# Why are meat-eaters compelled to tell vegetarians how great meat is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 26, 2000, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208 "2000-03-26T23:25:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/1 "2000-03-26T23:25:00Z")
Almost to a person, every meat-eater I know has offered up, upon finding out I’m a vegetarian, a rapturous description of how much they love meat. I suppose I’m setting myself up for a string of such descriptions, but those of you who do it (and you know who you are), why? Now, I’m not talking here about taunting people who are self-righteous about their vegetarianism to the point of boorishness. I’m talking about the average vegetarian who politely declines something made of animals by saying they’re vegetarian, and you can’t just let it drop. Why? ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/2 "2000-03-26T23:39:00Z")
Hey Otto, Oddly enough, I find that most vegatarians are the harshest when it comes to people like me that eat meat. Many can’t seem to grasp the fact I like meat and am gonna eat it no matter what. So, I think it goes both ways 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/3 "2000-03-26T23:47:00Z")
Oh, I’d imagine it’s the same impulse that makes thin people declare “I’m so fat!” in front of fat people, ex-smokers go all evangelical in the presence of those who still smoke, married people tell all their single friends they should get married, and people who are “child-free” announce to adoring parents how glad they are not to have kids. Just natural contrariness. There’s probably not much that can be done about it. Catrandom ---
**Author:** ![Sylence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Sylence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylence)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/4 "2000-03-26T23:51:00Z")
It really does go both ways. My _nine-year-old_ cousin got on my case not too long ago for eating meat. She just wouldn’t let it rest. So I threw her in the pot too. [rimshot] – Sylence * * * “Excuse me, are you reading Torah and eating crayons?” ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/5 "2000-03-26T23:51:00Z")
Otto, If it makes you feel better, I grew up with a girl who is a vegan veggie and have a friend now who is also a vegan. I have never, ever told a veggie about how great meat is. In fact, when we have a shin-dig at work, I purposely make a animal fat/geletin free dessert for her. I don’t tell anyone, I just do it discretely. People are just ignoramousus. But not everyone is 🙂 🙂 Zette Meat eater, veggie lover * * * “If I had to live your life, I’d be begging to have someone pop out both my eyes. Just in case I came across a mirror.” - android209 (in the Pit) [Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) Voted “Most Empathetic”- can you believe that? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/6 "2000-03-27T00:13:00Z")
from someone who almost exclusively exists on meat, I think alot of us are tired of vegies telling us we are designed to live on only plants, and how much grain it takes to raise a cow. And for us who live on (or at least part on) meats, we know that we were designed to consume both and don’t want our intelengance insulted by those people. BTW I don’t tell any veggie person how good meat is, but I usally ask why they made the choice. ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/7 "2000-03-27T00:39:00Z")
**k2dave** said: > [@](#): > > don’t want our **intelengance** insulted by those people Bolding mine. Please please PLEASE tell me that was intentional. * * * I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/8 "2000-03-27T00:49:00Z")
Spite, mostly. The same reason a lot of vegetarians try to evangelize meat-eaters and convert them to the wonders of granola-ism. 🙂 By the way, meat is sooooo good. The best part is when the meat makes that tearing noise as it’s coming away from the bone. MMMMMMMM haha only kidding. * * * ## If you say it, mean it. If you mean it, do it. If you do it, live it. If you live it, say it. Joe Cool ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/9 "2000-03-27T01:06:00Z")
How do they do that Otto? You know, they can’t say, ‘ummm, this animal tastes just like chicken’ for which, being a vegetarian, you would not have a clue. So, do they say, ‘ummm tastes like soybeans, BBQ’d with some tofu?’ ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/10 "2000-03-27T01:12:00Z")
I only mention it if they bring it up first. I’m not a voracious meat eater anyway, I have a ridiculously small range that I eat, so I’m never one to poke fun at the diets others choose. I am surprised, though, if someone has never eaten meat ever in their life, which would have to be a rare thing. * * * [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - **Shadow of the Pigeon** - Weirdo of the Night ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/11 "2000-03-27T01:28:00Z")
Handy: I’m a vegetarian,too, but as with most issues, don’t force my personal choices down other people’s throats. It’s the rare American vegetarian who was not raised on the regular old diet. So when you say “tastes like chicken”, I have the memory to know what you mean, and can appreciate it. But for my own good reasons, I’ve chosen not to eat meat anymore. Doesn’t mean I don’t understand the concept. An interesting aside, in light of this board: at the infamous Spiffle gathering last month, at the aftermath breakfast, I went through the buffet line, not partaking in the many meats on parade. Our mod David B. was in back of me and noted “You’re a Veg?”. I was on alert and waiting for some Great Debate, but nothing was brought up. Such a gentleman! ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/12 "2000-03-27T02:14:00Z")
Well, mainly we just feel the need to confront everything that simply smacks in the face of all logic and reason. ---
**Author:** ![neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neuro-trash_grrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/13 "2000-03-27T02:21:00Z")
I’m a vegetarian too, but I’ve never really had people extolling the virtues of carnivorosity in my presence. Usually, they just ask why I decided to forgo meat, I inform them that I stopped eating meat for a time, found that I felt healthier, and gave it up for good. They usually leave it at that. Then there was that one girl who shook her head, said “weird…” and walked off. That got on my nerves. Mostly, though, people are considerate. * * * Heck is where you go when you don’t believe in Gosh. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/14 "2000-03-27T02:30:00Z")
As a vaguley related question to the OP… My wife, other than occasional deer and seafood, would be considered vegetarian. I am a meat eater. We have both gone to health food markets, etc and are always a little confused when we see vegetarian items made to taste and look like meat items. Why? I have had a couple of theories, but they don’t seem to hold water. Maybe my thinking is a little clouded by the fact I am a meat eater to begin with. * * * We went right out there and refused to do accoustical versions of the electrical songs that we had refused to record in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/15 "2000-03-27T03:05:00Z")
The reason there are so many Veg items that fit in with the mainstream- Tofu Burgers, Dogs , etc, is because it fits in with our current lifestyle. Most of em taste pretty yukky, that processed taste. But in a pinch, I’ll bring em to a grill event so I’ll have something to eat. It’s just easier to fit in. At home, I know how to cook tofu, or TVP, or whole grains and beans to get my needed protein. I’ve educated myself as to what is needed to allow a healthy body. And we eat well & happy, without feeling “deprived”. I do run into people who decide to head-butt on my vegetarian choices; usually it subsides when I say “It’s a personal choice. If you’d like to know my reasoning, I’ll be glad to explain it”. Usually that leads to a pleasant discussion. Maybe I’m lucky, but what goes down the gullet is perhaps the most particular individual choice, and what with the constant pressure by the invested powers that be, it’s quite a wrestling match. So, Tofu dogs & burgers are an interim adaption to our current social standards. I don’t adopt the Burger mentality, but if a more healthy alternative can adapt to the current MO, maybe more will see that they don’t have to give up all they hold dear to avoid the projected heart attack. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/16 "2000-03-27T03:15:00Z")
I get sick of the people telling me I have to eat vegetables with my meals. I just tell them to shut up and mind their own business. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/17 "2000-03-27T03:16:00Z")
Why do some people bait some vegetarians? One word: entertainment. For some, it’s always fun to cause an apoplectic fit in a fanatic of any stripe. People wouldn’t tease you if you didn’t give them the satisfaction of reacting. DHR ---
**Author:** ![muffinman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@muffinman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muffinman)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/18 "2000-03-27T03:39:00Z")
Some vegetarians are just ASKING for it. Take my friend “Jane”. She actually tried to argue the health of eating no meat products WHILE SUCKING DOWN A CAMEL!!! Hipocrisy is the main reason we humans feel the necesity to piss on others parades. ---
**Author:** ![Wicked\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@Wicked\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wicked_Blue)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/19 "2000-03-27T04:15:00Z")
Some people just don’t _get_ it. I was a vegetarian for a few years as a teen, and I can’t tell you how many times I had to remind my family that: 1- chicken is meat 2- chicken broth and beef stock are meat products 3- jello containes gelatin 4- fish is meat 5- tomato sauce that has meatballs floating in it is not vegetarian I could go on and on. They just didn’t understand that ‘meat’ doesn’t just mean a big hunk of steak. Of course, when I pointed these things out to them, I was being a difficult teenager going through a phase. Once my mother told me ‘meat never killed anyone’. I said ‘oh yeah, why don’t you tell that to the cow?’ I guess I was being a difficult teen 🙂 Rose * * * I told you not to be stupid, you moron. ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208/20 "2000-03-27T04:29:00Z")
That was hilarious, Sylence! 😃 It is possible, just thinking on what you do being different,(whatever that might be, as Catrandom mentioned, it could be almost anything else too.) makes them uncomfortable with their choices and so they feel compelled to argue why they are right and you’re ‘wrong’. None of us are getting out of this place alive, and how you chose to live on your only go-round, is your business as long as you’re not harming anyone else, or breaking the law. So, smile politely, and thank them for their imput, and have another tofu burger!! 😃 * * * “Um, according to who? Nothing more than a high brow troll, though occasionally the bi polar personality swung in a constructive direction on innocuous topics.” Omniscient [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-meat-eaters-compelled-to-tell-vegetarians-how-great-meat-is/15208.md?page=2)