Foo - How do you (personally) feel about vegans and vegetarians?

What is your experience/ how do you feel about vegans and vegetarians?

I like them grilled, on the barbecue.

I said "vegetarians" not vegetables :P. I am actually curious what your actual feeling is about them.

Backstory: 20 year vegetarian here, I'm as low key about it as they come, I only let somebody know if it's unavoidable. You can eat a steak in front of me; I don't mind, in fact, I may ask how the steak is.

Anyway, I've had some issues with vegans, I get the impression some of them feel that my kind, lacto-ovo 'tarians are somehow inferior. I've heard from people who eat meat that they have had vegans flip out on them for eating meat etc.

In my Sociology class, there is a "militant" vegan. Even the instructor is a vegan, though she isn't really the militant type, I feel her course material is biased towards veganism (ie: it's mentioned in the course outline.) This bothers me a great deal as I feel "my kind" is an endangered species and that the non-rude vegetarian/vegan is also rare. That also bothers me as sometimes people act nervous about eating meat in front of me, from past *****ings-out from other vegetarians (actually, I mostly hear it's vegans doing this.) I obviously can't undo every bit of damage that rude people of my particular dietary choice do.

I'm curious about everyone's experience with vegetarians and vegans. Have you had rude treatment? You can comment no matter what your dietary choices, even vegans may reply.

I think they are exercising a choice. As long as they don't get all militant on me and try to dictate my choices, I'll accept theirs.

Which is what I want...I believe in personal choice (about most things) Have you had experience with them, Tom?

Sorry Luddite but most vegans don't get along with me. I try to get along with them but vegans don't want to get along with anybody and they don't want to meet anybody half-way.
I sat in this Thai food restaurant awhile back (ok, 2 weeks ago) and ordered pad ki mao (I loves me some pad ki mao). I told the waiter to add beef. As the waiter went towards the kitchen with the order, he was stopped by a lady at a table as she grabbed his arm.

Lady: I just heard someone order his food with beef. Make sure that none of his beef touches any of what I ordered! I don't want beef in my food! Please make sure none of his food touches my food!

I mean, jeesh lady! Take a chill pill!

At work I tried to make my move on a co-worker but she's vegan and won't go to any of the restaurants that I like so I gave up after awhile. Tough crowd.:rolleyes:
Ernest

What is your experience/ how do you feel about vegans and vegetarians?

I find them annoying.

f em

Which is what I want...I believe in personal choice (about most things) Have you had experience with them, Tom?

My niece is a militant Vegan. She tried her thing with me, until I patiently explained that I can't assimilate vegetable protein properly, so she accepts my carnivore diet. (I have a shortened alimentary canal, and am missing some enzymes necessary to break down Vegetable protein, and need animal protein to get enough Protein oin my diet.)

When it comes to dating or living with someone, picky eaters bother me to some extent and I feel vegetarians and vegans are just another form of a picky eater. I never shoulda broke up with that one girl that loved Vienamese, Ethiopian, Greek, Lebanese, all the good stuff and had no problems with a little veal every now and then.

Some veg's come across as picky eaters with a purpose and try to preach too much, those are really bothersome, but I don't know that many like that.

I was ovo-lacto (and fish maybe once a month) for a couple of years, then one day after snowboarding a gigantic greasy cheeseburger sounded like the best thing in the world, and it was.

Dated a vegetarian for a while.
Deciding where to go eat was a continuous maddeningly frustrating struggle.
Only found one restaurant that had vegetarian nachos, first veggy food I had that didn't seem like an incomplete appetizer. Damn good nachos.
Those nachos were the only good thing i got out of that relationship.
Really good nachos here:http://tpsiclients.com/chowpatti/

Also she borrowed all my f'in money and never paid back a cent
Shoulda known she was no good cuz she hated cats

Vegans are good because they make vegetarianism more attractive. Before people had heard of veganism, vegetarianism was the most extreme thing out there and many people don't want to be the craziest kid on the block. But as long as there is something even more extreme, it makes vegetarianism seem pretty mild by comparison and people will accept it.

I was a vegetarian for several years and still believe it a much better/smarter/more-responsible way to live. But it was such a pain in the ass that i gave it up. i'm still not a big fan of meat, but i'll eat it. but i rarely crave it.

To each their own - if they want vegan, fine - cool by me; meat peeps - fine by me. I've been tending to eat less meat the last many years anyway. But when I do - it's spectacular.

I used to run the catering division of a cajun bbq restaurant and did many vegan dishes for weddings (that included meat as well) and back in the kitchen we were careful of how the food (usually a spicy vegetable gumbo) was prepared - plus we also prepared a great roasted pepper hummus (made sure it was a separate grill too in order to do the roasted peppers) and how food was prepped to go to places, etc - there was no mixing of food stuffs - we made sure - I mean even the dressings (and ingredients into the dressings) were totally approved of.

No problems with me here with vegans. However pushing one's "life-style" on me would definitely irritate me and so that wouldn't be good. Meh. I haz too many other things in life to think about though.

I was a hard core vegetarian (milk products, yes, but no meat, fish or eggs) for 3 years beginning at age 20. I lost a lot of weight and became anemic to the point where I couldn't even donate my blood. Then a former vegetarian shared her experience with me, relating how not everyone can eat a strict vegetarian diet. My issue at the time was moral, the non-killing of animals. When it came to survival though (being strong as opposed to being weak and sick), I decided to live as healthy and strong as I could, which meant beginning to eat chicken and fish for the necessary protein and B vitamins. Over time the moral issue also became moot. Now I don't believe there is any connection at all between the raising and killing of animals for food and "higher awareness."

A former neighbor was a militant raw food vegan. She was a very intolerant person, constantly railing against "poisoned processed foods" and modern artificial lifestyles. She was also prone to really bizarre behavior, including but not limited to violent outbursts to the point where her (now ex) husband was given complete custody of their baby girl. These days I pretty much walk away whenever anyone brings up the subjects of vegetarianism and modern artificial lifestyles.

I said "vegetarians" not vegetables.
Yeah, I got that. ;)

They're good with a bit of hickory sauce too. Mmmm.

I don't care what others eat, as long as they stay out of my business.

My mother is a vegetarian. My father is a carnivore and a hunter. I choose meat, but I certainly know where it comes from. I've gone through cycles of no meat, and so has my sister. We've both come back to meat at different points, though. ...Oddly enough, one of my vegetarian cycles was the result of switching back to beef when we had eaten all of the Elk my father had killed. Beef was just too nasty smelling and fatty in comparison to the Elk. I did eventually get over it, but I'm still fussy about beef being of high quality (low in fat, raised right, and not just a mix of beef parts from different countries).

We all managed to live in one house. Most dishes were presented with a meated and meatless version. Burritos, spagetti, manicotti, etc. can be done both ways. If meat is the main dish, my mom will make sides that contain protein.

We can all live together. ;)

Their are all kinds of diets people choose for many different reasons. A vegetarian is no different than any other dietary choice. Like any subject people become passionate over lifestyle choices & at times can be rather aggressive in their desire to express their views. I do not evaluate people based on diet or any other lifestyle choices. I evaluate people based on their self respect & the respect they extend to the people around them. We all make choices & live with the rewards or suffer the consequences of those choices.

Depends on the idividual. As one member stated, I don't care much about what others do but I'm in no possiton to not care about guests, family members who are vegetarians. I need to accomodate them as far as food, I'm obliged to. On a personal note, some vegetarians bug me, you know, the ones that eat certain foods, all the while espousing their views on others eating meat.
One young fellow I know, a self identified vegetarian likes chicken, sushi and an occasional burger, he's one of those individuals. A niece of is a vegetarian, I respect her. She says and does what she believes, no exceptions. She's quite healthy. She's birthed three children on her kitchen floor with a midwife and her mom present so she's got to be strong and healty
Vegans .. not so sure. There are essential vitamins that exist in and ONLY in animal products such as dairy and others, those things acceptable to vegetarians but not vegans.
I find it awfully peculiar that vegans can't even eat honey, very strange !

it's a western thing.

try being a vegan in one of the asian countries. It's impossible to eat a strict vegetarian diet because a lot of the cuisine is based around at least one form of meat.

It's understandable to not eat a certain meat when there is a new virus making it's way around that species.
But I think vegans are in disbelief if they think their diet is 'moral'. Who's setting their standards for 'morals'? Why do they think they have better morals than omnivores?

Vegetarians who are 'socially competent' are fine. By that I mean that they don't hassle you about your food choices, don't hassle staff in restaurants unreasonably, and don't freak out about a little bit of potential 'cross contamination' (I'll keep half the BBQ grill clean for you, but don't ride me about the little stuff because I'm armed with tongs - 'K?).

Vegans scare the beejeebers out of me. Firstly because nearly every vegan I've met has been annoying by constantly hassling me/the group about our food choices. Secondly because EVERY vegan I've met has struggled to remain healthy due to the amazing difficulty in securing adequate nutrition from such a limited range of foodstuffs.

I thought vegetarian Hindus and vegetarian Buddhists did not eat meat?

I love some vegetarians. The vegetarians in my family are not true vegetarians. They eat eggs, cheese, milk, etc. The vegetarian Hindus I know also eat dairy products and may even cook lamb and chicken for other family members. So I guess, I do not know any true vegetarians.

Many do not eat chicken, pork, beef, lamb, venison, goat, shellfish.

Some do eat fish, scallops, shrimp, abalone, crayfish, lobster, snails, octopus, squid.

I just think of them as vegetarians because that is what they are eating mainly. I find it funny vegetarians that eat soybean products that mimic chicken or a garden burger.

I also notice certain beef/pork/chicken/etc. eaters that condemn fishing for your dinner. I am sure there are always those that have a problem in what others do.

Vegans drive me nuts. Some of the most judgemental condecending (sp?) and unhealthy people I've ever met. My friends son starting dating a new age hippy vegan (17yr old) and got converted. She started preaching at us first time we met her. Typical stuff. I asked why her health was so bad when I'm 40 with perfect health, blood pressure etc and only go to the Dr. maybe once a year. And it's usually for a little sniffle or I've crashed the mtn bike again and need to get something realigned.
That pretty much shut her up.
Vegetarians, no problems. Like most people have said, keep the militant crap to yourself. Sorry, I'm a firm believer the human body needs real protein to keep moving.

I thought vegetarian Hindus and vegetarian Buddhists did not eat meat?

I love some vegetarians. The vegetarians in my family are not true vegetarians. They eat eggs, cheese, milk, etc. The vegetarian Hindus I know also eat dairy products and may even cook lamb and chicken for other family members. So I guess, I do not know any true vegetarians.

Many do not eat chicken, pork, beef, lamb, venison, goat, shellfish.

Some do eat fish, scallops, shrimp, abalone, crayfish, lobster, snails, octopus, squid.

I just think of them as vegetarians because that is what they are eating mainly. I find it funny vegetarians that eat soybean products that mimic chicken or a garden burger.

I also notice certain beef/pork/chicken/etc. eaters that condemn fishing for your dinner. I am sure there are always those that have a problem in what others do.

Buddhist monks.

I have never had personal problems with vegetarians or vegans, but I would not get along well with someone who thinks I'm a immoral person for eating meat.

I think vegans could be a threat to society, if they came to power. Think PETA. They would try to forbid people to eat meat. Absurd? See what the anti-smoking people are doing.

They'll never be a threat, though. Vegetarianism and, specifically, veganism are very unnatural behaviors. These are not just ways of eating. These are ideologies.

For some sensible vegetarians, I recommend www.beyondveg.org.

So long as the person choosing to eat that way doesn't make an issue out of it, or start proselytizing, or cares what I choose to eat, it matters nothing to me. Eat what you want, I'll eat what I want. And leave it at that.

I'm not a true vegetarian, I eat fish occasionally. I just call myself one because it seems to be easier for people to understand than trying to explain which meat I don't eat.

I met a vegetarian once who said she was a vegetarian because she didn't want to hurt the little bunnies. :wtf: The don't eat bunny, pretty ****ing simple if you ask me. Along with the militant vegan/vegetarians, idiots like her also annoy the crap out of me.

I've known many vegetarians, their diet choice is typically based on a health decision. They have all been respectful of otherd dietary choices and also tend to be very good cooks. I have considered many vegetarians as my friend.

Over my years, I've met a couple vegans unfortunately. They have tended to be annoying, holier than thou, and disdainful of others choices. Those attitudes, in any respect, politics, religion, bicycling, etc. are not endearing to me. I have never met a vegan that I would have considered a friend.

I am sure there are vegetarians out there that are real holes, example: Hitler was a vegetarian.

I am also sure that there are vegans, maybe even some that I know but am unaware of their choice, that are really fine folks, tolerant of other folks choices and wants. However, so far in my life I have not met any that are.

rabbits and bunnies should be on the list of meats you should eat even if you're vegetarian.
they're harmful to crops and there are too many of them.
they're about the only wild life with year round open season.

Yeah. There are always going to be people trying to push their views on others, whether it be about food, religion, exercise, politics...If I can't have a polite, respectful discussion with them then I don't hang out with them.

As an occasional vegetarian - I eat meat about three days a week or so - I can relate. The health benefits of eating less meat and saturated fat are obvious. Also, it's cheaper, and I like being thrifty :). Veganism, on the other hand, is only possible in a highly industrialized society and I think only people with money or who live in major centres can eat that way and get proper nutrition. Personally, I don't know anyone who's vegan - either that, or they don't talk about it! I also knew some girls who were "vegetarian" - meaning they only ate salads and bread, in order to lose weight. They were always really crabby, for some reason :D.

Any fringe group, that doesn't believe in violence, are a necessary part of our culture. They challenge our perceptions of the norm. Life would be pretty boring if we all believed in the same things, ate the same food, or dressed the same way. I've had some great discussions with Vegans where I have learned some of the benefits to their lifestyle ... however I won't be giving up meat any time soon.

Rabbit is one of my favorite dishes. We had rabbits when I was a kid. The past few years there have been many loose domestic rabbits eating/killing my plants. Over 200 strawberry plants less than 10 survived the rabbits. Many were trapped and caged near my chickens. I was thinking about feeding then eating them. I pet the rabbits as I do with the chickens whenever I feed and water them. I can not bring myself to butcher them now. I pen the females now so they do not reproduce. When I was a kid, there was a woman who sold the rabbits would also butcher them for a fee. I also butchered rabbits as a kid, but did not think of them as pets as I do now.

I was unaware that rabbits were nocturnal. The loose rabbits are running around making all types of noise at night.

Rabbits are also not true vegetarians.

I used to have a cat that decimated the Rabbit/Chipmunk/Vole population around here. Ol' Smokey died about 4 or 5 years ago from cancer. He was one natural born killer. He ate them too.

Rabbits just started showing up again last year.

Chipmunks, once abundant, now I've only seen one or two since Smokey depopulated them.

I've not seen a Vole for years. I suspect they are still there, but the ones that were brave enough to go topside were long ago turned into cat turds.

A friend (vegan) pointed to my motorcycle boots and said "man it took half a cow to make them."I pointed to his sneakers (all synthetic) and said "it took 40 gallons of petroleum to make those.How is that any kinder to mother Earth?"He was speechless.His girlfriend (also vegan) looked at him and said "he's right ya know."Jeff (his name) and I also discussed my deer hunting activities.I said "I'm going to eat meat.Is it better for what I eat to live a normal free life until I harvest?or would you prefer a sequestered life where it never gets to live as intended?"He agreed it was better but not as good as he'd like.I told him that from now on I'll just hit 'em with the Jeep if that would make hm feel better.He just shook his head and laughed.Jeff and Crissy are reasonable vegans and will discuss instead of preach how terrible you are for eating and wearing animal products.
I respect others choices even if they are ones I wouldn't make.It's reasonable to think I have every right to expect the same from you as I extend to you.

Now to make everyone mad at me. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/TRexRacing/peta.jpg

i'm against cruelty to vegetables.

I know a lot of people who are vegan or vegetarian. Most of them never discuss this unless they are at a party or other gathering and want to choose foods that fit in with their lifestyle choices. There's nothing wrong with that at all. What I do find a bit annoying are those who complain about other people's choices or who say they are grossed out when they have to watch someone eat meat.

I think they're great.

I prefer people who eat veggies eat them away from me. I hate hearing veggies scream. :rolleyes:

In all seriousness, I have more than a few friends who are vegans, etc. Aside from not wanting to kill animals, their arguments really don't work with me. We raise our own food for the most part. That is because I want to know where my food comes from.

Just got seven sheep, I am trying not to drool too much as I am feeding them... :p

I prefer people who eat veggies eat them away from me. I hate hearing veggies scream. :rolleyes:

In all seriousness, I have more than a few friends who are vegans, etc. Aside from not wanting to kill animals, their arguments really don't work with me. We raise our own food for the most part. That is because I want to know where my food comes from.

Just got seven sheep, I am trying not to drool too much as I am feeding them... :p

What kind of sheep are they? Send me the fleece when you shear them. :) 1 sheep = 1-2 hand-knit sweaters depending on the size.

If they are doing it for the animals it is the most pointless thing. But if they do it because they want to and don't like meat or whatever then cool for them.

I met a vegetarian once who said she was a vegetarian because she didn't want to hurt the little bunnies. :wtf: The don't eat bunny, pretty ****ing simple if you ask me. Along with the militant vegan/vegetarians, idiots like her also annoy the crap out of me.

Send her this NSFW link (http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=grill). :thumb:

Send her this NSFW link (http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=grill). :thumb:

lol.

A dude I used to work with previously worked on an orange harvesting crew. He said quite a few mice went up the conveyor.

One reason why pasteurizing juices is a good idea.

I have no idea how many rabbits I have shredded over the years haying fields. There is nothing that can be done about it. I see no point in killing for the sake of killing. I have been around agriculture all my life. Killing for food or during harvest is just a fact of life.

What is your experience

:wtf:


how do you feel about vegans and vegetarians?

nothing.

i think they are exercising a choice. As long as they don't get all militant on me and try to dictate my choices, i'll accept theirs.

+1, 'cept if they get all militant on me I'll hunt them down, clean and de-bone them, put them in the smoke locker, never know, 2012 is gettin' close and I hear vegetarians are good eatin'! ;)

I thought vegetarian Hindus and vegetarian Buddhists did not eat meat?

I love some vegetarians. The vegetarians in my family are not true vegetarians. They eat eggs, cheese, milk, etc. The vegetarian Hindus I know also eat dairy products and may even cook lamb and chicken for other family members. So I guess, I do not know any true vegetarians.

Many do not eat chicken, pork, beef, lamb, venison, goat, shellfish.

Some do eat fish, scallops, shrimp, abalone, crayfish, lobster, snails, octopus, squid.

I just think of them as vegetarians because that is what they are eating mainly. I find it funny vegetarians that eat soybean products that mimic chicken or a garden burger.

I also notice certain beef/pork/chicken/etc. eaters that condemn fishing for your dinner. I am sure there are always those that have a problem in what others do.

A "true" vegetarian can eat dairy/eggs/honey... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovo-lacto-vegetarian. I am a "true" vegetarian. I am an ovo-lacto-vegetarian though many vegans don't eat honey, I do. Eating seafood is the same as eating let's say, chicken. I'm not sure why people seem to think fish doesn't count as "meat." This is something I will bring up in my Sociology class sometime, it's quite curious really.

Also, I've never dated a vegetarian, I was married for 5 years to an omnivore, my current boyfriend is an omnivore, my mother is an omnivore etc.

I'm a Mcdomnivore.

rabbits and bunnies should be on the list of meats you should eat even if you're vegetarian.
they're harmful to crops and there are too many of them.
they're about the only wild life with year round open season.

rabbits and bunnies are made of meat, I don't eat meat. :P however, can dogs eat rabbit?

I am an omnivore.

I dated a vegetarian a number of years ago and hang out with many more. I even chill with a few vegans and two or three raw foodies.

None of them are militant.

Although, I don't often cook for them. :)

Mealtime can be tricky, the rare time BF and I cook dinner together, I make parts of the meal (usually) and he makes the meat parts ie: on his electric barbecue. I remember he once mentioned he was thinking of turning veg and I was quite horrified, I don't ever want anyone to feel they have to change because of what I do, it's totally a personal thing for me. He kinda forgot about it though. :D