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

I got my wires crossed... I thought that people were talking about *Option* 1, not Step 1.

But I still think Step 1 is valid and should stay.

I was just about to post exactly the same thing as Mr D - I was getting Step and Option 1 confused. *ahem*

I think they should both stay though.

I agree that Option 1 is clearly meant to be very tongue in cheek, but without lowering the tone of the whole Entry.

I also agree that Step 1 is a good point. If only because I can't count the number of times a host/ess, upon having been told I am vegan, will point out that they've been confused by seeing self-proclaimed vegetarians eat steak/chicken/whatever. I'm sure this question can be put delicately, as in "do you avoid all animal products, or just specific ones?" and let the guest fill you in on where they draw their lines.

You'll also save me the trouble of requesting the vegetarian entree at a *professionally catered meal and being served fish. It's happened to me. (My personal rule of thumb is that if I think it would be tacky or too much bother to bring it up, I just eat as little as possible and make do with the bread basket and relish tray.)

Since more than one person has mentioned not knowing how wines or beers could contain animal products, might it be worthwhile mentioning that many of those are refined using isinglass or bone ash in the Entry?

Psychocandy you are sooo much nicer than I am!

For one thing you're actually a vegan, and I'm just a wannabee vegan who can't quite give up cheese, when I know that it's the ethically consistent thing to do.

If I am brought fish when I requested a vegetarian starter at a professionally catered event I will complain very very loudy, explain that I consider meat is murder, mention that someone is paying good money for this and that I will complain about their service to whoever has hired the catering company.

(and that's when sober whilst drunk I have been known to say 'get this corpse off my plate you bloody murderers' before storming out....)

I got funny looks for complaining about the lack of a vegetarian catering at a recent neuroscience conference as I was in the middle of a detailed conversation about some work that colleague was doing on her rats. Biologists who do animal work in general are not vegetarian. (But seriously - Hummus and Fois Grais are different and should be labeled clearly)

"If I am brought fish ... I will complain very very loudy, explain that I consider meat is murder, mention that someone is paying good money for this and that I will complain about their service to whoever has hired the catering company."

You are Morrissey and I claim my £5.

Dr Zen, I hope you also never eat off bone china?

or wear leather shoes?

...just saying.

Bone China - that doesn't actually have bone in it does it? (off to google)

Leather shoes. No I don't wear them.

yes, of course bone china contains bone. It's what makes it strong and light and durable.

Ooh well

Finds out information on google...

I will make sure I never buy any then.

You can't tell what other peoples plates are made of, so I'll draw the line at that.

IMO step 1 is a MUST. It's exactly what I expected to see and makes the Entry what it should be entertaining *and* informative.

I'm just amazed that in neither the Entry nor the conversation thread (until now) has there been a single mention of the ubiquitous and dreaded Brussel Sprout other than in passing - in Z's 'Vegetarian's view' list - not even by sprout himself.

Bone China plates are almost always stamped underneath to say so, if they are very good plates it will say Fine Bone China. So at the sort of meal where the empty plates are in front of you and food put on them later you could see othewise would have to hold the plate up trying not to spill the dinner. Or just ask them of course.

I think the idea of asking the person is a Very Good Idea. I tell people I am vegetarian and would not not eat meat if eating a meal out. This is because I realised that food poisoning was more likely if eating meat prepared carelessly in bad kitchens. It is easier to say I am vegetarian than explain that to other people who then tell me it is all perfectly safe when they can't know that. But if I was invited to Christmas Dinner where I could see the kitchen and trust the cooks I would want a proper dinner.

It's funny you should comment on meat and food poisoning, BF, as I once got salmonella from contaminated lettuce. It was on the news and everything. The lettuce that is, not my specific case of salmonella.

Hmm, last two posts are not something I'd thought of before (well, evidently I'd thought of salmonella but)

Didn't all those Germans get ill from beansprouts?

I would get ill from a beansprout, whether or not it was contaminated, evil vegtable, but yes do carry on

( For some reason I'm reminded of the vegetarian I encountered somewhere or other on the intertube boasting that as he didn't eat meat he'd be immune to bird flu *facepalm*)

I don't like stupid vegetarians, it means i can only mock them rather than have a decent debate

I think it's good that you are not too hard on people who are partial vegetarians. To my mind it is entirely ethically consistent to eat little, but good quality meat, particularly if you take an env or health perspective, rather than an animal welfare one.

Re the bone china and leather, you also have animal products in quite a few cosmetics and soaps, manure is still the most common source of fertiliser in the EU and worldwide... Complex stuff.

sprout

And of course petrol is basically dinosaur gravy, so that's an issue too.

Shall we discuss the entry?

I'm happy to do another entry on the ethics of meat eating... I'm sure it would be a great place for a debate.