To be sick of people thinking vegetarian eat fish

[Dearaugust]

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.

No. The definition of a vegetarian doesn't include someone who eats fish.
Just because someone says it is so, doesn't make it true.

Until the dictionary definition changes I will stand by this point.

Same here, the fish confusion was rife 15 years ago but much less common now. I'm surprised at the number of people on this thread claiming to know multiple fish-eaters who call themselves vegetarian.

My point is that the post seems to be accusatory towards non vegetarians and their ignorance, when the problem seems to stem from vegetarians / pescatarians themselves and their use of incorrect title

And the solution is that people should learn the (simple) definition of vegetarian and then use pescatarian if it applies to them.

I agree.

It's depressingly obvious on this thread that there needs to be more educating.

I am an omnivore BTW, but know the difference between vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian, omnivore and carnivore.

The thing is, because lots of people describe themselves as vegetarian, but do eat fish, then other people will have to ask because the label has lost its usefulness through misuse.

It's frustrating, but at least the people who ask are finding out rather than making an assumption and risking getting it wrong.

Since vegan diets have become more mainstream, I do find irritating the amount of people who assume I’m vegan and the amount of menus that now give a vegan option rather than a veggie option.

I’m asked all the time if I eat cheese.

It's frustrating, but at least the people who ask are finding out rather than making an assumption and risking getting it wrong.

I would just make the assumption that someone was a genuine vegetarian.

@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.

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!!

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 😂😂😂

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

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

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

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

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

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.

most vegetarians I know eat fish

Then they're not vegetarians

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.

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

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

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

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

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