I dunno, regionality might have a lot to do with it. I've had way more flack for eating meat than when I was veg. When I was veg, all my friends seemed to sort of admire what I was doing, despite not doing it themselves. Now they're all aiming for vegetarian, like it's the holy grail. I think I'm the only one in my social circle who will fully admit that I think meat is good for me. The rest think it's some sort of "cheat" on their near veg plan. They don't harass me about it and I don't harass them, but they do look at me like I'm sick when I order beef anything ever.

These are are health-focused vegetarian types, though, I don't believe any of them see anything ethically wrong with meat so that may be the difference.

I doubt that Holden Caulfield ever inspired more than sullen cigarette smoking.