted by carld

I can honestly say I've never experienced a vegetarian giving an omnivore grief over eating meat. I have however personally experienced the opposite. Some people get prickly and defensive when they find out there's a vegetarian around. I've had people I barely know come up to me and bother me about not eating meat.

The worst though, and I say this with no malice, are the no-carb Atkins types. The one's I've met have been weirdly confrontational.

I've gotten that too, from both Atkins types and others. I try not to bring the matter up with people I don't know well now (e.g. co-workers). I think with the Atkins folks it's the "no one preaches like the newly converted" effect.

What really puzzles me is when people ask why I'm a vegetarian, and then get angry about the answers, as though I'm somehow casting judgment on their lifestyle. Would it be more acceptable if I said "my astrologer told me to" or "I'm allergic to animal protein" or something? Why ask if you don't want to know? It's not like I go around trying to convince everyone else not to eat meat.

[carld]

Originally Posted by nekokami

Would it be more acceptable if I said "my astrologer told me to" or "I'm allergic to animal protein" or something? Why ask if you don't want to know? It's not like I go around trying to convince everyone else not to eat meat.

It's funny, I've actually gotten the "Are you allergic to meat?" question several times, usually accompanied by a wide-eyed stare.