zlacker

Based on how people react to me simply being a vegetarian in their presence, without me commenting on what either of us are eating, people do feel shame. It's just that the shame is outweighed by the pleasure of eating whatever.

>>gs17+(OP)
Is it really shame or are you imagining it? Maybe it’s discomfort at eating something delicious while not being able to share it. Like eating candy or cake in front of kid and not giving him any.

>>kelips+eC1
It's shame/guilt/insecurity, whatever you want to call it. You'll get unprompted "Oh, you know, I wanted to be a vegetarian but I love eating bacon too much", or people who try to stump you with "gotchas" like "but where do you get your protein?" (remarkably, this can come from people who were born in a culture where vegetarian proteins are common!) or "I saw a thing online that says plants have feelings too so really you're just as bad as me".