Am I even allowed to be here?!

Question:

Am I even allowed to be here?

Im not a very sensitive person...but i feel as though in a place were I should be able to find answers and ask questions...what I have to say is ridiculous. I have been a *Vegetarian* for years...and I all of a sudden get ripped of my *title* because I eat fish?..Im sure i will be ridiculed for what I just said...For the record I was introduced to vegetarianism by my doctor who put me on a vegetarian DIET because of my staggering health probelms. I didnt do it because of animal rights or anything like that(though I do respect those who do).I do not eat beef or poultry...I also do not drink milk(but that is because I am Lactose intolerant) I eat almost every single veggie known to man....and.....here it comes again....I do Eat Fish. Main reason I eat fish is because I have a very loving mother who basically lives on eating fish and when I go to her house to hang and check up on her she makes me dinner which is almost 99.3% of the time a dish that very much includes fish. I cant deny her

Additional Details

4 months ago
I love her cooking....And im not about to stop eating her food that she cooks all day for me....So basically...Should I just rid myself of the *vegetarian community* so that I am not a bother...What Am I? You tell me, because some of you seem to know everything so please.....Label me.....

4 months ago
let me rephrase that...Should I "Step away" from the vegetarian community....Thanks

4 months ago
and also may I ask....Which do you believe is the proper meaning of vegetarianism because the dictionary that I own states all of these:

1.The practice of subsisting on a diet composed primarily or wholly of vegetables, grains, fruits, nuts, and seeds, with or without eggs and dairy products.

2.a diet excluding all meat and fish

3. the theory or practice of living on a diet made up of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and sometimes animal products such as milk,cheese and eggs

4.The practice of a diet composed primarily or wholly of vegetables, grains, fruits, nuts, and seeds, with the exception of fish and fish oil products.

4 months ago
I am not *super* sensitve....lol I guess I just care enough to not want to offend a group of people who strongly believe in whatever it is they believe in.....call me old fashioned i guess...

4 months ago
contradicting or not thats what my dictionary says lol...

4 months ago
Pescatarian: Someone who absatins from eating meat and poultry but eats fish.................

So In other words? Im a vegetarian that eats fish!...I think im gonna stop labeling myself in general....Its a little too strange for me....I know what people/factory farms do to animals...and call me heartless, call me whatever...but It doesnt bother me...I know that Fish is meat....So from now on *if asked* I will tell people I am a Fish eating Vegetarian........Thanks for the answers guys.... :o)

4 months ago
Webster's New Millennium? Dictionary of English - Cite This Source Main Entry: pescetarian
Part of Speech: n, adj
Definition: a vegetarian who will eat fish; also called [pescevegetarian], [piscetarian]
Is that what i am or not people? Im getting mixed messages....

4 months ago
So after doing a Crap Load of research and looking at way to many of my husbands dictionarys...I have decided that if one were to label me I would be a Pescatarian(however you want to spell it)...and most every single dictionary I looked at including online dictionarys i have been too...have all said the same thing....A Pescatarian is a Vegetarian that eats Fish.....Take it or leave it...
I just wanna note that I think its great that you all have something you strongly believe in and truly live by...Its pretty cool...keep it up and good luck...I'll choose a best answer whenever I can.....

Thank you

Answers:

4 months ago
let me rephrase that...Should I "Step away" from the vegetarian community....Thanks

4 months ago
contradicting or not thats what my dictionary says lol...

News Flash , if you are bothered by comments from the random strangers on here . . . you are a way sensitive person , and probably toooo sensitive.
If you get upset over what people say whom you do NOT even know ,
What happens if someone you actually know says something ?
Seriously , I do not know the cure for being hyper-sensitive but you should maybe talk to a counselor.
good luck

FYI: Eat what you believe you should and NEVER let any nazi (food or otherwise) dictate your life.

Hun.......it was nice of you to explain all that but really wasn't necessary. Try to ignore the ignorant, insensitive idiots on here and live your life as you see fit.
Have a Great Day!!!!!

Technically, fish is not considered meat, like poultry, but there are a lot of people who still consider the flesh of any animal, no matter what classification you put them under, will still say it is meat you are eating.
I think like that as well, but yes, you should always be allowed here and not leave for anyone saying if you are right or wrong - half of the people who reply would only be pretending to be vegetarians or vegans anyway.

I was under the impression many vegetarians only ate fish. I thought it was common practice, and honestly, your reason for being vegetarian is the only one I accept. Anyone who thinks it is "cruelty" to animals irks me!

i think its ok to eat fish

why the heck do you care what other people think anyways? eat what you like for whatever reason you believe to be right.

yep

well technically you are a vegetarian...because fish is not considered meat...vegans are the ones who don't eat meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, or any animal product for that matter....and you eat fish so you are not vegan....so you can tell people that you are infact a vegetarian and that you should not be ripped of your "title" because you were confused with a vegan...just make sure you take lots of vitamins because most vegetarians get health problems from lack of proper vitamins.

Definition

-Vegetarianism is the voluntary abstinence from eating meat. Vegetarians refrain from eating meat for various reasons, including religious, health, and ethical ones.
-Lacto-ovo vegetarians supplement their diet with dairy (lactose) products and eggs (ovo).
-Vegans (pronounced vee-guns) do not eat any animal-derived products at all.

Precautions

In general, a well-planned vegetarian diet is healthy and safe. However, vegetarians, and particularly vegans who eat no animal products, need to be aware of particular nutrients that may be lacking in non-animal diets. These are amino acids, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc, and essential fatty acids. Furthermore, pregnant women, growing children, and those with health conditions have higher requirements for these nutrients.

Vegetarians should be aware of getting complete protein in their diets. A complete protein contains all of the essential amino acids, which are the building blocks for protein essential to the diet because the body cannot make them. Meat and dairy products generally contain complete proteins, but most vegetarian foods such as grains and legumes contain incomplete proteins, lacking one or more of the essential amino acids. However, vegetarians can easily overcome this by combining particular foods in order to create complete proteins. For instance, beans are high in the amino acid lysine but low in tryptophan and methionine, but rice is low in lysine and high in tryptophan and methionine. Thus, combining rice and beans makes a complete protein. In general, combining legumes such as soy, lentils, beans, and peas with grains like rice, wheat, or oats forms complete proteins. Eating dairy products or nuts with grains also makes proteins complete. Oatmeal with milk on it is complete, as is peanut butter on whole wheat bread. Proteins do not necessarily need to be combined in the same meal, but generally within four hours.

Getting enough vitamin B12 may be an issue for some vegetarians, particularly vegans, because meat and dairy products are the main sources. Vitamin supplements that contain vitamin B12 are recommended. Spirulina, a nutritional supplement made from algae, is also a vegetarian source, as are fortified soy products and nutritional yeast.

Vitamin D can be obtained by vitamins, fortified foods, and sunshine. Calcium can be obtained in enriched tofu, seeds, nuts, legumes, dairy products, and dark green vegetables including broccoli, kale, spinach, and collard greens. Iron is found in raisins, figs, legumes, tofu, whole grains (particularly whole wheat), potatoes, and dark green leafy vegetables. Iron is absorbed more efficiently by the body when iron-containing foods are eaten with foods that contain vitamin C, such as fruits, tomatoes, and green vegetables. Zinc is abundant in nuts, pumpkin seeds, legumes, whole grains, and tofu. For vegetarians who don't eat fish, getting enough omega-3 essential fatty acids may be an issue, and supplements such as flaxseed oil should be considered, as well as eating walnuts and canola oil.

Vegetarians do not necessarily have healthier diets. Some studies have shown that some vegetarians consume large amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat. Eggs and dairy products contain cholesterol and saturated fat, while nuts, oils, and avocados are vegetable sources of saturated fat. To reap the full benefits of a vegetarian diet, vegetarians should be conscious of cholesterol and saturated fat intake. Vegetarians may also consider buying organic foods, which are grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, as another health precaution.

You can be where ever you likes, hold your head up n be proud never mind anybody else

Sorry, but you are not a vegetarian, you are you and it is great that you are so respectfull to the vegetarian world. It seems you might be wanting to be called a vegetarian but the fact of the matter is you are not, and if you really want to be give up fish, it sounds like the only reason you gave up meat at all is because of a medical condition, and that is really a a group, so at least you have that.

i think by eating fish you are still considered to be a vegetarian. you see, that is why Christians eat fish on Wednesdays and Fridays during lent time for easter.

Vegetarians do not eat fish.

By the way, your dictionary definitions 2 and 4 contradict each other.

Vegetarians do not eat fish.

Fish are animals, fish are flesh...

I know that sounds really insensitive and cold, but... If you read through some of the past questions and answers, you will see why one might be tired of this question.

I don't understand how a fish is not considered meat...

Just because Jesus ate fish, and you can't eat most meats but can eat fish on Fridays during lent... doesn't make it not an animal.

There is nothing wrong with being a pescavore or pescatarian; no one will hate you for it; we just don’t like the misuse of our term. This isn’t a matter of *fitting in* or *being part of a club,* but it is about accuracy.

It is not that you are *being ripped* of your vegetarian status; you never had a vegetarian status. You had a doctor who (while knowing a lot about nutrition) doesn’t know what a vegetarian is.

A vegetarian eats no animals.

Since vegetarianism began, vegetarians have never eaten animals. No credible vegetarian organization or society has ever accepted eating an animal into their definition of the word.

This isn’t rudeness or cruelty, only a correction from someone who doesn’t like having a dead carcass put on my dinner plate due to people who use a classification to which they don’t belong… and don’t believe in anyway.

The point of a label is to turn many words into one word. I should be able to say “vegetarian” anywhere and not be presented with the flesh of dead animals… sounds logical. Those of you who eat dead animals may not understand why it matters, but please understand that it does. If someone put a dead cow on your plate, would you want it? If someone sliced off the tip of their finger into your sandwich, would you want to be looked at like *you* are crazy for asking for the appropriate, non-carcass filled dish?

You don’t need to use a name you don’t even believe in because anywhere you go, you can simply ask for fish.

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Though in the end, you will believe whatever you choose, perhaps this will help.

Here is an explanation of why we don’t eat animals from http://www.goveg.com/factoryfarming.asp...
“* Chickens killed for their flesh in the United States are bred and drugged to grow so quickly that their hearts, lungs, and limbs often can't keep up. Read more about chickens.
* Hens used for eggs live six or seven to a battery cage the size of a file drawer, thousands of which are stacked tier upon tier in huge, filthy warehouses. Read more about laying hens.
* Cattle are castrated, their horns are ripped out of their heads, and third-degree burns (branding) are inflicted on them, all without any pain relief. Read more about cows raised for their flesh.
* Mother pigs on factory farms are confined to crates so small that they are unable to turn around or even lie down comfortably. Read more about pigs.
*- FISH on aquafarms spend their entire lives in cramped, filthy enclosures, and many suffer from parasitic infections, diseases, and debilitating injuries. Conditions on some farms are so horrendous that 40 percent of the fish may die before farmers can kill and package them for food. Read more about fish.***
* Turkeys' beaks and toes are burned off with a hot blade. Many suffer heart failure or debilitating leg pain, often becoming crippled under the weight of their genetically manipulated and drugged bodies
_____________________

The vegetarian Society: http://vegsoc.org
Definitions

A vegetarian is someone living on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits with or without the use of dairy products and eggs.

A vegetarian does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or slaughter by-products.
Types of Vegetarian
Lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Eats both dairy products and eggs. This is the most common type of vegetarian diet.

Lacto-vegetarian. Eats dairy products but not eggs.

Vegan. Does not eat dairy products, eggs, or any other animal products
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The vegetarian Channel:
What is a Vegetarian?

Vegetarians are people that do not eat meat, poultry, fish or any by-product from a slaughterhouse such as gelatine. The main vegetarian diet consists of vegetables, fruit, grains, seeds, pluses, nuts and free-range eggs, milk and milk
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Vegweb, www.vegweb.com
When you search for “fish” dishes, you only receive vegetarian substitutes for dead fish

______________________

The International Vegetarian Union:

History and Objectives

The International Vegetarian Union (IVU) was founded in 1908 when the first World Vegetarian Congress was held in Dresden, Germany. The idea for IVU came from the French Vegetarian Society, the first Congress was organised internationally by the British Society and locally by the Dresden Society with support from the Deutsche Vegetarier-Bund. Since then a series of World Congresses have been held all around the world. See the full list on the right.

The International Vegetarian Union is a non-profit making organization with membership open to any non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to promote vegetarianism and is governed exclusively by vegetarians. A Supporter of IVU may be any individual, family or organization that supports the aims and objectives of IVU, regardless of whether they are vegetarian or not.

For the purpose of membership of IVU, *****vegetarianism includes veganism and is defined as the practice of not eating meat, poultry or fish or their by-products, with or without the use of dairy products or eggs.

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Eat what you want. Be happy. But if you could find it in your heart, don’t call yourself a vegetarian if you eat dead animals. It’s just not good.
http://fishinghurts.com
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-gxld3h0hc...

p.s. Of course you are allowed to be here

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EDIT- No... Not a fish-eating vegetarian because vegetarians do NOT eat animals. A fish is an animal. You are a person who eat fish but not other animals, and no, you don't really need a label; you are an omnivore (one who eats animals and vegetation.) If you feel as though you need a label, pescavore or ian (depending on diet or lifestyle... in your case, it seems a diet) but a pesca-anything is no kind of vegetarian. Your reasons have nothing to do with whether you are a person who eats animals or does not eat animals. If you eat animals, for any reason or lack thereof, you are not veg.
________________

Oh well... I have tried logic; I have tried to appeal to your sense of emotion, right and wrong and how you negatively affect actual vegetarians. I have tried using the many credible vegetarian societies of the world. Yet you cling to a word invented in the 90's... by a beef counsel none the less.

If you so desperately need to call yourself a vegetarian, you will. Nothing ever will change your mind. I personally only care so far as when people are misinformed, no so far as when people revel in proclaiming they are things they are not… and then play the martyr when they get real information. I tried my best to be kind, helpful and informative... now you may go be the dead-animal eating vegetarian of your dreams.

It is astonishing really; labeling yourself as a person who does not eat animals *only* when you actually do not eat animals seemed like such a simple thing...

the thing is, if you won't do it again, then it's ok

if you didn't know you can't eat fish, and now you do
if you didn't want to offend your mom last time, now you have to explain to her you're a vegetarian, and can't eat fish anymore, not even alittle, you don't have to do what people tell you to do, just do what you want to do.

I don't see a problem with you being in the vegetarian "community";however, vegetarians don't eat meat of any kind. Regardless, eat what you want and don't let others get to you. :-)

Oh , definition #1 seems to be accurate.
Maybe we should start calling meat "flesh". Hmmmm...Just a thought.

You can do or eat whatever you want, but a "fish-eating vegetarian" is no different than a "beef-eating vegetarian".

The definition of vegetarian is a person who eats no animals.

Eat fish if that's what you like, but you're not a vegetarian, okay?

Why not? You're a semi-vegetarian or a Near Vegetarian. There are many like you. One of my sisters is too! I was a near vegetarian before I became a total vegetarian. Now I'm a vegetarian that's Nearly Vegan. My likes I don't want to give up is Ice Cream and also Cheese. I eat the cheese that's free of animal rennants!

Eat what you want. At least you have adopted an extremely healthy lifestyle.

A fish is a living animal. Vegetarians do not eat animals. You are not a "title". You are a person. (Who has gone off on a rant,by the way).

Of COURSE you're allowed to be here!!!!! We don't hate you after all! We ARE though angry that you are abusing us by calling yourself a vegetarian even though you eat sea animals.

And let me make it perfectly clear that if you wish to eat fish that's alright! Just don't hurt us by calling yourself a vegetarian.

Don Rickles is on Leno right now and gave me a good analogy to use. Pretend you're an observant Jew (you may be for all I know) and at a restaurant they serve you pork chops wrapped in bacon. You would be offended wouldn't you! You would *also* be very upset about the unobservant Jew that spread the idea that eating pork is alright for Jewish people to do! Do you see my point? A vegetarian does not eat fish! When you eat fish and tell folks you're a vegetarian, those of us that don't eat it, get offered and served it!
Use the link listed below and I think you'll find the correct term for your diet. We will LOVE you for using a term that doesn't confuse a Piscivorous diet with a vegetarian diet!

Edit:

You've added a bunch of comments while I had this sitting open and answering your question. Here's my additions.

We're NOT telling you to stop eating fish!! That's NOT the problem. What we are asking you to do is stop telling folks that it's OK for a vegetarian to eat fish! The correct label for your diet is listed below. You don't need to "rid" or "step away" from us veggies! All we ask is that you not cause confusion as to what we are. Look, I'm NOT a vegan! I've never claimed to be one because I sometimes eat products that contain small amounts of dairy and/or egg. 99.999% of the time my life follows their definition but that .001% prevents me from using that name. Why would I want to lie to myself and the world; plus insult them by using an incorrect term to describe myself? Why do you feel so strongly that you should describe yourself incorrectly?

If you don't mind would you tell us what dictionary that is? I'd like to send them a missive correcting their mistaken definition of what a vegetarian is. If you check the introduction to your dictionary I think you'll find that they list word definitions in order of acceptability. Thus their mistaken addition of fish to a veggie diet could be considered appropriate since some people have been given the mistaken idea that fish is part of a vegetarian diet.

I've spent the vast majority of my life in Texas trying to get folks in beef country to understand what a vegetarian is and what is acceptable for us to eat. It's only been in the past few years that this whole idea of veggies eat fish started coming up. That's why I get really angry about this issue, that people are spreading lies about me.

Please; stay here! We like you, we just don't want you to mis-identify yourself!!

Does any of this make sense to you?

I ate no animal flesh but fish for three years and called myself a pesco-vegetarian, because I thought that I was vegetarian. But I found out later that a vegetarian doesn't eat any animal flesh at all, seafood included. So I chose to forego fish as well, so as to be a true vegetarian. You can opt to continue eating fish, and call yourself whatever you like. And you can continue being on this forum; hey, it's a free country. If trolls can be here, why can't you?

Be forgiving of yourself...

Eat your vegys, eat the fish... and unless its a form of worship, or a social cause dont label yourself.

Just say I dont eat chicken or beef. I prefer fish

There are so many different types of vegetarians that one would be hard pressed to tell you that you aren't one. Just be who you are and don't try to fit some label. Do what is right for you and let the rest go!

Yes of course you are allowed to be here, everyone is welcome in the vegetarian section. No one has any rights to bar any one from entering.

If people ask you if you are a vegetarian you can say you eat no other meats/flesh except fish. There's no need to have an exact name actually.

You don't have to listen to anyone and don't need to be intimidated by anybody! Who has the right to put you in or out of a category? You don't eat meat, that is great and if you call yourself vegetarian, fine. I don't go around labeling people, no matter what they eat or wear or what music they listen to.
Are you feeling healthy and happy? Go and enjoy your mom's dinners that she prepares with so much love and don't bother about anything or anyone.
There are people who simply cut red meat and claim to be vegetarians, where I can't agree on the term, but it is still a choice they made.
Lets see it from a different point: all these people to belong to a certain religious group but don't live according to any ethical laws and only choose to celebrate holidays, and others who don't brag about anything, but are good people. Being a vegetarian is not being the member of a cult (in spite of some funny people here who have weird obsessions and ideas).

What title? If you lived by a title or label, that was your choice but by definition, you are not a vegetarian. Anyone who says you are is wrong. Do you really need a label?

My goodness, dear. So you are pescatarian, like me. Who gives a flip what anyone else says, and you have as much right to be here as anyone. There are no police here to strip you of your title or arrest you! Call yourself whatever you want. I am a PESCATARIAN, I eat fish, and LOVE IT. I am top contributor in the veggie section, because I contribute what I know about that, and pescatarian. Why ever would you concern yourself with labels and "titles" So you are not a veggie, neither am I. Do I feel bad or guilty? Not at all. I, too, was forced into after developing a meat allergy. I was completely crippled three years ago. When I eliminated meat, soy, eggs, and wheat from my diet, I healed. I have had to give up bread, crackers, cakes, cookies, and boatloads of other stuff. I will be hanged if I am told by some titled, annonymous vegetarian or vegan that I MUST give up my fish-its simply not going to happen. Don't concern yourself so much with the opinions of others! Are any of them paying your bills? When I see a vegan sign my mortgage payment, I might have a better listen to what they have to say. As long as I am the one signing it, what I say goes

I'll just add to the chorus:

It's fine to eat fish. Sounds like a pretty healthy diet you have.

No, you are not a vegetarian. You're not being "ripped of your title" -- you never had it in the first place.

http://www.vegsoc.org/fish/

No vegetarian society thinks vegetarians eat fish. Even your dictionary doesn't think vegetarians eat fish. Fish = animal. It's one thing that a few people are confused and you were as well; it's another to keep on hoping it'll somehow change.

I've been a vegetarian my entire life, and am by now thoroughly fed up with this issue. Oddly, it was only when I was younger that I routinely met people who were confused; now it's just on Yahoo! Answers that I find people who think maybe vegetarians eat fish.

You can call yourself pescetarian if you want, but I don't think it's a very useful term; few people understand it.

See http://www.smh.com.au/news/heckler/some-...
for a counter-rant.

If you really want "the title," just say "No thanks, Mom, you're a great cook and all, but I've gone vegetarian." "My mother makes it" is not -- well, there aren't part-time vegetarians.

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Am I even allowed to be here?!

Am I even allowed to be here?

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