It’s possible that people feel judged when faced with a lifestyle that might be about ethical choice. Being judged feels threatening, and the rest of the mind finds ways to justify it intellectually.<p>The choices I am making in my own life (I’m vegan) are obviously about what’s best for me rather than some moral superiority, but it doesn’t alleviate the reaction.
We don't hate vegans. Homo Sapiens are omnivores, and we are predators. I would say most people do Not understand why some would choose to abstain from meat, imo most would consider that quirky.<p>Personally I have no problem if some people wish to follow that type of diet, but it is not for me. Quirky on the other hand--that's definitely in my wheelhouse.
Key point here, perhaps: People who don't eat x for religious reasons don't get this hate, at least not so that I've heard it. Jains may be weird but not hated, right?<p>The hate is (at least that's my impression) for the people who eat this
<a href="https://src.discounto.de/pics/Angebote/2015-10/1394308/1771005_mydeli-Vegane-Fertiggerichte_xxl.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://src.discounto.de/pics/Angebote/2015-10/1394308/17710...</a>
instead of this
<a href="https://supermarkt24h.de/media/image/product/5991/md/lebensmittel-fertiggerichte-menueschalen-freizeitmacher-putenmedaillions-300g-a-1349497689.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://supermarkt24h.de/media/image/product/5991/md/lebensm...</a>
and talk as if there's a moral difference.
"This makes it a rejection of a lifestyle and a rebuke to the majority’s values"<p>That's the core of it, as I see it. No matter how discreet you are about it, when your choices implicitly condemn the majority's values, they won't let it go.<p>Take it from a teetotaller. Like most kids I didn't drink and avoided drunk people whenever I could. Unlike most kids I kept doing that. Strangely enough, I've never had as many invitations to parties - sincere ones, too - as after my peers found out I thought there was nothing for me in those parties and wouldn't go.<p>Even though I was easy to ignore, it was apparently preferable to get me there and get some reassurance that I didn't object THAT much to their habits.<p>I try to keep that it mind and not be that way with vegans. It should take more than the implicit condemnation of non-participation to make us uneasy; if it does, maybe we need to confront some things in ourselves.
For the same reason people hate mimes. Which is to say, no one hates thoughtful vegans, or anyone with any dietary restriction; they hate people who are smug and difficult. (Just as no one hates brilliant physical actors on stage; they hate obnoxious, in-your-face street performers).<p>I have friends who are vegan, and we can comfortably go out to eat together because we all order what we prefer and there's no judgement on either side. I can't imagine doing that with someone who actively disrespected my choices or voiced the opinion that meat is murder.
No problem with vegans. Big problems with people who talks all day about being vegan or a gluten free diet.<p>There's no need to say "I'm vegan" everywhere everyday.
I find it an annoying religion, because its dogmatic and arbitrary. Just like a lot of others. And one dogma is, it presume to be logical and reasonable. Most religious don't bother with that.