Is this why people hate vegetarianism?!
Is this why people hate vegetarianism?
Most people who criticize vegetarianism do so because they've been brought up on a steady diet of
burgers
fries
mashed potatoes
turkey
gravy
steak
fried chicken
since childhood. American (European) culinary customs are the same as they were 500 years ago. The media encourages this as well. You never see ads for tofu or curry on Thanksgiving. In the cold dark European winters, meat, cabbage and potatoes were the only foods available.
But old habits die hard. People visualize vegetarianism from their own narrow view of what vegetarian foods THEY ate - potatoes and salad, and therefore conclude it is unhealthy and tasteless.
Am I right?
How do we educate them that there is a world outside these food items?
Answers:
make them a vegie burger, or a vegetarian lasagna. just don't tell them what it is, until after they have devoured it!! that really opened my eyes to vegetarian foods. (though I am still a die hard carnivore!!)
I think one reason some are have a problem with vegeterianism, is because of how difficult and expensive it is to maintain that kind of a diet. And that diet comes easier for those who have more information about what to eat to make sure your body gets all that it needs for full health, and info on where to find all those important veggie elements. It also comes easier for those with lots of money, like higher than low-middle class.
I think its no coincidence that the rich are usually more thin and healthier looking, and the poor are usually overweight or unhealthy looking. With money comes more opportunity and easier access to knowledge. The poor and low-middle class aren't as fortunate and it's more difficult to obtain that. Most importantly, it's more difficult to add that to your daily life because of all the hard work you must do for jobs, and the more tough responsibilities you may have. Where as a person with money doesn't have to work as hard if they're wealthy enough, and generally has more time to fit that lifestyle in their daily life.
And when Vegans say to those poeple, "come on, change your life and be like me", they make it sound easy, and ignorantly don't realise that they have a different life.
Also, it's easy to say "ah, those who don;t want to be vegans are lazy and foolish, and closed minded, etc", but thats discrimination against those who aren't vegan. Everyone who isn't a vegan is stupid. And it's funny how many vegans are usually the type to be against discrimination, yet they discriminate.
you can only educate those who have an open mind!!! i don't bother with ppl who want to attack me for what i believe in,screw them! but, i do attack those who attack me first!!! i don't mind if you eat meat,just don't try to "force" it on me!
People criticize vegetarians because they are stupid. We are carnivores. we are supposed to eat meat. it is good for you and it tastes good. Besides that it is a pain in the *** when you have friends that are veggies, you always have to consider what they can eat when they come over. They also give you nasty looks when you are enjoying you juicy savory fillet. I feel guilty eating meat in front of veggies and that makes me mad.
Part of the reason happens to be that they just like their meat. Part of it is that they don't like other people telling them what and what they shouldn't eat, after all, this is America. But there is another less obvious reason, and it dwells more in the unconscious, and that is that people often view vegetarians as "liberal, hippy, tree hugging, loving animals more than people, volvo driving, pro environment and therefore anti big business, and anti-conservative, and therefore anti redneck, anti NRA, anti cowboy hat wearing, etc. and it goes on and on.
There is a subliminal and somtimes conscious association people have with certain words, and when they think vegetarian, a group of associations are encoded in their brains. Thats why there is more to it than just a civilized difference of opinion on food taste.
I was raised on all the foods you mentioned, yet I am now a vegetarian. It is because I was raised on them and realized how unhealthy it was that I changed my habits.
I think you are right...it is ignorance. I am not saying people are stupid, I am saying they are uneduated and unaware of the truth. It is amazing that people think vegetarians live on "rabbit food". I try very hard to expose the people around me to the different foods and recipes that I use, although I never make anyone feel bad for eating foods that I choose to not consume. I don't care what other people put into their bodies, but I do care what goes into mine. In fact, I loved the different menus that were available when I started looking into vegetarianism.
Potato's aren't meat.
But yes, people are reluctant to change from what they have grown accustomed to and what they are comfortable with.European culinary customs are not the same as they were 500 years ago. We eat a lot more meat these days than we used to. 500 years ago, meat was a luxury, not a staple food. As the years have passed, this idea of meat being something to strive to obtain stuck with us, even as availability increased. People still wanted the meat, but now it was easy to get, and so we learned to eat it often. Attitudes go through continuous change. Due to environmental, social, and medical concerns more and more people are eating less meat, and more vegetables. Don't worry, people already know that there is a world outside of chicken fried steak.
usually they make people eat what they eat when you go out with them. thats the reason they get hated.
I once had someone snap at me when a friend announced me as a vegetarian. She said "Whyyyy is that? Are you going to preach to me about how bad I am for eating meat!!?" I was completely taken aback. My mother has been a vegetarian for most of her life and I've been a vegetarian ever since I was 10. My mom always taught me not to be angry at others for eating meat. It wasn't my place to preach to them or tell them what to do. I am a vegetarian because I know it's better for me, I love animals, it's economically better for our environment, along with even more reasons.
I truly think that if people were taught about the benefits of vegetarianism they would be more understanding. It's like anything... people are going to remain closed minded about it if they don't know the facts. I think vegetarians have the reputation of being hippies and such (not that that's a bad thing) but others have a bad view or a stereotypical view about it. That girl that snapped at me had a stereotypical idea in her head of what i was 'supposed' to be... a preachy hippie who wanted to convert the world. I would just like the world to be educated on the subject.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING ARTICLE from a few days ago.
Kids with high IQs grow up to be vegetarians
http://health.yahoo.com/news/170005;_ylt...
I think you are partly right. Old habits do die hard. I think the fanaticism that vegetarians show for the way they eat is a bit off putting to a lot of people. We as people tend to be extremists when we find something that appeals to us or changes our whole outlook and we can't wait to share with others. Not everyone thinks the same. Most don't share the all or nothing mentality.
Also remember, many of the foods you mentioned are known as "comfort foods" they actually bring us comfort during stressful times. The memory of mom and home cooking or with family during the holidays or whatever. The taste of meat with the fat is sometimes an over powering lure, just as addictive as any drug. I believe that we hold on to weight for protection and many of the foods mentioned will cause weight gain. ergo, we eat for comfort and protection.
As for eating potatoes and salad and thinking of it as tasteless, thats completely untrue in my opinion as I love both. I went meatless for three months and I ate LOTS of salad and loved it. That and potatoes and rice and all sorts of things. As for tofu... sorry yuk! I had it and didn't like it- talk about tasteless. Someone told me it absorbs the taste of wat it was cooked with, um for me, no.
I think the reason you never see ads with tofu or curry (smells awful to me by the way) for Thanksgiving is very much because of tradition. Trust me when I say, the Pilgrims did not eat either and Thanksgiving is about what they ate. You just don't mess with peoples traditions. It is partly media but with holidays, I think peoples love of tradition fuels the media in this particular case.
As for educating people about what else is available, not everyone wants to be educated. There are many who are perfectly happy living and eating as they are. These people cannot be swayed away from their way of life and that is fine. The only thing you can do is to put the information out there so that it is available for those who go searching for it. So there you have it, my opinion on your question.
No.
Well what we eat on Christmas is governed by tradition, yes, but what we eat the rest of the year isn't; it's based on taste and personal preference. We eat many things now that we wouldn't have done 500 odd years ago: pizza, chinnese food, pasta, turkey, etc. That people haven't all moves to a veggie diet is because they don't want to, not because they're stuck in tradition.
The thing is, you assume everyone who doesn't agree with your point of view on meat must be unneducated or ignorant about the diet, or else why wouldn't they agree with you? You can't accept that most people know there is a world outside meat but still like to eat it. Get a life.
i belive your right.
i was raised on those list of things but i'm now the only vegetarian in my family.
peta offers free items (yeah, peta is a bit crazy, but hey, they really do help!!!!) that can educate others. also, fill yourself with facts and tell them to everyone you know. write your fave fake meat or soy milk provider and tell them you would love for them to have a comercal on tv
luck!
"Is this why people hate vegetarianism?
Most people who criticize vegetarianism do so because they've been brought up on a steady diet of..."
I don't hate vegetarianism. If you are willing to put the time and effort into being veg*n, more power to you. What I dislike about SOME veg*ns are the ones that feel they just have to get on their moral high horse and tell me how wrong I am and how right they are.
"How do we educate them that there is a world outside these food items?"
Humbly. Don't try and act superior to me and my fellow omni's because you think you are making a more moral decision then we are. People tend to stop listening when the "teacher" gets all preachy and high 'n mighty.
they don't hate them - just joke at their expense instead of feeling guilty for being humanitarian (eat humans - like vegetarians eat veggis)
Seen on a vegan mailing list
How many vegetarians does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
I don't know, but where do you get your protein?
Bob C.
How many vegans does it take to change a lightbulb?
Two, one to change it and one to check for animal ingredients.
[I just have to say that this is my favorite joke. I laughed my butt off the first time I read it.]
My friend Michael thought this one up
How many vivisectors does it take to change a lightbulb?
None, they don't want you to see what they are doing.
C.P.M, told by an omnivore friend with intent to anger
How many vegans does it take to change a lightbulb?
None, vegans can't change anything.
Bianca & Jade
How many meat eaters dose it take to change a lightbulb?
None, they would rather stay in the dark about things.
Amanda
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because Colonel Sanders was chasing him.
Schneiders
Why did the vegetarian cross the road?
Because she was protesting for the chicken, MAN! (Pump fist in air for emphasis)
[This one did make me chuckle for some reason.]
The parrot joke
A man had a parrot that could talk. Unfortunately, it swore a lot. In an effort to get the parrot to be quiet, he put him in a cupboard. The parrot continued swearing and after a while the man decided to put the bird in the freezer. After that, the parrot started swearing even more. After a few minutes, he suddenly became quiet. The man opened up the freezer and the parrot said, "I'm sorry, sir, it will never happen again." As the man took the bird out of the freezer he wondered what the difference was between the cupboard and the freezer. Just then, the parrot said, "So, uh, what'd the chicken do?"
On Being Vegan
Inspired by Paul WS
Why does vegan cheese taste bad?
It hasn't been tested on mice.
Pat
What do you call a militant vegan?
Lactose intolerant.
Dada Unmantrananda
Why don't yogis eat chickens?
They have eggs in them!
Colleen's roomate at school made this joke up herself
What do you call a vegetarian who goes back to eating meat?
Someone who lost their veg-inity!
Inspired by Wastel
Meat-eater: Did you hear about the new study saying vegans are more likely to go blind? I guess it's because you don't get the proper nutrition.
Vegan: Nah, it's just from reading all of those tiny ingredients lists.
Nina
I'm not vegetarian because I love animals, I'm vegetarian because I don't like vegetables.
H.Ko.
Linda: Do you know what veganism is?
Jeff: No, tell me.
Linda: It means no eggs and no milk!
Jeff: Hmm, but how do you bread your steak?
H.Ko.
Kent: Tell me, how do you spice your veggie-burgers?
Linda: I don't know, but the main thing is that it mustn't taste good!
What did one vegetarian spy say to the other vegetarian spy?
We have to stop meating like this.
Scott
Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
vegemike
I don't know about these people who call themselves vegetarians but eat eggs and dairy. I mean, I've heard of eggplants, but there no such thing as a cheesetree.
Tom responds:
What about milkweed?
A Seinfeldism pointed out by Peter B.
Isn't it wierd that we drink milk, stuff designed to nourish baby cows? How did that happen? Did some cattleman once say, "Oh, man, I can't wait till them calves are done so I can get me a hit of that stuff."
>From Melanie
A guy has celery sticking out of one ear, lettuce out of the other, and a zucchini up his nose.
He goes to the doctor and asks him what's wrong.
The doctor tells him, "Well, for one thing, you're not eating right."
On Eating People
Cleveland Amory
A missionary was walking in Africa when he heard the ominous sound of a lion behind him. "Oh Lord," prayed the missionary, "Grant in Thy goodness that the lion walking behind me is a good Christian lion." And then, in the silence that followed, the missionary heard the lion praying too: "Oh Lord," he prayed, "We thank Thee for the food which we are about to receive."
Seen on a message board
I follow a strict vegan diet. I eat only vegans.
A bumper sticker
Etan W.
Two chums were talking at a ballgame and one offered to buy the other a hotdog.
"No thanks," came the answer. "I'm a vegetarian. I mean, I'll eat a little white meat, but..."
"Oh, I understand. Hey, I'm no cannibal. I mean, I'll eat a few white people, but..."
Heard from Travis (who heard it from his astronomy teacher)
If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat?
A bumper sticker
9 out of 10 cannibals agree--vegetarians taste better!
Yaron Livne from Israel
A vegetarian, a meat-eater, and a cannibal walk into a bar, the veg' orders a salad, the other orders a burger, than the bartender asks the cannibal "anything for you?", so he replies, "no thanks, i'll wait till they're done."
A cartoon, not a joke, but this will grow on you
I eat people
Hey, Mr. Monster! Why do you eat people?
Terrible Headlines
Restaurants Beef Up Vegetarian Menus (Wall Street Journal 91.10.15, p.B1)
Will McDonald's Beef Up Menu with Veggie Burger? (Boston Globe, 98.10.6, D1)
Beans Beef Up Vegetarian Meal (Boston Herald 94.2.9, p.57)
Strictly Vegetarian Trader Brings Home the Bacon (Los Angeles Times 88.8.21, p. 2)
I could go on, but I won't.
Very Punny
Etan W.
A vivisector is having a nightmare: lying on a cold steel table, he's going numb as a giant rat approaches with a large knife.
The rat says, "We are going to need those kidneys, my friend."
"Wait!" shouts the vivisector. "I understand that I'm going to die, but just tell me, is it for the good of humanity?"
"Something like that," the rat tells him with a smirk. "It's for the good of two manatees."
Fart jokes--be warned
All courtesy of Sarah and Tamara
Why does the vegan never get any play?
Because she/he has really bad gas.
Why do vegans wear snow camo?
So they don't get busted hijacking the Soy Delicious ice cream delivery truck.
How was the vegan busted hijacking the Soy Delicious delivery truck?
The FBI traced noxious fumes from the scene of the crime.
Why are vegans detrimental to the earth?
Because they produce immense amounts of methane.
Every so often (usually when I have something important I should be doing) I take the time to browse through the logs of my site--it is interesting to see what brings people here. Here's one I thought I'd share: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=far... I made it a link for you because if you're like me, you'll feel the urge to try this search for yourself (although it's not very exciting).
Anagrams
I used a fellow vegan's anagram server to come up with these.
Vegetarian =
I vent a rage.
A great vein
Eat vinegar.
Rage via 'net
Eat in grave.
A vegan rite
Irate vegan
Vegetarians =
Vegan satire
I avenge rats
Vegans are it!
Eat vegan sir.
The Blocked Vegetarian Perspective
Andrea saw this on a t-shirt
How many vegetables had to die for your stupid salad??
MikeY
How many vegetarians does it take to eat a cow?
One if nobody's looking.
Prashant A.
I was adding milk to my coffee when a vegan colleague said, "Do you know that milk belongs to a calf?"
If it hadn't have been first day at work, I'd have replied, "Relax, I already ate that calf for lunch."
Karen, Told by her husband and many others.
If animals aren't supposed to be eaten, then why are they made out of meat?
Julia's response
If humans aren't supposed to be eaten, then why are they made out of meat?
Joanna
My brother is a lacto-ovo-pesco-pollo-carne-ve...
A bumper sticker
I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian!