My friends are *VERY* uneducated about veganism. Why are people so clueless?

I know it can be annoying dealing with elementary questions about veganism, but as long as the question is asked in earnest, try to be as informative as possible. This could be an opportunity to teach someone something new. Veganism is still not mainstream, and many people have never heard of it. Represent it in the best way possible, and try to be non-judgmental, informative, and friendly! (Can be challenging, I know)