Has anybody ever become violently angry with you for being a raw foodist?

[Gaius]

Today, I had a friend of mine shake and scream at me because I refused to eat a slice of pizza he was trying to desperately get me to eat.

I'm a guy, and I've only been a raw foodist since 3/10, but this person (thankfully not that close a friend) got so angry at me that he was almost spitting at my face. He kept saying that I used to eat so terribly and that I couldn't resist a slice of my once favorite pizza and when I said "no" about 4-5 times he just lost it and said: "What the FUCK is your problem? You think you're all that great because you're not eating regular food?" He walked away and wouldnt talk to me for the rest of the time, and people around us looked uncomfortable.

I should have been angry too, but I wasn't. I would usually get so angry that I would begin a huge argument but this time, I just held firm and didn't say anything. I felt peaceful. I felt proud of myself, like I was beaming and nobody could see it. I almost feel bad saying this, but this incident made me so proud of what I have achieved so far. I didn't care what he thought or how he felt about me. He was insignificant to me, and I felt bulletproof.

Has anybody here had a similar incident? How did you feel?

[kidkid]

Since going raw this past month I've had friends think I'm weird, smug, picky, culty, and self-punishing. I've been teased, yes, but not yelled at! Even when friends try in vain to get me to eat quiznos or candy, they usually just give me a "sucks for you" look (how ironic) and leave it at that.

I've really dreaded peoples' reactions to my raw food choice. Your story made me realize the reactions I've been getting have been gentle and not all that difficult to deal with by comparison. Congratulations on being balanced and peaceful! it's an inspiration!

[juliebove]

Raw food is not "regular" food? Since when?

And that person is not a friend!

No, that has never happened to me.

[rkk]

I've never had the exact situation you mention, though I've had relatives be inconsiderate to me when I was eating a cooked vegan diet (before I started transitioning to raw vegan). Last year I had gone to an Indian restaurant, and my family was ordering a few dishes to share between ourselves, and I requested one vegetable dish be made vegan (as it normally came with cheese pieces and a cream sauce). My uncle was very annoyed and was like "Just get the regular vegetarian version. She can pick out the cheese!" :rolleyes: Fortunately my parents have been quite supportive of my journey to vegan and to raw, and luckily they stood up for me and said (paraphrase): "Actually, we'd prefer the vegan version as well since it's healthier, and will share with her. Why don't you get the vegetarian version for yourselves, and we'll share the vegan version with our daughter."

Some members of my extended family are quite supportive of my dietary changes, and others are insensitive (thinking that I'm the one inconveniencing everyone else) and make off comments. It just depends. Luckily my parents are my biggest supporters. Although they don't encourage me to be 100% raw (they think 80% raw is more "practical"), they will still come to raw vegan potlucks with me and will gladly try out raw vegan restaurants etc. Althoug they are not raw foodists (they are pescetarians), they have started incorporating more raw into their diets. Today my folks came to visit for memorial day, and spent the majority of today with me in the kitchen, making raw dishes for me to have for the week (as I have a very busy week ahead and don't have much time to prepare foods this week). So I feel lucky to have them. But yeah, not everyone is that supportive, though I'm glad that most are reasonably accepting.

[spicyfull]

No, it hasn't happen to me. Glad you kept your cool.

[rkk]

He probably assumed that you were just trying to 'show off' by eating a different diet than everyone else... or maybe he internalized things and felt that maybe you scorned everyone else for not eating as clean as you. He obviously felt threatened by your diet for whatever reason, which provoked the angry response. I'm not saying that he was right in behaving that way, but something was pushing his buttons for some reason. Glad you kept your cool and handled things calmly. Maybe he'll do some self-reflection and figure out why he got so upset.

[EZ rider]

Sometimes a person can have an inner struggle going on that gets triggered by something around them. Its possible that your eating healthy food triggered his inner conflict between what he's eating and his knowing that the time will come when his health fails him because of his choices not to support his body in health & wellness. He knows good choices from bad choices and may be struggling inside and it burst out in an angry display. Its great that you kept your cool and stayed the course.

[klomasius]

Wow! Not as bad as that!

I'm lucky, I just get the sneering, condescending dismissal or the baffled concern or teasing mocking.

I'd say it's his problem, and it's something more than your food choices going on there too.

Well done for reacting so calmly! :D

[Revvell]

No, never had something like that happen but I can see it.

I've had people (many moons ago) apologize to waitresses for "giving them a hard time" because I tell them EXACTLY what I want and how I want it yet, as I became more and more peace-filled with my choices, things like that don't happen.

I REALLY thought I'd have problems with former neighbors and relatives when I went back to Ct. for my mother's funeral and we went to an "American style" restaurant and all I had was the salad.

My "manly-man" neighbor told me he'd like to be vegetarian knowing it's healthier. :eek: ed the heck out of me! He's in his 70's!

So, what you'll find is if you stay committed and comfy with your choices, you'll get some real friends who support you in your life.

Revvell (http://LetsTalkraw.com)

[Gaius]

Sometimes a person can have an inner struggle going on that gets triggered by something around them. Its possible that your eating healthy food triggered his inner conflict between what he's eating and his knowing that the time will come when his health fails him because of his choices not to support his body in health & wellness. He knows good choices from bad choices and may be struggling inside and it burst out in an angry display. Its great that you kept your cool and stayed the course.
Yeah, he's not in very good shape so I assume that could have been the underlying issue. I don't dislike him for what he did since we all have different reactions to something new and I myself was the guy who made fun of vegans years ago. If he continues though, I'll have to disassociate myself from him. If I've learned anything from this board, its that people who don't at the very least TRY to be supportive of your diet aren't really your friends.

[gritsnla]

What a horrible thing to have happened. And yes, sometimes it comes down to disassociation. We don't need people in our lives that do nothing but kick us down!

[Raw Angel Mom]

Sorry that you had to go through this.

I recommend to you to read 12 steps to raw food, this book really help us to interact with others peacefully with our decision to do raw.

I think people are afraid that they aren't perfect or afraid that we try to judge them or even change them. Once they feel that we just prefer that food versus something else and this is ok for them to eat whatever they want, the tension goes down. I had to learn to deal with my family, friends or co-workers for when i decided to be vegetarian. They see you eat certain foods and all of sudden you don't, for some reason it generates discomfort and fear in them. Once, i figured out a plan how to reply or to talk about my choice, it made it much easier to interact with others. For the meat, i would say, i just don't like it and never did which is true. Sometime, i would joke and say funny thing. For some reason the right thing will come. Now with raw food, i just say, i just prepare it in a different way. I just like it better that way. Once we feel comfortable to be who we are, people will feel inspire by us to be free. This is freedom when we let go the attachment of what people may think for what we choose to do for us or to be.

You deserve to be happy, healthy and you are worthy to be happy and healthy.

[ViolinCyndee]

WOW.. amazing. I have to say, if someone did that to me, I wouldn't be able to control myself from laughing at them. What a ridiculous reaction!

[T-Bird]

I certainly felt like a real pain this weekend....

Went to a cookout for my bro's b-day at his girlfriends.....

So - First I have to bring the veggie grill and set up next to their huge grill thing and steal some coals. And I cooked for my kids and DD's 2 friends ended up doing the veggie dogs too. Also put corn on the veggie grill and there wasn't corn for the rest of the guest......I didn't know!

Then for myself - I go up to the apt and get a knife and cut up tomato and avo for my salad and had some raw corn.

So I had 2 side projects going on......

I can imagine what a pain in the arse I am for a hostess, and I did feel like an outcast, but what can you do??

But no, no one yelled at me or demanded I join in the cooked food!

[RAWmen-Noodles]

I have no idea why people think that eating different is so threatening. That is so cool that you kept your cool. I have had people think I am in a cult or something but most people have been intrigued or interested.

[Shoney]

like it was truly awful! I'm sorry you had to go through that.

For the most part, I don't tell anyone what I'm doing, I just do it.

But it is hard to fathom someone becoming that angry over resisting a piece of pizza!!

Might want to steer clear of him for awhile, you deserve better treatment than that!

[Ilse W.]

Luckily, you get to choose your friends! Mine go out of their way to pick restaurants that make special efforts to provide me with a raw meal. My suggestion, get some new friends.:)

[RawYorkCity]

The only reaction I've had that was similar was when I was eating out with my sister in Europe. She was embarrassed that her plate of food was bigger than my plate of salad greens. She made rude remarks saying I wasn't being a man by not eating protein blah blah. I felt more at peace with myself because I didn't retaliate or rebuttal. At least her insecurity came out and I had a better understanding of her at that time.

In your case, obviously the issue stems deeper than your refusal to eat a slice a pizza. Good for you is all I can say. The way you reacted was mature and inspiring. Live and let live.

[lavendarJ]

Not violent... But there has definitely been an attitude change for the worse; I'm in my 3rd year of this journey and there are people (family and close friends) who have treated me differently since day 1 (glares, standoffish, or nonverbal) because they still believe that I'm holding out some "magic pill" which explains my very sudden weight loss (in the first year of raw, just did like Alissa said and "just ate" and lost like 30lbs the first month and the other 50lbs soon after (think this might have been under 6 months/8months - have to check my old blog)...Despite sharing recipes/websites or creating a weekly plan sample for them....they refuse to believe and would rather remain ignorant - jealousy and envy are blinding..

So, you know what, just do you... enjoy your journey. There have always been people in my life who were either receptive of me or rejective of me so why should this journey be any different. You're wisdom and embracing peace versus being provoked to anger will guide you along your journey...

Have a Rawkin' Day

[adiebabe]

It does seem most likely that he has some issues of his own (d-uh! LOL!) but maybe he is on his way to an epiphany of his own as well (and it scares him)...we can always hope :)

For the most part, what I've come across most is people who know me but don't know how I eat. They've seen the weight loss and are concerned it's being done somehow in an unhealthy manner. They say things like 'Okay, stop losing weight now!' (like I'm actually doing it specifically...which I'm not)...they are coming from a good place with it though.

[mstrish]

I just don't understand why people think eating fruits and veggies is radical when eating meat off of a carcus is radical. I am glad you kept your cool and set a wonderful example of living your true self.

[Tsurugi_Oni]

"Misery loves company".

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

It sounds like this guy is more angry at himself than he is at you. Maybe he's angry that he isn't able to change his life in such a wonderful way, and resents your ability to do so.

[Gaius]

It sounds like this guy is more angry at himself than he is at you. Maybe he's angry that he isn't able to change his life in such a wonderful way, and resents your ability to do so.
Maybe, but I shouldn't just assume that. Maybe he's just thick-headed and thinks I'm "becoming" a homosexual or something, as most guys will tell vegan guys.