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Vegetarians?

I have been a vegetarian for over a year now and most people haven't made a big deal out of it until this year. So far I've been called "Veggie Girl" & "Eco Geek" and stuff. And, this girl in my last class always asks me annoying questions about being an animal lover or being a vegetarian. So today, I was wearing my jacket that said HERBIVORE, and a guy I've known for awhile said "Are you a vegetarian?" And I was like "Yea, why?" He paused for a minute, stared, and then just said "Freak." And then he walked off. My question for you is, what kind of names have you been called, and how do I tell him that it really bothered me? BTW, I am a sophomore in high school and he was a freshmen. Normally when I wear animal rights stuff, people are very interested and ask me about it. But only like 2 certain people bug me all the time. Oh, I am fine with Veggie Girl! =D There are lots I don't mind...but of course, some I do.

Public Comments

Maybe you should consider a healthier lifestyle and stop depriving your body of the things it needs and people will stop harassing you.
I'm assuming you live some where like the south, or the middle of no where??? I live in southern california, and have been veg. for 8 years. I've never seriously been made fun of. It's really common to be vegetarian. Maybe they're jealous, or just reaaaaaally uneducated, like most ignorant people are. You should tell the next person who makes fun of you the health benefits of being a veggie.
If you flaunt it a lot or tell people your lifestyle is better, or talk about it excessively, or wear a lot of clothing about being vegetarian, you can expect trouble. I would highly reccomend NOT lecturing people on the health benefits of being a veggie. Lecturing people or preaching to them will almost certainly not help you. People do not respond well to being preached at. I wouldn't say anything to that kid unless he bothers you again, but I've never been called a name (except jokingly--maybe people are kidding?) because I'm a veggie.
My sister is a vegetarian. She has been called "Tree hugger" "Leaf lover" "Bark chewer" "Hippie" "Liberal"...things of that sort. Don't worry about what others say about you. When your out of highschool, you won't even remember much of it anyways. Be who you are. Believe what you want. I have tried the whole vegan life style, but it didn't work for me. Im glad it works for some people. PS Don't bother telling the boy who said something that it bothered you, that will just encourage him to do it more. You don't owe him any explination anyways. You don't have to answer to him about the choices you make for your life.
You kindly say to the person that their is many people that are ALL different in this world and that he should stop making crap up just because he eat's meat. I'm a middle schooler and I have been called these weird names by people that I don't really know, but the people I care about the most are my best friends commentary not the people I barely know. I have been called MegaGeek, MegaWeird, Megahate, and all those bad names that middle schoolers call each other.
There's no shame in being a freak. There is shame in sacrificing your principles for popularity.
Considering his age and yours - would wonder if he didn't think that you were 'cute' and was in a backward way flirting with you (they still do that don't they?). I also wonder why you would make a point to wear something that you know brings about such comments - as it isn't the first time? Meaning - why are you making what and how you eat a public issue so that others can comment on it to begin with? Just something to think about..... At 54 - my experience within a high school setting has been with my grandchildren most recent, my own children - then of course my own ( a LONG time ago). One thing that I remember from long ago when I was in school - was that if you didn't want people to bother you - don't do things that will give them the 'rocks' to toss at you - - meaning don't do things that draw attention to things that are going to bother you if they decide to make you a target. Just some words of advice you may want to follow - or not. Choice is all yours. Edit: None has ever called me a name because I didn't eat meat - asked me about it - but NEVER any type of name calling or insulting anything EVER - and I live in TEXAS! Since it is only 2 people - I would ignore it. Why let them think that they have any sort of power over you by making a comment over their childish comments? Shake your head and just walk away. Some things just don't deserve a reply. Again, just my opinion. Choice is all yours to follow it or not.
I got called a 'freak of nature' by some really obese dude at work . I'm 35 (I look 25) and am someone's mum. He's 24 and looks 40 and he looks like the love child of comic book guy in the Simpsons.
I don't know maybe here in Italy it's different but people never complained about me being a vegetarian or a half japanese. When I tell people that I don't eat meat or that I practice Shinto(the national religion of Japan), people say "interesting", so I have no problem.
Well I have been called a “militant” which was quite hilarious. I read an article which looked at why people are so offended by vegetarians or vegans that they have to criticize and attack them, and the conclusion was that a vegetarian or vegan - whether they mean to or not - stands in for the animals that people are eating and people are uncomfortable with that so they attack because they are on the defensive. The article is below http://www.animalblawg.com/wordpress/?p=205 Don’t let people who are blatantly not interested and who are just trying to pick holes ask you lots of questions, seriously don’t. I tell people “if your so interested go to website X and I am not answering another question because everything is on there if you’re so, so interested” I don’t believe in spoon feeding haters I really don't. I will talk to people who show genuine curiosity but not haters. If they "don’t have the time" to visit the website they weren’t genuinely interested anyway. Don’t tell that guy he upset you because he might do it more. Visit a veggie only forum if you need to speak to people, not a mixed forum. I don’t know why non veggies seem to hang around here and put people like yourself down, the whole irony being that they preach to you not to preach – oh how hilarious! Chin up Veg-girl! xx
Well, i've been called a tree hugger because of it. And a hippie at one point in time. But you know? You really shoulden't pay attention to what they say... you're the one doing good for yourself. They are information deprived obviously and some may even be jealous of you. And just go up to him and tell him it wasen't cool and he should respect you, like everyone else who makes a decision like that.
The guy who paused and said "freak" was so wrong, there were many other comebacks he could have chosen. You are not a herbivore, quite clearly not. You are an omnivore who happens to choose to be vegetarian. He should have made something out of that. Best advise is to ignore them, thier comebacks wil not be logical and if being veggie means a lot to you you'll end up geting frustrated by thier nonsense arguements. Anyway, I've never had anyone ( other than on this site ) call me anything for being veggie, but then i don't go around advertising the fact. If it bother you, just tell them, but wearing a veggie tee-shirt will likely get you lots of responses saying that the tee-shirt bothers them andf you are "in thier face". Not saying its right, its just the way it is - if you try to stand out, people will try to knock you down. Best of luck with them, remember why you are veggie, that'll carry you through thier insults. I don't really see anythng wrong with being called "veggie girl".