To wonder why meat-eating colleague keeps banging on about it?

[Ritascornershop]

I work with just one other person (but in a building with dozens of other people in the same company, but who we rarely interact with).

My colleague doesn’t just eat meat, she really, really loves meat. That’s fine. I’ve been veggie for ethical reasons for decades. I understand that eating meat is a norm, but what I don’t understand is why she talks about it daily.

She orders books on how to make terrines and sausages and whatnot and has them delivered to work. Then she reads recipes out to me (while I say “you’ll enjoy that - I must get back to work now.” At the end of many work days she’ll tell me she’s “going home to cook a duck/lamb/some veal.” She leaves pieces of raw meat lying around our shared kitchen (shared between the 2 of us). She sits at her desk 4 feet from me eating a piece of pate the size of a piece of pie.

Am I being precious or is this a bit weird? There is literally not a day goes by without her talking about meat or leaving raw meat lying around. She’s quite nice so I don’t think she’s trying to unnerve me. AIBU?

[idontgetpaidenoughforthis]

OP hasn't mentioned a soup maker.

I've come across people who rave about what they're cooking for tea every day. I'm not vegetarian but it's still boring!!

[AnnaFiveTowns]

I don't think it's a reverse. Lots of meat eaters can feel defensive in the presence of somebody who doesn't eat meat; it's almost as though they have to prove a point that it's ok to eat it. I think deep down there's an element of guilt so they become almost aggressive about it; it sounds like your colleague is one of these.

[TheLittleBrownFox]

Some meat eaters are goady fuckers to vegetarians, as well you probably know op. Or she might be just a bit of a weirdo (who cooks raw meat at work?!). Either way, the best you can do is grey rock it as it sounds like you are doing.

[Ritascornershop]

I don’t know what this little appliance is called, it’s got a sort of pot that is placed into a larger pot that has a heating element at the bottom.

In 30+ years at work I’d never seen anyone do this either, but if someone told me it happened at their workplace I would not have the arrogance to say “that does not happen”. She does make soup and stew in our kitchenette area (it’s out of public view).

People do all kinds of odd things, I’m sure there’s a lot madder behavior than making soup at work (and being easily distracted and leaving raw meat on the counter for a bit).

It’s not like I’m claiming she strips down to her undies and wears the meat as a dress. She cooks with it, in a kitchen area. Mad, I know. Unhygienic in my opinion, to leave the meat out, but I’ve also got a friend who leaves her milk out of the fridge for hours at a time, but I suppose as some of you haven’t seen that happen then my friend with the warm milk doesn’t exist either.

[PurpleDaisies]

People brought soup makers to my last workplace. One person bought a boiled egg cooker.

I’d have taken a microwave in if there was space and we didn’t have one.

[maddiemookins16mum]

Who the hell makes fresh soup/stew at work🤣🤣

[Sizeofalentil]

@Scarsthelot I've been able to bring my own electrical food prep equipment to every job I've had for the last 14 years

Even brought in a popcorn maker and a nutribullet for a while

[PurpleDaisies]

Someone brought in a coffee machine once. They were very popular.

[Sizeofalentil]

I really don't get why people don't believe this

[Ritascornershop]

Scars, you’re a bit bonkers yourself if you don’t mind me saying so. “No-one” brings electrical equipment into an office? Well apparently they do. Another colleague (down the hall and round the corner) brought in a popcorn maker yesterday. Clearly my office culture is different than yours.

Thanks to those above acknowledging the goady fucker-ness of some meat-eaters :)

[PooWillyBumBum]

How weird. I’m vegan but no one at work says anything (our MD and another member of our Board are vegan too, as well as several colleagues - which probably helps) but I work with lots of sporty people so raw meat around is actually quite common when they find it on offer or do a quick shop for supper in the day.

I don’t think the meat or pate eating is weird - if she thinks a massive hunk of pate is a nice lunch I’m not sure what’s wrong with that - but reading out recipes etc is a bit barmy. We never talk about our respective diets at work and I love it that way!

[Ritascornershop]

Thank you Purpledaisies and Sizeofalentil. I couldn’t figure out why so many people thought this was impossible that someone would cook at work. I’ve certainly had people bring in coffee makers at other work sites.

[PureAlchemy]

This is bizarre behaviour.

Not just the constant talking about meat, but actually making massive meaty meals from scratch at work? You must have a very relaxed workplace culture if the management are happy for employees to take time out in the morning to cook!

But seriously, are you sure she’s not trying to annoy you? The most likely explanation for all this would be a meat eater who’s being goady and trying to provoke a reaction.

[Mamsnetter2020]

‘Meat dress’ 😂😂😂

[PurpleDaisies]

If you ever get her in the office secret santa..

[Stressedoutaboutinlaws]

How early do you get to work, for your colleague to have time to make a stew from scratch in a slow cooker?? Thought those things took hours and hours?

[PurpleDaisies]

Mine has different settings stressed. On high it can do a stew in four hours.

[Onescaredmuma]

A bit odd but she might actually just love food. If cooking is a genuine passion of hers she will talk about it to anyone who will listen and you're a captive audience. I have a friend who loves cars they bore the shit out of me but he can talk about them all day it makes him happy so I just listen (or pretend to ).

[Quirrelsotherface]

Who has a job where they have time to make an actual stew on their lunch break? I call weird.

[Michaelbaubles]

It sounds like an instant pot, not a slow cooker. You can make stew in half an hour in one. I wouldn’t bring one to work though!

[BuntyBonus]

The people who are just saying ‘that’s weird’ I don’t believe that, nobody would do that’ etc. I think you all sound weird if you can’t possibly believe something just because it doesn’t happen in your workplace! Do you know how many workplaces there are all over the world?? And you can’t actually imagine that any of them may be a different set up to your set up? Now that’s what I call strange! I totally believe you OP, I have witnessed people doing totally bonkers things at work.

[Aardvarkitsabloodyaardvark]

I take my soup maker to work at least once a week in winter
However what pp says is correct. Electrical equipment in the work place should be PAT tested.

[Aardvarkitsabloodyaardvark]

Actually have just read that no they don't need to be tested. we have always done this routinely where I work.