*sigh*
...No they're not. Vegans have been demonised to make it look like every single one of them is a screeching, militant nutter who would rather walk across a bed of hot coals than sit in the same room as someone that's eating a bacon sarnie. Oh, and let you know within five seconds of speaking to them that they're vegan.
I can categorically say that this is not the case as I count many of them among my friends and while there's definitely one that falls into that category the majority of us are just like you, except we don't agree with using animal-based products. I went from being a full-on carnivore to meandering between occasional meat-eating and vegetarianism when I met my vegan missus-to-be before ultimately (and not reluctantly) becoming full vegan. I've been vegan for 4 years now and due to the every-expanding range of and surprisingly authentic mouth-feel and taste of meat/dairy replacement products I doubt I'll ever go back to meat or dairy - not to mention the fact that I feel stronger, healthier and fitter than I've ever felt before.
Looking at the environmental impact of the intensive meat-farming industry however, I do believe that there will be a point in our future where eating meat will either be seen as some sort of archaic backwards practise or that meat will become so extremely expensive that it will only be consumed by the absurdly wealthy. Whatever the case, I think the clock is counting down on the meat and dairy industries.
Although that's my point really to most being vegetarian just means they'll cut out the meat and buy the substitutes, there's nothing inherently healthy in that.
