h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Does it really get on anyone elses wick when people say "I'm a vegetarian except for chicken and fish?" As Jack Dee pointed out, it's like saying "I'm a non smoker, except for cigarettes".

what annoys me is that people like that make other people think that vegetarian's are air-headed hippies. However, if anyone removes any meat from their diet, I think it's a positive thing. If they are a half-way house and call themselves a vegetarian, it's of no real consequence to me. If they claim to me morally correct however, this would annoy me, because that is hypocritical.

I do have a hard time convincing people that I'm not just an iron deficient wimp, and that I am actually doing it for ethical reasons, and DO have convictions thank you very much.

I agree - the moral correctness is more important than the labeling of the diet.

The main problem is that lacto-vegetarians (no meat, no fish, yes to eggs and dairy produce) then have to put up with people saying "but you do eat chicken, right?" because they know a halfway houser. If you're only giving up red meat, just say you don't eat red meat! Stop confusing people!

I've been there! The funniest was at a party given by one of my mums friends where the hostess actually cooked me a fish dish especially because she knew I was veggie. (I'm a no meat no fish yes to eggs and dairy for now at least). I was too polite to say anything... Luckily I managed to smile then and throw it away later. (Buffet dinner - heaven knows what I would have done at a dinner party...)

Veggie ignorance? I've been to parties, and sometimes restaurants, where the response to "I'm vegetarian" is for them to just take the offending meat article off the plate and then present it back. Completely forgetting that the plates's still covered in the gravy or juice that it was covered in.

What exactly is the 'moral correctness' of being a vegetarian? I'm a little unclear on what makes you a morally superior human being because you choose not to eat meat. Do you believe that animals are equal to humans and should have the same rights as humans? This is something i have never really understood either. If someone could explain these things to me, i would be grateful.

Jagged Jack.

Although you can and do encounter "morally superior" veggies - and you'd be surprised to know that non-militant veggies aren't madly fond of them either - the moral argument is personal and not generally seen as "better", just different. Not all vegetarians choose a veggie or vegan diet for moral reasons - I lived with someone who was vegan due to lactose intolerance and I know other vegans who are so for religious reasons.

Even vegetarians who have given up meat/fish etc for moral reasons may differ in the causes. The two most common are:
- a revulsion at the idea of eating flesh
- a dislike of industrialised animal husbandary and the slaughter procedures involved

Personally I gave up red meat at 15, due to making a sudden and very strong connection between the cow heart I was disecting in biology 'o'level and the beef on my plate. White and fish followed a couple of years later when I realised that the revulsion over cow/beef should be extended to pig/pork, chicken/chicken etc etc. So although I am a vegetarian for moral reasons, I don't think it makes me "morally superior" but rather someone who doesn't have the stomach* for it.


*both figuratively and literally (after 14 years my stomach can't produce the enzymes needed to break down meat)