"I just don't trust people who don't eat meat."

[undeterred]

So I'm working at a temp job and I go to the cafeteria with my co-worker and I order the walnut burger. He asks me why I'm eating that instead of a hamburger, and I tell him that I'm a vegetarian. He says "I just don't trust people who don't eat meat" and shakes his head. I really don't know what to say to this. Apparently he grew up on a beef farm.

Trust? Trust me to do what? What does my diet have do to with him trusting me? I just don't get it. I don't have any judgement on him for eating meat, so why does he have one on me for not eating meat? I really don't understand.

Edit: The walnut "burger" was really good - and it was kind of neat to find an employee cafeteria that makes one of its three choices vegetarian every day.

[LaurenG]

1. Sounds like my dad

my own family used to say stuff like that to me. I think it scares them for various reasons.

[flvegan]

2. That's actually a great conversation starter.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. One of DU's more "well-known" vegan hotheads saying this, but hear me out. I'd have sat and had lunch with him and simply asked "why is that?" See what he says. Is it a lack of understanding or a genuine prejudice? Why does he use the word "trust" when he says that. Lots of folks throw that phrase around because it's been in some movie or tv show. Doesn't mean it always works. I'm still shocked every time a veggie thread is posted in GD, and I see the abuse handed out by defensive omnivores. Some people just suck. And honestly, some people really are just too fucking stupid to realize that people don't NEED to eat meat to live a happy, healthy life.

Glad the walnut burger was good.