Tonight I had a training session at work with my co-workers (more on my job later) and decided to sit between two of the new staff members. I was going over the menu with someone and we started talking about meat. One of the new staffers decided to take this opportunity to discuss her political views on meat consumption and production in the U.S.
The major reason for her becoming a vegetarian was that the meat available in this country causes her to feel disconnected from the animal. She can live without meat but if she was hungry enough she would feel better about being able to hunt and kill the animal herself.
My manager responded with, ‘Well, how do you feel about trees?… If you wanted to write badly enough would you go out and chop a tree down?’
While she tried to answer his question, he stated how meat has proven to be beneficial to the human body.
She responded by naming countries that have a meat processing system that allows the carnivore the benefits of meat and a feeling of connection with the animal.
‘They’re alive’, she said.
He counteracted with, ‘They might be alive, but they’re barely living’
I’m all for freedom of speech, but it’s tricky when you’re in mixed company. Especially if that company is future co-workers. Her opinion didn’t bother me at all, but the way she voiced it did.
She took the innocent mentioning of meat dishes available on the menu as her platform to spark a heated debate. That was totally unnecessary.
Not only will this season be more interesting than the last, but now I know who not to sit next to in the future.
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