I've known several of those fish-only vegetarians, and I just can't understand their rationale. They always give some corny excuse that doesn't add up, like; "Fish don't count" or "Its just different, trust me".
Also, they have to weigh the pros and cons: sure, you're getting plenty of Omega-3...but what about all that mercury?
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Duh, they're not all vegans. Plenty of people do it for health reasons.
The leather product thing doesn't really disqualify them from calling themselves vegan, though... It's generally considered acceptable to use up our old products, instead of just tossing them out... (Buying new stuff is another story..)
I guess finding out about the leather thing was news to me, because limiting yourself to a strict vegetarian diet sounds like something that you'd almost have to be a little ethically/morally inclined towards it.. Not that I can't understand doing it for health reason, but we're still talking about major lifestyle change for most people...
Most of the vegetarians I know, started out simply weaning themselves off meat because they didn't feel right about it.
Originally posted by Quiero Mota
I've known several of those fish-only vegetarians, and I just can't understand their rationale. They always give some corny excuse that doesn't add up, like; "Fish don't count" or "Its just different, trust me".Also, they have to weigh the pros and cons: sure, you're getting plenty of Omega-3...but what about all that mercury?
The people I talk too who are vegetarians say the same thing to me too when I question them about eating fish. 😎
Originally posted by cdtm
They probably call themselves vegetarians, only because they've never heard of a pescetarian.
I believe piscavor is the scientific term for animals that only or predominantly eat fish. But in order for that to apply to them, they'd have to eat mainly fish. Instead, they stick to salad and vegi-burgers, and occasionally have a salmon-roll at the local hip sushi joint when they feel like straying from vegetarianism.
Originally posted by Symmetric ChaosNo, no he didn't. He said that pharasee's laws are not to be followed. They wrote the first talmud. Jesus said the law, which is what the OT is called by jews, is here to stay.
IIRC Jesus said that the old laws should be discarded but never specified which ones, leaving lots of wiggle room for later Christians.
Originally posted by King KandyExactly, he said "think not I come to annul the torah, i came to obey it" heb mat. As for the last part: He was rebutting a pharasee when he saw jesus eating without washing his hands. The oral tradition of the Pharasees said if you don't wash your hands while chanting a certain prayer, you defile yourself. Jesus was saying the dirt from unwashed hands that goes in your mouth is much cleaner than the false oral traditions that goes out from their mouths. That's all.
He also said the complete opposite, that absolutely no laws would be changed...Jesus said that what comes out of your mouth defiles you, not what goes into it. I imagine that is the justification.
Originally posted by Quiero Mota
I've known several of those fish-only vegetarians, and I just can't understand their rationale. They always give some corny excuse that doesn't add up, like; "Fish don't count" or "Its just different, trust me".
Then you meet stupid people. Everyone knows fish is technically meat, but:
Originally posted by Digi
The ones that don't eat meat for humanitarian reasons likely aren't eating fish. Thus my point. I know dozens of vegetarians in some capacity. If they happen to eat fish, it's not to save animals. If they don't eat fish, they're doing it for humanitarian reasons (perhaps among other reasons, but that is one of them).Common sense should also dictate that there won't be too many of these people because, Catholic decrees aside, it doesn't take a genius to realize that fish are animals. I can't imagine many people saying they don't want to kill animals, then eating salmon with a straight face. Realistically, such people do exist, but just as realistically, not many of them do.
So, when they say "It's just different" what are they referring to? Do fish not have souls to them? Or are they not doing it for humanitarian reasons, but other reasons? Or are they some version of Catholic? Or just deluded enough to think that fish aren't animals? Because I'd love to hear their rationale on why it's not cruel to eat fish, but it is to eat cow. Chances are you're just jumping to some incorrect conclusions.
You should find out for yourself and actually ask them. Otherwise you may be needlessly jaded in your opinion here.
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Originally posted by cdtm
Which, I suppose, only proves that one can be a vegetarian without regard to humanitarian concerns..
Kinda my original point. There's environmental, humanitarian, and health reasons that people use. Most aren't all 3.
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Originally posted by Quiero Mota
Also, they have to weigh the pros and cons: sure, you're getting plenty of Omega-3...but what about all that mercury?
Or what about any other health concern from a particular diet? Obviously moderation would need to be adhered to with any dietary lifestyle choice. Mercury levels also fluctuate wildly depending on the amount of fish you consume, what kinds, and from what sources.
Originally posted by The MISTER
I like the whole saying you're a vegetarian thing to people just to scarf down meat idea. Sounds like fun!
Oh, it is. 😉
...it's just, you don't get too many opportunities, so if you weren't really vegetarian and ok with being one, you'd have to go a damn long time with the facade before you got any payoff. It's likely not feasible for anyone who wants to continue eating meat, at least if you want to sell the joke believably.
Originally posted by Digi
Then you meet stupid people. Everyone knows fish is technically meat, but:So, when they say "It's just different" what are they referring to? Do fish not have souls to them? Or are they not doing it for humanitarian reasons, but other reasons? Or are they some version of Catholic? Or just deluded enough to think that fish aren't animals? Because I'd love to hear their rationale on why it's not cruel to eat fish, but it is to eat cow. Chances are you're just jumping to some incorrect conclusions.
You should find out for yourself and actually ask them. Otherwise you may be needlessly jaded in your opinion here.
Technically, being the operative word (everyone has their own little irrational quirks).
I really have no idea what they're referring to. I didn't pry. I figured their dietary habits are their business; it's not my place to play 20 Questions with them.
I should find out myself? Well, the fact that I don't have a hankering to know aside, the only fish-only vegetarian I keep in any kind of contact with is a former employee of mine. I still have his number on my cell, but I already have a good idea why: he's a Hindu so I'm pretty sure that is a big reason.
The rest of them (who I didn't really know all that well, just kinda/sorta) were liberal hippie-ish white people. Maybe they just rationalized the trick by telling themselves that slimey, scaley fish aren't as cute as their feathery and furry counterparts. Who the hell knows...
My veggie friend says she loves the taste of meat - but she won't eat it due to the way cattle is treated. She said that if the world was to treat cattle better she'd start eating meat without any problems...although I doubt she could after 17 years of being a vegetarian.
We once ate 'gan bian tu dou si' that probably had some meat hidden amongst the chillies that made her really sick. Everyone else was fine, apart from her.
Never quite understood the digestive argument. Must change over time. I'm going on 4 years, and the few times I've eaten meat have produced zero problems.
Originally posted by Quiero Mota
Technically, being the operative word (everyone has their own little irrational quirks).I really have no idea what they're referring to. I didn't pry. I figured their dietary habits are their business; it's not my place to play 20 Questions with them.
I should find out myself? Well, the fact that I don't have a hankering to know aside, the only fish-only vegetarian I keep in any kind of contact with is a former employee of mine. I still have his number on my cell, but I already have a good idea why: he's a Hindu so I'm pretty sure that is a big reason.
The rest of them (who I didn't really know all that well, just kinda/sorta) were liberal hippie-ish white people. Maybe they just rationalized the trick by telling themselves that slimey, scaley fish aren't as cute as their feathery and furry counterparts. Who the hell knows...
My point is, don't jump to conclusions and have a condescending attitude toward them without knowing the details. Maybe it isn't intentional, but your posting demeanor drips of disdain. Though it's usually not relegated to just this thread.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
My veggie friend says she loves the taste of meat - but she won't eat it due to the way cattle is treated. She said that if the world was to treat cattle better she'd start eating meat without any problems...
Boycotting meat to protest the poor treatment of animals is something I can understand. Many farm animals in the US are treated pretty badly. At a lot of chicken farms, many chickens starve to death because they're too fat to walk. I used to drive a chicken truck in Mississippi, so I've seen it first hand.
Originally posted by Digi
My point is, don't jump to conclusions and have a condescending attitude toward them without knowing the details. Maybe it isn't intentional, but your posting demeanor drips of disdain. Though it's usually not relegated to just this thread.
Disdain how? If a person doesn't like meat, then that's their choice. I ain't here to judge; far be it from me to tell people what to eat.
Originally posted by Digi
My point is, don't jump to conclusions and have a condescending attitude toward them without knowing the details. Maybe it isn't intentional, but your posting demeanor drips of disdain. Though it's usually not relegated to just this thread.
😆 It's funny cause you're right, but it's hard not to feel a little put off by strict vegans. (not the the ones that eat animals and make some sort of rationale) People that eat what looks like grass and berries every day is sort of funny cause if you don't yourself, you imagine that it's self inflicting an undesirable state. Sorta like the guys who used to beat themselves with whips(this worked to get them more attention as well). I'm sure that some would disagree, but there are some who sneak bacon bits when their significant others not watching like they're shooting up or something. It's hard to respect at that point, cause if your hearts not in it, rejecting food seems really high and mighty. The stereotype of more vegans being white is likely close to being accurate. Probably because options for young white people are understandably more varied than for youths in other cultures. Most black parents I know might kick they're kids ass for not eating what's served.