4 Things People Say When They Find Out I'm a Vegetarian (and tag answers!)

Hi, guys!  My LRtC review is in the works, but I have a feeling it'll be a while before it's up, and even when it is, I'm not sure it'll be adequate, hehe;)  So in the meantime, I'm whipping up a quick post talking about how people react when they find out I'm a vegetarian.  Now, please, I don't want to offend anyone in this post, but I Must Speak My Mind now and then, and so this one might be a bit more sarcastic than usual.

Here goes nothin'!

"Why?"
This is the #1 thing that it's almost guaranteed people will say to me when they find out I don't eat meat.


Sometimes, the people who ask this have completely innocent motives and are just curious about why I'm voluntarily an herbivore, and they ask it in a very polite way.  But alarmingly often, people ask it in a tone that drips condescension and the clear intent to persuade me of the nonsensicality of my choice.  Sometimes this comes from good intentions, but trust me…it isn't exactly a good idea to ask a vegetarian why they're a vegetarian if you make it unequivocally obvious that you think it's a stupid thing to be.  Dear well-meaning people:  save yourself the time and don't try to convince me that I shouldn't be a vegetarian.  It'll only waste your breath and get under my skin.  I'm by no means saying that I'll always be a vegetarian, but for now, I am, and if one day I decide to change my mind, I can do it without your input and reasoning.  (I really do mean this in the kindest of ways.)

Oh, and just in case y'all are curious, I'll tell you.  I personally am a vegetarian because I personally don't want to eat animals, though I don't consider it morally wrong to eat meat (except certain seafoods, the ones that are "prepared" via being boiled alive.  Call me crazy, but I do have a slight moral aversion to burning anything alive).  You gotta understand, this is a girl who could never even bring herself to directly kill an insect (at least, not once I reached a certain age).  I just couldn't (and frankly still can't) do it.  But just because I myself have those feelings does not mean that I look down on those who squash a spider when they see it (there really is nothing wrong with that).  It helps that I also never really liked meat that much.  I do miss tuna sandwiches at times, but that's about all I miss.  Trust me, I doubt that I would be a vegetarian if I liked meat more than I do.

"Oh, wow.  I could never be a vegetarian; I love meat."
Um…okay?  More power to you, then.  I don't really care love it.  Hence the vegetarianism.  

"But isn't it Biblically wrong to be a vegetarian?"/"God gave us the animals to eat."


Oh-ho, boy.  Don't even get me started.   

My response when people say, "So you don't believe God gave us the right to eat meat?" is usually to remind them that I personally do not have a moral problem with the majority of meat-eating.  Granted, lots of vegetarians do, but I am not one of them (not yet, at least, hehe).  My reaction when someone pulls the it's-disobeying-God-to-not-eat-meat card, on the other hand…


After attempting to cool the blood that has suddenly begun to boil in my veins, I usually say in as calm a voice as I can muster without making it sound as scathing as I really feel, "No, when I think about how vegetarianism was God's first plan for humanity [because it was, you have to admit that], I feel pretty Biblically justified."  Thankfully, people tend to leave it alone after I say that.  

"But how do you keep healthy?"
Believe it or not, there are other healthy foods besides fish.  There are other sources of protein than beef.  And there are other victuals that actually offer all eight amino acids.  Shocker, I know.  


All right, all right.  It is a bit more difficult.  I'm fairly sure I don't get as much protein/amino acids as I should, but that's partially my choice.  For one thing, I don't eat a lot of straight-up dairy either (though I'm not and I doubt I ever will be a vegan).  I can't really have straight milk anymore because it stuffs up my nose.  Which is really sad, by the way, because I loved milk:(  But if/when I try a little harder, I get plenty of nutrition, never fear.  I appreciate the concern, but how's about a deal:  you worry about your health and leave mine to me/my parents/my doctor, okie dokie?  Swell.   


There you have it!:D  Hope I didn't step on too many toes, heehee.  It really wasn't my intention.

Oh, and while I'm here, the lovely Naomi has tagged me!  Jolly big of you, old bean!

1. Describe your eyes, please.  All right!  My eyes are dark brown (though not as dark as they appear from a distance), deep set, and rimmed with naturally long, curly lashes.  (My eyes are basically the only feature about which I can remotely brag, so give me my small victory, haha:D)

2. What's the last thing you bought? (And food doesn't count.)  I'm sure it was a book…I have a problem with compulsively buying books;)

3. Do you keep a diary? (And do you let people read it, or is it filled with dark secrets?)  Nope.  I've tried, but I never keep it up for very long.  Though I think it'd be fun to write a memoir someday, just for the heck of it, and to see how God has worked in my life.  

4. If you could choose, have pink hair for a week, or have one encounter with Blandois from 'Little Dorrit' in the night on a lonely road? (For those of you who haven't read or seen Little Dorrit, Blandois is this horrible murderer who turns blood into ice. (not literally.))  WHY NAOMI WHY.  Okay.  My first thought was "Definitely the pink hair!" because Blandois definitely turns my blood to ice and my reaction upon seeing him pop up in front of me with those mad eyes would probably be this: 


 BUT on second thought, you never explicitly said that I'd meet him ALONE.  If I were to meet him at night on a lonely road when flanked by my brothers and/or my father, I might prefer that to the pink hair. 

5. What do you imagine I look like? (I'm curious.)  I'm awful at visualizing people I've never seen;-P  It usually ends up being a very vague outline.  Basically, I picture you kind of like Alexis Bledel in Tuck Everlasting (but that's partly because she was one of your blogger pictures).  And I picture you with curly, slightly frizzy brown hair:)

6. Did you ever believe in Santa Claus?  Uh-uh.

7. When do you allow yourself to start listening to Christmas songs?  Whenever I jolly well want to, thank you very much!  I have my own soul!  My own spark of divine fi-uh!  *stomps away in high dudgeon*

8. Do you have a pair of pink shoes? (Because I think I want them.)  I don't, actually!  I should really get some more shoes, come to think of it.

9. When you say the word 'brother' in a British accent, do you end up saying 'brotha' or 'brother'? (Because often when people try out British accents, they make the mistake of doing the latter.)  
I'm assuming it comes out 'brotha'?  I can't actually recall an occasion on which I've used the word 'brother' when mimicking a British accent, but…yeah.

10. Which literary character can you mimic the best?  
Literary or fictional?  'Cause there's a slight difference;-P  Heehee, I actually imitate the shrimp from Shark Tale really well, so my brother tells me. I can basically recite that whole little dialogue with voices;)

Ta-ta for now!





Comments

  1. You changed your header!!! Love this one!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Firstly, YOU HEADER. Goooorgeous, girl. :-)

    Haha, I have to admit I *have* asked vegetarians the 'why' question - but then in a good and kind and 'just-curious-I'm-interested' way. So I'm glad those don't bother you. :-D I totally respect you for being a vegetarian - I don't think it's weird at all - and it SHOULDN'T be controversial. :-) Poor you, for all zee annoying questions.

    Ahh, the tag answers!

    Ohh, I DO like the sound of your eyes. Yes MA'AM. :-)
    Hee, your answer to the Blandois/Pink hair one made me laugh. Well, I WAS thinking about meeting him alone, but true, I didn't point that out. (And yes, we're ALWAYS safe with our Daddy. :-))
    Haha, I also think people look like their profile pictures. I do maybe look a LEEEETLE like Tuck. :-) But she has a cuter face than I have. :-D
    Your Christmas song answer... YOU ARE A GIRL AFTER MY OWN HEART. :-)

    Thanks, Olivia!

    ~ Naomi

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    Replies
    1. Aghhh. YOUR header. Not 'you' header. :-P NAOMI. Silly girl.

      Delete
    2. Thank you, Naomi!!!!:D (Haha, I hadn't even caught the mistake until you mentioned it.)

      Hee, that's okay--as I said, everyone does, and some people (like yourself) ask it in very polite I'm-just-genuinely-interested voices. THANK YOU, old sport. I do appreciate it.

      Thanks:D :D

      Hehe, I figured you meant alone, but I decided to exploit the fact that you didn't explicitly say it. Just to get out of the pink hair;-P

      Haha, I thought you might enjoy that one answer. 'Enry 'Iggins has a quote for everything;D

      Thank YOU, Naomi!

      Delete
  3. Oh my goodness Olivia you're a vegetarian? Why????????? ;)
    Anyways.... I'm with you on the Christmas songs! Sometimes I just get in the mood! However, I also get stupidly grouchy if I hear them in the store before Thanksgiving so I'm a total hypocrite in that respect.

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    1. Haha…you're hilarious;-P

      Exactly! Well, sometimes I get annoyed by them in the stores, too, so we can be hypocritical together;)

      Delete
  4. Yeah, even though I'm not a vegetarian, I have always admired the willpower that they (and you) possess.
    And I always end up singing Christmas songs in July. What's with that?

    And YOUR HEADER!! I loves it. It's wonderful.

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    1. Haha, well, thanks;)

      Christmas in July! Classic:D

      EEEK THANKS. I appreciate it:)

      Delete
  5. People are weird. Why is it any of their business what you choose to eat? Silly, rude people.

    Fun to read your tag answers! I do love your Christmas music answer too!

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    1. Thanks, DKoren! I guess most of them don't mean to be rude, but it can get aggravating after awhile.

      Heehee, thanks! Glad you enjoyed them:)

      Delete
  6. Your header is beauuutifuuuul. Seriously, I LOVE that shade of brown, and the photos you picked are just awesome. (Yay for Narnia! C.S. Lewis fans unite!)

    That's so silly of people to tell you it's Biblically wrong to be a vegetarian. God didn't say, "YOU HAVE TO EAT MEAT, PEOPLES." He just said, "You CAN eat meat if you want to." (At least, that's the way I was always taught.)

    If it helps, you can tell those folks that Carmelite nuns don't eat meat, either :-) (Not saying you're a Carmelite nun, just saying that there isn't actually anything morally WRONG with not eating meat.)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thank yoooouuuuuu! NARNIA FOREVER.

      Appreciate the support! It is silly. And annoying;-P

      Haha!! Maybe I will try that;)

      Delete
    2. Oh--I'm with you on the "killing bugs" thing, just like Rosie :) (Can you tell we're sisters??) I can't do it, either. Not even ants.

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    3. Yay! Let's unite!;) Yep--just can't bring myself to do it.

      Delete
  7. Okay, I put a comment but I don't think it "took", so let me try again.

    I know what you mean - I can't bring myself to kill bugs either.

    Do people really say that to you?? "Biblically wrong to be a vegatarian"? Wow. They have seriously got their facts twisted . . . no wonder your blood boils! Mine would too :)

    I love your answer to the Blandois/pink hair question. Meet him with your brothers/and or father. Agreed, old thing *applauds* :)

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    1. Finally, someone else! Haha:D

      Yep. Believe it or not, they do. I'm always a little taken aback when people say it to me, and then that just changes to anger, hehe;) Thank you!

      Heehee:) We shall brave it together, old bean!

      Delete
    2. I know, right? Everyone else is always shocked to hear that I won't kill bugs. They're like, WHAT? Did I hear you right? So it's great to know that there are a few other people like me out there :)

      That's right, old thing :) Besides, the very thought of anyone dying my hair pink is just so HORRIBLE to me. You see, my hair is Very Long and Thick and Brown with Red-Gold in it, and I am Rather Proud of it. *abashed grin*

      Delete
    3. Exactly! I'm glad other people understand the struggle, hehe;)

      It sounds like you SHOULD be Rather Proud of your hair, m'dear girl! It sounds beautiful:)

      Delete
  8. I've known a few people who are vegetarian, a few people who are gluten-free, a few people who are dairy-free, and a few people who are a combination of all the above. I try not to eat a lot of carbs, so it means a high protein, high fat, high veggie diet that works for me. I do it because it makes me feel healthy. If being vegetarian makes you feel healthy, go for it! In the end, it's none of anyone's business but your own.

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  9. Well, I admire you for being a vegetarian Olivia. I am not one myself, but I have absolutely nothing against vegetarians whatsoever. (I mean, I wouldn't be strong enough to hold out for no meat, even if I'm not a big meat fan. I suppose it would teach me tremendous self control.) I am guilty of asking the 'why' question, just because I like to know the reason out of human curiosity and not mean-ness. :-P But I can understand how it feels to get peppered with questions - being a home schooler that gets swamped with friends who go to school, there's always a never ending list of questions. ;-P
    I enjoyed your answers and that one about pink hair/Blandois made me laugh. Of course our Daddys would make everything alright. :-) (Or big brother.) Especially that gif! Haha! Riley is my favourite character forever and ever amen. He's too cool. Riley rocks. :-D
    Oh, yes and your changed your header! *dreamy sigh* I like it very much. Even though tomorrow is our first day of spring, not autumn, over here. ;-P
    Hehe, your eyes sound the same as mine (and eyelashes :-P). I pride myself on my eyes a little too, as I haven't that much else to brag about, haha. ;-)
    Sorry if this is all disjointed, I was reading bits and pieces here and there - my silly computer and mouse keeps fogging up and it's jolly hard to write and read stuff on it. >:-/
    This made me think, smile and giggle. Thank you. :-D
    ~Miss Meg March

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    1. Thank you, Miss Meg! Haha, as long as it's asked politely, it can be nice to explain to people, as long as they're open, ya know. Haha, the homeschool issue--I get ya there;) Where I live, a lot of people are homeschooled, so I haven't been peppered about that yet, but every once in a while…;)

      Haha, thanks! Riley does rock! You're so right:D

      Thanks a bunch!:) Heehee, our fall doesn't start until sometime in September, but I just got impatient;D

      Yeah! I thought yours sounded similar (I read your answers to Naomi's questions, too). Haha, I'm afraid I'm a little bit like Anne Shirley: "Someone complimented me on my [eyes] once, and I'm afraid I can't stop thinking about [them]." ;)

      No worries; I definitely understand computer glitches!

      Aww, yay! That's high praise. So thank YOU:D

      Delete
  10. I'm sorry people give you a hard time about being a vegetarian. It's ridiculous how many different health plans are out there and how everyone thinks their's is the best. They can't all be the best. And really, I think people just have to figure out what works for them. The thing about it being unbiblical to not eat meat is ridiculous! I would be frustrated, too! :/

    Oh! I shouldn't have read your tag answers. I'm afraid they're going to influence mine! Your answer to the pink hair/Blandois question was great! Nice way to get out of having horrid looking hair...just call on your dad and your brothers! :)

    By the way, I LOVE your new blog design! Your header is gorgeous! And it's so perfect for fall!

    ~Miss March

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    1. Thanks:( IT IS! Ah, well. Most of them don't mean any harm, I daresay:)

      Haha! I'm guilty of that a lot--I have to keep checking to see if I'm plagiarizing other bloggers! And I probably do sometimes without knowing it. Thanks! Armed with all that manpower, plus, of course, the Lord, I think I might be okay;)

      Thank you so much!!!

      Delete
  11. Since it's the first thing I noticed, it's the first thing I'm gonna comment on....YOUR NEW DESIGN!!! It's gorgeous!! Very deep and cozy and fall-ish. I love it. :-)

    So! This post was very interesting. And funny. :-D I don't think I know any other vegetarians (oh, well, except for my first cousin once-removed who lives in Australia....but he's a case all his own...) so I don't talk to people much about it. It was interesting to hear your views on the subject! I definitely agree that what people choose to eat or not to eat is up to them and what they feel is right. I'm not prejudiced against vegetarians (well, if they're waaaayyyy wacko about it, that's kinda annoying, but I can see you're not!) but I most certainly will never be one. Being gluten and dairy intolerant, I have all the difficulty I want finding things to eat! Plus, I don't really like to dwell very much on what I eat -- I want to be healthy, and I don't want to get sick, but I'm really not very finicky.

    As for killing animals...I kill bugs in a wink. Doesn't bother me at all. I kill them with my BARE HANDS. *evil laugh* I'm not opposed to killing most animals -- God gave us dominion over all animals, so I don't see it as wrong, if it's done in a humane way. (Boiling things alive does sound disturbing.)

    ANYWAY. I enjoyed reading your thoughts. :-)

    Ohhh, I have a compulsive book-buying problem tooooo!! It's really terrible. I must learn to control myself. Oh, but you know what's even worse? Soundtracks. There's my real downfall. ;-P

    Haha. I chose the pink hair. ;-)

    ~Emma


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    1. THANK YOU! I'm so happy it's gotten a good reception;D

      Hehe, good! Glad it was entertaining:D I understand, it certainly can be irritating when people are overly verbose about their vegetarianism…I guess with many vegetarians, it's because they actually have a moral problem with meat-eating? Anywho. Oh, yup, gluten and dairy intolerances are tough:( My mother is intolerant to gluten, one of my friends has Celiac's, and I can't have that much dairy myself, so I can empathize. Hey, it's good to not be picky about what you eat! Apparently I've always been a bit of a picky eater.

      Well, there are times when I sort of WANT to kill insects, but…I just can't. I keep thinking, "They have a right to life too!" Hahaha XD But I definitely don't think it's wrong to do so.

      Thanks!

      Isn't it awful? There's just something about a used bookstore that I CANNOT resist. Hee, I'm better about soundtracks, but that's partially because I'm stingy and don't like to spend much of any money on things, so I stick to what I can buy for under $5! It's really pretty bad…I need to get over that…

      I've been rethinking my answer to that a little myself…;)

      Delete
  12. This post is hillarious! I sadly admit that I would probably answer with at least two of the mentioned statements, mostly because I'm curious.
    That being said, I think it is admirable you being a vegetarian, I have considered doing it on many occasions but never have the willpower to actually follow through.

    And I also gotta say: your new header is Gorgeous!!!

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    1. Thanks, Rose! Haha, it's okay. If said politely they aren't really all that annoying; it's just that when one is asked them OVER and OVER, one gets Slightly Irked;)

      Haha, thank you! I appreciate it;)

      Thanks!!!!! I'm so glad you like it!:D

      Delete

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