Guest guest Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 I am wondering if anyone else finds that in their day to day life, they encounter gross stereotypes of veg*ns. How do you respond to this? I've been a vegetarian for 10 years, but up until now, have not really encountered this, and I don't know how to respond. Of specific interest to many around me is a stereotype I don't understand. I'm politically conservative, and when people find this out, they cry, " but you're a vegetarian! " What does one have to do with the other? People also seem to think I'm a " hippie. " How do others respond to this? Just curious. . .always looking for good responses! : ) Thanks! Peace, Love, Joy, Kristy " Life is made up of moments, small pieces of glittering mica in a long stretch of gray cement. " -Anna Quindlen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 On Thursday, August 28, 2003, at 05:58 PM, Kristy Powell wrote: > I am wondering if anyone else finds that in their day to day life, > they encounter gross stereotypes of veg*ns. How do you respond to > this? I've been a vegetarian for 10 years, but up until now, have not > really encountered this, and I don't know how to respond. Of specific > interest to many around me is a stereotype I don't understand. I'm > politically conservative, and when people find this out, they cry, > " but you're a vegetarian! " What does one have to do with the other? > People also seem to think I'm a " hippie. " How do others respond to > this? Just curious. . .always looking for good responses! : ) I have always had to put up with this whenever I had an opinion, for both my vegetarianism and my atheism. I found a deterrent that works for both. If I say I am 'buddhist' instead of using either of the other labels, it drops the conversation. Somehow, having vegetarian ideas, or atheist ideas, is somehow more valid by stating a belief in buddhism. It is as if my belief of something outside of myself is more validating than a personal choice I adhered to. I now use that as my verbal self defense to ward off unwanted conversations. tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 > I am wondering if anyone else finds that in their day to day > life, they encounter gross stereotypes of veg*ns. Well, by definition, stereotypes happen because there are people that reinforce that image. Therefore, if you work in a particular industry or area of the country, the stereotypes might be different. Having worked in the computer industry since I became vegan, I haven't really found myself subjected to stereotypes of what veg*ns are ... I guess I've been lucky! I do know that my personal stereotype of a vegan is someone who is stubborn. I feel that is currently a trait necessary to be vegan in a non-vegan world. (Are there any vegans out there who feel that they aren't stubborn??) And I also appreciate that vegetarians also need a certain amount of intractability as well, but I think vegans really have to stand their ground. > How do others respond to this? Carol Adams wrote a book several years ago called " Living Among Meat Eaters " . Although I've been veg for awhile, I read it within the last year and I think it's worth a read for anyone who's interested in the social or interpersonal dynamics of being veg in a non-veg world. Adams says that meat-eaters are " blocked vegetarians " and gives some conversational strategies for sticky situations. For example, she talks about deciding whether questions are hot, neutral, or cold. " A hot question often reveals anger, suppressed hostility " like " Why are you wearing leather? " or " Hitler was a vegetarian. What do you have to say about that? " (NOTE -- for the record, this has been discussed before, on this very list, Hitler wasn't a vegetarian) The purpose of hot questions is to challenge and keep the focus on you and vegetarianism in a confrontational and argumentative manner. Adams suggests the best motivation is to get them to put more effort into learning about vegetarianism than simply exhausting a vegetarian with their defensive questions, as in offer to send them information. Anyways, that's just one snippet of what she says. I found it an interesting read, perhaps you will too. Cheers, Tammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 my best response to that question is just to point out the diversity of folks who are or were vegetarian. if you look at some of the historical figures, we're talking tolstoy, plutarch, isaac bashevis singer, albert einstein, cesar chavez, and more. contemporary vegetarians are as diverse as krissie hynde, alice walker, alicia silverstone, russell simmons, paul mccartney, pamela anderson, and many more. not many hippies or tree huggers in that bunch. i agree with tammy, though, that, as carol adams says in " living among meat eaters, " that question is really about shifting the focus away from that person truly considering the merits of veg'ism. even if nobody else in the world were veg, the ethical arguments are just as compelling. nora Tammy writes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 Hey Kristy: Personally I don't think there's any more ignorance about vegetarianism than there is about anything else. But speaking of ignorance I'll offer my own personal bias on your subject, for what it's worth as a possible illumination of that of the others you mention. If we met I would definitely be one of those people asking you that question. It's very hard for me to understand having compassion for animals on the one hand, while on the other not extending it to human beings less fortunate than ourselves. I believe that is very likely the source of confusion you have experienced. It would in that regard save you a lot of trouble if you were a health-motivated vegetarian, and mentioned that right up front. --Bruce > I am wondering if anyone else finds that in their day to day > life, they encounter gross stereotypes of veg*ns. How do you > respond to this? I've been a vegetarian for 10 years, but up > until now, have not really encountered this, and I don't know > how to respond. Of specific interest to many around me is a > stereotype I don't understand. I'm politically conservative, and > when people find this out, they cry, " but you're a vegetarian! " > What does one have to do with the other? People also seem to > think I'm a " hippie. " How do others respond to this? Just > curious. . .always looking for good responses! : ) > > Thanks! > > Peace, Love, Joy, > > Kristy > > " Life is made up of moments, small pieces of glittering mica in > a long stretch of gray cement. " -Anna Quindlen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.