Jane, a committed vegetarian, recently shared a story with us that left her feeling upset and disrespected. It all happened at a friend’s barbecue, an event she had been excited to attend. Jane is no stranger to social gatherings where meat takes center stage, and she’s always careful to avoid cross-contamination between meat and her plant-based meals.
At the barbecue, Jane was happily filling her plate with fresh veggies and sides when she noticed a man, Dave, standing nearby. He was eating a large steak, and the juices were dripping dangerously close to her food. Concerned, Jane politely asked him to keep his steak a bit farther away to avoid any cross-contamination.
Instead of respecting her request, Dave laughed dismissively. “I don’t think my steak can infect your veggies!” he said, smirking. To make matters worse, he deliberately moved his plate even closer to hers, almost as if he was trying to provoke her. Jane felt uncomfortable but decided to let it go.
Later, she confided in her friend, the host of the barbecue, hoping for some support. To her surprise, her friend brushed it off, saying, “That’s just Dave being Dave. Don’t take it personally.” Jane was stunned by the lack of concern. It wasn’t just about the steak—it was about feeling respected and valued.
As the evening went on, Jane overheard Dave bragging to other guests about how he had “trolled” the vegetarians at the party. He even laughed about ignoring her request and making similar comments to others. Feeling unwelcome and disrespected, Jane decided to leave the barbecue early.
The experience left her questioning the company she keeps. Jane hopes her story encourages others to reflect on how they treat people with different dietary choices. Respect, she believes, should always come first.
