Why do people think this?

Question

People say they are vegetarians but they still eat fish. They may not eat beef, pork, chicken, etc. but they still eat fish. I don't follow! A fish is a live animal that must lose it's life in order for a human to eat it. Where did this come from? And why do people think this way? Have they NEVER done research on vegetarianism?

Defintion: Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes all animal flesh, including poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, and slaughter by-products.

If a person eats fish...they are not a vegetarian. Maybe they think it's hip and cool to be a veg. Why else would they label themselves something they are not!?

Answer 1

I think it comes from the Catholic Church declaring fish is not meat.

There was vegetarianism for thousands of years before the word "vegetarian" was invented. Indian Hindus, Jains and Buddhists (much older religions than Christianity or Catholicism) followed a concept called Ahimsa ("non-violence") that included not eating animals for food. There was no exclusion based on the type of animal.

The "fish (or chicken) is not meat" thing was invented by Westerners and never was part of the original idea of vegetarianism.

Answer 2

Maybe they are new to the Vegetarian concept. When I first started to become "Vegetarian" I cut out all red meat, but still ate chicken and Turkey. My family and friends would often introduce me as a Vegetarian even though I ate some meat. The fact that I didn't eat red meat was so strange and foreign to them that they couldn't grasp the true meaning. They didn't know what else to label me as! Very strange, but this is just how some people think until they become educated on the subject matter.

Answer 3

I don't have the answer to your question, but I think the misconception is fairly widespread.

I went on vacation a couple of weeks ago. It's often a challenge to find a place to eat when you're a vegan away from home, so, since this was a biggish town with a college, I thought I'd ask the hotel desk guy if he knew of any vegetarian restaurants. He didn't, and after calling the hotel next door to ask them, he replied, "Well, yes, we do! It's a sushi restaurant downtown. You like fish, right?" I explained briefly and nicely. He seemed genuinely surprised and said, "Too bad. That was our best suggestion."

Answer 4

There are certain levels of vegetarianism. The one you are talking about is considered a semi-vegetarian (eat fish and small amount of poultry) or a pesci-vegetarian (eat fish but no poultry). They probably say they are vegetarians because it is easier than listing what they actually eat. They may eat fish because they are not factory-farmed like other animals. In the long run it really doesn't matter because it is thier body and how they want to feed it is up to that person regardless of what they call themselves.

Answer 5

ok for the record..fish have a developed nervous system...and a CNS, hence their BRAIN. i dont believe you are a vegetarian if you eat fish... like you said its the flesh of another animal...maybe they use the label for making themselves feel better about it? but i have heard it all...."im a vegetarian...but i eat chicken". im sorry, if you eat meat...you are a meat eater! not a vegetarian

Answer 6

some ppl think that it doesnt count because fish dont have a developed central nervous system and cant anticipate its own death. i am not defending this reason just telling you what answer i got when i asked some that did this. i am not a vegetarian though so im not sure if that is the only reason why they would do things this way.

Answer 7

They're lying! Lots of people tell little lies to impress others and to make themselves feel good. That's the real world.


"A man of my spiritual intensity does not eat corpses"
- G.B. Shaw, 1856-1950, British Dramatist

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Answer 8

Ever play that game that involves an original message being whispered in a line of people's ears to see how mangled it comes out the other end.

That is how people come about their idea of vegetarianism.

They have no idea what the actual definition is.

Answer 9

it has to do with the different types of vegetarians. some are like fully into not eating anything that was once living, and others eat some things. most of the time the vegetarians that dont eat anything that was once living, are vegetarians because of their religion or their animal beliefs. the people who only eat like one meat (like fish) are people who are vegetarians to be healthier or because they just dont like meat!

Answer 10

They were brought up Roman Catholic.

I remember asking my mother why we were still allowed to eat fish on Fridays in Lent, even though its meat.