Different name for Omnivores

[Dropkick]

I think we need a different name for those we refer to as omnivores.
Some of you might not currently know this, but we are all omnivores. All of us.
We can't drop the descriptive title omnivore anymore than we can drop the title mammal.
The fact that we are also vegetarians doesn't change this.
The title omnivore refers to the fact that our digestive systems can process both meat and vegetable matter, not to what it does process.
The title Vegetarian means that we choose not to eat meat, it doesn't replace omnivore.

So..... I think we need a different title to refer to the omnivores that eat both meat and vegetables as opposed to the omnivores who are also vegetarians.

Unfortunately I don't think there currently is one, so we might have to invent it.

Ideas:

"Meat eater" while somewhat descriptive also sounds kind of rude and confrontational, so I'm iffy on using it, but I'm having trouble thinking of any other term that works.

Polyvore? Polyvarian? Omnivarian?

 

[Mischief]

I don't think we need a new title. All humans are indeed omnivores. The humans who eat meat are omnivore not only are biologically capable of being omnivores, but also happen to eat an omnivore diet. Therefore, the descriptor "omnivore" fits them perfectly.

 

[Blobbenstein]

I wouldn't use 'omnivore' on a non-veg site, as people might say that we're all omnivores, so I would say 'meat eater' and I don't think that's a problem. 'flesh eater' would be confrontational, but 'meat eater' just describes the part of their diet that would be relevant. I suppose people might say 'well I eat vegetables too'..

 

[Tom L.]

I suppose there's always someone who might take exception to being referred to as something, but I think most of the meat eaters I know would call themselves "meat eaters" and wouldn't mind being referred to as such. I think "flesh eater" or "nonvegetarian" could easily rub lots of folks the wrong way.

Since most people (at the present time, anyway) do consume meat, and that's the default diet among most people I know, I don't think much about how to refer to them.

 

[Mischief]

If I were in a situation where I thought clarification was needed, I'd probably say "practicing omnivore" instead of simply "omnivore."

That occasion has yet to arise.

 

[Dropkick]

It's probably just my personal portion of OCD, but it bothers me when I see a term being used incorrectly*.
And using omnivore to designate a separation from vegetarians is an incorrect usage.
-It's the separation that makes the difference-




*I also don't like it when engine and motor are used interchangeably, when the word decimate is used when annihilate is meant, when people say they lay down instead of lie, and many other piddly little pointless things.

 

[mary1]

You make a good point @Dropkick. I do use the term "omni" a lot as I think it doesn't have much "feeling" attached to it. Also use it in short form because it seems...i don't know, more like an endearing term (probably doesn't sound right). Frankly, I don't want to offend any of my non-vegan friends. Meat-eater...well I think it will sound offensive to some and no big deal to others.

I'm going to have a think about this!

edit: my engrish

 

[mary1]

Optimistically, I might say they are pre-vegans. hehehe

 

[Mischief]

It's probably just my personal portion of OCD, but it bothers me when I see a term being used incorrectly*.
And using omnivore to designate a separation from vegetarians is an incorrect usage.
-It's the separation that makes the difference-




*I also don't like it when engine and motor are used interchangeably, when the word decimate is used when annihilate is meant, when people say they lay down instead of lie, and many other piddly little pointless things.

I too like accurate usage, which is why I like omnivore or omni. Humans who eat meat, unless they eat meat exclusively, are omnivores not only by biology but also in practice.

I guess maybe I should be called a "cake eater" to distinguish me from those who choose not to eat cake.

 

[Danielle]

Optimistically, I might say they are pre-vegans. hehehe

I like that more

 

[Dropkick]

I too like accurate usage, which is why I like omnivore or omni. Humans who eat meat, unless they eat meat exclusively, are omnivores not only by biology but also in practice.

I guess maybe I should be called a "cake eater" to distinguish me from those who choose not to eat cake.

Only if we were trying to distinguish you from people who don't eat cake.
I get your point and I somewhat agree with it. But..

I'm nitpicking, and I'm also not explaining this well, but what bothers me is that we're using a term that applies to a whole group and using it to designate a subgroup. It's an incorrect usage and for some reason this bothers me more than it should.

I don't mind separating the group into subgroups (as they exist no matter what we call them) what bothers me is that by designating one group omnivores we are by extension saying the other group isn't omnivores, while they in fact are. It's an inaccurate and misleading usage.





There - I knew if I thought about it long enough I could figure out why it bothered me and "verbalize" it.

 

[Blobbenstein]

I suppose part of the problem is that some veg*ns don't think we are omnivores; some think we are herbivores. I think we are omnivores.....well even some herbivores eat meat, like cows. I read about a farmer in Asia who's chickens kept disappearing, and one day he caught one of his cows munching on one. Probably a deficiency, people thought....so that whole classification thing, isn't black and white to start with.


edit to add: cow eating chicken story.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/03/07/us-india-cow-idUSSP25712220070307

 

[SummerRain]

I'm nitpicking, and I'm also not explaining this well, but what bothers me is that we're using a term that applies to a whole group and using it to designate a subgroup. It's an incorrect usage and for some reason this bothers me more than it should.
I don't mind separating the group into subgroups (as they exist no matter what we call them) what bothers me is that by designating one group omnivores we are by extension saying the other group isn't omnivores, while they in fact are. It's an inaccurate and misleading usage.

I agree with you. The word "omni" doesn't make a lot of sense, I've only ever seen it used (and used it myself) on veg*an boards. But I also agree that "meat eaters" isn't a great alternative, and besides, it's pretty clunky to use. IRL if it ever comes up I'll say "people who aren't vegetarian/vegan" but that'd be even more clunky on a forum where it's going to come up a lot.

I'm happy enough to use omni because it's easy, I don't really mind that I don't think it's accurate. We know what we mean.

 

[Blobbenstein]

'omnitarian'?

 

[Moll Flanders]

I suppose there's always someone who might take exception to being referred to as something, but I think most of the meat eaters I know would call themselves "meat eaters" and wouldn't mind being referred to as such. I think "flesh eater" or "nonvegetarian" could easily rub lots of folks the wrong way.

I would just say meat eaters too, I only usually use the term "omni" on veg forums. Some vegans I know would say corpse eaters which probably would rub people up the wrong way.

One thing I find very annoying is when meat eaters describe themselves as carnivores.

 

[Danielle]

Oh look at me I'm a carnivore haha i cant survive without meat
Like stfu, yes you can. You don't want to. There's a difference.
I don't want to live without a computer, doesn't mean I'll die without one.

 

[KLS52]

Maybe the problem doesn't lie in changing what we call omnivores since they are already living true to the definition of the term? Maybe we should be calling ourselves omni-vegetarians and omni-vegans.

 

[shyvas]

Maybe the problem doesn't lie in changing what we call omnivores since they are already living true to the definition of the term? Maybe we should be calling ourselves omni-vegetarians and omni-vegans.

Yes that seems logical.

 

[Clueless Git]

Human omnivorism is limited to the eating of already dead and decaying meat.

The correct term for already dead and decaying meat (and for any species that can only eat dead and decaying meat) is 'carrion'.

That makes the correct term for human omnivores carrion-humans.

Technicaly that makes the term 'carrion-abstainers' correct for humans who reject (for whatever reason) the carrion only limitations of their omnivorous nature.

 

[thefadedone]

One thing I find very annoying is when meat eaters describe themselves as carnivores.

I've seen this term used on vegan boards. Carnivores or carnists. Although flesh eater is probably offensive , I think it's the most accurate .

I don't want to live without a computer, doesn't mean I'll die without one.

Speak for yourself.