Just one quibble: “other than pure aesthetics (“I just like it”) … which are idiosyncratic (i.e. not true for most people)” sounds like a overwhelming exception to me. Given that I’ve never met anyone trying to convince other people to become vegetarians (though I’ve read a couple such people), I guess that’s by far the most common reason. (I’ve eaten meat in front of at least a dozen different vegetarians from at least four different countries, and none of them seemed to be bothered by that.)
Depending on how ostentatiously (Which I know isn’t the right word, but I think conveys what I’m trying to evoke?) you were eating the meat, it would bother me. The type of meat would also make a difference to me. I know vegetarians who are bothered if you eat any meat near them. They are obviously polite about it, (I certainly never say anything) but it might bother people more than you realize.
Not at all—not that I tried to hide the fact that I was eating meat, but I tried to be as nonchalant as I would be if I didn’t know they were vegetarians. OTOH I’m not terribly good at hiding emotions, so probably some of them could tell I was feeling a little embarrassed.
The type of meat would also make a difference to me.
What kind of difference? Pork vs beef vs chicken? Steaks vs minced meat? Free-range vs factory farmed vs hunted (but how would you tell)?
Interesting...
Just one quibble: “other than pure aesthetics (“I just like it”) … which are idiosyncratic (i.e. not true for most people)” sounds like a overwhelming exception to me. Given that I’ve never met anyone trying to convince other people to become vegetarians (though I’ve read a couple such people), I guess that’s by far the most common reason. (I’ve eaten meat in front of at least a dozen different vegetarians from at least four different countries, and none of them seemed to be bothered by that.)
Depending on how ostentatiously (Which I know isn’t the right word, but I think conveys what I’m trying to evoke?) you were eating the meat, it would bother me. The type of meat would also make a difference to me. I know vegetarians who are bothered if you eat any meat near them. They are obviously polite about it, (I certainly never say anything) but it might bother people more than you realize.
Not at all—not that I tried to hide the fact that I was eating meat, but I tried to be as nonchalant as I would be if I didn’t know they were vegetarians. OTOH I’m not terribly good at hiding emotions, so probably some of them could tell I was feeling a little embarrassed.
What kind of difference? Pork vs beef vs chicken? Steaks vs minced meat? Free-range vs factory farmed vs hunted (but how would you tell)?
My opposition to meat varies linearly with the intelligence of the animal. I’m much more OK with fish than I am pigs.