After Sarah Kliff wrote a story about the perils of being a vegetarian on Thanksgiving – no thanks, Tofurky – readers debated the merits of meat-eating. Ironically enough, the tone of the conversation wasn’t exactly meal-time appropriate: “In the future, people will look back in horror & disgust at these dark days where humans actually ate the cut up insides of dead animals & drank their body fluids,” wrote one reader. “There are just some things civilized people don’t put in their mouths.”

The carnivores fought back: “One apparent common trait among most of the Vegetarians or Vegans that posted on this article is that they are self-centered,” argued one commenter. “Why does thanksgiving have to be about just you? Most people disagree with you but they tolerate you.” Ouch. Another reader said that it’s not about toleration when it comes to planning a Thanksgiving meal, it’s about awareness: “Many years ago, my son asked to bring his then-girlfriend home for Christmas dinner,” began this reader’s story. “So I went all-out, cooking a turkey and all the stuff that goes with it. My son waited until the two of them arrived at my house to mention, ‘Oh, by the way, she’s a vegetarian.’ I was miffed. Not with her; with him. He could have TOLD ME BEFOREHAND and I could've cooked something else for her.”

But according to some vegetarians who commented, that sort of planning is simply unnecessary. “I have been a vegetarian for 20 years and it has never been a main topic of a family get together,” said one reader before explaining that her Thanksgiving goes something like this: “‘Hey do you want some turkey?’ ‘No Thanks.’ The end.”

Sounds simple enough. But for all you vegetarians out there, does that seem fair? And for the carnivores, what’s the big deal if someone else chooses to abstain from meat? Sound off below.