[Sca-cooks] OT - Semantics was - Vegetarian politics aside.....

[Barbara Benson]

<Georgous> Beware your vocabulary, please.  While I am not about PC for PC's
sake, and
> have been "accused" of complete and total irreverence, and while I am not
> myself currently following a vegetarian diet, I think that to call the
> different preference "sects" is overly negative and implies all kind of
> things that you likely didn't mean to imply.

Actually, I used that word on purpose. I was going for mild irreverence - I
guess I should have included the little smiley face. See definition (3).

Pronunciation: 'sekt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English secte, from Middle French & Late Latin & Latin;
Middle French, group, sect, from Late Latin secta organized ecclesiastical
body, from Latin, course of action, way of life, probably from sectari to
pursue, frequentative of sequi to follow
Date: 14th century
1 a : a dissenting or schismatic religious body; especially : one regarded
as extreme or heretical b : a religious denomination
2 archaic : SEX 1 <so is all her sect -- Shakespeare>
3 a : a group adhering to a distinctive doctrine or to a leader

I do not see the word sect as being intolerably negative, but it is a very
precise word. It implies way of life or set of beliefs that are
substantially different from the mainstream - which vegitarianism is. And
within that belief there are varying doctrines of belief (Fish/no Fish,
Eggs/no eggs, leather/no leather...) and reasons for the beliefs (moral,
health, allergies...) ergo sects.

I personally belong to my own personal anti vegatable "sect" when it comes
to food - I despise veggies and all their breathren (ie the fruits).

But, if anyone was terribly offended - I apologise. I in no way intended
insult, just slight silliness. Most vegitarians I know are perfectly
pleasant people. But just like any other group - it is the militant minority
that gives the rest of them a bad rap.

Glad Tidings,
Serena