No joke, that person probably *is* a law student. I'm not exactly sure what it is; maybe an attempt to stand out from the crowd? If we're being nice, just trying to think outside the box? But I've known lots of folks who attempt completely absurd interpretations/applications of the law.

"Without that lady plumber's background, the audience will become distracted from the overall story and nobody will pay to see it and then the movie business will go under."

I know the general advice for the internets is "don't feed the trolls," but my god...that was the most complete and even respectful thrashing I think I've ever seen. You're kind of my hero.

This has been almost exactly my experience, except that I *have* done all sorts of ridiculous diets and the like. But currently, because the dietary aspect of being vegan is just a small portion of a much larger ethical decision, nonvegan items just don't register as food. I could see the argument that you want "real"…

But the statute has only been updated with regards to a disparate impact on race. Felons are still not a protected class - it's only to the extent that applying a criminal record screen could be thought of as racial discrimination that it's protected.