Why do some people call themselves vegetarian and eat meat?

Question

It's not a huge problem for me, but I just wonder sometimes.

I have been basically lacto-vegetarian since 1984, I try to avoid eggs. No beef, pork, chicken, fish, shrimp, oysters, meat broth, meat fat, etc., or at least not willingly. I don't always know what's in the food in some situations, but I try my best to be polite and not be too much of a pain around non-vegetarians.

I have heard people say they vegetarians, but some of them eat fish, chicken and even red meat. Why? Do they think it sounds good to say they are vegetarians or don't they know what the word means? Or, maybe it's like some people who say "I'm not racist" and then make some obviously racist remark. Any thoughts?

To Siany: Yes I agree, the "I'm not racist" comment doesn't fit and I shouldn't have put it--I don't take that much time editing on Yahoo Answers so I missed it.
"Pesco-pollo-vegetarian", I have trouble saying that without spitting on myself. It seems like someone could just say "I don't like red meat" if they are asked. I don't see why they need a name for "what they are." Eggs are kind of ambiguous unless they are fertile, but I don't see how anyone can classify chickens and fish as anything but animals.

I wonder if maybe it started with the Catholic Church declaring fish as not meat.

Answer 1

Sometimes I wonder if it's just people trying to get some attention. Or maybe they truly do try to avoid meat but sometimes have to give in. I wouldn't exactly know because I've been vegetarian my whole life my religion, but I do understand what you mean. People are hypocritical sometimes, but it's all a part of human nature, I suppose.

Answer 2

My mother does that sometimes and it really annoys me! She thinks because she eats fish and chicken but no red meat that she can say she is a vegetarian! I told her she is a chickafishatarian. I am an ovo-lacto vegetarian, but I buy my eggs from a "cage-free" farm and milk from a "cow friendly" dairy, although I have just found out how good vanilla soy milk is, so I am switching!

Answer 3

People who call themselves vegetarian and who still eat meat are more often than not just misinformed about the meaning of the word. This misinformation probably stems from words such as "flexitarian".

To Andrea - a flexitarian is not a subcategory of vegetarian. If you eat vegetarian most of the time but sometimes eat meat then you are not vegetarian. Call yourself a flexitarian if you like, but don't fool yourself into thinking you're any kind of vegetarian.

Answer 4

Hi there. I have found that some do not consider fish and seafood as meat. Others just think eating more veggies makes one a vegetarian. I had a friend who told me she was a vegetarian as she chowed down on chicken. I guess we could use the term "semi-vegetarian"? Perhaps, they try but cannot make the commitment. I just think it's ignorance. Follow your truth. Have a great day.

Answer 5

They do that because they are lazy.

"I am cutting back on red meat"
or
"I don't eat beef I only eat chicken."
or
"I don't eat beef or chicken. I only eat fish."

Apparently these things are just too difficult to say. Heaven forbid someone want to know WHY another person is making such efforts to be healthier. They might actually have to explain themselves!

I see this a lot and it's a real pet peeve with me. They don't understand how difficult they make life for real veg-heads.

Answer 6

What Newt said!! Those folks are nothing but liars! It's endemic to society as a whole. Just look at "the leader of the free world" and it'll help you understand. He claims to be a "compassionate conservative", he promised Texans that he wouldn't use the office of Governor as a stepping stone to the white house, he said Saddam had WMD's and he's currently claiming he has no plans to invade Iran! And people actually believe all that hog-wash!

People are just no damn good!!

Answer 7

I know religious people like Muslims and Jews because they opt for vegetarian food so often, though they still eat certain meat they call themselves vegetarian to save explaining their dietry laws.

Answer 8

Hi, I don't know why anyone who eats red and white meat would call themselves vegetarian, as clearly they are not.

I am a vegetarian, however a year ago I used to eat fish. I know myself that eating fish/seafood qualifies me as a Pesco/pollo vegetarian but instead of explaining to someone what this was everytime they asked it was simply easier to just say 'i'm a vegetarian'. Even now my specific diet would place me under the label of 'lacto-ovo vegetarian'...but again its not like i'm going to explain all the different types of vegetarianism to people everytime they ask.

I dont think claiming to be a vegetarian when you are not is half as serious or should even be in the same category as the issue of racism

Answer 9

You still can eat meat even if you are a vegetarian. The type of vegetarians who eat meat are called Flexitarian - This is a relatively new definiton, it describes someone who still eats meat but follows a vegetarian based diet for most of the time, or who will only occasionally eat meat.

Answer 10

they think that chicken and fish are so abundant that its not considered meat, thats not a vegitarian to me.