In regards to eating meat

[Diana]

This has happened to me several times. Once, I was at work and some co-workers came back from a bbq place and asked me if I wanted some ribs. They knew full well I was a vegetarian, but still, they pointed to a doggie bag, so I thought maybe it was going to get thrown away anyway. So I said, "well I don't eat meat but thanks anyway. I can take it home to my dogs if it's going to get thrown away."

This happens to me on a continual basis, even though I only respond when needed to the fact that I don't eat meat. Jokes about eating baby animals and the like. And before anyone says: don't hang with those people, they are everywhere and I can isolate myself only so much.

I equate this reaction to a like one I get if I mention that I haven't had a TV for almost 20 years. There is immediate defensiveness, and I theorize it's because of guilt. Not that I am judging them--they are judging themselves, possibly because they think they should be doing something else with their time.

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I'm strongly agreeing with 3dM's responce about accepting.
Even thugs in a slaughter house, and people who hurt kids.

Funny how we only have to polarise 51% possative.

To me, It's not about controll or 'fixing' other people or other things.

We work on ourselves.

You may have missed some of this thread. It is not about "fixing" anybody. Rather, it's about answering a cry of suffering.

Then there is the issue of responsibility/accountability in perpetuating the cruelty through consumption of the product. Does that not matter?