I don't think anyone would look at a menu item marked vegetarian and expect anything else than it not containing meat. People say they're vegetarian but eat fish sometimes, etc. but it's different for an actual meal. Nobody would call fried fish a vegetarian meal.

Well, that fact that the dairy industry is very inhumane and involves killing animals.

There isn't really an animal-using industry that involves humane conditions. Most justifications to the contrary are usually in bad faith, such as citing mom and pop farms or whatever as if that were even remotely the bulk of the sourcing. Even the fact of breeding animals specifically for harvest is already terrible, no matter if it's done by a kindly old couple or not. You would never treat a being whose life you value in this way.

It's not about the reason, but rather the act of living in an authentic and bold manner and not making up excuses to assuage your guilt. You can respect one trait of the person while not approving of them in general. And sometimes more respect will really just mean less contempt, all else being equal.

Such a refreshing comment.

I get it. I'm default vegan but bought some brie to enjoy tonight as a treat, wear leather shoes etc.

People want to be black and white. Sometimes just reducing the harm on yourself and animals and the environment to a large degree is enough, while still being able to enjoy and benefit from them just a bit here and there

> How often do you go out to restaurants?

Leas and less, and I live in a rural area with many horrid examples, but I like Americana grills, and I order off the menu because there is nothing on those menus without meat, usually ordering a cheesesteak without the meat, add some more peppers and mushrooms to compensate. There actually is a vegan/vegetarian restaurant in this one horse town, but like all others I have experienced, the menu tries too hard to be interesting, unrecognizably so, and the menu items are 3-5 times more expensive than a burger, fries and a coke, which I no longer eat. They only serve pasta cold in salad, leaving that whole pasta world that could easily be vegan unaddressed. And I definitely don't care about too many calories, the major concern here is not getting enough calories. If not for bread, rice and pasta, which I eat at home with whatever fruit and vegetables I have that haven't spoiled, I would have starved long ago. The tomato is the most versatile fruit I know, and I eat slices as though they were raw meat.