What to Tell Them??

I'm a vegetarian based on beliefs.  But often people give me smart comments about being a vegetarian that I don't like. (especially my brother!).  One example is that sometimes my brother, who knows I'm a vegetarian, will joke and always offer me meat around a lot of people, even when he knows I won't eat it, just to cause confusion around other friends and family.  But it's not just him, it's other people also when I go places. Any good comebacks or things to say that will get people to leave me alone and respect my beliefs?

When I was in the early days of my vegetarianism, people were impossibly rude.  As annoying as it is, it'll really be best to just ignore them.

The best thing to do here would be not to let it bother you (at least, don't let him KNOW it bothers you) or make a smart/sarcastic comment that will leave him speechless. It's not like you're a leper - being a vegetarian is completely normal. Tell him he needs to find a new source of jokes if he thinks that he's being funny or somehow insulting you. Shrug it off - don't let it get the better of you. The sooner he realises you don't give a shit, the sooner he'll leave you alone or even start respecting your choice.

Of course, you could go the low road and start insulting him back. Maybe the next time he's about to tug into a juicy steak or a hamburger, say something like, "are you sure you need that?" or, "so you like the idea of clogging up your arteries?".

Personally, I don't believe any of this crap - I think you can be healthy if you eat meat or if you don't. I eat meat and I love it - and why should I care if other people do or do not eat it as well? It's like chiding people for not liking the same music as you.

a quiet "no thanks" and a turned back should do the trick if repeated enough times.  You don't owe him, or anybody, an explantion.  Snappy comebacks and smart answers will just get you more of the same as people try to provoke you.

I'm with ClaireLaine, snappy comments, or acting like their comments hurt you just gives them more ammo. If someone who knows I'm vegan offers me meat and I say "no thank you" but still won't stop, I try doing the same thing "would you like some tofu?" it normally annoys them, and they stop. I also recommend you get the book Vegan Freak (even though your a vegetarian not vegan), they have a whole section on how to deal with friends, family and co-workers who are hasseling you for being a veg-head.

Oh my goodness.... my friends give me trash all the time about being vegan. I was even at my friends house for a family dinner where i met his grandmother... he openly started offering me mashed potatoes and gravy that his grandmother made even though he knows I am vegan. I felt like I insulted his grandmother.  I'm vegan because of my beliefs as well and it was just so difficult to deal with everyone lecturing me the rest of the night!

Its not like he forgot I was vegan either! my nickname w/ my friends IS veg or VEGGIE! there is no way to forget!

Yeah, I'm a new vegetarian, and those around me are having mixed results.  Even my mom told me not to tell people.  But hopefully it'll get better!

Why do you have to tell people? I never told anyone and people never really noticed (unless I was offered a huge piece of meat and turned it down).

Yeah, I agree to avoid snappy remarks... it is SO tempting, but they will find a way to turn it around as that you started the whole thing, and it's a typical preaching, angsty veg*n situation, and that's even more annoying. As has been said, just say no thanks and act like you think they're just trying to be polite... they probably just do want to get a rise out of you and/or have you cave in.

I just laugh. My sister bugs me alot.. but its mostly joking around... sometimes she'll poke me with her porkchop or something (ew.) so Ill just reach over and plop some cole-slaw on her plate (she hates the stuff) and then we laugh... and everyone else gives us weird looks.
If it really bothers you, have a serious talk with him... he's probably just doing it in fun and doesn't mean to hurt you. or attack him with some broccoli... lol

join the club!!  My ex-colleagues used to order food from KFC and other fast food chain, they all knew I'm a vegetarian but they kept offering me meat, and saying things like you oughta have some meat, or your health will run down.  Either they said it outta concern or they were merely messing around with me, I got annoyed when they said the same things again and again.  that's enough!

It's really amazing at the big deal people make out of vegetarianism. I'm not a practicing one myself -- really I may as well be because I really don't eat meat that often -- but I really ADMIRE that way of eating. I also can't believe how some people turn their nose up at being vegetarian. I always like to try new stuff. How can people be so against it?!

Its a PC world.  Yet if we pay attention, really all that has changed is *who* is being verbally targetted.  The North American continent is gradually realizing it is wrong to attack people based on race, creed, color, gender, sexual preference, the list goes on and on.  TV used to slam dunk people actively based on so many *...isms* Racism, Sexism etc. 

What I find sad is that instead of getting over those jokes, new targets are picked.  You cant dress someone up in black face and slam dunk them that way, but comedians still blast away at those of us who are heavy?  Being fat is one of the few things left on TV etc, that does actively get joked about and picked on.  Is that where people are taking this Vegetarianism?

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hmmm? Maybe start walking into the room and proudly lay claim to your status?  I am not saying engage your bro in the verbal abuse tactic.  But what if you walk in, spread your arms wide and pronounce that the Herbivore is here, beware?  Or the Carrot Slayer?  ::chuckles:: Take over the joking.  Dont give them space to go anywhere but where you want?  De-condition those around you to accept what you are as something that YOU control the jokes about?  You are the one saying what you are and how it will be?  Not hiding it, but instead claiming it as your own before anyone else can twist it around?  Be in command of the humor and use that as a way to defuse the crap others might want to add?

Heck, just last night at Christmas I teased my whole family that because I was the only Vegetarian that I had a whole Lasagna to myself.  I gave them a big cheesy grin and they laughed. 

Tough to know which advice on this string will work for you and in what situations.  Obviously you will figure that out for yourself. 

Realize that we are here for you!  Us Veg freaks have to stick together ::grins::