AIBU to eat in front of my muslim coworkers?

[EmmbadTheBad]

So it's Ramadan at the moment. I was at a meeting at work recently and a muslim woman, who I don't work with directly, made a comment about how thoughtless the people she shares an office with are for eating in front of her while she is fasting (at this point everyone glances guiltily towards the biscuits in the middle of the table). There are a couple of muslim women in my office and, I'll be honest, it had not even occurred to me that it might be insensitive to eat in front of them while they are fasting.

We do have a kitchen at work but it's very small and a lot of people, myself included, tend to eat at their desks. Quite apart from anything - as an atheist - I don't want to be observing other people's religious beliefs. I know Ramadan is nearly over but I intend to continue eating at my desk. IABU? Would appreciate opinion from anyone fasting at the mo.

Some of us got pregnant under totally unexpected circumstances. This isn't about thinking our babies aren't important

I agree. I was annoyed at the irrelevant comments by Player in relation to children drinking and the irrelevant and sweeping comment about "the rest of us" ;

Ah but Player says God is not cross that people do these things, he is cross with people who are judgmental and criticise others

Aww phadera got annoyed

When I was pg I routinely fasted from 6pm til 8am.
I called it 'not eating and drinking at night' . Not sure how it affected DS

Afaik most fasting Muslims eat and drink before sunrise. I wonder if the overall calorific intake is affected within 24 hours? (Not saying it isn't a considerable undertaking: it is!)

From 6pm till 8am your body is in a resting state, you're still burning calories but not nearly as many as when you're active so that's a difference.

I couldn't fast, I'm always thirsty!

Player your comment about children drinking and the trawling through Solid's posts were daft.

Possibly you're not, but it made you come across as one of those people who follow religious rules and think that by doing so, that in itself makes you a better , more moral person than those who don't.

I felt guilty for eating in front of my muslim friend at my daughter's christening (which strictly speaking she shouldn't have been at anyway apparently), so I can see why people feel uncomfortable. Not that many on here seem to!

Should say, during Ramadan!

To those who are doubting the muslim colleague exists, I was once told off my a muslim colleague for eating a ham sandwhich (even though it was naice ham and definitely not a hammich) in front of them so I can easily believe people are that entitled

I can see that dehydration occurs in the moment, but our bodies and metabolism are designed to provide calories and energy from reserves regardless of when the actual eating occurs.

And as for 'detox' and 'cleansing'- what twaddle all this is. I am interested in an explanation of a state of fasting, ketosis etc from a doctor or biologist, but not from non-qualified providers of alternative diet regimes.

Yes, but it can cause hormone imbalances and spikes or lows in insulin and blood sugar as fasting can be a shock the the natural biological rhythms of the body.

Yes, but it can cause hormone imbalances and spikes or lows in insulin and blood sugar as fasting can be a shock the the natural biological rhythms of the body.""

So could working night shifts while pregnant.

Yet, I imagine if you posted an AIBU about asking not to work night shifts while pregnant, you would be flamed alive and called a pregzilla.

Why is daft to trawl through people's posts? Just because you don't like doesn't make it daft

Are MN daft for allowing the facility to do so? Are you daft for joining MN when it allows trawling through peoples posts?

I was once told off my a muslim colleague for eating a ham sandwhich

I was told off by a Christian for bringing up my DC to be vegetarian*

Everyone has takes of people like this doesn't make them the majority

Well that's not the same is it, because you just swap your nights for days and your body adjusts accordingly. The worst thing about nights is lack of daylight, which is why occy health are supposed to monitor people.

This sort of fasting is a double wammy, sleeping at night so no food, fasting in the day so no food, just a narrow window of sustenance.

Muslims flock here as we are tolerant and do not bank the burka as in France nor women from driving as in Saudi. We are just about the best country on the planet in many areas and our greatest legacy to the planet is our system of law (which is heaps better and fairer than Sharia law) which continuously expands to cover the planet.

I have no problem with people who want to fast as long as their rights do not trump those of others. As I said above they still eat, often more than if they were eating in the day so it's not like a 60 day David Blaine no food at all fast, it's pack in as much food as you can once it gets dark in a way that works great in hot countries for which it was designed by man, not God, but is silly in countries like ours when we need people in bed when it's dark and up in time for work next day.

We remain free as atheist feminists to declaim all the moral wrongs of most religions and we are prepared to die to allow those whose views we abhor to express them. Tolerance and politeness should rule.

No, night shift work can have a far more profound impact then that: www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25812422

As for Ramadan fasting, it depends hugely on what time of year it falls in and where in the world you are. For most of the world, it's having a very early breakfast and a late dinner, hardly catastrophic. There is also the fact that iftars (post fasting dinners) are often large communal affairs too, with plenty of food...

In general people are told to drink plenty of water on hot days, particularly if they are doing anything energetic. Given that Islam to the best of my knowledge is a myth system that predominantly originated in hot countries, I'm genuinely quite interested in this business of avoiding water throughout the daylight hours, in the heat, and whether or not it's harmful to health. Is it general practice to drink loads of water before and after sunrise?
(Please don't imply that your imaginary friend protects you from the effects of dehydration that would make another person ill as this sort of suggestion clearly marks you out as an irrational dimwit).

I have no problem with people who want to fast as long as their rights do not trump those of others

What about all the people who drink and trump the rights of others by murder, road traffic accidents and domestic abuse?

That is what you should be concerned about

Plenty of people fast, work and bring up their families without trumping the rights of others

gosh that's in the short term though which is states at the bottom, if it's a case of long term the body can and does adjust.

That's not saying it's not damaging gosh but I'm just outlining differences

I am not sure this actually happened