Reasons for vegetarianism

[Alice Levitt]

Suzanne and I recently discussed the difference between ethical vegetarians people who are just grossed-out by meat. I wanted to open the conversation to everyone.
I'm one of three kids. My eldest brother Volodia is a chef and eats shares my predilection for organ meats and exotic cuisines. Our other brother, Vass, though, has never eaten meat. I mean never. Even as an infant, if my mother fed him a meat product, he would spit it out.
I find that fascinating. Annoying during family gatherings, but fascinating. I can understand not eating meat because you don't want an animal to die to feed you, but not liking meat? That just seems crazy.
Does anyone else know someone like my brother?

[tonimurray]

My sister is the same way!! She doesn't like the "texture"  I find it hard to believe, i LOVE meat.

[MonaRaeHill]

I'm the same, apparently. As a kid, I never really liked meat very much......especially the "fake" varieties, i.e., lunch meats, canned meats, etc. I really wasn't all that thrilled with the fake cheeses, either, and since we were highly dependent on government staples, I went hungry a LOT. Once I grew up and moved away, it just became a very natural process to discover all the alternatives........I've been a vegetarian (for both reasons, ethical and preference), for many moons, now.

[mailgirl]

I am a vegetarian because I like animals. 

[Morganna]

I am a vegetarian because I like animals. 

I'm not for the same reason.

[siliconghost]

I am a vegetarian because I like animals. 

I'm not for the same reason.

Once again, Morganna, you stole the words out of my mouth.

Vegetarians are the only customers I avoid when waiting tables. If I didn't love my profession so much, I'd accidentally order meat for them. Which happens a lot with my co-workers (@ zg)

[Undead Molly]

Once again, Morganna, you stole the words out of my mouth.

Vegetarians are the only customers I avoid when waiting tables. If I didn't love my profession so much, I'd accidentally order meat for them. Which happens a lot with my co-workers (@ zg)

Why would you avoid vegetarians?

[mailgirl]

I am a vegetarian because I like animals. 

I'm not for the same reason.

Once again, Morganna, you stole the words out of my mouth.

Vegetarians are the only customers I avoid when waiting tables. If I didn't love my profession so much, I'd accidentally order meat for them. Which happens a lot with my co-workers (@ zg)

Well, I guess I won't be eating at KC.  I planned to but since it would be so upsetting for you to wait on me I won't bother.

[Undead Molly]

Once again, Morganna, you stole the words out of my mouth.

Vegetarians are the only customers I avoid when waiting tables. If I didn't love my profession so much, I'd accidentally order meat for them. Which happens a lot with my co-workers (@ zg)

Well, I guess I won't be eating at KC.  I planned to but since it would be so upsetting for you to wait on me I won't bother.

Good point, Mailgirl! I guess vegetarians should avoid eating at Kong Chow... 

[Morganna]

Vegetarians are the only customers I avoid when waiting tables. If I didn't love my profession so much, I'd accidentally order meat for them. Which happens a lot with my co-workers (@ zg)

Well that seems unnecessarily harsh and condemnatory.  If you're a waiter, isn't it your JOB to WAIT on people who enter the establishment you're working for?  And how bloody nasty is THAT, "accidentally" ordering meat for them?  It may be entirely possible that you're trying to be witty or amusing with your posts, and I'm trying to cut you some slack and assuming that's what you're doing, but IF that's what you're doing, you're failing. Miserably.

You're coming across as a pretty nasty person with a big shoulder chip.  If that's your intention, then please keep speaking the way you do.  If that isn't your intention, then please accept my comments as an attempt to show you that you're misrepresenting yourself and a suggestion that you modify your style so that it accurately represents what you're intentions are.  Humor and sarcasm can be incredibly difficult to convey in a medium such as this and it is very easy to come across as really rude or nasty if you're not extra careful.

I wish you all the best.

[siliconghost]

Well, if it's funny for me, who cares? This is teh intarweb. Not the gospel truth, IMHO.

[Suzanne Podhaizer]

I'd like to turn this conversation back to people's reasons for vegetarianism, but first want to add that this forum is for people who want to participate in meaningful discussions about food-related topics, particularly those of interest to Vermonters.

We Seven Days-ers are pretty opinionated (Alice and I are often polar opposites), but it's important to us that the discussions here remain respectful and thoughtful. There are plenty of places on the web to rant and rave indiscriminately, make personal attacks, etc. This isn't one of them.

Now...why are YOU a vegetarian?
 

[mailgirl]

So... like I said, I am a vegetarian because I like animals.  If you like to eat animals then that is up to you.  If I want to be a vegan that eats Froot Loops or a vegetarian that eats deep fried cheese that is up to me.  Most people think that vegetarians eat really healthy.  Most probably do and I applaud them!  One day I will join them...
I will have a new blog about this sort of thing soon... hopefully it will be humorous!

[slaphappiest]

I was a vegetarian for years, mostly because my first job in high school was as a butcher's assistant.  It wasn't that the meat grossed me out but that I could smell an unclean butchershop as soon as I came through the door.  Many places would smell so foul to me that I refered to them as "canned goods only stores."  To this day I will not buy meat or fish at certain places.
Most hardcore vegetarians that I have known are so for political/ethical reasons and actually express little interest in food or food preparation.  I have been told a number of times that eating and cooking are a waste of time.  The exception to this has been those who are vegetarian for religious reasons or those involved with living or raw food diets.

[mailgirl]

Most hardcore vegetarians that I have known are so for political/ethical reasons and actually express little interest in food or food preparation.  I have been told a number of times that eating and cooking are a waste of time.  The exception to this has been those who are vegetarian for religious reasons or those involved with living or raw food diets.
I do not consider myself a hardcore vegetarian.  I am guessing by that you mean vegan. I have an interest in food but I do not cook as much as my husband!  Lucky me!
There are a lot of vegetarian cooking blogs.  This one is very nice!:

http://www.veganyumyum.com