Why do some people claim to be 'Vegetarians' when they eat fish?

Question

I am not a vegetarian but i've come accross this occurance quite a lot recently, and it is quite annoying.

A fish is NOT a fruit, seed, pulse or vegetable. It IS a living animal.

If you eat fish you are NOT a vegetarian.
(I'm not saying its right or wrong to eat fish by the way , just that it is not something a 'vegetarian' would do)

Do you agree?

Hmm me thinks Lord Wigbottom is a bit thick....

Hazel Fish most definately IS an Animal

Answer 1

YES! As a strict vegetarian myself, this one annoys me something rotten! If the only meat you eat is fish then you are pescartarian. Vegetarians do not eat anything that is obtained through the killing of an animal, be it cow or tuna. This doesn't just include the 'flesh' of the animal, it includes gelatine (cartilage/bone) found in many sweets, particularly jelly ones; animal rennet (in non-vegetarian cheese - chymosin is the synthetic alt.); animal fats; Cochineal (E124 - although most manufacturers use synthetic E124 thesedays) and Isinglass (Fish - found in 90% of beers and wines). Most of us stricter veggies actually extend our diet to not include anything battery farmed, and buy only free range eggs (often locally) and organic milk.

I also go as far as not wearing leather, although this is not strictly required to call oneself vegetarian (it is for vegans though) since the vegetarian diet is concerned with the consumption of animals rather than the wearing of them. I believe, however, that anything that has been obtained via the suffering or death of animal should not be eaten/used/worn (So I won't buy leather handbags/belts/shoes/trainers or leather sofas etc).

Answer 2

I agree completely. Anyone who's seen my posts through 2006 will know this really winds me up.

There is no logic to it, they just seem to be wannabees who can't be bothered to use the correct definitions.

The 2 largest and most authoritive organisation ( Veggie Soc and IVU ) both define veggie as EXCLUDING fish.

vegetarian society:
A vegetarian is someone living on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits with or without the use of dairy products and eggs (preferably free-range).
A vegetarian does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or slaughter by-products such as gelatine or animal fats.

International Vegetarian union:
vegetarianism includes veganism and is defined as the practice of not eating meat, poultry or fish or their by-products, with or without the use of dairy products or eggs

So why some meat-eaters choose to call themselves veggie beat me.

I know we're great, but to live your life as a lie just to be called one of us...thats going a bit far....

answers like the one directly above me really piss me off. Who do you think you are, eh ? Have you any clue have stupid it sounds and the damage you are doing to the vegetarian community ?

No, didn't think so. I wonder if the problem is the fish-eaters post such nonsense and never come back here to read the other answers and realise how wrong they are. "15 YEAR meateating deluded wannabee" is the source comment you were actually looking for

Would it make any sense if i said Jesus was the son of god and i'm a muslim whos just had my barmitzvah and will be off to Tibet for my budist sabatical soon ? No, of course not, thats why we have defintions and beliefs so people UNDERSTAND what we believe in.

Also, there is no such thing as semi, demi, part, nearly....they are all just wanabee statements from people who can't be bothered to use the english language correctly.

Amy_22 has the right answer. I also do not understand why veggies wear leather. Although its not in the definition, wearing leather contributes to the cost model of keeping the cow/pig. If we didn't wear dead cows then the cost of meat would make most meat eaters turn veggie. Therefore, in my opinion, if you wear leather you might as well eat the stuff.

and there is no such thing as a "pesco vegetarian". There is a pescotarian, but why corrupt the word vegetarian ? and stuff like "Personally I feel that I am vegetarian, but I do eat fish on the rare occasion"...what nonsense.......

Answer 3

I love being a vegetarian. I love the foods I eat, the way I feel and the clearness of my conscience. What I don’t like about being a vegetarian is being asked if I eat fishes, being offered fishes, being handed vegetarian menus with meals that contain fishes and other so called “seafoods”, being told fishes “aren’t meat”, and people who tell me that they are vegetarian and then proceed to tell me about the great smoked salmon they ate the night before. I’m not exactly sure where the rumor that fishes are vegetarian food started, but I would like to take this opportunity to put an end to it. Fish are animals and do not grow on trees!
A vegetarian is a person who does not eat fish, fowl or meat. Fish have faces, parents and nervous systems and must be killed in order to turn them into "food." If you eat fish, you are not a vegetarian.

Answer 4

Just to throw my two cents into the mix...I am a "vegetarian" who avoids chicken meat, beef meat and pork meat. I drink milk and eat eggs. They are a little hard to avoid in cake! I eat seafood and fish. Why? Because this is what I choose to do and saying I am a vegetarian lets other people understand that I have different dietary restrictions than most people. Am I a vegetarian? Depends on who you ask. I make my choices based on what types of food that I like to eat and don't really care too much about labels.

Answer 5

A vegetarian diet includes grains,vegetables,fruit,nuts,and seeds. There are Lactovegetarians who consume dairy products,and Ovolactovegetarians who consume eggs as well. But a true vegetarian called a vegan(vee'gun) excludes all animal products. So yes I agree with you, eating fish is not a vegetarian thing to do.

Answer 6

They are wrong. They are not vegetarians because fish is the meat of...a fish. They just choose to not eat mammals and fowl. Still, they are not vegetarians. I don't know if there is a word for it. You can call them on it, though. Make them explain.

Answer 7

I totally agree with you (and even had the same type of question). It annoys me to no end. Maybe they're saying that so people will think they're cool or something, which is totally the wrong reason to be a vegetarian.

Answer 8

Well first of all a vegetarian who eats fish, but no other meat, is called a pesco vegetarian or a pescarian. Many vegetarians first try this form of vegetarianism because it is easier and cheeper than traditional vegetarianism. It is a recognized form of vegetarianism, and there are many different form of vegetarianism. There are fruitarians who only eat fruit, nuts, and seeds, and veggies that are classified as fruit, such as avacados and tomatoes. Thee are also vegans who eat no animal products. Therefore they dont eat things like honey or gelitin.

Personally I feel that I am vegetarian, but I do eat fish on the rare occasion. I only do so because when going out there arent many veg options in the area where I live. If at all possible I eat purley veg, but when necessary I do eat fish.

Answer 9

The Vegetarian diet consists of foods that cause no harm being caused to the animal.
No, fish is not a vegetable, but neither is it an animal. Fish and chicken are permited in the vegetarian diet. Chicken is not an animal either, they are considered aviary. These distinctions are taken from the scientific species classifications.
Animal products are also permitted on the vegetarian diet (milk, eggs, cheese and the like).
The Vegan diet allows no animal, fish or fowl products what so ever.

Answer 10

Well i will tell you why. because some people don't consider fish to be a meat cause it doesn't bleed like an animal does.
also a vegan does not eat any animal products including butter milk yogurt etc.