[organica]

If someone calls someone who eats no animal products except occasional/rare trace ingredients of dairy/gelatin/eggs/honey in other products a "lacto-ovo vegetarian" or "strict vegetarian", as opposed to "vegan", is this really accurate or is it an insult?<br><br>
Personally, I consider this not harmful to animals & thus consider such a person, such as myself, vegan for all intents & purposes.<br><br>
What are your thoughts?

 

[jeezycreezy]

It's only an insult if you choose to take it that way. I mean, honestly. Who cares what other people call you?

 

[meatless]

I'd say that generally describes a strict vegetarian, and I don't mean it in an insulting way.<br><br><br><br>
However, I'd say there is room to call that person a vegan depending on their circumstances. Or if they don't realize they're consuming animal products because they don't recognize an ingredient. It's not terribly cut and dried to me.

 

[organica]

It seems many people on here are concerned with definitions, as they are certainly bandied about a lot...<br><br>
I have been mulling over this issue because it bothers me that when I call myself "vegetarian", I always get served fish, eggs & cheese dishes, but when I call myself "vegan", people on here say I should really call myself "vegetarian", which means I get served fish, etc....<br><br>
Sometimes you just can't win I guess...<br><br>
I guess I should say "shmegan"!!

 

[kpickell]

It's an insult if they call you a lame vegetarian, or a stupid strict vegetarian. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[organica]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>meatless</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I'd say that generally describes a strict vegetarian, and I don't mean it in an insulting way.<br><br><br><br>
However, I'd say there is room to call that person a vegan depending on their circumstances. Or if they don't realize they're consuming animal products because they don't recognize an ingredient. It's not terribly cut and dried to me.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Good points, but re the first, Jd Fortune of INXS is a "strict vegetarian" according to his mother, who I have spoken to a few times.<br><br>
He's "very strict", meaning, she says, he "eats lots of fish, no meat".<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/dozey.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":tired:">

 

[kpickell]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>organica</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
It seems many people on here are concerned with definitions, as they are certainly bandied about a lot...<br><br>
I have been mulling over this issue because it bothers me that when I call myself "vegetarian", I always get served fish, eggs & cheese dishes, but when I call myself "vegan", people on here say I should really call myself "vegetarian", which means I get served fish, etc....<br><br>
Sometimes you just can't win I guess...<br><br>
I guess I should say "shmegan"!!</div>
</div>
<br>
That's easily rectified by ordering specific items. Rather than saying "serve me anything that you think a vegetarian would eat" try saying "I'll take the spaghetti with marinara sauce. No meat or cheese please."

 

[compassionate1]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>kpickell</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
That's easily rectified by ordering specific items. Rather than saying "serve me anything that you think a vegetarian would eat" try saying "I'll take the spaghetti with marinara sauce. No meat or cheese please."</div>
</div>
<br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":up:"><br><br><br><br>
Good advice.

 

[organica]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>kpickell</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
That's easily rectified by ordering specific items. Rather than saying "serve me anything that you think a vegetarian would eat" try saying "I'll take the spaghetti with marinara sauce. No meat or cheese please."</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
So you would say, think less in terms of identity/labels, & more in terms of specific instances of meal-ordering/shopping behaviour?<br><br>
I think it's one good option, although it substantially depoliticizes one's actions, if one is trying to make a point about animal rights by declaring "I am a vegan".<br><br>
Declaring oneself a lacto-ovo vegetarian is not only inaccurate here, but it really seems much less about animal rights. (We all know about the dairy/egg industries here on VB.... not very nice or ethical...)

 

[meatless]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>organica</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Good points, but re the first, Jd Fortune of INXS is a "strict vegetarian" according to his mother, who I have spoken to a few times.<br><br>
He's "very strict", meaning, she says, he "eats lots of fish, no meat".<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/dozey.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":tired:"></div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Well that's not an insult OR accurate, it's just entirely INaccurate! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
People don't seem to understand vegan either though. I'll go through the list of things I don't eat "Meat, dairy, eggs, and anything else that comes from an animal" and overwhelming the response is STILL, "So, you eat fish though, right?"<br><br><br><br>
I dunno, the first six months or so I was vegan I probably really wasn't. For example, my margarine was vegan except D3, and I was troubled by the prospect of spending nearly FIVE TIMES MORE to get Earth Balance ($2.29 for two pounds vs. $5 for one pound of EB). But I did start purchasing EB before long because I could afford to. However, I certainly wouldn't hold it against somebody who is financially strapped if they bought the much cheaper, D3 margarine. I'd still say they're vegan, even knowing there are some people on here who won't like that.<br><br><br><br>
Also, for the longest time I didn't realize sodium caseinate was milk. I was happily using my "lactose-free" coffeemate creamer thinking it was vegan for quite a while. Once I did realize it wasn't vegan I switched to silk creamer. (Unfortunately we only get the plain silk creamer here, not the lovely flavoured ones, so it was a bit of an adjustment.)<br><br><br><br>
Sometimes, even now, I put off asking what the source of mono- and di-glycerides in bread etc. but in the meantime I'm learning how to bake my own breads. Fortunately when I did ask about the store brand bread it turned out it was vegan anyway. I rarely ask at restaurants, but I visit only vegetarian/vegan restaurants 98% of the time, and even then I only go out to eat once a month or so. I go to non-veg*n restaurants about twice a year, and nearly always for work-related things.

 

[penny79]

you say that others on here are obsessing about labels, but i think it is you, honestly [and this isn't an insult, just an observation], who obsesses about labels.<br><br><br><br>
if you want to be a vegan, then just do not eat animal products. it is pretty cut and dried.

 

[penny79]

hey, meatless. i wonder if you could add hazelnut or vanilla extract to your plain creamer?

 

[meatless]

That's a good idea penny, I have vanilla extract but I know we don't have hazelnut extract available locally since spent most the weekend a couple weekends ago searching for it to make cupcakes with. I do have hazelnut liquer though, I could try a dash of it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[kpickell]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>organica</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
So you would say, think less in terms of identity/labels, & more in terms of specific instances of meal-ordering/shopping behaviour?<br><br>
I think it's one good option, although it substantially depoliticizes one's actions, if one is trying to make a point about animal rights by declaring "I am a vegan".<br><br>
Declaring oneself a lacto-ovo vegetarian is not only inaccurate here, but it really seems much less about animal rights. (We all know about the dairy/egg industries here on VB.... not very nice or ethical...)</div>
</div>
<br>
I follow ya. I was pretty much the same way a long time, eventually I just gave up using the vegan label as it seemed to cause dissension with other vegans who felt the definition was being watered down. Bah humbug to them <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/wink3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> So anyways turns out using the phrase "near vegan" works just as well and doesn't cause any ill feelings. "I'm nearly vegan", "I'm working on going vegan", "I try to eat vegan as much as possible", etc.

 

[Aussyj]

And thus seems to be part of the delima I face... (Check out "Need help/support from me... You will see that I am sort of going through the same thing.)

 

[GhostUser]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>meatless</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I'd say that generally describes a strict vegetarian, and I don't mean it in an insulting way.<br><br><br><br>
However, I'd say there is room to call that person a vegan depending on their circumstances. Or if they don't realize they're consuming animal products because they don't recognize an ingredient. It's not terribly cut and dried to me.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Ditto. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/yes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":yes:">

 

[Jessica Alana]

I think "insult" is a terrible choice of wording.<br><br><br><br><br><br>
I'd say you're vegetarian. There's a difference between asking "Do you have any vegan food?" and saying "I'm a vegan" I ask for vegan stuff all the time. I never say I'm vegan. Someone who purposely eats gelatin/dairy/eggs is not vegan.

 

[Kiz]

I'm curious why you think the words "vegetarian" and "ovo-lacto-vegetarian" are insults. I'd vote for accurate, because technically it <i>is</i> accurate for your diet. Personally I really don't care if you call yourself vegan, schmegan or a four-eyed pared-down, purple-headed people eater.

 

[Sevenseas]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Kiz</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Personally I really don't care if you call yourself vegan, schmegan or a four-eyed pared-down, purple-headed people eater.</div>
</div>
<br>
Uh.. I do. There can be only one four-eyed pared-down purple-headed people eater, and that's me.

 

[Jessica Alana]

One eyed, one horned flying purple people eater.