Believing strongly about the welfare of other creatures is great. Being so annoying that you isolate yourself from an entire country or just your friends at dinner is not so great.

Case inpoint: A vegan and animal rights activist in New Zealand, Nancy Holden, has been denied citizenship to Switzerland twice because her neighbors find her to be an annoying vegan. Shes complained about cow bells, hunting, and piglet racing, as well as the church bells being too noisy.

In Switzerland, local residents of the community youre trying to live in have a say in whether theyll accept you into the country. Thats a wild concept to Americans, who simply put up with whatever bananas neighbors theyre given.

Holten told The Local:

I think I was too strident and spoke my mind too often. Many people think that I am attacking their traditions. But that was not what it was about, it was never about that. What primarily motivated me about the cowbells was the animals welfare.

Complaining to your new Swiss neighbors about their traditions isnt the only way vegans can be annoying and were all pretty annoying when we take ourselves too seriously. Here are a few more ways the vegan in your party might piss off the rest of the gang, and what to say next.

No: Unprompted debate challenges in general

If someones going to the effort to mindfully change their lifestyle, theyve probably done a lot of homework on it before even reaching the table. Everyone should be so well informed but its not an excuse to take any opening to educate your dinner dates on the ills of factory farming and the food industrial complex. Maybe talk about the really adorable goat who dresses up like a duck, instead?

No: Commentary on how gross other peoples food looks

This is super rude for anyone, vegan or not, but if you find yourself at a burger joint surrounded by ground beef done rare, its tempting to gag a little when images of happy cows dance through your head. Either excuse yourself from the meal if its too overwhelming, or focus on your black bean burger or faux bloody meat.

No: Damning everyone to foodie hell

Veganism is a choice, and a pretty admirable one in willpower and commitment to ones beliefs. But everyone makes their own choices for personal reasons, and your own health and wellbeing should come first. When food and morals get tied up together, things get heated. Being judgmental on either side wont help anyone change minds instead, vegans and non-vegans should try to lower their defenses and learn from one another.

No: Bragging when youve pull off a trick

If you bring amazing brownies to a potluck and everyones oblivious to their vegan-ness, dont take the temptation to shout Surprise! Theyre vegan! By the same token, try to be aware of what other peoples food preferences might be when youre an omnivore. Not everyone can eat your three-meat four-cheese lasagna creation. A trick we dont want to see pulled off: Putting animal fat in cash. Ew.

No: Saying anything at all about eggs

Dont take the time at brunch to inform everyone that eggs are chicken periods. Just, no.

They somehow prompt other people to bitch about vegans

Thanks a lot!

Read more:

5 easy ways not to be a totally annoying vegan - Salon