New study: Why vegans make everybody angry?

[Andy_T]

I stumbled across an interesting Vice article on Facebook:

Why Vegans Make Everyone So Angry, According to Science

There’s something about vegans that really gets under meat-eaters’ skin—and researchers think they’ve finally found the answer.

www.vice.com

tl,dr: It likely is what many of us have instinctively suspected for decades.

A new study suggests it’s not the lifestyle itself, but how it makes others feel about their own choices. Spoiler: not great.
Scientists say that for many carnivores, seeing someone happily munch on a meat-free meal brings up a cocktail of envy, insecurity, and quiet rage.

 

[g0rph]

I stumbled across an interesting Vice article on Facebook:

Why Vegans Make Everyone So Angry, According to Science

There’s something about vegans that really gets under meat-eaters’ skin—and researchers think they’ve finally found the answer.

www.vice.com

tl,dr: It likely is what many of us have instinctively suspected for decades.

Yes, this makes total sense.

It's been tough for me as the only vegan. Feelings of isolation and unfairly being the target of seemingly illogical anger.

 

[Tom L.]

I don't know... Most of my relatives, friends, and (former) co-workers haven't been pescatarian or vegetarian, let alone vegan. And they all know my reasons for my dietary deviations. But we get along fine. I wish they would think more of animals than they do, and I make an effort to bring them around when we discuss such matters. But I'm not willing to turn my back on them if they don't.

The only thing I'd be inclined to argue with someone about would be if they tried to tell me someone could "humanely slaughter" an animal, or "respect" an animal they hunt. I accept that meat eaters aren't necessarily sadists who enjoy killing- but I cannot believe that there can be any genuine good will toward an animal (or human!!!) without acknowledging that their very existence is worth something. If someone gets angry if or when I point this out, I'm fine with a ruckus.

 

[Kathy Lauren]

Guilt. They know or suspect that eating meat is morally questionable, but as long as they can put it out of their mind by the excuse of necessity, they are okay with their choices. When they see us being healthy by not eating meat, they lose that excuse. And they are left with guilt over doing something morally questionable for no good reason.

 

[LoreD]

I think it points out that eating meat is completely unnecessary.

Meat eaters try to pretend that eating animal products is absolutely necessary for health. The majority of the world is lactose intolerant, and most groups were predominantly (except the elites) plant based.

Until recently, meat was the food of the very rich or the nobility. Everybody else was eating Fava beans, grains, bread, and vegetables.

 

[kmrobbins]

I (gently) asked someone this point blank who made a joke in my company...they were a little caught off guard, but after a moment of thought they told me that they'd never have the willpower & kind of resented people who do. They also said that a lot of people have acted superior toward them which makes them mad. Whether or not that's true or a projection of their own insecurities (or maybe a little of both), I thought it was an interesting insight!

 

[Tom L.]

@kmrobbins About "willpower": it's possible that they haven't thought that much about what they might be eating in place of meat. Meals (at least i the United States) tend to have a pattern of a main course with a side dish or two. Granted, during a celebration such as Thanksgiving, there is a greater selection of tasty side dishes- but the main event is the roasted turkey. A meal of just side dishes might seem to lack something. Anna Thomas, in one of hr "Vegetarian Epicure" books, wrote in the preface that a meal without meat seems boring to many folks, and they shudder when they imagine how bleak and joyless they imagine such a diet would be... but she added that when she thought about how lacking in variety conventional diets are, she shuddered a bit, too.

I don't mind a meal of sides, so long as they're satisfying. But I like entrees too- like the "Celebration Roast" I once brought to a holiday dinner, or the enchiladas I brought when my sister and I were having dinner at her place recently.

 

[hitty]

Much truth and insight here. But remember, only YOU can make yourself angry

I think also that it is the having to consider or reconsider one's own decisions that frustrate them. Many react the same way when others choose a life of less stress, or minimize their contribution to pollution, or eat healthy, or work out, or other areas of life where the majority fall into the very popular bad habits. Some kind of crab mentality perhaps?