Has anyone else ever had this happen? I have been a vegetarian for 6 months now. I just recently cut out eggs. I haven't been drinking milk. I just have   cheese sometimes or products that may contain dairy. I've heard a lot of vegans say people who are just vegetarian don't really care about animals. They smell like "nasty cheese", they aren't open mided. I've seen this especially in the raw food community. My goal is to eat mostly raw, which I do now even as a vegetarian. Yet, even though I am working on this I still people say things that are very rude. 

Coming from the other side, I would commend you for what you have given up already.  I am a vegan, and mostly superhero, and I respect anyone who gives up some animal products in their diet because every little bit counts.

Thats how I see it too. If everyone took steps to improve it would make a difference. Changing your lifestlye can be a challenge and a process. It doesn't usually happen over night. I don't understand why with some people its all or nothing.

Sweetie, do the very best that you can. Don't listen to the haters. It saddens me to hear that some people who obviously care a great deal for the environment seem to think it is okay to turn around and tear down human beings with good intentions. Truly sad 

I've had similar experiences based on my openness about not being a full-on vegan

(http://sneakyvegan.blogspot.com/p/shhhhh.html)

and all I can say is Alyssa Bee (and everyone else) is right: don't listen to the haters.

I think it's so unfortunate that there are people out there who think it's more effective to rudely harass people into submission rather than supporting their positive efforts. Personally, whenever I get a nasty comment about that, it doesn't encourage me to be more like them, it makes me want to go back to writing about bacon and burgers.

You don't owe anyone any explanation for who you are or what you eat. Do your best. Every little bit DOES count. 

And there's a great community of supporters here whenever you need it :)

No worries!  we got your back! lol

Ignore people like that.  You know you are doing what is right for you, today, right now.  Don't worry about what anyone else says or thinks.  Everyone starts somewhere, and the journey is different for different people because we are all... well, different.  :)

Vegans and vegetarians should be supporting each other. They are, essentially, in the same boat. Really, vegans are just "better" vegetarians, but we are all "vegetarians", ultimately.

My guess is that the vegans who give you a hard time about this really aren't that comfortable in their own shoes and with their own choices, so they feel the need to look down on others, in order to boost their own, low self-esteem. Don't waste your time letting your self-esteem be smeared in mud just because theirs is.

Do your thing.

^I like the way that's said...

I'm wondering where you're finding these people that tell you vegetarians smell like "nasty cheese" because I've never witnessed that behaviour from a fellow vegan.  If they're telling you that over the computer then the cowardism can be explained as with any troll on any subject using the Internet.  Face to face that's not a likely encounter for obvious reasons.