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.

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

What has that got to do with anything? She made a perfectly valid point. Religious rights shouldn't trump anyone elses right to eat. It's that simple really and I don't really think you can find argument with that

Religious rights shouldn't trump anyone elses right to eat

They don't, most people have come on and said they don't share the OPs experience

i have reported this thread.

It was just a statement, and yes sometimes people do have this experience.

Why newt?

OP, I very much doubt a Muslim women made that comment.

Muslims are very used to others eating in front of them whilst they are fasting. There is always someone in the household who is not fasting (due to being on period/pregnant/breastfeeding etc), and they are very used to people scoffing in front of them. In fact, they get more reward from God when you do scoff in front of them.

Because I think it was intend to inflame. And the OP hasn't been back since she posted it on Sunday. Happy to be proved wrong

What on earth does that comparison have to do with anything?

Everything you've mentioned happens to be a crime in the UK so talk of "trumping rights" is nonsense.

Nobody on here has said those who choose to fast can't do so. If the incident happened however then the person fasting had no right to expect colleagues not to eat in front of her.

Probably a good idea newt

intended

I have never had anyone keeping Ramadam expecting others to refrain from eating in front of them. There is a lovely woman at the moment and she sits and chats while we have our packed lunches.

Solid - would you ask that question to someone's face, using that exact same wording an expect an answer?

SGB can hardly win either way if she answers that question

No: oh you don't back up your beliefs you're a keyboard warrior etc
Yes: oh you're offensive/racist/whatever

Or, she could just ask someone without managing to bring insults into it. Just as people generally do when they want to ask someone something.

Is that really so strange, peculiar and difficult?

It would be great to hear from actual Muslims

FWIW, from talking to friends, the whole idea is that fasting is not easy, that it focusses the mind. And that millions of people manage it without damaging their health.

^^ That was to Goth

I am an actual Muslim, Newt. Promise.

The Muslims I work with are often in situations where lots of people are eating around them during Ramadan and the ones I've asked have always said it doesn't bother them. After an adulthood of regular fasting it just becomes second nature to them, for the most part.

That said, I'd never feel guilty even if my eating around a fasting person made it more difficult for them. It's meant to be hard, there's meant to be temptation, that's the whole point. On that basis I see myself as providing a valuable service

Ah! Did you mention that earlier and I missed it? If so, sorry

Load of old rubbish.
Hopefully now we have had Eid these stupid pretend threads will stop.

Devere

They'll fizzle out and then the Muslims/Sikhs/Hindus stole Christmas threads will start up.

I do wonder what some of the interesting posters who start these threads would make of the fact that my Muslim sons can trace their family history in this country back before 1700 through me or does DH being foreign and an immigrant negate that?

I do wonder what some of the interesting posters who start these threads would make of the fact that my Muslim sons can trace their family history in this country back before 1700 through me or does DH being foreign and an immigrant negate that?

I doubt they would have sufficient brain power to think about that at all chaz

Because they are twats.

Yet people fall for this crap all the time. This OP will fall into the subconscious of some readers/posters and will be related as 'I knew someone who was asked not to eat in front of her Muslim co worker!'

That is how urban myth works. Britain First, EDL, BNP know this. That is why they relentlessly produce bogus information, invade internet forums, use social networking etc.

For every one person who knows its rubbish and at it, there will one or two who believe it and adds it to their store of 'true stories that happened to my mum/cousin/mate/friend's sister' to be trotted out whenever they want a bit of attention.

And so it goes, on and on and on.

Seriously, I have lived my entire life in areas of high immigration and diversity. I have worked in the public and not for profit sectors all my adult life (well known hot beds of PC gooooorn maaaaaaaad) and I have never, ever come across any of the stuff regularly trotted out on this bloody threads.

I currently work in a massive open plan office where at least half of my colleagues would have been fasting. Did a single on come and admonish me for scarfing two cadbury's pots of joy and a bag of chips?

Nuh uh, not ever.

If I gave up chocolate for lent I would not think it unreasonable for someone to eat chocolate in front of me. Similarly meat on Good Friday

Ramadans over I've never met a Muslim who ever objected to anyone eating during Ramadan ever.

I don't even tell colleagues when I'm fasting as I don't want to make them uncomfortable.

I don't believe the OP