It doesn't matter where you live. Whether its a small suburban town, or the heart of a large city, vegans are prone to getting bombarded with questions and comments on a daily basis. Like most vegans, I don't mind being asked genuine questions such as, "Why are you vegan?" because this gives me the opportunity to share with people a little about my beliefs. I also love when I'm asked for advice by individuals aspiring to become vegan. Unfortunately, sometimes the questions tend to be more on the offensive side.
For me, it's usually not the questions or statements themselves, but the fact that I receive one at least once a day and it becomes tiring having to defend something that makes you who you are. If you yourself are a vegan, you may have heard some of these before. And if you aren't a vegan and ask or say one of these, don't be surprised to get the same response!
1. "Plants have feelings, too"
This one makes me laugh.
2. "Where do you get your protein?"
Broccoli contains more protein per calorie than steak; meat isn't the only source!
3. "If you don't eat meat you can't be strong"
4. "Animals were put here for humans to eat"
Though this could be true, I don't think any religion's god would have wanted factory farming to go to the extent that it is right now.
If you are unclear on what a factory farm is this 4 minute video will explain it all.
5. "Would you eat meat if..." scenarios
if it was going to waste, died of natural causes, raised and killed humanly, etc. The answer is no, I'm already a vegan and I prefer this lifestyle. 
6. "I could never be vegan, I love ____ too much"
My response to this usually gets people thinking. You don't have to cut all animal products out of your life to make a difference, so if you can't live without bacon or cheese, know you don't have to become 100% vegan to make a difference.
7. "Will it bother you if I eat this meat next to you?"
For some vegans, this may feel offensive to have friends eating meat around them. To most, it's not at all! Remember, everyone has the right to make their own lifestyle choices and someone deciding to be vegan is just as valid as the choice to eat meat. So don't worry, if a vegan or vegetarian has a problem being around the meat they will handle it on their own. Just don't be disrespectful about it and throw it in their face (metaphorically and physically).
8. "Wait, can you have cheese?"
Believe it or not, most people ask me this when they first find out I'm vegan. The answer is that I can have vegan cheese; most cheeses are made from milk that comes from animals.
9. "That sucks you can't have bread"
Most bread is vegan believe it or not; I practically live off of the stuff.
10. "You must not be able to eat anything good"
Do you not think Oreos are good? That's right, they're vegan.
11. "What can you eat then?"
Food, what do you eat?
12. "How do you know what it tastes like, you're vegan!"
1. I haven't always been a vegan. 2, I have a memory
13. Adults: "Do you take __&__ supplements?"
Yes I do, thank you professor for trying to convince me to not be vegan... but i'd really love it if you'd start class so i can go home. :)
14. "But it's not milk"
What else would you like me to call what i use for milk? Soy liquid? Almond juice?
15. "If we don't eat them they will take over!"
The only reason we have so many farm animals in the world is because factory farms mass breed them, stop that and there wouldn't be so many.
16. "Ewww"
Just because you don't agree with someones food choices does NOT give you the right to say it's gross. I for one have never called any of my friends' meals gross, yet my salads and rice constantly get bashed just because I'm vegan.
In my school cafeteria a few weeks back I was ordering a burrito and the chef asked me "Chicken or Beef?" I said "No meat, just beans and rice please." The chef then proceeded to make disgusted faces saying "Ew, no meat? No cheese either? That's so gross." I chose to ignore it until last week when the same chef said my friend was gross for not liking cereal, I said to him "It's not okay to put down someone by their food choices, you harassed me for being vegan awhile ago too and i didn't appreciate it." And in front of his boss he promptly replied "That's because you don't eat anything that screams when you bite into it."
I have no idea how he is still an employee after having said that in front of his boss.
17. "Hey vegan"
Throwing in that i'm vegan or addressing me as "vegan" can feel very offensive to me at times, and I've never understood why people like to do it. My lifestyle choice is not a joke; it's like calling someone by their religion as a means of bashing on them or making fun of something they believe in strongly, it's just not ok. Most people don't understand why this can put me on edge - well, it's because a lot of people feel the need to do it and it makes me feel as though my peers don't respect me and my choices. Most mean no harm by it, but in the past there have been people who did which is why it can definitely be a trigger for vegans.
It's all about respect; you don't have to agree with my choices in life but all I ask is you respect them and I'll do the same for you.
"It's a joke"
To you it's just a one-time joke or silly comment you may or may not have meant, to us its an everyday occurrence where we have to defend something that makes us who we are.
