to admire religious fasting for its discipline and commitment?

Actually they did try..... I would say it made those men more sympathetic

Actually they did try..... I would say it made those men more sympathetic

I work closely with three Pakistani Muslim men, one is my manager. We live in Australia, and temperatures reached the high 30s some days. They really struggled sometimes with the no water rule, my boss especially, he arranged to WFH every afternoon, which really annoyed his other fasting staff. All three of them spoke quite often about how difficult it was and got headaches and dizziness. And grumpy! I did admire their discipline, but I can’t see how the no water bit can be good for you in a hot climate. The fasting bit shouldn’t be as bad, they eat large meals at breakfast and evening, so I think that’s fine health wise.

My dd has an eating disorder. It all started when she started to skip lunch. She came home hungry at first, until she didn’t. A large trigger for eating disorders is skipping lunch.

Dd’s Muslim friend developed an eating disorder during Ramadan. Like my dd she became mentally unwell. I now know that her mother has an eating disorder as well. Her mother is lacks awareness that she’s ill and fasts.

Females are particularly susceptible to developing an eating disorder whilst observing intermittent fasting, especially teens and young adults. Whether someone becomes mentally unwell due to restricting food is a genetic lottery.

There may be benefits to a majority and particularly men. It is completely wrong to insist that the benefits are universal when they are not. And encouraging people is also wrong. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10589984/#:~:text=Meaning%20that%20adding%20intermittent%20fasting,produce%20such%20as%20food%20cravings.

If the response to my post is that people with ED are exempt, I already know this. IF is a big catalyst to ED and detrimental to the health of many people, especially young women and teens. And they won’t know until they’ve tried it. That is the point, not that they can choose not to observe it in 12 months time.

Moreover, if mentally unwell, it is very common to not have any awareness that you are mentally ill. Therefore that person wouldn’t understand the dangers of fasting and therefore not see a need to not participate. Dd’s friend’s mum is a case in point. She is clearly unwell. She got weight loss injections online, possibly from India, despite being very slim. Her dh has done the same. Apparently he’s pretty emaciated now.

We are fasting for lent. Eating after sundown only but we are drinking throughout the day, water only.

Have you not noticed it is lent aka a Christian time of fasting and abstinence ? I am a Christian and plan to live below the line next week for Holly week. It helps me to think of those with less and I give the money to Charity.

Don't be so dramatic a healthy adult in a temperate climate can go 12 hours without water.

One thing I will never admire is anything related to religion.

I just want to say this is possibly the best thing I've read on the Internet in a very, very long time.

I thought she was just pretending not to notice the sarcasm, but maybe it wasn't as obvious as I thought.

You’re entitled to your opinion but it doesn’t impress me at all especially Mormons - it’s all about how it looks!

@ThatCyanCat

I don't know what OP's MO is. It can't be to get people on board with these performative, exclusionary gestures of putative inclusivity, or else she wouldn't cling on so much to such a failing strategy. At least HR get paid to do it.

Agree!

I thought you were! Looks like the OP thought you were being serious though. 😬

Sorry, I thought it was pretty obvious I was taking the piss.

I don't know what OP's MO is. It can't be to get people on board with these performative, exclusionary gestures of putative inclusivity, or else she wouldn't cling on so much to such a failing strategy. At least HR get paid to do it.

Can't tell if that's sarcasm or not. 👀

D'ya think HR and its minions and acolytes ever wonder why everyone hates their performative gestures of inclusivity, when they're supposedly doing a fabulous job of making everyone feel welcome and valued and not creating any pressure or discomfort in the slightest?

Keep up the great work, OP. You can see how brilliantly you're getting everyone on board.

"Mary is fasting for Lent on these days, can you give her some support if she needs it?"

"Sure, no problem."

"And Muhammed will be fasting for Ramadan, can you help him out if he struggles?"

"Of course."

"And why don't you try fasting too? There are so many benefits! It will help Mary and Muhammad if you fast too!" (No it won't, it'll just mean I might need extra support too, it's a bad idea all round.)

"That's beyond your remit as an employer. You're overstepping. Please stop, if you're truly just trying to be inclusive to all."

"What? What's the problem? Nobody's forcing you! It's just a suggestion! It doesn't create any pressure or discomfort to you or anyone else, I know because I'm telling you so! What, so you think we shouldn't raise awareness about endometriosis and other medical issues? That's terrible! No, I'm not annoyed at all, why would you think that? It's just a suggestion! I'm acting like this because I'm so wonderfully inclusive! I'm making the workplace a better place for everyone!!!!"

You know something, I'll fast and pray to whatever God puts a stop to this stuff.

I know that fasting can be good for you, and have health benefits, (like intermittent fasting, and occasional 36 hour fasts,) but I will never get on board with dry fasting, no matter how many links anyone posts to how 'amazing' dry fasting is... Drinking water is very important to every living creature, and depriving yourself of it not a good idea IMO.

You seem very invested in pushing this @catchingup1 , and appear to be pushing the narrative that this is the best thing anyone can do. And you seem a bit irked that not everyone agrees with you.

I am not actually impressed myself - by people doing this. I have no feelings about it either way. If they want to do it, then they're welcome to it, but I will never do any dry fasting.

I'm very pleased for you though, that you have a very 'diverse' and 'inclusive' workplace.

Does anyone at your place ever get any work done between religious observance, flag waving, faddy diets and hand-wringing for a week at a time over medical conditions most staff either don't suffer from or would prefer to keep it quiet if they do?

What kind of company is it?

I'm assuming you work in HR and have nothing better to do than obsess all day over this nonsense.

Most people have got far more important things to do and, to answer your original question, yes, you are being unreasonable.

I find nothing admirable about fasting. It doesn't benefit anyone and potentially harms the person doing the fasting. Don't bother trying again to sell the nonsense you have already posted. I'm not buying.

I can’t see anything to admire in it. You’re easily impressed, OP. And what is this “bigger thing” you mention?