Why are you a Vegetarian but not a Vegan, or why do you eat chicken/fish but not other animals?

Question

I was interested to know why some people felt they had enough jusification to become a vegetarian but not a vegan.
And why some people feel justified to eat fish or chicken but not other animals.

Answer 1

I'm vegan now, but I will tell you why I wasn't before.

It was ignorance.

I thought by being vegetarian I no longer had a part in animal slaughter. I thought that it was good enough, and that veganism was just "too extreme."

I didn't know that male calves in dairy cow breeding went on to become veal.

I didn't know that male chicks in egg chicken breeding were ground up live into fertilizer or simply suffocated in garbage bags.

I wish I had found out sooner.

Answer 2

Justification? For me it's all about suffering. I can't justify the modern methods used to produce meat, and I would have a hard time doing the killing myself, so I choose to be a vegetarian. On the other hand, most of the dairy cows in my area (northern California) live a pretty sweet life, and I only buy organic to ensure that they aren't being pumped up with hormones and antibiotics. And free range chickens don't endure the hell that the average egg layer does.
I guess I feel I can be guilt-free without being a total vegan.

Answer 3

I'm a vegan so I don't anymore.

I used to be vegetarian but that was ignorance-like Vegan a few answers above me-as soon as I learned of the cruelty involved in the dairy and egg industry I became a vegan.

Answer 4

I would like to take my vegetarianism that further step and become a vegan. I have cut down on dairy & eggs, and don't eat honey anyway (do you know how bees produce honey? The word 'regurgitation' comes into play quite a lot!). Drinking cow's milk & eating cheese doesn't make sense as it's still supporting the slaughterhouse industry, and is something I find hard to justify.

It's something that I'm doing gradually and hopefully one day soon, I'll be able to call myself vegan.

Answer 5

I call myself a "selfish" vegetarian, because I don't eat any meat or fish purely because I don't like the taste of it. I don't think killing animals for food is wrong which is why I couldn't be a vegan. Besides that, I LOVE honey and vegans shouldn't eat that either.

Answer 6

I am not a vegetarian, but have friends that are. No flesh of any kind, including fish and chicken. I believe they call themselves lacto ovo vegetarians, meaning they do eat animal by-products such as milk, cheese, eggs, etc. I think vegan means no flesh and no animal by-products.
No one died and left me God in a Dress, so I pass judgement on no one. I will support the eating habits of my friends. I enjoy alot of vegetarian and vegan foods.

Answer 7

Vegetarians can't call themselves that and eat chicken or fish! Vegans are vegetarian, but do not eat dairy or eggs, in addition.
You're right, it sounds like "some people" as you call them don't know what a vegetarian is! I eat fish and chicken but don't like other meats, based on personal choice, and I don't call myself a vegetarian.

Answer 8

Many people avoid meat for reasons other than ethical reasons. I know several people who will occasionally eat white meat but not red meat because it is usually leaner and lower in cholesterol. This however is *not* vegetarianism.

On the ethical subject, many people are comfortable eating eggs, cheese, etc. because animals are not slaughtered to produce these foods. Others become true vegans because animals may still be mistreated to produce them.

Answer 9

I dont eat dead animals, but I do enjoy fresh raw milk from my happy cow, and eggs from well cared for chickens. I live a vegan lifestyle in all other regards, even going as far as to make my own cosmetics, cleansers, detergents, etc., so I know that they contain no animal products and were not tested on animals. We donated all of our leather, wool, and other animal clothing to charity. I think some people get there in their own time, in their own way. I still ate fish at first, but gave that up when I was ready, then shellfish after that. I drink mostly homemade rice or almond milk, but I consider the milk from my cow to be a gift-she doesnt mind giving it up, she has more than enough for her calf, and I churn it into butter and make homemade cheese with it, using vegetarian rennet.

Answer 10

People who say they are vegetarian or vegan because they are opposed to the killing of animals for food should pause a moment and think. Are they wearing leather shoes?, do they wear a leather belt?, does the wife or girlfriend carry a leather
purse or handbag? ,do they go home and lounge on a leather settee. Lets face it-we can't do without leather and
leather comes from animals the rest of us kill for food.