Vegans?

Someone saying " I have a bit of struggle with people who . . ." is not getting at them, it is saying that the OP has a bit of a struggle!

Dozens of threads are started every day less mildly than that. Some of your own posts, dj, imply that you "have a bit of a struggle" (to put it mildly) with people who hold views which are not the same as yours. Isn't it just a bit self-centred and over-sensitive to assume that you are being got at when you aren't?

Dunno durham. Idle curiosity? Interesting subject matter? Quiet day in the office? Who knows or cares really .

So why was this thread started, I ask again.

Indeed you can durham, you can lead any lifestyle you so wish. You can eat meat and fish; or you can refuse to - your choice. No one's arguing with you, that I can see.

My son sometimes gets asked why he's a vegetarian and he just explains why he decided to cut meat and fish out of his diet, but he's never had anyone be aggressive about it. Why on earth would anyone become aggressive about what someone else does or doesn't eat? What's it got to do with anyone else what you do or don't eat?

"Shall we go back to trading in beans?", just because vegans object to having animal products used in bank notes?
That's having a go at vegans. Omnivores obviously don't care about having tallow in banknotes. Vegans and vegetarians avoid it because it comes from the abattoir. Now we are either being made to knowingly accept it, or make a fuss about accepting fivers.
Ten pound notes are also going to be made using tallow.
It's thoughtless, and insulting to those who avoid it for religious reasons, not just vegans and vegetarians for "lifestyle" reasons, which was also sneered at in the OP.
What is wrong with becoming vegan for lifestyle reasons?
People can become vegan for whatever reason they want, in my opinion.

My vegan colleague seems to have a good selection of foods Jalima and he often offers bits and pieces for us to try. Some of his food is quite spicy, so not to my taste anyway, but the homemade biscuits he brings in are very acceptable! He's a nice chap, doesn't appear to have a chip on his shoulder about vegans v carnivores; just gets on with his life and we get on with ours.

I've often heard vegetarians grilled about their dietary preferences, once or twice quite aggressively. Live and let live.

I would cater for a vegan if I invited one to my house for meal, of course I would, but I would need to know in advance what was suitable.

I honestly didn't read the OP as "having a go at vegans". I haven't read comments here as "having a go at vegans". Most posters recognise the genuine motivation behind becoming either vegetarian or vegan. Anger is usually associated with meat eaters, rather than non meat eaters

Go and re read my post and see where I said that I, personally had never known anyone be unpleasant or mean to a vegan or vegetarian. And that includes my DS and DDIL.

No, it sounds like a series of questions which is puzzling the OP and ones which it is a good idea to air and open up to discussion.

It doesn't sound as if anyone has been having a go at anyone at all, that seems like a rather defensive reaction.

Some reasoned arguments as to why some people prefer a vegan lifestyle can be quite enlightening.

Maybe you should reread the OP, to find out who has been having a go at vegans.

Aside from those who have to follow a specific diet for health reasons Jalima , most people are considerate and understanding that a host will do their best to accommodate their food preferences, don't you find. Until i came across this thread, I had no idea that vegans and vegetarians were so angry with carnivores! My vegan colleague has possibly been fuming at the other 7 of us for the past 8 years. Who knew!

I must admit, it's my idea of a panic-stricken dinner party; carnivores, fish-eaters, vegetarians, vegans, lactose intolerant and coeliac. I have catered for all except a vegan.

No, I'm me.

Are you phoenix in disguise?
I asked because I was interested to know.
Why not ask?

Like any thread, a poster pondering and interested in the views of others I presume.

Why ask?

I asked at the beginning, but never got an answer.
Why did you start this thread, phoenix?
It didn't come out of fresh air.

Mankind has been eating vegetables for longer Esspee. We know this because of food residues found in graves.
What do you think they ate before they used tools to hunt and catch animals?
How much natural raw meat do you eat?

I've never personally known anyone be hostile towards a vegetarian or vegan Nightowl and I can't understand why anyone would want to attack or rubbish them for simply choosing something different to me. Everyone has the right to choose how to live their life, in their own way - respect for all choices. My DS and DIL are both vegetarians (although DS grew up within a meat eating family) and I just amend whatever meal I'm preparing for them when they're coming to eat with us. But they never make a big deal out of it when they go to eat at friends homes either. Live and let live.

Question - "How do you know if someone is a vegan?"

Answer - "Don't worry, they'll tell you!"

Mankind has been eating meat for at least 2.5 million years. We know this because we have the tools used and bones showing marks of butchering. We are the only animals who use tools.
Meat is nutrient dense compared to a vegetable only diet and the human race made huge strides in physical development including massive increase in brain size once meat was included. This led to all the developments which separate us from the other animals such as speech and the development of civilisation.

I respect anyone's right to choose whether they wish to eat meat or not, in return I expect my wish to have a natural diet including plant and animal products similarly respected.

It really does work both ways. I never understand why non-vegetarians and non-vegans often seem so hostile to vegetarians and vegans. Or why they often seem to go out of their way to attack and rubbish those individuals' choices. And whether you agree or not, it is a choice based on moral and ethical beliefs for many people. That doesn't mean they are setting themselves up as morally superior, just that the decisions they make are based on their own moral code.

Get fed up with this 'moral' thing that some vegetarians and vegans assume like a mantle of sainthood.
It's a food choice.

Exactly Jalima