Why Do People Have to Lie About Being Vegetarian?

BTW: Love your guinea pig photo. We lost our guinea pig last year. Poor baby got sick. My daughter had named it 'Piggy', how original, LOL. She was devestated.

Oh definitely! Even 10 years ago I had people telling me in these times it is easy. And 10 years later, it is even easier.

Honestly, I can't seem to stick to any diets. My friend did Jenny Craig and was practically starving, but she was okay with that. I don't have the willpower for that. So I know it isn't a willpower thing. It's just that she doesn't want to be vegetarian.

I think you're right that people feel guilty though.

Sorry to hear about Piggy. Guinea pigs do tend to get sick quickly and hide their illness so that it's often too late to do much by the time it is discovered. I've found that the best way to catch illnesses is to weigh them weekly. They can't hide their weight loss that way.

If you're ever looking for some guinea pigs again, let me know. I do guinea pig rescue and know of rescuers all over.:)

I think some people may not want to be vegetarians, but think it is 'cool' if they say they are. Who knows...people are funny. I know we went off topic. Thanks for the guinea pig tip. Piggy was long haired, so it would have been easy to miss weight loss. She was always light when picked up. She didn't look sick the day before. Like you said, she probably hid it well, poor baby. That's great that you do the rescue. I'll keep it in mind if we decide to get another in the near future. My daughter still cries if Piggy's name is mentioned. I'll request you as a friend, so I don't forget! Thanks!

Yeah, since guinea pigs are prey animals unfortunately for us one of their defenses is to hide illnesses.

Cute avatar pic by the way.

And back on topic, lol, yes... I think some people do seem to feel that to have the label of being a vegetarian would make them cool. Although, I don't know if any of my relatives could be considered cool.

Are you a nurse? Just wondering since you talked about receiving patients.

I think people can eat junk food whether they are an omnivore or vegetarian. However, it is very difficult to design a diet which is too low in protein. Although, in countries where people cannot afford to eat enough calories per day, it is easy to not get enough protein no matter what.

If a vegetarian likes non vegetarian foods, I think that makes them an omnivore. I know some people just like to have the label, but it is annoying to real vegetarians. Not because we just love our label, but because if you go somewhere and order the vegetarian meal, sometimes it will be brought back with some chicken or fish in it, which is not vegetarian. But since so many people claim to be vegetarian and still eat chicken/fish/etc. it confuses people.

I'm not sure if my attitude about people who aren't vegetarians is right, maybe I should dislike those people. But currently, I really have no problem with other people's choices. I just have a problem with them lying.

One of my coworkers used to always complain about people who ate meat, she had all the stickers, was one of those holier than thou people. And she had only been veg for about 2-3 years. Then one day she started craving meat again and now she's not. So of course now my other coworkers won't let her live that down since she was so into it before. I don't think anyone could ever get me to start eating meat again, but I realize not everyone cares about animals to the extent that I do.

So that is the reason you became a vegetarian animal life, and it is a good one. The only thing is others do not appreciate your reason for being one the way you do. In other words, there is no deep-rooted reason which has really convinced them to become one. Because of that, you have to be patient with them, and understand them. You have to tell them not to worry about it because it is not a problem and that you accept them for what they are. Just let the result of your being a vegetarian, that is, its effect on your own health and well being, be evident to them and so let them be as they are.

I believe relationship with people should not hinge on, or be dictated by, issues like being a vegetarian or not.

Frankly, my wife attended a wedding reception long time ago, with my children. At the reception, the host served non-vegetarian and vegetarian menu. Part of the non-vegetarian menu was some sea foods. Since the wedding was of one of her relatives, necessarily most of the attendees were her relatives. At that time she and the children were seated by some of those relatives who began teasing them because of their being vegetarians, asked to have my wife's and children's non-vegetarian food in exchange for their salads, which my wife gladly agreed. Her relatives were laughing at her because according to them, it is a good thing to be seated with my wife on occasions like that because they will have all the things my wife could not eat and they will have them.

The day after the wedding, my brother-in-law who was also at the wedding called my wife up and asked her if she and the children are well. It turned out that there was food poisoning at the wedding because of the seafoods that were served during the reception. Practically, the last laugh would have been hers if not for the fact that the illness that struck them was serious enough to warrant their being brought to the hospital for treatment.

People have different reasons for being vegetarians. As I said in my previous comment, I had been the subject of jokes and laughter during social gatherings for being one. Also, during that time (1971) vegetarianism was practically unknown to most people so that when we go out to eat at a restaurant or during travels, asking for a vegetarian menu would cause the waiter and the cook to wonder what it was and many times laugh at me. But I did not give it up because my reason is deeply seated in me and I believe with all my heart that I am right. I believe that my body is temple of God and it is the dwelling place of the Spirit of God (1Corinthians 3:16, 17). I also believe that my body is a trust from God because He has bought me with a price, even by the precious blood of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for my sins, (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20) and that it is my reasonable service to Him. (Romans 12:1)

I respect your own reason, as I respect other's reason for being or not being a vegetarian. And that reason I have believed all those years till now.

I think any reason for being vegetarian is a good thing. Personally, I don't believe in God but I'm glad that your belief can cause you to stick to something that is good.

I realize not everyone is going to have a belief that can make them want to be a vegetarian, I just wish that people wouldn't lie about it.

I've had a few times where being vegetarian helped me avoid food poisoning too. Yet other times I ended up getting poisoned due to the vegetarian food being left sitting longer. But luckily not to the point of hospitalization! That must have been terrible.

Yeah, it does seem like my mom mainly did it to copy me. But at least it's not the worst thing she's ever tried to copy. People in my family even want to outdo people on surgeries and injuries.

Me, I'll take the least surgeries and injuries possible!

And yep, tofu is pretty easy to cook when it comes down to it. And hey, even non-vegetarians can still enjoy it too.

The funny thing is, I've noticed that most vegetarians that get all disgusted with people eating meat end up later going back to eating meat themselves.

The only time I'm going to tell people what to eat is on my wedding day. Because if I'm paying for the food I don't buy meat. They can eat what they want at home, but I'm definitely having a vegan wedding. But if I'm just out with people I really don't care what they're getting.