Because many are radical Liberals as well, which in their minds gives license to take away the freedoms of others. It's in their handbook. Socialism for everyone else but me is their standard theme. The Lenin theory I think it is.

Because the Veagens I have seen that try to convince others to not eat meat are usually pale, skinny, and somewhat sickly looking....who would want to look like that??

becuase their frieken insane from not eating any damn meat

Because they are stupid. People do what people do, it's pretty stupid to try to make others do as you do. This can be dangerous, because just as a squeaky minority was able to convince legislators to ban drug use for personal reasons, if the yakety hack vegans at PETA get their way, there will be new laws against using animals for anything but objects of worship.

G'day AdmiralSirJohn, Thank you for your question. Many vegetarians see it as part of a wider social movement so they have to persuade others of its merits. They do not see it as enough to give up meat themselves. Regards

i think it just a natural urge to explain your beliefs, and because it sometimes comes out as preachy, purposely or not, it is seen as nagging.

For many vegetarians it's not only about the meat but 'cruelty to animals'. There's a definite statement made when, instead of saying 'I don't eat meat' it's stated 'I don't eat things with a face.' Of course there are many vegetarians who do not take such a hard stand but there are many who see it as more of a Crusade than a lifestyle choice! Those tend to be the most vocal.

It is very possible that they think they are right and they want other people to follow their beliefs as well. This is very common among people when they are so sure of themselves. The attitude does not only exist in certain vegetarians. It exists with people who strongly believe in other things as well. Examples of this include: "You're wrong if you don't follow my religion." "You're wrong if you don't believe in the same government I do." "You're wrong if you don't spell the way I do." "You're wrong if you don't live your life the way I do." "You're wrong if you don't discipline your children the way I do." "You're wrong if you don't share my views on abortion." "You're wrong if you don't share my views on same sex marriage." "You're wrong if you don't share my views on war." (and etc).

Human beings naturally feel the need to "help" others. When someone falls, they (usually) are impelled to help them up. Similarly, many people think that imposing their beliefs on others will help them. This is because people tend to think that their way of living is the "best," and they want others to realize the same thing. You see this a lot in missionaries, environmentalist groups, and charities. They are trying to convince you to do the right thing by following their beliefs. Many vegetarians also feel obliged to "convert" others, because they are that passionate about not eating meat and want others to be the same way. While most people who do this are just trying to do the "right thing," everyone needs to respect other people's choices and let them live the way that they choose to. I'm vegetarian, and unless someone explicitly states their interest in vegetarianism, or asks me a question about it, I don't ever try to impose my standards of living on anyone I know. I've actually dealt with a lot of people who try to "bring me back" to eating meat. There are those who automatically assume that my diet doesn't have enough nutrients, and then there are people who even ask me what I eat. I find it more common for vegetarians to explain and defend themselves, rather than meat-eaters. Either way, both sides shouldn't have to do this. Live and let live is my philosophy. It's better to lead by example than to force your dogmas down people's throats.

Because for many of them, it's not a health choice, but an animal rights whacko choice. Poor old Bossy had just as much right to live as you or I, so who are we to slaughter Bossy and millions like her every year?

They this and they that. Sheesh. I have been a vegetarian for 5 years. I have never tried to talk anyone into not eating meat (I did talk my daughter out of requesting McDs that her dad used to give her). I wish I had a dollar for every meat-eater who has explained to me just what I am missing by not eating the stuff. The other side of it is that food is a very political thing. What you eat is one of the biggest political decisions you make on a daily basis. From an article in The Guardian Yesterday: "For years, there has been a steady flow of bad meat-related news. Take your pick from BSE; the links between red meat and bowel cancer; the role meat production plays in contributing to greenhouse gasses globally (18% of the total); the treatment of animals in industrial farming. Throw in a new key ingredient - soaring meat prices - and it's not alarmist to suggest that, certainly among informed western consumers, meat is heading toward a perfect storm of problems which may, if not instantly, then certainly over the next decade or so, radically alter the way we perceive it." Article here with links on the claims: http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/food/2008/05/vegetarianism.html

Well.. I think many vegetarians including myself, want to inform other people about what they are doing. Yes you eat meat, but are you aware of how bad animals are treated, how bad it is for the invorenment and your own health? Many just shut their eyes to it or have this childlike image in their mind that farmers really love their animals and the animals run free and are very happy. One of my friends even think that the farmer milks the cows himself!!! Anyway, i try to get my family and friends to watch videos of what is really happening bur NO ONE wants to watch it!!! They say it makes them feel upset and sick and therefore dont want to see it. Well i guess i just want the people who DO eat meat to at least look at and accept what you are doing. Without hiding away and pretending its all ok. If you want to eat meat then you should be capable of murdering the animal yourself! Why be a whimp and let someone else do it for you? And how many of you could watch a sheep give birth to a little lamb, see how they bond etc and then take the lamb away a few months later and kill, skin and eat it? Not many, especially you with children.. Could you take away the cows little calf after a day or two of being born and listen to the mother call and cry for her baby for days, just because YOU want to drink her milk instead of HER baby? Oh and kill the baby calf if it is a boy...? read, look and learn about what you are contributing too! That is what vegetarian, vegan, raw eaters etc do when they choose to say no to meat. It is NOT just about the abuse of the animals who dont even have the right to their own lives ans dont stand a chance. It is also about our planet and other humans. It would take 40 billion tonnes of grain to end extreme world hunger, but 540 billion tonnes of grain are fed to livestock instead EVERY year!! YOU do the math... And last but not least, it is linked to all the worst ailmenst we know of, including cancer, diabetes, stroke etc etc... If you ate only meat, eggs and milk you would die, and pretty fast. If you ate only plantbased food, you would live longer and be healthier. So we are "preaching" to make you learn. If you read, watch and learn and still feel fine about what you do then fine.. But if everybody took responsibility, many would say no to meat as well!

I don't know. I've never felt the urge to try and convince somebody to give up meat. But if somebody asks me why I'm a vegetarian, yeah I'll explain. I think it's only natural to try to get people to understand why you make the choices you do. But like I said, that's my choice. And it's none of my business as to whether somebody wants to eat meat or not.

Ok watch this and let me know what you think.. http://www.meat.org/

For the same reasons the Jehova's witnesses show up at my door on Saturday afternoon.

Because they feel very strongly about their beliefs. The same reason some Christians feel they have to convince others to convert to their specific denomination.

The veggies I know could give a rat's patooti what anyone else eats.

i dont try at all. i dont mind other people eating meat around me. its absolutely a personal choic. veggies who force their beliefs on others are likely to be ignored

they have no hope, i was born a carnivore and ill die a carnivore.

cause they feel theyre saving lives

It's not a diet, but a cause. It is them doing their part to eliminate suffering on the planet. It is part of their religion.

it is so much healthier -

Vegetarians are annyoing, with all their tofu and soya and whatever. They look sickly ill and in need of a cheeseburger. They take eating like it`s a religion. Most people eat because they are hungry and stuff tastes damn good when you`re hungry, notably meat lovers pizza and t bone steak. Somethings most vegetarians are in need of, by the look of their milk white skin and puny physiques.

Because they like to ram there views down other people thoughts(no pun intended),they dont realise that other people have the right to eat meat just as they have they right not to.They also dont realise that animals like cows,sheep etc only exist in such large numbers because humans breed and look after them,it's called the food chaim and were at the top of it!!.

i am vegan yet i believe choice is choice. many of my vegan friends are very animate about telling other how to eat, not because they are pricks but they are doing it for the animals that had no voice that got killed so you can stuff your face with dead flesh.

I havn't met one yet that's tried to convert me.

Because, like many others who are strongly convicted about something, they feel the need to force their views on others without realizing how annoying and distastful it is. A lot of people do it, for a lot of different things.

Because it's what they believe. Many vegetarians think meat is murder, so find those who eat meat very offensive.

I wonder those vegans who own cats or dogs... do they feed their pets with lettuce?

is not the same reason why some christians prey for athiests? they think they are right and those who do not conform to there ways need to be converted

just say, "if a cow had the chance it would kill you and your family"

Because most people who are vegetarians are stuck up snobs who feel the need to press their beliefs on other people. Much like bible thumpers. If you don't follow their way of life, you are shunned, tormented, taunted, etc., etc. Almost all of the vegetarians I know look sick, get sick on a regular basis, are usually gay (if male), and break bones quite often for some reason... I eat steak on a regular basis, at least 3 times a week, chicken, pork, and salmon rotated in between. I drink at LEAST 4 12 oz glasses of milk everyday, plus milk in my cereal every morning (I eat Total... Lol). I am not over weight, do not suffer from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, have not been sick since I was 8 years old (in which I had chicken pox for 2 days). I would say, and so has my doctor, that I am much healthier than the average person. Oh, and I always drink lots of water, and get most of my fruits and veggies by downing 1 bottle of V-8 Splash or V8 Fusion everyday.

If they're not eating meat to save animal lives, then their contribution means nothing if everyone else continues to.

That's never happened to me - not when I ate meat, and not since I've become a vegetarian. But I sure have encountered people who felt entitled to tell me how to deal with sex, my marriage, religion, fashion, politics, television, music, cars...

I think you have it backwards. The meat production drains public resources, and meat propaganda is omnipresent. Many public resources are wasted on this luxury item. --- Livestock consumes about 70% of the grain in the and 50% of the water the U.S. uses each year. --- What is the ratio of dollars spent on advertising meat to dollars spent advertising the benefits of a vegetarian diet? --- Meat eating is like a religion that we dare not question. The message of meat must be spread to the unbelievers.