To be sick of people thinking vegetarian eat fish

Laughing at being reminded of “Can she have wafer thin ham, Barbara?”
Also on offer, i think, was Dairylea.

It’s annoying that most people don’t know what pescatarian is as I don’t think I should have to go into detail for a quick ‘dietary preferences’ question.

What I tend to do is put vegetarian for eg work catering but if anyone asks me about it I’ll say I’m pescatarian so can also eat fish.

I find my religious colleagues do the same eg if they only eat halal meat they will just ask for vegetarian food but then if asked they give the full story.

I'm quite happy for people who call themselves vegetarians or vegans to eat meat. It's fine.

Yes my mother is like this albeit she only eats turkey at Christmas and fish on occasion.

I think you answered your own question with your first sentence.
If enough people who eat fish call themselves vegetarian then that will lead to confusion.

But I work in catering and we've had this issue when people order for other people.
They're vegetarian, they tell the host they're vegetarian, and can they have the vegetarian option, the host tells us they've chosen the fish dish. If we're told they're vegetarian we'll question it, but if the choice is just made on behalf of the guest and we're not clued in on it, then we serve what we're asked to, then bollocked for not knowing that vegetarians don't eat fish, when we do, but we weren't told they were vegetarian.
Also see people who ask for the vegetarian dishes and when you tell them, get annoyed that you haven't told them about the fish options because they eat fish. That makes them pescetarian not vegetarian, but pointing that out makes you rude apparently. But then when you start including the fish dishes when asked about vegetarian ones, you're stupid because you don't know vegetarians eat fish.
Just look at the bloody menu and order what you want and can eat within your belief system.

My husband is a pescetarian and we usually just say that he doesn't eat meat but will eat fish. Has never been a problem really. Just annoying with food boxes etc that you can't choose that option as he loves his fish and seafood

I agree and it must be annoying, but I do know a number of pescatarians who refer to themselves as vegetarians. I'm not sure why.

I'm finding it beyond bizarre that in 2025 there are still people that don't know what 'vegetarian' means (no meat. Not just no meat from mammals, also no meat from birds or fish). It's an incredibly simple concept. Why on earth are so many posters arguing the toss?

As far as caterers go, they certainly should know what the word means. So long as the vegetarian option is actually vegetarian then people who do eat fish or chicken can still eat it.

None of my family is veggie but DD will often ask for the veggie option on flights, weddings etc because she can't eat fish.

It's people like my sister who ruin it for everyone. She was "vegetarian" who ate fish, and after a drink or abroad ate chicken and kebabs. And she'd eat anything someone else cooked so not to be rude.
Thankfully she gave it up and now eats the way she always ate, but doesn't insist she vegetarian anymore.

This is a bit like the 1/2 term discussion.

Someone says "well, we've always called it [Christmas break, Easter break] 1/2 term" and they think it must be thus.

I've been vegetarian for over 40 years. I use the phrase 'nothing with a face'

I still get smart arses asking what about mussels, clams, oysters...

Nah.....
People might not know what "vegetarian" means, but this indicates they are ignorant. It's not subjective.
You do not know a few vegetarians who eat fish - there is no such thing.
You might know people WHO SAY they are vegetarians and eat fish, but they are not vegetarians.

YANBU, but I've also had a wedding venue offer fish as the vegetarian alternative. It's weird.

It is common knowledge. That said, some people are veggie for ethical reasons most of the time but have fish or seafood now and again as a treat as they enjoy it. Absolutely fine by me (full time vegetarian) but I think it causes confusion as they tend to do it as a treat when eating out in company giving the impression that vegetarian is a lot more of a loose term than it actually is. I know someone who is strict with everything but high quality sushi, for instance.

It's one of my pet peeves, and I'm not even vegetarian.
I also remember a woman years ago who was offended that I inferred that maybe she wasn't a vegetarian as she claimed to be, on account that she was eating chicken.

People's definition varies. To me, vegetarians were always simply someone that doesn't eat red meat. That's it. I know a few vegetarians who eat fish.

It's not a problem for people to choose vegetarian options if that's what they prefer, or to tick vegetarian on a choices form if they want to avoid red meat.

What is problematic is to tell people specifically that you are vegetarian and then ask for a fish (or chicken, or pork, or ...) meal because you are apparently "vegetarian". That's what causes the confusion for people who aren't able to think it though for themselves.

All fish are bastards. Everyone knows that.

What do you mean? If you book a vegetarian meal they you should get that.
If it's a flight where you're just given a sandwich then you can't expect them to cater for all dietary requirements.

I know a lot of vegetarians - I can only think of one or 2 who describes themselves as vegetarian who eats fish.

@x2boys exactly . I don't eat meat and dairy due to the cruelty .. fishing is so cruel . Poor feckers being left to suffocate or boiled alive! 🙈

No it's their problem. And you don't know any vegetarians.... just lots of pescatarians.

How mean you sound.

Every vegetarian I know eats fish! I think the issue comes from descriptions used by vegetarians themselves! Not really a meat eaters problem!!!