Why are people here constantly seeking approval from strangers on the internet for their food choices?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Because it's quicker, cheaper and easier than going to see a dietitian or nutritionist. Also, sometimes you're more likely to trust people who have the experience, rather than just the theory. (For instance, you're thinking of travelling to Albania. Would you just rely on the advice of a travel agent, who is admittedly trying to get some money out of you, or would you ask for advice from someone who has been to Albania?) Of course, this being the anonymous/pseudonymous internet, the answerers could be lying for their own malicious or mischievous reasons, plus you'll get a few who know even less the the asker, but still feel they need to answer.

I've asked very few questions on this site (about 10 or 11, minus 2 or 3 that got deleted), despite being on here for a few years (since 2007), mainly because I already know most things I need to know (about veg*nism and diet and nutrition anyway), and for what I don't know, I can easily do a search online or in my many reference books. I'm also capable of looking on this site for previously asked questions. Some people just can't do that, because of laziness or a serious lack of basic research/study skills.

Don't be annoyed by the people seeking approval, but rather see it as an opportunity for you or another answerer to catch someone just in time, who would normally have gone off the rails and wound up in hospital from poor dietary choices if you hadn't said anything.

You already know kids will do that: try to get approval from their "peers" before they do anything. That's just how kids are. It only becomes really sad and pathetic when adults do it too though.

I mentioned such an observation many times before. That many vegetarians and vegans can't seem to eat unless they have the "approval" of complete strangers in the Internet. This constant nit pickling, the "what am I allowed/not allowed to eat, what can I eat/cannot eat, can i call myself this or that" rules that many of them insist on having".It is almost to the point that it won't be surprising if someone asks, "Am I still a vegan if I breath around animals? Because some vegan friend said that I take away some of the air from animals if I breath too much around them...". Or "OMG I accidentally cast a shadow on a cow and it did not get all thee sunlight it needs, am I still a true vegetarian? I've been crying all day cos I feel terrible that that poor abused cow won't get the vitamin D it needs." Or "I fell asleep with my mouth open and insect went in and I accidentally swallowed. I've been a vegetarian for 6 months, does that mean I start over?"

Questions like that, to me, are less about seeking approval and more about making sure that they are getting adequate nutrition.

"I eat too much salt, how can I cut back?" does not mean, "Please reassure me that I am not a bad person," but "I know I can improve my diet, do you have any tips?"

Sure, some of the fat/calories/too much/too little occasionally come across as approval-seeking, but I think it is really about the asker and how she (I rarely see men do this) asks it. Overall, though, most of the questions I see about specific nutrients seem to come from people who are genuinely concerned about their health.

Personally I think it's:
A) LAziness- they can't google?
B) Ignorance- do they not go to school?
C) Stupidity- why are they so dumb as to ask "am I going to lose weight going vegan?" And they're really going to take advice from "Cliff" the hater?

People text for no reason, call for no reason, facebook chat for no reason, why should YA be different.
Plus, internet is the way people commune these days.
They just open their mouth and spout drivel.

They come to the food section because it's innocent, and fun. Everyone l likes talking about food.

Many are starting out as vegetarian & so seek the advice of some of the more advanced or experienced vegetarians here, i myself asked before/shortly after becming vegetarian the same questions.
Another factor is women may have a perception that vegetarians are thinner/more healthy etc & so seek advice off them than other sections on Yahoo Answers.
Then there is the good old fact that Yahoo Answers thrives off having a messy ''search past questions & answers'' system & so people just repeat themselves

***EDIT
Why go visit a nutritionist when one can do background research right at the comfort of their own home? + the money involved just to ask some specific questions.

vegetarian
could be worse, i'd rather people ask questions than become disillusioned by the diet due to poor choices

You have to realize that not everyone here is an adult with experience, and I think the people that ask these kind of things are younger people. I know I wouldn't have asked any of these things past the age of 28.

I agree, if they really want answers about nutrition they shouldn't ask questions here. Here they will mostly get one sided vegan propaganda. I would suggest the Mayo Clinic.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/

Because they are emotionally weak, and they need the support of other vegetarians.

Some are inexperienced dieters trying to lose weight... Some are just concerned about nutrition.

idk...idk

the people who give a **** about that ****

Do you think I'm fat? *Eats a barrel of gummy bears while I ask this*