What do you think of the term "carnivore"?

leosmith66
leosmith66 Posts: 69 Member
edited February 2016 in Food and Nutrition
Ok, I know that by one definition a carnivore can eat some non-animal food, but the definition I'm used to is "an animal that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting exclusively of animal tissue". So I have to admit it sounds strange hearing people call themselves carnivores.

I eat about 3lbs plants and 1lb animals per day, and my parents call me a carnivore. What ever happened to "omnivore"?

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Most people who are using it are, I believe, doing it jokingly.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    TBH I've never referred to another person, nor heard anyone refer to another person, as either a carnivore or omnivore. I've only heard it in reference to non-human animals.

    So...I guess I have no strong feelings about the word "carnivore" .... probably about the equivalent feelings I have about the word "string".
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    edited February 2016
    Carnivores include t-rexes and lions. Humans are omnivores, though some of us are vegetarian and vegan. Some animals are vegetarian [herbivores] too, like rabbits.

    Unlikes those animals, we can supplement and survive without meat or animal products. If you feed a rabbit only meat, they'll die. They don't even have teeth capable of eating meat, let alone a digestive system meant for it. And if you feed a lion a veggie only diet, same thing. They'll die.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    edited February 2016
    My understanding is that humans are omnivores. There are obligate carnivores (only eat meat), facultative carnivores who eat just meat (cats, etc.), facultative carnivores who favor meat but can eat vegetation (dogs, etc.), omnivores who can eat either or both and thrive (humans, etc.), and herbivores who thrive on just vegetation (rabbits, etc.)
  • MommyMeggo
    MommyMeggo Posts: 1,222 Member
    *peeks in*

    Is this 3rd period Biology?
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Most people who are using it are, I believe, doing it jokingly.

    I would hope.

    Humans aren't carnivores. Anyone who tries to follow a "carnivore" diet, as a human, is, IMO, choosing an unhealthy diet.

    Or, more likely, joking about how much they love meat.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Most people who are using it are, I believe, doing it jokingly.

    This ^^
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Most people who are using it are, I believe, doing it jokingly.

    Agreed.

    People say a lot of stuff that isn't meant to be taken literally. You can either correct them and come off like a pedant or let it go.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    tumblr_inline_ntrbatCnVD1sky4ov_500.gif

  • summerkissed
    summerkissed Posts: 730 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    Most people who are using it are, I believe, doing it jokingly.

    ^^this^^ I call my daughter a carnivore because she loves her meat so so so much, I call my son a rabbit because he loves lettuce.....I'm not actually saying my little girl only eats meat and I'm not saying my son is actually a rabbit!
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    There's a few carnivores on here who eat NO plant products at all, and keep their carbs to near 0. However I know they also eat butter, cheese and coconut oil, so not sure if you could call them 100% carnivorous??
  • summerkissed
    summerkissed Posts: 730 Member
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    There's a few carnivores on here who eat NO plant products at all, and keep their carbs to near 0. However I know they also eat butter, cheese and coconut oil, so not sure if you could call them 100% carnivorous??
    Id hate to be the one cleaning there toilets hahaha

  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    summerkissed wrote: »
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    There's a few carnivores on here who eat NO plant products at all, and keep their carbs to near 0. However I know they also eat butter, cheese and coconut oil, so not sure if you could call them 100% carnivorous??
    Id hate to be the one cleaning there toilets hahaha

    I know, right! That was my first thought too, but apparently the high fat content (fatty cuts of meat) keeps the pipes running Aok
  • summerkissed
    summerkissed Posts: 730 Member
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    summerkissed wrote: »
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    There's a few carnivores on here who eat NO plant products at all, and keep their carbs to near 0. However I know they also eat butter, cheese and coconut oil, so not sure if you could call them 100% carnivorous??
    Id hate to be the one cleaning there toilets hahaha

    I know, right! That was my first thought too, but apparently the high fat content (fatty cuts of meat) keeps the pipes running Aok

    I think mine would be "running" as well...all the way to the toilet hahah :flushed::lol:
  • CassidyScaglione
    CassidyScaglione Posts: 673 Member
    edited February 2016
    fscxh0o2bn1scygmnfcr.jpg

    lol.

  • CassidyScaglione
    CassidyScaglione Posts: 673 Member
    jurassic-park-jurassic-park-27400054-768-4321.jpg

    lolol
  • CassidyScaglione
    CassidyScaglione Posts: 673 Member
    Predator-Face.jpg

    Oh, wait, "Carnivore", not "Predator"... sidetracked...
  • CassidyScaglione
    CassidyScaglione Posts: 673 Member
    People are omnivores, obviously... since our dental work is configured a bit differently than above.
  • CassidyScaglione
    CassidyScaglione Posts: 673 Member
    carnivore
    [kahr-nuh-vawr, -vohr]

    noun
    1.
    an animal that eats flesh.
    2.
    a flesh-eating mammal of the order Carnivora, comprising the dogs, cats, bears, seals, and weasels.
    3.
    an insectivorous plant.

    scary_tiger_by_tristix-d5q4io3.jpg

    idiot
    [id-ee-uh t]

    noun
    1.
    A person who says they are a carnivore because they do not want to have a serving of your roasted vegetables with their steak
    2.
    People who spend time making up dictionary entries and googling tiger & dinosaur pictures instead of studying for midterms...

    how-to-lose-belly-low-fat-diet-plan-for-men-7.jpg
  • FIT_Goat
    FIT_Goat Posts: 4,224 Member
    edited February 2016
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    There's a few carnivores on here who eat NO plant products at all, and keep their carbs to near 0. However I know they also eat butter, cheese and coconut oil, so not sure if you could call them 100% carnivorous??

    Coconut oil is a plant product. I don't think someone is eating a carnivorous diet if they include that. Butter and cheese are at least animal products. I think, those would count just fine. As long as someone isn't eating plants or plant products, they could probably call themselves a carnivore fairly. Not that I have a right to dictate what anyone calls themselves. People are free to adopt their own labels as they feel best fit them.
    summerkissed wrote: »
    Id hate to be the one cleaning there toilets hahaha

    After some unpredictable variations where the body finds a new equilibrium (some get mild slowdowns, others get runny), things balance out just fine and return to what most people would consider normal. There's less total volume, but it is otherwise just fine.
  • jeebieheebies
    jeebieheebies Posts: 68 Member
    I'm a vegan, and yeah, once I started reading vegan forums and stuff, saw them calling non-vegans/vegetarians "carnivores." I think it has just become the go-to word for those who are NOT vegan or vegetarian. Not based in the definition of the word -- and I guess it has just caught on.

    Maybe because it is weird to call non-vegans "omnivores" to refer to them, when technically we are too (just choosing not to eat meat). So it helps separate the two ways of eating more. Just speculation!

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