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Re: Vegetarianism. Because there is technically no need to say "I don't want to have animals killed on my behalf." That statement adds no extra information abou

Re: Vegetarianism. Because there is technically no need to say "I don't want to have animals killed on my behalf." That statement adds no extra information about their diet, it only says that if they were eating meat, they would be having animals killed on their behalf.

lostcolony 11y ago
shrug Fine. Assume they leave that bit off. In fact, assume they give no rationale at all. You're trying to figure out where to eat, and someone suggests a steakhouse, and someone else says "Er, I'm a vegetarian". Some people will get defensive of that, even with nothing further. The person didn't bring up that they were vegetarian pre-emptively, it was absolutely in the right context, it was in no way judgemental, it was not even saying -why-, and yet, many people get defensive. "Oh, man, I could never do that; I love meat too much", "Pff, you and your rabbit food", "How do you get enough protein? You know that's unhealthy, right?", etc.
- altcognito 11y ago
  It's odd when people get defensive about it when you just say you're vegetarian, but I know it happens. My SO was vegetarian for 14 years and this happened from time to time. Sometimes the comment that having animals killed on your behalf is a flag that this person thinks it is amoral to kill animals for food. Meat is murder after all. I recognize very much so that not all vegetarians are like that.
- tremendo 11y ago
  I also have a definite preference about what I allow into my digestive system, but if I happen to be in a group that, as a group, expresses a preference for where to go for a meal, I'll be flexible and eat the best way possible within the given constraints. Surely even a steakhouse has salads. Too frequent deviations of late? politely suggest an alternative or, decline to partake this time. No need to impose one's particular preferences, which is why it comes off the way it does.
mcguire 11y ago
...which is true. And only a problem if you're defensive about it.
zellyn 11y ago
It doesn't seem unreasonable to me for a vegetarian to mention which of many possible reasons are relevant to their choice.

lostcolony 11y ago

shrug Fine. Assume they leave that bit off. In fact, assume they give no rationale at all. You're trying to figure out where to eat, and someone suggests a steakhouse, and someone else says "Er, I'm a vegetarian". Some people will get defensive of that, even with nothing further. The person didn't bring up that they were vegetarian pre-emptively, it was absolutely in the right context, it was in no way judgemental, it was not even saying -why-, and yet, many people get defensive. "Oh, man, I could never do that; I love meat too much", "Pff, you and your rabbit food", "How do you get enough protein? You know that's unhealthy, right?", etc.

altcognito 11y ago
It's odd when people get defensive about it when you just say you're vegetarian, but I know it happens. My SO was vegetarian for 14 years and this happened from time to time. Sometimes the comment that having animals killed on your behalf is a flag that this person thinks it is amoral to kill animals for food. Meat is murder after all. I recognize very much so that not all vegetarians are like that.
tremendo 11y ago
I also have a definite preference about what I allow into my digestive system, but if I happen to be in a group that, as a group, expresses a preference for where to go for a meal, I'll be flexible and eat the best way possible within the given constraints. Surely even a steakhouse has salads. Too frequent deviations of late? politely suggest an alternative or, decline to partake this time. No need to impose one's particular preferences, which is why it comes off the way it does.

mcguire 11y ago

...which is true. And only a problem if you're defensive about it.

zellyn 11y ago

It doesn't seem unreasonable to me for a vegetarian to mention which of many possible reasons are relevant to their choice.