I Asked a Meat-Eater to Keep His Steak Away

Jane, a committed vegetarian, recently reached out to our editorial team to share a distressing personal experience.

Not long ago, she attended a friend’s barbecue, an event she had eagerly anticipated all week. She wrote, “I’m a vegetarian, and I was trying to avoid cross-contamination at the veggie platter.”

Jane is used to navigating social gatherings centered around meat. While she has no problem with others enjoying their steaks and burgers, she always takes care to prevent any cross-contamination between meat and her plant-based dishes. At this barbecue, she focused on the veggie platter, carefully choosing her food to avoid any meat contamination.

While Jane was near the grill, preparing her plate with fresh vegetables and sides, she noticed a man she didn’t know standing too close. She explained, “Dave, a guy I didn’t know, was devouring a huge steak right next to me. I politely asked him to keep his steak away from my food.”

The juices from his steak were dripping alarmingly close to her plate, making her feel uneasy. Attempting to keep the atmosphere light, she turned to Dave and said, “Hey, would you mind keeping your steak a little further from my food? I’m just trying to avoid any cross-contamination.”

Jane anticipated a simple acknowledgment or perhaps a quick apology as Dave moved his plate away. Instead, he responded with a loud, dismissive laugh, saying, “I don’t think my steak can infect your veggies!” with a smirk.

What happened next surprised Jane. Rather than respecting her request, Dave intentionally moved his plate even closer to hers, hovering it over the veggie platter as if to provoke her.

Feeling uncomfortable, Jane decided to confide in her friend, the host of the barbecue, hoping for some understanding or maybe a word with Dave to ease the situation. However, when she brought it up, her friend shrugged it off. “That’s just Dave being Dave,” she replied casually, as if that excused his behavior. “Don’t take it personally.”

Jane was taken aback by her friend’s indifference. This was about more than just a piece of steak; it was about feeling respected and welcomed. Yet, to her friend, Dave’s behavior seemed to be something everyone was expected to tolerate.

Later in the evening, Jane’s frustration turned to anger when she overheard Dave boasting loudly to a group of guests about how he had “trolled” the vegetarians at the party. He recounted his interaction with Jane, laughing about how he had purposely ignored her request, and even mentioned making similar comments to other non-meat-eaters, turning his actions into a twisted joke.

As the night progressed, Jane decided to leave the barbecue quietly. What was meant to be a relaxing gathering had turned into a stressful ordeal. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being unwelcome, not just by Dave, but also by the indifference of those who were supposed to be her friends.

As she walked away, Jane resolved to be more cautious about the company she keeps at future events, ensuring she surrounds herself with people who respect her choices, regardless of how different they may be from their own.

Jane would like to hear your thoughts on her situation and how you might have reacted.

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