Vegan Family Leaves Notes For Neighbors Who Grill Outside
Once the weather gets warm, grilling season begins! I live in an apartment, so I don’t have a grill but a good ole steak cooked on an outside grill is one of the best things ever. And although I’m not a vegan or vegetarian, I love some grilled veggies too. A family in Australia is getting rude notes from their vegan neighbors and they’ve shared the notes on social media.
According to Bored Panda, the vegan family is upset with their neighbors for cooking meat outside and they’re upset when the neighbors cook inside and leave their windows open. Now, most of us wouldn’t think of trying to tell people what they can do on THEIR property, but that’s what is happening here.
In the first note left they stated as vegans, the smell of cooking meat coming from the open window was too much for them and made them feel ill. In the note they were threatening to “report” the neighbors for cooking with the window open. Report to whom? The police? It’s not illegal to cook in your own home.
They also took offense to the BBQ she had hosted, no doubt due to a similar aroma. The neighbor, Kylie, planned a Coronation Party, and many of the guests were in her backyard. They also BBQed food for the party. The party was planned prior to her neighbors sending her the first note and she obviously wasn’t going to cancel the party because they didn’t want her cooking outside. Again, the vegan neighbors left Kylie another note telling her the party affected them due to all the people making noise and because meat was cooked outside.
The number of vegans and vegetarians is rising all over the world, and plant-based meat alternatives are in almost every grocery store in America now. And many of them are really good! I love a good steak, but I do try to limit my intake of meat so that I can be a bit healthier. That said, never would I consider telling my neighbors that their cooking offended me and that they should stop. What folks do in their own home and on their own property in regard to cooking is their business.
Since this story is in Australia, there are different rules. There is a law in Australia that will punish the emitter of an odor, but only in a few cases. If the smell is chemically harmful or causes heath issues, the emitter would be at fault. It’s doubtful that the smell of cooking fits this ‘offensive odor’ law though. Even some vegans and vegetarian are taking the side of Kylie. Of course, there are people saying the note was polite and that closing a window to make the peace is worth it.
Personally, I agree that closing a window for the sake of peace might be worth it. But I think the issue here is that the vegan neighbors are just expecting people to do what they ask. A note may not have been the best route to go. Maybe the neighbors should have walked next door and spoken to Kylie about closing the window when cooking. As far as the BBQing outside goes, the vegans should take their own advice and shut their windows! It goes both ways.
Since this story is going viral on social media, folks have opinions. Most people agree that Kylie has the right to cook what she wants, inside and outside. Many people commented that respecting people’s values and choices goes both ways. And I agree! I used to have a yearly Christmas party when I was married, and I have a few close friends that are vegetarian. I’d always make sure to make a few veggie dishes just for them. Never did they ask that I don’t make dishes containing meat.
What would you do if you’re neighbor was cooking something that you didn’t like smelling? You can see the notes here.
A letter from a vegan neighbour asking a resident to close their window when cooking meat has sparked fierce debate.https://t.co/uGhYnWhXaq
— news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) May 8, 2023
