I'm with Calaya. I won't change my diet, but I do know how to close my mouth before I chew.

What can I say, I'm Chinese. I eat everything showing its back to the heavens (actual paraphrasing of an actual saying).

@Miss Anonymous:

Tsssh! Fish is awesome.

Which reminds me...

"I just don't like any fish that swims about or was once in a shell or anything."
"Then guess what buddy, you don't like fish."

Anyways...

Pretty much everything that needed to be said has been said already, so no need for me to repeat it.

The real issue though is fish! Disgusting, right? Why do people eat that crap? :P

It's rude. Not because you're a vegetarian, but because chewing with one's mouth open like that is just plain disgusting! Ieuu!

I've got a good friend that's vegetarian and he doesn't mind me eating meat and such. In fact, he's said he misses meat sometimes, but he's been really good about sticking to his "new" way of life. He's been vegetarian for over ten years now.

Then there's my vegetarian brother-in-law... oh, his table manners are just about as bad as that person you described. I'm part of a fairly large extended family, so whenever there's a family gathering, we have a lot of food. Usually we don't eat everything, but my brother-in-law will ask if anyone wants any more potatoes. If we say 'no', he'll finish them off... even if what's left would still serve three or four people!!! It's just gross watching him eat. His vegetarian entrees are disgusting to look at.

At least my friend eats things that look appealing! He eats veggie pizza, pasta with sauces that have no meat. He doesn't get the soy stuff in a can that looks like wet cardboard like my brother-in-law does.

I could go on about how much of a hypocrite my brother-in-law is, but I don't feel like getting myself all worked up right now. I look forward to doing that at work today. *grumble*

For me, an absolute meat-eater, I would normally be ordering the biggest meat dish anyway. Even if someone revealed before I did they were vegetarian, I'm afraid I wouldn't change my diet to keep them happy, just as I wouldn't demand them to change theirs.

If, as everyone else said, its the mouth opening thing that is rude. Believe it or not some people don't realise how noisy they can be eating, but then most are more aware of eating habits whilst out and usually keep fairly quiet.

I have to admit, I'm a little confused by the whole question here. I have friends who are vegetarians but none of them have ever expressed a dislike or requested that the rest of us abstain from eating meat when they are around. o_O

It's always been a case of choosing to eat what you prefer instead of expecting the other to do the same as you do. So honestly if you are saying it was offensive, I don't really get why you would find it so.

If someone told me they were a vegetarian and I knew they were coming to dinner at my place, then I'd make sure there were dishes that they could eat. Other than that I wouldn't worry over it.

I could see how their eating habits could be considered impolite though. Usually people eat with their mouth closed.^^

-Sabrina

I think everyone already covered it pretty well. Rude to eat with one's mouth open, but not rude to eat meat. I'm not a vegetarian myself, but I wouldn't expect someone who is to eat meat so I think it's only fair to not expect me eat something else. Respect both ways is fair in my opinion.

I probably would ask them to not eat with their mouth open though. That is considered rude and impolite, especially when you're at a restaurant.

~*Aaryanna*~

Was this rude? Here is how I see it. Eating with one's mouth open, yes. Eating meat, no. Just as vegetarians have decided to not eat meat others have decided that it's an accepted part of their standard diet.

If you felt bothered by it, ask yourself this, how would you feel if you were forced to eat meat to make them feel comfortable? Expecting them to not eat it just because you would not is unrealistic really. It goes both ways, not just in favor of being a vegetarian.

So next time, just ask if they wouldn't mind eating with their mouth closed and not worry over what is actually being eaten.

~Crystia

I think the rude part was the one when they chewed with their mouths half-open... Isn't it supposed to be chewing with your mouth closed? As for eating something, well I think as long as no one insults anyone on what they eat, or forces another one's beliefs to others, then it's fine.

If that person were doing it to just be spiteful, then yes it was rude. But, just because someone at the table is a vegetarian doesn't mean everyone at the table should be forced into not eating meat. They all can order what they want and be polite and mature about it. Not to rub it in. The person would have to put himself in your shoes and think if vegetarianism were the norm and he was a carnivor among thousands of vegetarians, would he want people to languidly and obnoxiously eat celery in front of him? I think not, you have to respect people and their opinions--not act chidlishly because you don't agree.

Rachmaninoff has put it very well. I doubt my comment is going to be as concise as that.

I love eating meat and will never give it up, but I would never harass a vegetarian about their choice to not do so. I would just order food like normal, meat and all, but not emphasize it. What I shove down my gullet is my choice, not others'. Full-grown adults can eat whatever they want, because they know what they are putting into their bodies. (It is my belief that children and young teens should at least eat a little meat though, mainly for developmental health reasons, but I assume you are old enough to not be mistaken for a middle-schooler. ^_~) I don't think vegetarians are necessarily wrong over their personal diet, but I certainly wouldn't cater to their finicky ways.

Besides, if he's harassing you, that might mean he likes you. Boys are funny like that.

Other than to think their table manners were a bit off, no. I don't think they were being rude. Unless you're saying they were deliberately doing things slowly and in an exaggerated manner just to prove a point.

If they've always been the type to eat meat, then just as it's normal for you to not eat it, it's normal for them to do so. I know it doesn't bother me when my friends who are vegetarians don't eat anything with meat in it.

My question would be, why would a vegetarian expect someone who is not one to suddenly not eat meat? I can see how someone eating with their mouth half open would be a bit impolite, but to expect them to change their choice of food or consider it rude is kind of silly if you ask me. After all, I wouldn't expect a vegetarian to eat meat just because I do.

So though their table manners might be a little lacking, I don't consider that rude, even if you asked them to not eat meat. It's one thing to serve what you prefer in your own home, but once you go to a restaurant with friends, what they choose off the menu is their business.

-Darren