As a vegetarian, I get some pretty interesting remarks and questions. I totally understand the curiosity and even enjoy answering the more genuine questions. I respect those, but majority of what I hear is pretty repetitive and annoying, and I really don't understand why it seems like such a strange lifestyle choice. If you're a vegetarian, chances are you have heard one of the following, and are tired of hearing it.
1. "Wow that's sad you're really missing out"
Just a reminder that being vegetarian is a choice. I have a meat-free diet because I want to and can change that if I want. So no, I'm not "missing out."
2. "If someone paid you a million dollars to eat a piece of meat, would you eat it?"
I have not met a single vegetarian who has gotten rich from this question; and what is it with using a hypothetical situation to find my breaking point? I don't understand how people can be keen on seeing vegetarians change their diet. Stop trying to find a scenario that will make me cave on my beliefs.
3. "But you're killing plants"
The number of times I have heard this argument is mind-blowing. The fact of the matter is that picking an apple off a tree is not the same as chopping off a pig's leg. Plant's cannot feel pain the way animals do. How do you even compare the two?
4. "So if you're vegetarian, can you eat cheese?"
Let me make one thing clear: a vegetarian is a person who does not eat meat, and a vegan is a person who does not eat meat as well as any animal product. There is a big difference and it's tiring to have to keep explaining it to people.
5. "The animal is already dead so you not eating it isn't going to do anything"
Being vegetarian is not so much about loving animals; people choose not to eat meat for moral, health, or religious reasons. I am well aware that my not eating chicken is not going to bring it back to life, and I'm sure other vegetarians are too.
6. "I was vegetarian for like two days once"
That's not so much being vegetarian as much as it is just not eating meat for two days. Either way, pat yourself on the back, I guess?
7. "I bet I can get you to eat a piece of chicken"
No, please don't even try to.
