# What the heck are vegans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 15, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071 "2001-01-15T02:33:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ba0ec/32.png) [@fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fish_in_the_sky)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/21 "2001-01-15T21:41:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by relic\_11 \* > \*\*Kudos to anyone who knows what fruitarians eat! \*\* Fruitarians only eat plant food that has been harested without killing the plant, ie., fruits. How they do this for any length of time and stay healthy is beyond me. I think when you get to the point of fruitarians and raw foodists and breatharians :rolleyes: you’ve probably taken things a bit too far. > [@](#): > > - Originally posted by avacado\* > \*\*ok… This sparks another question. A few years ago, our old band played a punk rock show/pot luck. It was a lot of fun, but the flyers said “vegan or carnivore dishes accepted.” At the time I thought it was a bit of anti-meat propaganda, since I thought humans are omnivores (no matter whether we choose to eat only plants or not). All the vegans I know don’t refer to themselves as herbivores, but some like to call meat-eaters carnivores. Any thoughts? Is there any factual basis for this, or is this just some self-righteousness popping up? \*\* Um, no, biologically-speaking I think you’re right, the human species is omnivorous. I know some vegans refer to themselves as herbivores half-facetiously, and will call non-vegs carnivores or omnivores, but they and I may not using the term in the scientifically correct way. Does anyone know if “herbi–”, “omni–” and “carni–” refers to the species or the individual? ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/22 "2001-01-15T22:10:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwoBuyFour \* > (Eggs are the only sticky point here, depending on whether one wants to call an unborn animal in an egg “meat”.) Just a quick point, most eggs sold are unfertilized, so would not qualify as an “unborn animal” (though I know this is a sticky point). > [@](#): > > _Orignally posted by Lunatic13_ > Does anyone know if “herbi–”, “omni–” and “carni–” refers to the species or the individual? I believe the terms normally refer to the species, though there is no reason they can’t be applied to an individual. I think it would be difficult to find any truly carnivorous humans. ---
**Author:** ![TwoBuyFour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/76d3ee/32.png) [@TwoBuyFour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoBuyFour)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/23 "2001-01-15T22:57:37Z")
If I owned a pet wolf and fed it only soy products and a strict vegetarian diet, that wouldn’t make it a vegetarian. This is just a guess, but I think the prefix refers to the species, not the individual. As far as placentas go, I’ve heard of vegetarians/ vegans eating them in stew, as well. Their rationalization is that it’s the only “meat” that doesn’t need for something to die. It’s loaded with (at least) 8 essential vitamins and minerals! However, from what I’ve heard it’s almost a cult-ish offshoot of veganism. it’s not commonly practised. In addition to that, I’ve heard that it tastes awful. ---
**Author:** ![relic\_11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/50afbb/32.png) [@relic\_11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/relic_11)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/24 "2001-01-15T23:23:30Z")
Yay **Lunatic13**! ---
**Author:** ![Short](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Short](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/25 "2001-01-16T01:25:58Z")
[hijack] And then there is of course the [2000 Ignoble prize](http://www.improbable.com/ig/ig-2000-winners.html) for literature: > [@](#): > > LITERATURE > Jasmuheen (formerly known as Ellen Greve) of Australia, first lady of Breatharianism, for her book “Living on Light,” which explains that although some people do eat food, they don’t ever really need to. [/hijack] On the placenta question, I’m a vegetarian and have never known anyone to do this, but certainly have heard it being done. It is not a common practice 'round these parts, though (at least in so far as my immediate circle of friends goes). A search engine of your choice should bring up many [placental recipes](http://rainforest.parentsplace.com/dialog/get/newf4homebirth1/49/3.html). I would think this is pretty much seperate from vegans and vegetarians, though. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/26 "2001-01-16T01:37:48Z")
When I see a vegans I say, ‘So you don’t have oral sex?’ ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/27 "2001-01-16T01:46:33Z")
Here’s Cecil on [placenta stew](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_104.html) Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/28 "2001-01-16T02:02:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Short \* > \*\*[hijack] > And then there is of course the [2000 Ignoble prize](http://www.improbable.com/ig/ig-2000-winners.html) for literature: > > > [@](#): > > > > LITERATURE > > Jasmuheen (formerly known as Ellen Greve) of Australia, first lady of Breatharianism, for her book “Living on Light,” which explains that although some people do eat food, they don’t ever really need to. > > [/hijack] > \*\* continuing the hijack… What? This guy doesn’t eat? Nothing? How can he live without eating? Why do we have a stomach and a digestive system of we aren’t supposed to eat? Is this guy for real or is this a joke? I think this guy is sneaking food somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/29 "2001-01-16T02:04:33Z")
Attrayant responded: > [@](#): > > Vega is the brightest star in the constellation you Earth people call Lyra. Most of us come from the sixth planet of that system. Please convey us Heinlein fans’ greetings to the Mother Thing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/30 "2001-01-16T02:08:26Z")
It should be pointed out that it used to be accepted that vegitarians could eat fish. I am curious as to when this changed, but the older works would call the majority of Japanese vegitarians since they didn’t eat game or fowl, but did eat fish. Also, the Catholic prohibition against eating meat on fridays didn’t extend to fish, so they were considered acceptable for vegitarians for that reason as well, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ba0ec/32.png) [@fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fish_in_the_sky)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/31 "2001-01-16T02:08:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*When I see a vegans I say, ‘So you don’t have oral sex?’ \*\* Ya know, this topic is actually occasionally discussed in earnest at the message boards I linked above. The usual answer is that, yes, oral sex (and breast-feeding, too, before you ask) is vegan, since generally no animals are harmed or exploited during the course of normal oral sex. Now, if you’re talking about oral sex with a goat, that… that I don’t want to think about. ---
**Author:** ![fnord1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@fnord1966](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fnord1966)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/32 "2001-01-16T03:05:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Narile \* > \*\*Also, the Catholic prohibition against eating meat on fridays didn’t extend to fish, so they were considered acceptable for vegitarians for that reason as well, I believe. > \*\* Which is how the **CAPYBARA!!** became a fish instead of the giant swamp rat that it truly is. Kooky pope. ---
**Author:** ![Jukeball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@Jukeball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jukeball)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/33 "2001-01-16T07:48:50Z")
Vegans and ppl or aliens for the star Vega which is like very far away . Also u should see the movie CONTACT where they get encrpted messages from Vega ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/34 "2001-01-16T09:19:46Z")
> [@](#): > > _Two byFour wrote:_ > Anyway, I believe the OP has been answered. Vegetarians don’t eat meat. Vegans avoid consuming all animal products. Ovo- or lacto-vegetarians are in between. Vegetarians do not eat fish. Perhaps fish-eating was considered “vegetarian” years ago, but it is no longer. If you look at the mainstream vegetarian restaurants, cookbooks, magazines, they NEVER include fish in their recipes. Sure, there will be some people who will insist they are vegetarian while eating fish, but this is no longer the accepted _mainstream_ standard for vegetarianism. ---
**Author:** ![Commander\_Fortune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Commander\_Fortune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commander_Fortune)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/35 "2001-01-16T10:52:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yosemitebabe \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > _Two byFour wrote:_ > > Anyway, I believe the OP has been answered. Vegetarians don’t eat meat. Vegans avoid consuming all animal products. Ovo- or lacto-vegetarians are in between. > > Vegetarians do not eat fish. Perhaps fish-eating was considered “vegetarian” years ago, but it is no longer. If you look at the mainstream vegetarian restaurants, cookbooks, magazines, they NEVER include fish in their recipes. Sure, there will be some people who will insist they are vegetarian while eating fish, but this is no longer the accepted _mainstream_ standard for vegetarianism. \*\* A Boulder restaurant owner was sued for including fish stock in his “vegetarian” marinara sauce. The patron, upon finding out the “secret ingrediant” sued Jay, of Pasta Jay’s for the sum of every meal he had consumed in that establishment during the previous six years - a total of about $600.00. The owner, Jay\*, actually chose not settle, went to court and tried to defend himself with the notion that, duh, everybody knows marinara means “from the sea”, of course it had fish in it. Vegetarian meant it didn’t have “meat” in it. The judge didn’t see it that way. Jay lost. For the life me why he spent such a pittance on BAD publicity instead of just refunding the guy, who came across as totally reasonable, escapes me. \*Jay is the friend of the Ramsey’s who threatened the reporters out front of their Boulder home with a baseball bat. I think that got reported nationally, not sure. It was a big freaking three ring circus side-show here, though. It only added to his less than popular local reputation. ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/36 "2001-01-16T12:20:25Z")
How do strict vegans get around the problems with books and photographs? Conventional photographic film has the light sensitive chemicals suspended in geletin which is made from animals. Even in this digital age most large scale printing uses a conventional photographic plate to create the final printing plate. Surely books on veganism could not be tolerated without a serious compromise of principles. ---
**Author:** ![woolly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@woolly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woolly)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/37 "2001-01-16T13:47:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by avacado \* > **… many vegans and veggies might buy used wool or leather, since they’d be supporting the secondhand store rather than a given objectionable industry.** [indignant outburst in defence of the family fortune] What’s the basis for this “wool is an objectionable industry” from a vegan /vegetarian perspective? 😕 [/indignant outburst in defence of the family fortune] ---
**Author:** ![fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ba0ec/32.png) [@fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fish_in_the_sky)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/38 "2001-01-16T16:53:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ticker \* > \*\*How do strict vegans get around the problems with books and photographs? Conventional photographic film has the light sensitive chemicals suspended in geletin which is made from animals. Even in this digital age most large scale printing uses a conventional photographic plate to create the final printing plate. > > Surely books on veganism could not be tolerated without a serious compromise of principles. \*\* Okay, folks, the party line is this: It’s impossible to be 100% pure vegan because there are animal products in everything. The important thing is to do the best that you can to avoid the big stuff–meat, dairy, eggs, honey, leather, wool, silk, etc.–and not drive yourself insane over the weensy bits of animal products that are in film or plastic or what-have-you. [Here](http://www.vegsource.com/joanne/archive.htm) is an archive of “but what about…” questions relating to veganism. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by woolly_ > \*\*[indignant outburst in defence of the family fortune] > What’s the basis for this “wool is an objectionable industry” from a vegan/vegetarian perspective? > [/indignant outburst in defence of the family fortune] > \*\* [Here](http://www.peta.org/mc/facts/fsm6.html) is PETA’s little bit on wool. Okay, so it’s not the most unbiased source, but you asked for the “vegan perpspective.” (and, okay, even a lot of vegans don’t like PETA, but I don’t feel like doing real research.) [Here](http://www.vegsource.com/joanne/qawool.htm) is the Ask Joanne (archive linked above) column on wool. Remember that most vegans feel that any “use” of animals, no matter how gentle and well-intentioned it may be, is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/39 "2001-01-17T03:26:13Z")
This may be a BBQ pit type answer. I know many self proclaimed vegitarians. I only hear of Vegans. Vegans seem to be the ones whose personal habits go beyond personal. They appear to me to be a radical element who are not content with their lifestyle being a personal choice. They are on a crusade to win converts and torment meat eaters. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071/40 "2001-01-17T03:44:23Z")
Cooldude, how many vegans do you personally know? How can you speak for all vegandom? I know pain-in-the-ass veggie/vegans, and I know plenty who are low-key. You’d never know they were veggie, until mealtime comes around. I also know _plenty_ of meat-eaters who like to “torment” veggies. They know one or two annoying vegetarians, and they feel like this gives them permission to annoy and pester any and all vegetarians. (Usually who are minding their own business at the time.) I have had this happen to me many times. I even started a Pit thread about it. I can’t and won’t label all meat-eaters as people who want to pester vegetarians/vegans, however. And I don’t see how you can label all vegans that way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-are-vegans/50071.md?page=3)