Help: They are always trying to shove meat at me.

Hey everyone,

Well, I try and always be peaceful, not over-react, and in general, be a hippie.... but at this time, I'm starting to feel that my patience is slipping away, and this is really starting to bother me.

I've been Veg for over 4 years.... At first, I expected people to poke some fun at me... years went by, and it never stopped... I'm not talking about friends, I'm talking about family (relatives, in-laws, etc). I cannot attend one dinner with the family, without having someone say "Give Richard some meat". Anytime they can, its always brought up that "I don't know how you could do it... don't you just want to at least eat meat sometimes". I try and explain things, and I'm always told they cannot understand how I think. For gods sake, when we have BBQ's etc during the year, I'll even cook meat for guests... just to have them wave it in my face afterwards... they try and do it as a joke, but I'm really starting to get so incredibly sick of it... I respect them, and their choices... but mine are the joke of the family... I'm treated as if I'm some weirdo... and I know I’m' getting close to the point where I'll say something like "yes, your right... I see the light... give me a burger.. I wanna eat meat, be fat like you, let animals die and suffer, just cause I like the way it tastes... Yea, lets start with your stupid dog... you say animals were made to be eaten right... toss the mut on the BBQ, lets kill it... is that what you want????" (or I might even say something worse). but I don't want to... I just want to find a way to nicely get people off my back....

Anyhow, I can take some shots... but its been over 4 years... I just want people to stop offering me meat for f%$^@'s sake...

Am I alone, or has anyone ever had this happen to them? How did you handle it? did it ever stop? god, talk about a stale old joke....

Peace everyone (sorry for the vent, its not like me)...
Soc

 

it sucks that pple dont respect your view over life... i eat meat and i wouldnt do that to u, its awful..

 

Thanks Crayola... I appriciate that... and truly, I have nothing against people that eat meat... that was not what I intended to say in my thread....

Thanks for the nice words.


Peace
rr

 

this sounds fair.


or, just tell them it's been four years and it's getting pretty old and you'd appreciate if they'd all stop acting like douchebags and mind their own business.

that's what i'd say

 

pop in some of those meat industry videos during dinner ....that will livin things up

 

I think this is a great idea. Or get some PETA posters and stick up around the BBQ grill. If that doesn't shut em up nothing will.

It's really about respect people. They need to respect your choices, just as you have respected theirs. It's really hard not to blow up at family when they keep up like this. I know that knowing we support you doesn't help when you're the brunt of another round of jokes, but we are here for you.

Kathi

 

Thanks everyone, appriciate the advice.... I think I'm feeling a bit better today... yesterday's rant was probably just a result of being around them for quite a few days... then to top things off, our inlaws brought over some meat for the kids... god forbid that deprive them of it... could be bad for thier health- ughhh...

but yea, I do like your ideas about the videos... I have a very good one from Peta called "meet your meat". I think I'm going to burn it to a DVD, wait for the next dinner party (this sunday) to be over... then toss that into the TV ... Perhaps that one is a bit on the strong side.. but at this time, hey, I don't care... let them know what they are pushing on me...

PS: AmanuensisOfGod, Being a veg is not an unnatural choice.... There is absoulty no reason why people need meat in thier diets... and it defiantly has nothing to do with tinfoil on your head.

Peace everyone
Soc

 

btw, Thanks Kathi, I actually do appreciate your support... you guys are great.... I know I don't post to this area of the site as much as I should - but I do read this section quite a bit... and truth be told... I don't think I would have turned veg if it wasn't for the internet.... There is a lot of power knowing others with similar values.. and the internet has been an awesome tool for support, information, recipies, you name it...

But hey, thanks again Kathi, and everyone

take care
rr

 

I think for some people, especially older people, it's almost as if not eating meat is somehow a personal-attack on their morals and upbringing.. and in someways, for some people, I guess maybe it is. But it shouldn't be.

Sorry for what you have to go thru, although I doubt showing them Peta will help. People like that tend to just be stuck in their ways and refuse to see any other side. Much luck and patience to you

 

Hey Ninja,

Oh my god, I have had that feeling for so long, but could never put it into words. For quite a few years I've felt its more than just a joke with many of them… I think a few of them are quite pissed about it... My wife’s grandmother.... first question she asks her when she sees her is... "is he eating meat yet?". before saying hello, how are the kids... its "is he eating meat yet". Like I said, there have been a lot of awequard moments over it... but you've summed it up perfectly.. I almost feel like they are quite pissed off about it... I've actually had moments where I'll listen to what they have say, and if I give anyone my reasons for being veg... I get accused of "acting” as if I'm better than them.

So its "ok" if I listen to tier cracks, and pleas to eat meat, but, if I say anything, than I'm just being all "righteous and mighty" (and I swear that is not me at all).

Anyhow, thanks man... sounds like you've seen this before...

Have a great weekend everyone
Soc

 

i get this too, its really saddening

and they call us self-righteous?

diversity is beautiful, i wish people would accept and embrace differences.

peacex

 

Say thanks I know you are concerned but I dont want meat
thanks

 

They aren't listening to you, don't listen to them. That really sucks that your family is like that. Just tell them, "look I respect your choices to eat meat and I don't constantly tell you to stop eating meat so how about you respect my health choices too?"

You're not alone though... I mean your situation is pretty sucky. But my boyfriend is a big joker and he is always trying to offer me meat just to be funny. I just say Nah like its anything else. Well sometimes I pinch him, maybe you should try that!

I really hope your situation gets better! If it comes to point where you just no longer show up at the dinners then maybe thats what it takes, but that would suck.

 

I know what its like its rtaher stale its been a year for me. But more recently I was at my aunts cottage and shes usually the worst of them "you gunna die if you dont eat" etc etc. But this weekend it was weird she had some change of heart and actually supported me in her own weird way. She tried my veggie food and bragged about my choices to her friends, although she still had some snooty remarks.

I know its hard to keep cool and to listen to the jokes and stuff, my extended family is like yours. But I dont think you should show a PETA video, sorry I've seen those and they bring people in the totally opposite direction they would get even more defensive. If they ask or bug you ignore it, or offer them some of your veggie burger, hey even crack a joke about them maybe. But if you retaliate then they get what they want, they get your reaction. But I have to say 4 years is a little daunting.... if you cant keep your cool cause we all lose it, explain to them as nicely as you can, that your sick of their lame jokes.
Good luckkkk !

 

Hey all, Wow, thanks for all the supportive words and empathy... You guys are so awesome... Anyhow, I will defiantly take things cool.... I think also my initial email was to blow up on the net (venting I think is the term), rather than saying something I would regret later.... but truly, thanks for listening... its nice not to feel like one of the only veg's around.... ya know...

Anyhow, I'll defiantly like to add this area to my frequent visits on this site.... Everyone, thanks again.

Peace
Richard

 

Richard,


You and I have been veg for the same amount of time, so I can sympathize. For the most part, my family and friends have been really supportive, but I have a couple of friends who just think it's SOOO funny to be jackasses about the food thing. I suggest you memorize the following line and repeat as necessary:

"That was funny . . . four years ago. You might want to find some new material, because it's pretty obvious that I'm not going to change my mind, and you aren't going to change yours."

Recently, I had an incredibly healthy baby. He was 9 pounds, 9 ounces at birth, and he regained his birth weight plus some within the first week. He is now eight weeks old, and he is 15 pounds, he is very tall and muscular for his age and is way ahead of all the usual developmental benchmarks. So when I run into people with kids who want to make fun of my lifestyle, all I have to say is, "My Vegan baby can kick your baby's a$$!" :lol:

 

This needs to be made into a bumper sticker. Immediately.