Reader Presh recently asked:

I would be curious how your vegetarian readers deal with friends who are carnivores and feel the need to explain why meat is good.

I⿿m not even a vegetarian, but I experience negative energy when I order vegetarian meals at restaurants with friends. It⿿s funny to hear the childish responses⿿from otherwise very smart people!

For me personally, I suppose I’m pretty lucky that I don’t get such reactions too often (although I definitely got my share of ridicule in high school, when I first became a vegetarian).

But I do get them - especially people who react to the news of my vegetarianism with “I could NEVER live without meat” or something of that ilk followed by a description of how much they like steak. What I really want to say in response is “Firstly, of course you could live without meat, and secondly, no one asked you to.” But I usually try to be polite and interpret their ridiculous comments as just trying to make conversation, however awkwardly. I’m pretty forgiving when it comes to social awkwardness. :)

So, readers, tell us about your experiences. Do you get negative reactions to your vegetarian choices from friends or acquaintances? How do you handle them? Share your stories in the comments!

Share This