Vegetarians Are Rude, Anti-Social, Close-Minded and Uncurious. ⇒
19 April 2010, mid-morning
Kanakaweb on Anthony Bourdain’s hatred of vegetarians. “Vegetarianism involves giving up far more than just meat.” I think the only country you can really pull off being a vegetarian is India.
This is a post from my link log: If you click the title of this post you will be taken the web page I am discussing.
you can’t “pull off” being a vegetarian in canada?
funny, but bourdain is the one who sounds like a pretentious dick, not johnny the vegetarian traveller.
gasp! fuck me for not wanting to eat monkey brains!
by matthew on April 20 2010, 7:10 pm #
I meant India is the only place you don’t really need to make an effort. I know enough Vegetarians to know you can be one in Canada, and do just fine. Being vegetarian in India the default. You don’t have to search for vegetarian restaurants, or try and find the odd vegetarian dish on the menu. I’ve been to many places in Toronto that don’t have a vegetarian dish on their menu, period.
by ramanan on April 20 2010, 8:20 pm #
You know, if we just step back for a second and not take it as an attack on vegetarians, rather, a respect for the foods of other cultures.
There are cultures who may have a leaning to vegetarianism because the average person couldn’t afford to eat meat anyway…that’s also to be respected.
The fact that we have choices here naturally pits non-vegetarians against vegetarians.
I’m not a big meat lover, but the vegetarian nazi-ish attitudes of some is pretty anger inducing. If you choose to cut meat out, good for you…but, leave those that don’t want to alone.
…and that’s the thing, vegetarians attacking meat eaters ala PETA, is ok. Someone like bourdain doing the same is gasp inducing.
Many cultures eat things that you and I would gag at. He’ll eat it all,and not insult those who enjoy it. You’ve got to respect that. He’s not insulting the cultures who enjoy those things and consider those things an important part of their diets…for traditional reasons, or whatever.
by radmila on April 21 2010, 9:37 pm #
Ha ha. I think that calling vegetarians rude, anti-social, closed minded and uncurious is likely an attack on vegetarians.
But I guess the question is whether it is possible to interact with other cultures/people and continue to hold any of your own values. Is saying “no thanks, I don’t eat meat” actually insulting people?
And I don’t know any evangelical or nazi-like vegetarians, but this raises another good question. Once you’ve made some kind of moral choice to change your own lifestyle (vegetarianism, environmentalism, gender/caste/racial/economic equality) why is it wrong to try to convince others to do the same? Maybe it’s just a question of approach – I agree that yelling and condemning others is pretty obnoxious.
by M on April 22 2010, 11:06 am #
I know lots and lots of vegetarians, but none that have tried to convince me to become a vegetarian. No doubt there is this stereotype of a holier-than-thou vegetarian, but I’ve never actually met any. Similarly, I know a few fairly serious Christians, but they haven’t tried to get me to give my heart to Jesus. I don’t think someone else’s life-style choice should really be anything to get worked up about. I think when people try and evangelize what they are up is when people get annoyed.
Also, Jordan's comment on the post and article is worth a read.
by ramanan on April 22 2010, 11:34 am #
I’ve met some pretty superior vegetarians. I’ve been lectured on the perils of meat eating, and I’ve been bored with explanations of how meat is processed, and how disgusting it is. I’ve been reprimanded for liking pork.
I’ve been recommended books to read in order to educate myself on better and healthier choices for eating.
So, if you haven’t met a holier than thou stereotype. That’s great. I’ve met enough for both of us.
by radmila on April 22 2010, 12:34 pm #