A vegetarian at work?

Question

So, I'm a college kid, just working my way through the next few years at a grocery store. I'm a cashier and I've been a vegetarian for about 2 years. I feel like I seem really bias and weird when thinking these things, but maybe some others agree with me. If you're a meat eater, I really don't want to hear complaints. It's just a simple observation. Sometimes I feel like meat eaters are a lot meaner than people who just stop in to buy soy milk and bread. I know it sounds ridiculous, but when a customer argues with me, it's always about meat. Bloody, disgusting meat. They seem to lick their lips every time it's near them. Sometimes a package will break open and I will get blood all over my arms, it makes me so angry and they don't see what the problem is. All they want is their meat, regardless of whether or not I was traumatized by the blood spillage. Sometimes they remind me of the staff from the simpsons on that episode where they eat their students. Double chins, sweaty, & drooling

Does anyone feel the same way? Maybe it's all those hormones getting to them.

Ok, "LemonButt", I don't assume someone is vegetarian because they buy soy milk and bread. I'm talking about people who aren't drooling over their nasty meat at the moment. And I don't care whether it's blood or not because it is still a dead animal and when I pick up a set of ribs I feel like I'm holding part of a human body. And I also am basically a vegan, I just don't say it yet because I hate when people claim to be a vegetarian when they aren't 100% about it. I know exactly how the meat industry works, so you don't have to explain veganism to me. Yes, meat is expensive, but so are a lot of other things that don't make people seem like such vampires. And I will get a better job, I mentioned the fact that I'm in college for a reason. It's just an observation and I feel like even since I've been a vegetarian, my brain works a lot differently than when I ate meat. It is still disgusting to me and you can't justify that "oh, it's not blood", it is still a dead animal.

Heidi, you have a point. Maybe the fact that I work around it all day causes me to think about it too much. I don't throw a blanket over ALL meat eaters, it's just that ALL the arguments I get into are with meat eaters it seems. But thanks for the answer.

Answer 1

I have contemplated the possibility of the feelings of animals being passed through the digestion of the meat. Yeah, I'm crazy but this is philosophy, Socrates, Gandhi, and even Jesus were considered crazy by the majorities of their times. And, I know I am not on thier levels, but it would be nice if we all strived to get there. (I hate having to justify every statement).

Some people get stiff or sore backs due to stress, their emotions take on physical characteristics within their bodies. Now if stressed animals are carrying their stress physically and passing it on through consumption what is that doing to the consumers?

I noticed a change in my demeanor when I stopped eating meat. Maybe it was the stress the animal was feeling or maybe it was just that I was consuming fewer hormones.
I used to be very angry and have a warped hand to prove it, punching walls, LOL.

I was never considered super intelligent, but today am earning my PhD. Is it because of vegetarianism, maybe not all of it. But it has certainly opened my mind and has me questioning our cultural beliefs, the things we are told from the medical establishment, and the full impact of diet.

No I don't believe you are crazy for seeing this. Meat eaters are different from you, and in order to justify your beliefs, you need to strengthen your reasoning. Seeing the anger in meat eaters, and making that a charateristic of meat eaters is justifying your decision. As did the philosophical mutterings of this crazy man, many years ago.

Answer 2

It must be hard for you to handle something that repulses you on top of it deal with such rude people .. I think you are very sensitive and seeing this everyday is taking a tole on you.. perhaps you could try to get a different job .. like the library or a book store where you can accidentally leave the vegetarian /vegan books on the counter ..LOL.. but this may not be the case as you may be in a situation that you need this job .. yes I do believe that studies have shown meat eaters are more aggressive as a rule.. just keep saying to yourself .. one day soon I Will graduate and never have to do this again..

Answer 3

I have a friend who is a veggie (like me). She is more spiritual than religious and we had an interesting conversation about the toxins and substances that transfer to a person when they ingest meat that has been subjected to a poor diet, growth hormone injections, etc. She also shared with me the concept of people consuming flesh that was killed in a traumatic way. The last things those animals felt was fear, anxiety, horror and pain. She said that the human body (and spirit) have no choice but to absorb those emotions when that flesh is eaten. She is a firm believer that meat-eaters are, on average, meaner, more tense and more stressed compared to veggies.
It was the first time I'd heard this theory and I found it very interesting.

Answer 4

I'm a college kid at work, too - so kudos to you for that!! :)

To the point - I can empathise with you. To be frank and honest, I have a preconception of meateaters as selfish and uncaring ( if the suffering of animals in the meat industry doesn't compell you to make changes, I don't understand you ... it's total apathy), and it makes me angry to see them drool over the body of a dead animal. It's like seeing a creepy old man drool over a college woman - it's de'human'izing and utterly disrespectful to the animal's body. It's disgusting. Drooling over flesh. Bah. As for not wanting to deal with their self-absorved arguments, I can totally empathise. I hate to sound arrogant, to all the meat eaters out there reading this, and you can thumb down me if you want - but this is how I feel and I'm not going to patronize you with a lie.

As for personality types, I'm more of an agressive person, by nature ... and I object to the assertion of vegetarians as passive, ineffectual people ... perhaps people more in harmony with the world around them and with clearer and lighter consciences (which may lead to a more happy-go-lucky, accomodating attitude)... but passive? I don't really agree with that.

Answer 5

I can understand where you are coming from about stereotypes in the food industry. I'm a waitress. But I definitely wouldn't throw such a blanket statement over all meat eaters. Those people are probably just jerks in all aspects of life, the ones that don't care if you have blood on you. But as a waitress, I see a LOT of very snooty women who only order salads. But I wouldn't say that all people that eat salads are snooty, since I also eat salads a lot. I know you're just making an observation ... but you just have to remember that they have to live that life, not you. You only have to put up with them for a few minutes.

Answer 6

I understand that meat does make people more aggressive which can be a little intimidating for vegetarians. All you can do is focus on your own kind - other vegetarians - and model your gentle vege induced behaviour to your customers. Perhaps you could politely ask the customer or an assistant worker to attend to the problems with their carcasses [meat purchases] and just remember the customer is always right. Keep your eye on your goal - your education and living a healthier life.

Answer 7

Go to the career services or job placement agency at your local college. You have a decent command of the English language and would do well in an office environment. (You still have to deal with coworkers eating meat though, which sucks.)

Or better yet, go directly to a temp agency. At my local tech college, students who work as enrollment operators through the school get $8/hr, while people working the same job through a temp agency get $9.25/hr.

Yes, meat eaters tend to be more aggressive.

Answer 8

I've been vegetarian for most of my life, and I can certainly understand how getting meat juices (whatever they are--sure looks like blood to me!) on you grosses you out! In addition, they can be laden with bacteria, like salmonella etc.--- so have some kind of anti-bacterial stuff there to mop up the counter as well as your body!
But on the subject of meat-eaters' personalities, vs vegetarians' --- there are definitely arrogant inconsiderate people in both groups. But in general (!), people who care enough about animals and the environment to give up eating meat are usually conscious enough that they also want to treat their fellow human beings nicely. What to speak of their generally(!) being healthier, with lower blood pressure, lower weight, less heart and other problems--- so they usually will feel better, and therefore be less cantankerous and irritible.
Many vegetarians don't eat meat for spiritual reasons, as well...and clearly mistreating people would not be part of their spiritual path.
Its a shame there's not a natural foods store in your area that you could work in instead--- plus most give an employee discount!
Hope you can get out of there before too long. I'd hate it too!!!

Answer 9

It would be nice if they wrapped things up so it wouldn't get all over. At one market chain I go to, the counters tend to be wet a lot of the time, even the clerks can choose to wear latex gloves to handle the products because it can get so slimy.

Answer 10

There's always going to be meat in a store my best answer is to try to get a new or better job where meat isn't an issue.