# Vegetarians Are Intolerant Jerks \[Moved from BBQ Pit\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 27, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967 "2009-08-27T22:44:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/301 "2009-08-31T21:53:47Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > I don’t think that is quite true: They use milk, though, don’t they? Plus, I happen to know that a lot of them have pretty loose standards what constitutes a vegetarian diet. A lot of them will eat chicken and fish while still calling themselves vegetarians. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/302 "2009-08-31T21:54:37Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > This is one of the things that bugs me the most – having to make two meals as a host. > [@freedumb2003](#): > > Anyone who applies their “special” eating habits on you is being a bad guest. You don’t have to cater to every whim. I guess we have fundamentally different definitions of what it means to be a host. I don’t “have to cater” to the individual requirements of everyone who comes through my door, but if I invite someone to a meal when I know there will not be any food there they can eat, if I don’t tell them in advance, I am a complete shit. Last week I had around 75 people over for a cook out. It’s called “RibFest.” It’s pretty damn clear what the focus is. I bought a couple of packs of Bean Burgers to throw on the grill for vegetarians/vegans, and every damn one made a point of coming up and thanking me for that effort. A much greater percentage than of the meat eaters who said anything, of course. Being a good guest doesn’t require you to eat food you do not want/do not eat. A hosts job is to make people feel comfortable in the host’s home. And inviting someone whose eating habits you know to a food event, and not having anythign there for them to eat is just plain damned rude. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/303 "2009-08-31T22:00:10Z")
Let’s dispense with this meme that vegetarians “can’t” eat meat. Of course they can.They just don’t want to. That doesn’t mean they should have to, but it’s horsehit to say they “can’t.” ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/304 "2009-08-31T22:01:46Z")
And a Jew _can_ eat pork, but I would be a total asshole to invite my friend who keeps kosher to an event where all I was serving was bacon butties without letting him know first. Unless you think that would be acceptable hosting too? ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/305 "2009-08-31T22:03:25Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > They use milk, though, don’t they? That’s true (and not sure what the point is) - it’s vegans who don’t use milk, egg or honey products. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/306 "2009-08-31T22:06:19Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Let’s dispense with this meme that vegetarians “can’t” eat meat. Of course they can.They just don’t want to. That doesn’t mean they should have to, but it’s horsehit to say they “can’t.” No. You are parsing out one meaning of the word, obviously not the one intended by people who have written what you are arguing against. > [@](#): > > can > > 1. to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to: She can solve the problem easily, I’m sure. > 2. to know how to: He can play chess, although he’s not particularly good at it. > 3. to have the power or means to: A dictator can impose his will on the people. > 4. to have the right or qualifications to: He can change whatever he wishes in the script. > **5. may; have permission to** : Can I speak to you for a moment? > 5. to have the possibility: A coin can land on either side. Clearly, someone who has adopted a veg diet _may not_ or _can not_ eat meat. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/307 "2009-08-31T22:07:42Z")
> [@villa](#): > > And a Jew _can_ eat pork, but I would be a total asshole to invite my friend who keeps kosher to an event where all I was serving was bacon butties without letting him know first. > > Unless you think that would be acceptable hosting too? I think if you’re a guest, you accept or decline what’s offered. I’ve never felt entitled to anything as a guest. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/308 "2009-08-31T22:08:50Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No. You are parsing out one meaning of the word, obviously not the one intended by people who have written what you are arguing against. > > Clearly, someone who has adopted a veg diet _may not_ or _can not_ eat meat. Sure they can. It’s a completely arbitrary and self-imposed rule. They don’t need “permission” to break it. They “may” eat whatever they want. No one’s going to arrest them. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/309 "2009-08-31T22:09:47Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > So you think that most meat eaters are hypocrites. > > You’re judging the ethical value of an _act_, not a person. It doesn’t matter who commits the act. If you think the act is unethical for you, then you think it’s unethical for everybody else. It makes no sense to say that the ethical; value of an act depends on who’s doing it. That’s true - I am not judging the person, which somewhat disproves the point you have trying to make that all vegetarians all secretly think meat-eaters are unethical. The act (of eating meat) is unethical for me, because it requires me to be willing to commit other acts (killing) which is not possible for me. If someone else is willing to carry those acts through, that changes the circumstances, and thus my attitude. Do I judge the farmer in Northern Victoria farming cattle for killing and eating his stock (this is a family friend). No, but it’s not something I would do. So I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/310 "2009-08-31T22:11:37Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > That’s true - I am not judging the person, which somewhat disproves the point you have trying to make that all vegetarians all secretly think meat-eaters are unethical. You think they’re commiting unethical acts. > [@](#): > > The act (of eating meat) is unethical for me, because it requires me to be willing to commit other acts (killing) which is not possible for me. If someone else is willing to carry those acts through, that changes the circumstances, and thus my attitude. Do I judge the farmer in Northern Victoria farming cattle for killing and eating his stock (this is a family friend). No, but it’s not something I would do. So I don’t. But you DO think that anyone who eats meat without being willing to kill it is behaving unethically? ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/311 "2009-08-31T22:11:43Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I think if you’re a guest, you accept or decline what’s offered. I’ve never felt entitled to anything as a guest. It’s not about your entitlement as a guest. And a polite guest will never kick a fuss up. It’s about the **host’s** responsibility. And excluding people is not being a good host. It is one of the reasons when I do a dinner party there are almost always two entrees. Last time for example I did salmon London Broil. 7 of the 8 guests ate both. The 8th came up to me after and thanked me, saying he just plain didn’t like seafood. Had I not had the beef, he wouldn’t have kicked up a fuss. But he would have left having only had side dishes. And I prefer to make my guests as happy as is practical in my home. That’s what being a host means to me. And are you honestly telling me you would invite a Muslim to your house for dinner without informing him that it was Roast Loin of Pork, with all the vegetables roasted around the joint in the pork fat? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/312 "2009-08-31T22:13:15Z")
If people don’t want to eat what’s offered, they’re excluding themselves. That’s not the host’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/313 "2009-08-31T22:15:00Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > That’s true (and not sure what the point is) - it’s vegans who don’t use milk, egg or **honey products**. Won’t someone think of the bees ! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/314 "2009-08-31T22:18:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > If people don’t want to eat what’s offered, they’re excluding themselves. That’s not the host’s fault. As I said in my first post, we have a very different definition of what being a host involves. I reckon I’d rather be invited to one of my parties than one of yours. And to repeat the question I added in edit last time… And are you honestly telling me you would invite a Muslim to your house for dinner without informing him that it was Roast Loin of Pork, with all the vegetables roasted around the joint in the pork fat? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/315 "2009-08-31T22:22:50Z")
I’d tell everybody what was for dinner. I probably wouldn’t cook pork for Muslim or observant Jewish guests, but I would like to cook one meal instead of two. I can accomodate kosher/halel guest without making two meals. I can’t make a single dish that will please both vegetarians and omnivores. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/316 "2009-08-31T22:23:50Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > See, there’s that sanctimonious lecturing I was talking about. It was a direct response to an argument made by you. It seems that, by the standards you are setting in this thread, any response that does not consist of “Yes, **Diogenes** , you are correct” is going to be interpreted by you as sanctimonious lecturing. You act like a complete jerk in this thread, telling people that they live a “fraudulent lifestyle” and generally belittling their choices, and then have the balls to call them sanctimonious when they defend themselves. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/317 "2009-08-31T22:25:10Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’d tell everybody what was for dinner. I probably wouldn’t cook pork for Muslim or observant Jewish guests, but I would like to cook one meal instead of two. I can accomodate kosher/halel guest without making two meals. I can’t make a single dish that will please both vegetarians and omnivores. I think all that shows is lack of imagination and/or cooking skill on your part. At least that’s correctable, unlike your arrogance. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/318 "2009-08-31T22:27:29Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’d tell everybody what was for dinner. I probably wouldn’t cook pork for Muslim or observant Jewish guests, but I would like to cook one meal instead of two. I can accomodate kosher/halel guest without making two meals. I can’t make a single dish that will please both vegetarians and omnivores. You might not be able to. I sure as hell can and have. Meat isn’t a required part of a meal, and believe me, I eat way more than my fair share of it. I love me some meat, but I can also cook without it. And you only **probably** wouldn’t cook pork for Muslim or observant Jewish guests? Yeah, we do define host differently. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/319 "2009-08-31T22:40:08Z")
Meat is a required part of any meal for ME, and if I’m the host, I’m cooking something I want to eat. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967/320 "2009-08-31T22:54:40Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Meat is a required part of any meal for ME, and if I’m the host, I’m cooking something I want to eat. The irony of this post, after your hysterically condescending lecture about whether vegetarians “can” eat meat or not, is possibly the funniest thing I’ve seen on the 'Dope this month. Thanks for that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-are-intolerant-jerks-moved-from-bbq-pit/507967.md?page=17)