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The C-Ville Veggie Singles plastered their posters all over town. I saw one and checked out the site. They don’t have much up yet but it looks like they are trying to herd a bunch of carrot chomping like-minded thinkers into the same room so they can mingle, hook up, make babies and, generally, take over the world.
Did you go to their first gig yesterday? Are you a vegetarian? Would you only date a vegetarian if you were one? I know omnivores aren’t exclusive about their dating habits. 
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Tagged as: Activities, Charlottesville, Singles Scene
i’m a vegetarian except for villain chicks
Actually, the whole point is that they don’t want to make babies - babies will become consumers one day, after all. Which is why the movement has a built-in shelf life, sorta like the Shakers, who made great furniture, but didn’t have kids since they thought the world coming to an end.
I’m a veg but I date non-vegies too
For me it’s ethics not health, so other vegies and I don’t always see eye to eye on issues like slow cooking, whole foods, pre-packaged junk, and the joys of cooking. I find no joy in cooking and view it the the provence of servants. Unable to afford servants, I limit my cooking to a weekly boiling of pasta. House cleaning, dish washing, and ironing I hold in equal contempt.
I would loved to have gone to this gathering however
I’ll kick this one off before shenanigans gets here. I have been a vegetarian for seventeen years. I started gradually in college as the veggie burrito was always the cheapest option, but I can remember being repulsed by ham and beef and fowl even as a child. It has something to do with being able to recognize the body parts or something (ie i would only eat chicken breast, not legs, because it was less identifiable). I dont know why I am wired that way, I simply am. So it was a mixture of colllege economics and an innate dislike of flesh that got me started, rather than anything political or dogmatic.
And thats why I probably would not attend a function like this. The tendency for self righteousness is very high in dietary subcultures, and I like that flavor of smarm about as much as I do steak. I loathe being lumped in with the self righteous set simply because I was born the way I am. I truly believe that anyone should eat whatever the fuck they want. Its not my business. I have dated many carnivores, omnivores or whatever. I do confesss to thinking queezy thoughts about kissing someone who has just chomped down something bloody have crossed my mind, but its not a relationship deal breaker. I am not grossed out by watching people eat meat either. To each his own.
I do have a couple of veggie-life peeves, though. The first I’ll call the “you can just pick it out” peeve. No. No you cannot. When you have abstained from meat as long as I have, it will hurt you in the form of cramps and yuck mouth. Im no doctor, but perhaps one loses ones ability to digest it over a long period of time. Im sure it could be regained eventually Even after only three years of veggie life way back when I tried to eat a tri tip steak and was gut-bombed for days. Days. If a dish or a pizza has had critter chunks on it, the oil and what not is enough to do me in. I can feel it. And I cant “pick out” that feeeling.
The other is the “where will you get protein” peeve. This is the biggest ball of crap ever flushed down the loo of lore. It may be a problem for some extreme vegans and what not, but for the regular lacto ovo joe like myself. Nope. Everything has protien. As fate would have it I procreated with a vegetarian, and so both children grew up without meat in the house. It was never forbidden for them to eat, but while they are little, they get what you give. I caught ENDLESS shit from all sides for this. We stood firm. My 15 year old is now 6′1″, has size fourteen feet and is built like an olympic swimmer. My younger one, while not as tall, is also in incredibly good shape. My poor little sickly veggie kids… swatting the basketball outta your little hamburger boy’s kitchen. My son swept the JSL swim meet two years ago. That means beating over a hundred kids in this whole area in four separate events.
Other parents would ask “Har har.. whattya feeding him?” I deferred to graciousness, but inside I was a flaming ball of pent up smarm. But I digress.
Both children have tried all kinds of meat at friends houses and what not, but generally dont like it. Nature or nurture, I have no idea.
If you like it, eat it. If you don’t, don’t. I wont judge you. But please don’t give me “the look” when I decline an offer of food cause it contains some dead thing, or ask if a dead thing has been cubed and inserted into some potluck dish. I am non-dogmatic veggie.
/ “Vegans, the other white meat”. Flame on.
Esteban, you sure you’re not thinking of VHEMT? Not exactly the same; I know several veggies and vegans that are quite pro-crotchspawn.
That said, if anyone can report on how these events are turning out I’m rather intrigued. Really hope they’re not overrun with desperate-eyed males scoping for a nice woman to make them hummus from scratch. Y’know, like me.
I am not a vegitarian, nor am I an animal rights activist, but I am appalled by the meat industry and the absolutely immoral and disgusting way they treat animals. It’s both inhumane and unsanitary. As such, I shun grocery store meat whenever possible and buy my meat from local producers that treat their animals in a humane fashion. If the animal is going to die for my meal, at least give it a decent life until then.
I’m not a doctor, but I do remember from biology class that the human body produces an enzyme that breaks down protiens that are found only in meat products. The breakdown of these protiens encourages the reproduction of the enzymes. Conversely, not using these enzymes, inhibits thier production. Lack of the enzymes will produce “gut bomb” and can be potentially fatal when high doses of meat are ingested.
I’m okay with, and congratulate, vegetarians as long as they aren’t all up in my grill about killing animals and stuff.
Also, if you expect me to offer tofu dogs at my cookout, I have no problem with that, as long as you offer regular dogs at yours. I’m as repulsed by tofu dogs are you are about pig missiles.
i’m a veggie. partially because eating meat just doesn’t appeal to me, and partially because of the varied health/sustainability/it kind of bothers me to eat something that had parents kinds of things. that being said, i’m with b-yo. it’s my choice. you make yours. i have no problem being around people eating meat, having friends that eat meat, or dating someone that eats meat. i do get annoyed when people judge me for being a veggie. i’ve had way too many people tell me we’re supposed to be omnivores and therefore i must be unhealthy. i won’t proselytize you, return the favor.
Can vegetarians tell if something has been cooked in poultry fat/broth? So many vegetarian foods are.
Ooo, careful there lilith; many “foods comprised of veggies” are cooked in pig fat, but yes I can tell yes I’d take issue with it being labeled vegetarian. If someone could convince my mother of this, I’d be much obliged.
@lilith: you mean tell taste-wise? i’m sure at some point in my 10 years of being a vegetarian i’ve unknowingly eating something that had some kind of meat-product in it. there are a lot of random things out there that you wouldn’t necessarily think of. luckily, more restaurants are being very clear (and i’m hoping honest) about what is vegetarian and what isn’t. it’s true of food labels as well. it makes things a lot easier.
How about a poll? I’m curious. I bet there are more vegetarians/vegans on here than not.
correction: unknowingly eaten. wow. english is not my friend today.
yes, we can tell if foods are cooked in poutlry fat/broth. as b-yo said- it can make us sick. really. beef much more so in my experience than fowl, but back in california- which is Much more vegetarian, i hostessed in a resturant while in college that didn’t think twice about the veggie dish being warmed with chicken stock until i pointed the blatant huh? out-i might be weird, but don’t mess with my food, i don’t mess with yours.
and not to nit-pick or step on toes, but vegetarian foods are not cooked in poultry fat/broth. that’s sort of an inherent aspect of vegetarian diet- no animal meat product.
(sorry if i seem outta line being new here and all, but seriously, food is a topic i get a bit passionate about).
i’m not a veggie, but i can (and often do) live without meat. it’s just not something i feel like consuming on a daily basis. but i have friends who are veggies (gherkins are a girl’s best friend, natch?) and i’ve dated veggie and omni alike.
i spent a year in russia, where vegetarianism was taken as an insult to the cook. it’s completely unheard of there, as they just don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to eat meat. my host mom had a wonderful phrase - “otkuda myasa?”, or, “where’s the meat come from?” that gave me great pause whenever i wanted to get lunch from a metro kiosk that had a dwindling stray dog population.
i’m with trillian: eat what you want, but don’t force your food views on me, and i won’t force mine on you.
Well put Yo. I too was replused by certain meat/fish foods as a kid. The less it resembled an animal the better. Gristle and veins in meet=yuck. Shellfish= OMG. Fish with bones=barbaric. BUT that certainly didn’t make me a veg justa picky eater.
I became a veg for ethical reason, but quickly lost my stomach for meats. As a veg for 191/2 yrs, I have no problem with people eating meat, etc. However, I am grossed out seeing people remove gristle, bones, and fat from their pieholes and placing it gingerly on the edge of their plate for all to see. That just crosses the line. While the site of meat doesn’t bother me the smell of a few foods does. To wit, liver and pungent shellfish
I share your peeves, especially “pick it out” (Gross!)
I never talk about my dietary habit (we’re all anonymous here) so many folks are/would be surprised to hear I am a veg. I abhor the preachiness of veg activists (but the same would go for most activists) and generally think it an ill-advised way top change people’s behavior
As for your question Lil, I have known people (veg and omni) who can disect the ingrediants of a dish from smell or taste. Although I have had my suspicians about certain dishes based on smell, taste, or after-effects, I can’t claim to have that skill. So I always ask the server if the vegetable soup is veg. Trouble comes when I eat at the home’s of others. Unlike most chef’s, most non-veg civilians have no idea what constitutes a non-veg dish, eg fat, lard, chicken or beef stock, fish, blood, gravy, and so forth. And I don’t always feel comfortable asking.
And another thing, please don’t make me a special veg entree if you have me over for dinner (and please God no faux-meat products, the smell and taste make me wretch) I will feel much more comfortable and be perfectly happy eating side dishes. I don’t want my diet to be burdensome to others.
B-yo, that’s very aptly said, and it tracks with my own vegetarian practices. Preach on, brutha!
Thor, we ready to take down the sexual orientation poll and put up a food orientation poll? Thanks everyone who answered.
Silmo, if I’m hosting a vegetarian, I’d like to know. I’d be happy to make a portabello risotto entree or make a really interesting side. If someone had a food allergy, I would want to know. Hosting is about everyone but the host. I make very few apologies for my preferences, and I like it when others are as assertive with me.
One more veggie here
Also, I hate to point this out, but I think the veggie event is tonight at Mono Loco, so no one has missed it yet. Of course, now all c-villians will have to choose between wine at CRUSH and tofu dogs at Mono Loco. How will I ever decide….?
Wine it is!
I’m with lilith in at least wanting the opportunity to accomodate vegetarians. Often, when I have guests over, I feel as if the unwritten presumption is that the meal will center around a meat main (given that almost all my friends are omnivores). In truth, I eat almost no red meat, very little poultry and a bit of shellfish/fish. I’m quite happy eating whatever tastes good, but for just me, a veg meal is often absolutely dandy. I’d also love to be able to bust out a really good veggie main for company, but rarely feel there’s a good opportunity to do so. Knowing that I have a veggie eater in the midst gives me a good excuse to at least offer an option that I, myself, would like to have.
I’ll admit to having issues, gastrointestinally, with only eating red meat on very rare occasions. You definitely don’t have to abstain completely to have that problem; just eating it rarely will do that. Interesting to know the science behind that, Gobbler. Thanks!
b-yo, I agree that many veg-whatevers are on the self-righteous side. Zealotry is always a turnoff, although a social event, rather than one organized with the purpose of “let’s convert those durn meat-eaters!”, seems like a tamer deal. Heck, our (vegetarian) mayor, who’s a pretty regular fellow, touted it on his blog. That said, I didn’t attend yesterday’s gathering, so maybe it was weirdos-only.
The “veg fanatic” perception is one of the reasons I avoid talking about my eating preferences unless someone asks me specifically. I eat only species I am willing to kill, most of which can’t feel pain. But that’s my own business, and your eating choices are yours.
Curious to see what the poll comes up with!
Wow! a kudo. Today is truly special. I’d make a smiley if I knew how.
Smiley — I was veg-ish for ethical reasons before I took a road trip through the Midwest, but I think I might have converted on the spot after the first time I drove past a feedlot. “Appalling” doesn’t even begin to cover the idea of one’s future dinner standing ankle-deep in shit all day. Our area is lucky to have a lot of local options for humanely-raised meat.
fdr, that’s sorta how I feel about hunting….if I kill it, I’m gonna eat it.
Where is Lys on this one?
@Silmo16: “and please God no faux-meat products, the smell and taste make me wretch” (Sorry, I don’t know how to block quote posts)
Fascinating . . . I actually enjoy some of the Morning Star Farms fake meat products, such as their fake ground beef crumbles that can be used in chili, tomato sauce, etc. Are these products objectionable because they remind you too much of meat, or are they just objectionable?
@ 18 - Is that an invitation to dinner, Lil?
I just read the last question. I am too exclusive about my dating habits as an omnivore. Vegans, sorry. We’ll never really last. I don’t know why I’m apologizing– you could have no interest in me anyway.
One vegetarian was visibly uncomfortable watching me eat a cheeseburger. (Like ThatGrrl, it’s rare, but it’s necessary.) Another vegetarian insisted that it was fine, but his last girlfriend was a vegetarian. I don’t know too many who care as little as this group claims to when it comes to dating, but friends, no problem. Anyone else?
monticello’s sage,
a wanker, advised we serve
meat as condiment.
good old charlie brown
there goes good old charlie brown
how i hate him.
how many posts would
it take before one mentioned
monticello’s sage?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15296428
@ 26 Smiley - I just don’t like the way they smell and tast. After so many years as a veg I don’t want to eat anything that reminds me of meat; I have lost my taste for it.
I’d sooner date a vegetarian than an alcoholic. Frankly, I’m a lot more uncomfortable having a drink (or umpteen million) in front of an alcoholic who swears it’s just fine, than to eat a meat dish in front of a vegetarian. Not that either relationship would be likely to last long. I hate feeling guilty about what I’m eating or drinking. Even if the person says it’s just fine, I still feel judged on some level. Thank you, Catholic upbringing!
@ThatGrrl:
Cheers to THAT!
Or amen to that?
@lilith: Probably both! They do always “amen” the wine at communion. Wonder what would happen if you answered “cheers” instead?
If you said it with an Australian accent followed by “mate,” they’d probably let it slide.
Random roundup:
• Big props to morning star products, all of them. Avoid Boca like the plague.
• Glad the gut bomb was not just me, and may have some sort of actual biological reason.
• I dont have to see a chunk o’ critter to know when its been inadvertently placed in my maw (very common burrito problem) I can taste it instantly, and it leaves this wierd oily aftertaste after only a couple of chews which is very difficult to get rid of.
• speaking of burritos, I hate when they put the meat bits farthest from the counter and the beans/rice closer then bits tend to unladel themselves into the beans rice, not to mention the “juice”. I was instrumental in effecting this change in warmer layout at dearly departed atomic, the manager was grateful for the input.
• i will absolutely go off about factory farming, health and all kinds of other reasons if challenged. I never volunteer it. I just love to debate.
• Isn’t it funny how animals, with the exception of chicken, change names when they become food. Pig becomes pork, cow becomes beef etc… ever break that down to a 4-6 y.o. child? It is very interesting the way they react when they realize they are eating pulled Wilbur.
• Way back in college I used to debate all kinds of topics like this with a fellow I knew. He was a bit of a conspiracy nut case, so it was always out there. One of our frequent topics was veg/meat. One day he came to see me and was all ashen. He had bought a (forgive my lack of familiarty with the terms of the abatoire) chunk of meat at the store, and when he cut into it he found a quarter inch by four inch hypodermic needle. Since he was already predisposed to paranoia, he was an instant convert. Very funny, in a dark sort of way.
• there may be no science behind this, but non red meat eaters tend to smell (sweat) and taste (sexual fluids) better, in my opinion. nothing that cannot be corrected or destoyed by hygene habits but still…
• had to end on a sex thing didn’t I? dang.
Correction on my comment 28 (this is for you Stanley):
I’m not “too exclusive,” I’m saying to Thor’s statement that omnivores aren’t exclusive, “I am too.” I have no room to be too exclusive about anything!
And I like Boca. I’m a meat eater. That’s probably why.
Precisely.
And you do seem rather exclusive, btw. No room? This I do not, cannot, believe.
Although I am not stanley.
I like the Morning Star breakfast “sausage” patties. I crumble ‘em up and put ‘em in my omelets. And in breakfast burritos. Not a fan of them as actual patties, but they’re pretty soylicious crumbled!
No worries, b-yo. Lilith is just giving me some good-natured teasing, because I schoolmarmishly chided her on another thread for editing comments ex post facto.
Thor inquired:
I believe she’s on vacation, somewhere all warm and tropical-like, and far, far away from the interWebs.
*Confused*
What? And you’re all just fine planting fruit trees in confined little rows, or perhaps grafted on to some other unwitting tree only to let them mature and proceed to rip off their ovaries and eat them as they slowly die? How about a warm cozy carrot resting peacefully in the ground suddenly getting ripped out, roots dangling and chopped to bits? You must have no morals. I mean, fruits and vegetables are people too, uh, yeah!
Stand up for the rights of plants!
On a side note, I read a book long ago about how a plant hooked up to a Polygraph machine would react to thoughts of harming it. The plants wouldn’t react during the act of whatever you did, only the thinking of the act. Apparently plants go in to shock once the destruction begins. I think it was called “The Secret Life Of Plants”.
I like animals to much to have them killed. There are lots of other tasty things to eat for dinner and they are better for me. You feel free to eat whatever you want.
before you change the poll, I’d like to have a meeting with all the hetero except for villain chicks pronto! Meet me in the C&O bathroom.
-sorry thor no open thread yet!
15 years ago I put the last piece of animal flesh in my mouth. A piece of partly cooked chicken. I realized that I was eating flesh-it disgusted me and that was it. The morality and ethics followed the disgust for me, not the other way around. The yuk factor has stayed with me and the smell of meat is sickening to me now. My aging mother still asks me every year at Thanksgiving, when she has once again failed to prepare any meatless dishes, “are you still not eating meat?”
@15 - buster, you know love a good gherkin.
/backing away slowly
bad news caroline
i checked that box too, call it
a sense of humor
why is that bad news?
I guess we’re not doing a poll?
@48: um. do i know you? if not, why do you know me so well?
/now worried
@53: never fear, buster. you know me. i know you. i’m sure you’ll figure it out.
/kind of enjoying being mysterious
okay, i’m hiding under my desk now. (mind you, this isn’t easy, since the floor keeps shaking due to the frakking construction on JPA)
and yes, i’m taking my gherkin with me.
mmmmm……gherkins