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Original poster

To be sick of people thinking vegetarian eat fish

333 replies

Dearaugust · 20/01/2025 13:52

Also, people who eat fish but not meat calling themselves vegetarian!

When people find out I’m vegetarian, a lot of people ask me if I eat fish. If I ate fish, then I wouldn’t be vegetarian! It wasn’t a big deal really, but an incident has happened recently where I was choosing a meal for a wedding and there was only meat options and a “none of these due to dietary preferences” option. So I ticked that. The person then contacted DH (it’s his friend who is getting married) and he explained I’m vegetarian. A few days later she said not to worry, they have sorted a fish meal for me. So he’s now had to go back to her again saying I don’t eat fish. What a faff!

I honestly thought it was common knowledge that vegetarians don’t eat fish. But apparently not because i get asked it a lot.

OP posts:
Greyish2025 · 20/01/2025 17:11

Dearaugust · 20/01/2025 17:09

The thing is, words have meanings. You can’t just change the definition of something to suit you. It doesn’t matter if you only eat tuna once a year, if you eat flesh, from any kind of animal, you aren’t vegetarian. You wouldn’t say “I’m tee total and only drink vodka” would you?!

You either consume it, or you don’t. There’s no grey area. It’s so simple.

That’s stating the obvious though

Housewife2010 · 20/01/2025 17:11

If a pescetarian doesn't want to describe themselves as such, why don't they just say that they don't eat meat?

ErrolTheDragon · 20/01/2025 17:10

meganorks · 20/01/2025 17:05

You are being unreasonable to have a moan and rant about it to be honest. Because the people to blame are the people who aren't vegetarian but call themselves that anyway. I know quite a lot of them, and i don't think i've ever heard any of them refer to themselves as pescetarian. So after a while it only seems natural to ask.

No, in the OPs case the problem is that having clearly asked for 'vegetarian' food, anyone providing the meals should know that does not mean fish. If a person asking for a vegetarian meal is, in fact, a pescatarian then they'd still be able to eat an actual vegetarian meal.

Original poster
Dearaugust · 20/01/2025 17:09

The thing is, words have meanings. You can’t just change the definition of something to suit you. It doesn’t matter if you only eat tuna once a year, if you eat flesh, from any kind of animal, you aren’t vegetarian. You wouldn’t say “I’m tee total and only drink vodka” would you?!

You either consume it, or you don’t. There’s no grey area. It’s so simple.

OP posts:
MintsPi · 20/01/2025 17:07

My late grandmother always asked me as a vegetarian if I ate fish as my uncle's then girlfriend claimed to be vegetarian but ate fish. I am surprised how many people on this thread think fish doesn't count. I wouldn't expect people to know about rennet, gelatine or cochineal but it is obvious fish are animals.

Greyish2025 · 20/01/2025 17:07

ShinyHappyPeople23 · 20/01/2025 17:00

Well there are some confused pescatarians out there. No confused vegetarians.

Show quote history

It also isn’t unheard of for some ‘vegetarians’ to occasionally ‘treat’ themselves and have a little bit of bacon

Vegetarian 99% of the time, except for the odd ‘treat’😂

ForRealCat · 20/01/2025 17:06

Coldanddamp · 20/01/2025 17:03

Plenty of vegetarians pick & choose eg eat sweets. gravy, etc

For my ex it was yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes. Wouldn't matter if a menu described them as goose fat, or beef dripping he'd happily grab them off your plate because he shouldn't "miss out". Despite being "vegetarian for 30 years"

meganorks · 20/01/2025 17:05

You are being unreasonable to have a moan and rant about it to be honest. Because the people to blame are the people who aren't vegetarian but call themselves that anyway. I know quite a lot of them, and i don't think i've ever heard any of them refer to themselves as pescetarian. So after a while it only seems natural to ask.

Coldanddamp · 20/01/2025 17:05

@ShinyHappyPeople23 I never said they were but they give themselves that label...

Coldanddamp · 20/01/2025 17:04

I also know vegans who do eat animal
products. I think some like a label.

ErrolTheDragon · 20/01/2025 17:04

Fencehedge · 20/01/2025 17:01

I'm really sorry. This is me. It's honestly just easier to say vegetarian rather than pescetarian or flexitarian as the latter two sound a bit wanky, and I'm not gagging for fish for every meal.

It's fine for anyone to order the vegetarian option though. That doesn't mean you're claiming to 'be a vegetarian'.

ForRealCat · 20/01/2025 17:04

People have so many different requirements nowaday that they expect to be catered for. Just tell me what you want to eat, don't expect me to work it out

Coldanddamp · 20/01/2025 17:03

Plenty of vegetarians pick & choose eg eat sweets. gravy, etc

eightIsNewNine · 20/01/2025 17:03

There are many people who will ask for vegetarian option given the choice who do eat some meat sometimes.

I suppose for some people vegetarianism is an identity, while for the others it is just a label on their meal tonight.

ShinyHappyPeople23 · 20/01/2025 17:02

Coldanddamp · 20/01/2025 17:01

most vegetarians I know eat fish

Then they're not vegetarians

Coldanddamp · 20/01/2025 17:01

most vegetarians I know eat fish

Fencehedge · 20/01/2025 17:01

I'm really sorry. This is me. It's honestly just easier to say vegetarian rather than pescetarian or flexitarian as the latter two sound a bit wanky, and I'm not gagging for fish for every meal.

ShinyHappyPeople23 · 20/01/2025 17:00

Greyish2025 · 20/01/2025 16:55

How do you know there aren’t just some very confused vegetarians out there who actually think it is acceptable to eat fish whilst still thinking of themselves as vegetarians 😂😂😂

Show quote history

Well there are some confused pescatarians out there. No confused vegetarians.

Original poster
Dearaugust · 20/01/2025 17:00

mnat · 20/01/2025 16:59

What a faff!

Sounds like it's been more of a faff for the bride and groom than it has for you though...if that makes you feel better?

That’s what I ment! It’s not a faff for me in the slightest, I was talking about the bride and groom and the caterers

OP posts:
mnat · 20/01/2025 16:59

What a faff!

Sounds like it's been more of a faff for the bride and groom than it has for you though...if that makes you feel better?

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 20/01/2025 16:59

shweetshurprise · 20/01/2025 14:31

No it's not ok, teach them how to say Pescatarian!

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I think I would vom up a bit of tofu if I heard an 8 year old refer to themselves as "pescatarian"...

Greyish2025 · 20/01/2025 16:58

ScarlettSunset · 20/01/2025 16:56

It doesn't matter how confused they are, they are still not vegetarian...

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Of course they are not, but they still think they are and like all vegetarians have the need to tell everyone they are

ScarlettSunset · 20/01/2025 16:56

Greyish2025 · 20/01/2025 16:55

How do you know there aren’t just some very confused vegetarians out there who actually think it is acceptable to eat fish whilst still thinking of themselves as vegetarians 😂😂😂

Show quote history

It doesn't matter how confused they are, they are still not vegetarian...

Greyish2025 · 20/01/2025 16:55

SilenceInside · 20/01/2025 16:47

@Greyish2025 it's not stemming from vegetarians. At all. It's from the non vegetarians incorrectly using the label when they are in fact pescatarian or just making choices about what meat they eat.

How do you know there aren’t just some very confused vegetarians out there who actually think it is acceptable to eat fish whilst still thinking of themselves as vegetarians 😂😂😂

Sarah2891 · 20/01/2025 16:50

People still believe vegetarians eat fish? Ffs.

I don't care what someone calls themselves, if they eat fish no they are not a vegetarian!!