A question that always hear from people who are new to veg*nism is "Were people rude/confrontational towards you at first?" Since so many people seem to be concerned about this, I was thinking we could brainstorm some tried and true, *FRIENDLY* responses to use when people are being not-so-supportive.

One that I always find myself using is "the way I see it, consuming animal products does unnecessary harm to animals. I can either choose to support that, or to withdraw from it, and I've chosen to withdraw."

I also always make sure not to force anything on anyone unless they ask for more information. I'll say "it's a lifestyle decision I've made, and if you're ever interested in talking about it, I'd be more than happy to."

Anyone else have any staple comments they use?:)

Well, I have a few and they vary depending on how I am approached :)

The basic answer to "WHY are you vegan?" may be:

"I did a lot of research and found information which opened my eyes AND my heart and led me to veganism."

or

"It works for me, fits into my lifestyle and plans for my future."

or

"It just feels good and is the right choice for me."

or

"I love being vegan. It's the best thing I ever did for myself!"

or

"I don't wish to contribute to animal suffering, environmental irresponsibility or practices that are damaging to my health."

or

"I find it to be the most healthy, ethcial and environmentally friendly way of life and so for me personally, it is the only option."

or

"My mind/logic and heart/Spirituality win when put up against my tastebuds and so I am vegan."

"My mind/logic and heart/Spirituality win when put up against my tastebuds and so I am vegan."

:wayne: I love it!

"I'm doing what I think is right, and that's what matters."

i learnt what animals suffer and i didnt want to be a part of it...

I love animals more then food.

orr....I dont enjoy chowing down on dead bodies, why do you? (if im approached kindly rudely)

I was writting a paper about vegetarianism for an anthropology class, and learned too much about the issues to ever eat meat again!

I just say "I don't eat meat."

Some people ask "why?" I just say "because I choose not to"

Some ask "How did you get started" and I say "I never had a taste for it"

Honestly no omni's were ever rude to me however I did catch quite a bit of rudeness for other veg*ns for my choice in being lacto/ovo instead of a "pure" veggie/fruit eater. ( not anyone from here though)
As for what I say to omni's who ask I simply say I perfer not to eat meat for my health and because I naturaly do not gravitate to eating it.
Most the time all you ever get is "wow I could never give up my "insert fav meat food here" from people

I Use a quote by Whitney Brown

"I am not a vegetarian because I love animals. I am a vegetarian because I hate plants."


I Love animals , And plants . But it seems that a witty remark works best with them,

:pibo:

Why am I vegetarian?

The food's yummier. :D

"Why don't you want steak?" "I'm allergic to moo."

"Oh come on! I won't tell anyone if you have some of my Chicken stir-fry." "No thanks, but those Parsley Potatoes you made are fantastic. Gimme more."

"How can you be vegan? It must be so hard!" "Yep it is! See! Right there" *point and concentrate hard* I think that's a bead of sweat right there!"

"You don't wear leather?" "Nah. But my shoes are imitation leather imported from (insert foreign country here). But don't they look like leather? Plus my New Balance shoes have to be the best runners I ever bought, and they're vegan!"

Usually cute, witty remarks is enough to satisfy people. I've noticed people get punchy if you come across in scientific terms.

:wayne: I love it!
:pibo: :trick: :vebo: :beatnik:

hard to say exactly why, and still come across nice, like i guess i can say something lite like it tastes better, or cuz i think its healtheir... but when moral reasons are involved and you're asked, theres no way around coming off as an ass... the nicest things i can think of are "cuz i know about the meat industry", now that could bring up questions to an open minded person, and be a good response, but it can easily be interpreted as "your DUMB! and i know more than you!!". or i could say, cuz i love animals enough, but they could interpret it as me saying "your an ass, and you dont give a hoot about anyone but yourself." OR i could say that i dont need meat to live, so ill stick to plants, and theyll take it as "i can beat addiction, why cant you?" so theres no way to win, really, if they take it those 3 ways...

"I'm doing what I think is right, and that's what matters."

I like that!

If they are rude I saw "I choose not to condone abuse of animals by shoveling dead animals in my face. Am I not an animal myself?"

or "I was raised to believe any abuse of an animal is wrong. I can not support an industry that abuses animals by eating the meat they produce. If I eat meat I am saying their cruel and abusive practices are ok. I might as well set my neighbors cat on fire if that is the case. Same thing, one I can see and one I can just pretend I don't know about."

People posting here are saying things that imply sacrifice of taste for veg*nism's sake, which isn't inherently bad, but I think we should try to avoid implying that veg*nism requires such a sacrifice.

with one person i compared pedophelic rape to eating meat as they are both "animal instinct" that got them really thinking.

I do not even presume to imagine life as a "Vegan" due to the absolute negvitivity experienced by simply existing. I have also never met a vegan that I liked at this point--- I assume it is a faction where culture is not important. So why belong to the club?

My stock reply is: "I find it immoral to increase the amount of suffering in the world."

Animals are my friends. And I don't eat my friends. As to non-meat animal products, I wish to reduce as much as I am able my participation in their exploitation and suffering. (The latter sentence will not allow them to come up with the boring old "but when you walk in the forest, you crush bugs".)

Animals are my friends. And I don't eat my friends.

This is what I usually say, but I remember to note that is quoted from George Bernard Shaw. Some times I will add a "unless of course, they ask me to" to the end. :hump:

It really depends on who's doing the asking. Sometimes random folks will ask at the grocery store/restaurant if they hear me asking about ingredients. Parents of children I work with are very curious, they often want to know if I'm going to "convert" their kids. When I first started dropping weight, people asked me all the time what I ate (or if I was "doing Atkins" :brood: ) Friends of my family or coworkers will ask in a more general, conversational way.

If it's someone who I don't think really wants an answer, I may just say something like "it's what works for me". Middle ground (like parents) "I believe it's better for my health and the environment". If it's someone really curious, then I'd share my journey wrt to world hunger and sinus infections and animal rights and weight issues. :D

This is what I usually say, but I remember to note that is quoted from George Bernard Shaw. Some times I will add a "unless of course, they ask me to" to the end. :hump:

I usually just plagiarise it.

I'll also plagiarise the "unless of course, they ask me to". Do I have to credit you? Will you sue me if I don't? :worried: