normal vegeterians and vegans: what do you think of radical veggies & vegans who look down upon meat-eaters?

I am always opposed when people try to "force" their beliefs on others, whether it's dietary, political, religious, or other.

You may have trouble getting answers from "reasonable" veg*ns in this section. Most of the answers you have gotten so far are from the more extreme veg*ns, who most assuredly look down upon non-vegetarians, even though they attempt to deny it. If you cannot detect the condescending and spiteful undertones in their responses, read a few more of their answers in this section. Not only will you get a clearer picture of their true feelings towards non-vegetarians, but you will soon discover that "reasonable" veg*ns are few and far between, at least on yahoo answers.

Well I am a strict vegan who believes that everyone has a right to eat however they want and they shouldn't be criticized for it. Diet is an incredibly personal issue, and my only business is what goes in my own body. I have run into plenty of those radical vegans who condemn anyone outside their box, and all I can say is it saddens me because they are turning people off to the idea of veganism because of their judgmental critical attitudes. If they spent all that energy instead respectfully informing people of the benefits of veganism, we'd see a lot more converters. Personally though, I don't try to convert people. I'll admit I get excited when I hear someone is going vegan, but I don't push. That's obvious because my husband is very happily a meat eater. He eats meat and junk every day. He's a good sport though, he tries my vegan stuff and so far he's enjoyed quite a bit of it (our personal favorites are autumn spice chocolate chip cookies and vegan cheesy lasagna). He has no interest in converting though and I have no interest in converting him. We have agreed though that our children will be raised vegan, and once they are older and tell us they want to try meat they are more than welcome to.

What the people who lecture don't realize is that they just cause people to be defensive. While I get what they're trying to do, they aren't being effective. I think they're wasting their time, and their efforts are needed elsewhere, unless they really want to learn how to argue properly.

Comparing animal slaughter to the Holocaust, showing animal abuse which is clearly the exception to the rule, and making health claims are not effectual.

-comparing animal slaughter to the Holocaust, something I saw in college, really just made it look like veg*ns don't care about humans. Most of the people who saw this immediately said "we should work on Darfur instead". Also, it completely ignores the fact that humans, for a really, really long time, ate meat. It's not necessary NOW, but it was in the past. They were dismissing that, and it makes them look unrealistic.

-there's always the "support family farms" and "go grassfed" argument to animal abuse. Every time someone says that they want to go vegetarian for "animal abuse" reasons, this is the FIRST THING every non vegetarian says. And it's reasonable. Going for the abuse, the one rare employee to smacks animals regularly, just does not help in converting people to becoming vegetarian. It merely makes them switch to family farms. If you're a welfarist, then that's good. If you're an abolitionist, like these people tend to be, then it goes against what they wanted.

-as for health claims: Mindy Minger. She goes around pointing out how all the health claims vegetarians typically make are false. And I agree with her. The point isn't that we're healthier, it's that we CAN BE healthy, without having to use animals. Making magical claims that you'll get rid of heart disease, cholesterol, and acne, are simply false. When it doesn't happen, you have folks like Lierre Keith writing books and making silly arguments about how we're unhealthy. Because they were promised false items.

Honestly, when I meet someone, I don't think "this person eats meat, I'm better than that person" or "oh, this person is an ethical omnivore". I don't care. I also don't care about the people who give false promises. I keep all that annoyance to Y!A =) Should I care that this person is using an animal, and that animal has no choice? Yes, I guess some would say I should. But how does that get the person to STOP doing it? Leading by example, that we're logical, healthy, normal people, does far more for vegetarianism and veganism than lectures.

No, I don't support their arguments. I have my own, that I feel are a much stronger case than what these people put out there. I don't berate, I don't seek to convert. People come to me asking questions, and I give answers. Be the change you want to be, right?

I admire their commitment. If we (humans) did not have ultra-committed people, nothing would change for the better - we can't all be moderates. I do cringe here sometimes at some of the misguided comments. I put them down to young/new vegos seeking affirmation. This is the only place I am a "public" vegetarian, the only place I discuss vego things. And I'm sure most of the others here are also like this. The problem is that meat eaters read things here and assume that we're ALL full-on, ALL the time (note, Dion and Deer Hunter). Simply not true.

Got to admit that I don't really think about them. It's like most things - some people are more passionate about it than others. I also don't spend time thinking about people who wear Starfleet uniforms, get up at 5am to go training for competitive sports, work 20 hour days etc. but I think it's the same thing. They let it take over their lives.

I'm responsible for myself, what I eat, and how live my life. I feel that's enough for me to worry about. But I do know something - no-one ever became a vegetarian because they were harangued into it. Do omnivores need 'normal' vegetarians help to defend themselves? The ones on here seem pretty able to defend themselves.

Oh, by the way, thank you for using the correct form of 'their' (one of my bugbears).

Of course I don't always support their arguments. They make us as a group look bad. Their proselytizing is counterproductive. And frankly some of the arguments used in that small but vocal minority (for instance claiming that humans are natural herbivores) are plainly false.

i have to say i have never actually seen a veg*n force their opinion on someone, I've seen strong opinions and to some extent "rants" on open forums online but you can get that with almost any topic.

i support strong vegan opinions and arguments as long as they are true.

vegan food and lifestyle has no advertising, we have less than one isle in the supermarket, organic fruits and vegetables are expensive and sometime hard to get, vegan products like cosmetics and household items are more expensive, SO many things have animals in it, and MOST restaurants don't even have a vegan option, id say if anythings being forced it's the non vegan lifestyle

as for looking down on.. i don't believe for a second anybody here feels they are superior to a non vegan because they are vegan. if anyone feels superior its non vegans to animals.

i think two things when it comes to non vegans 1. if you directly harm animals by abusing them your an a$$hole and 2. if you indirectly harm animals because you buy factory farmed meat, your misinformed.

I agree with Dion J and Deer Hunter.

Some of you say you never met a radical veg*n? I don't think you know how nasty some of them are, it is enough to turn anyone away from veganism/vegetarianism for good!

I think that most animal killers are overly sensitive about it. No one likes to be preached to, but animal eaters tend to be hypersensitive about this topic in particular.

People try to "force" things on you? Like hold you down and force boca burgers down your gullet? Or your city has banned all animal flesh products? Or there's an ultra high tax on animal products? If not, they aren't trying to "force" you to do anything. If they lecture, they are trying to be informative, potentially not in the right way. If these are friends of your, then don't hang out with them any longer. Friends don't constantly try to lecture friends, vegetarian, omnivore, Mormon, Evangelical Christian, Atheist, etc.

Do *I* support the arguments of outspoken vegetarians? Usually, if what they say is the truth. So sure, I guess I support the truth. Don't you? I'm not one to bury my head in the sand. The methods aren't always ideal, but it doesn't make the message any less true.

I understand their commitment, but I also think it's incredibly rude and offensive. Groups such as ALF give us a bad name, and go to ridiculous extremes; I heard a completely innocent janitor once choked to death from smoke when ALF had lit a building on fire.

Forcing our opinions in other people's faces isn't going to make our cause any more appealing, and it really makes the rest of us look like a bunch of nudist eco-friendly nutcases. Giving the impression of a peaceful, happy group of people will have more of a positive influence than violent protests and offensive ads.