Cruel or funny: We have 2 fasting muslims in the office?

Question

The lady who sits opposite has a fruit bowl on her desk and a packet of cakes that suddenly appeared this morning. The boss (lapsed muslim) has ordered a cooked lunch so the office smells of food. How would you describe their behaviour? Antagonistic, funny, cruel, or something else.......

Answer 1

If they usually do this then no problem but if they are doing it to wind up people fasting for religious beliefs then its a bit childish.

Live and let live

Answer 2

Disrespectful? Islam does not respect its own followers and kills even family members for such, as looking at other man

I used to work with one on a restaurant.

it was insane..the cooks would ask like 10 times a day, what would he like to eat

Answer 3

I've lived in muslim countries (UAE) where people get told off by the police for chewing gum on the roads during ramadan.

Why are people only concerned about muslims ? I eat beef in front of hindus in my office and they have no problem.

If eating during ramadan is not against your company policy I'd advise you to do nothing, we are not living in a sharia state yet.

Answer 4

Petty, childish and disrespectful is how I would describe it.

Answer 5

Would it be funny to take an atheist and cover their office wall with crucifixes, drape a rosary over their computer monitor, and tell Mormans and Jehovah's Wineses that he was interested in talking to them?

If your a jerk maybe.  I know people who would think it was funny. Not fundementalists.  Atheists actually.  But jerks no matter what they believed or not.

Answer 6

if the offended parties want to bare this silently you should honor that..blessed are the persecuted for his namesake includes muslims..you have to pick your battles.. spiritual matters have a way of working themselves out.  pray for harmony and compassion..good luck.

Answer 7

a little cruel, but funny. let's see how many people put racist.

Answer 8

If they're doing it on purpose, it's assholish.

But, people do eat...  If it's just the normal course of the office life, it's normal...

Answer 9

Unless they do this everyday then I'd say at best they have a serious lack of respect for other people's religions and at worst are racist.

Answer 10

Fasting is a personal decision. As a matter of fact, it should not be broadcasted that one wants to fast as it is a time of reflection. If that person has a job, the co workers can't be expected not to eat.  

Answer 11

Would depend on the people its being aimed at, we used to do it to my friend and she thought it was funny (well thats what she said)

butothers might get offended and think you were insulting their relgion...

God I have respect for them, I can't not eat. Ever. Mmmm...

Answer 12

I tell you what is petty and cruel - a god that would force his followers to behave so stupidly. There is not point to it - no point at all...

Answer 13

Do you always have a fruit bowl, cakes, hot lunches?  If so, it's not cruel -- it's your usual day to day behaviour.

If you all are just doing this because they're fasting, then it's mean

Answer 14

funny

Answer 15

Incredibly cruel, if the muslims have been on a fast for a long time they are probably very very hungry. If you have a fruit bowl on your table it's not that bad, unless you eat the fruit noisily every time one of the muslims come past, and the SMELL of cooking food is incredibly cruel.

Although it probably is quite entertaining seeing their faces as the smell of freshly cooked food wafts up their noses...

Answer 16

Well, if they are intentionally doing it, it's cruel.

Answer 17

Could be a deliberate thing...or it could just be a coincidence.  My boss and his wife are Muslim and they observe the fasting requirements of Ramadan.  I know that I'm careful to respect their feelings and try to remember not to eat in front of them or do anything else that might make it more difficult for them...but most of my colleagues don't do the same thing.

Perhaps the lady in question went to the doctor recently and he told her that she needed to eat more frequently...the fruit and cakes are for her benefit...to remind her to eat.  Perhaps the lapsed Muslim boss ordered a cooked lunch because he was hungry or had a craving for something he didn't normally eat.  

It certainly could be a deliberate attempt to taunt your Muslim co-workers...I know a few people that would do something like that just for kicks...but I would tend to give them the benefit of the doubt that their actions are, at worst, inconsiderate and at best, completely coincidental.

Answer 18

If this is being done intentionally then it is sad.

Of course, those fasting must accept that the rest of the office members will eat though, and should not demand they eat elsewhere.  

Answer 19

I would describe their actions as inconsiderate, but unless you can demand they remove their food then their is nothing you can do, and highlighting it may bread more of the same actions from others.

The Muslims who are fasting may actually find the challenge more rewarding because of this inconsiderate behaviour so if you are concerned talk to the Muslims before deciding on anything else to do

Answer 20

Maybe these people just want to eat? If I worked with a muslim I don't see why I should change my habits to suit them. It wouldn't be unreasonable just getting on with life. I wouldn't try to terrorize the person by deliberately winding them up but hey we are a multi faith world so I'll get on with my life and everyone else can do whatever they want so long as it doesn't interfere with me. Sounds fair enough.

Answer 21

If it's done on purpose, it's rude and very childish. I wonder why people go out of their way to be mean?

Having said that, I used to fast as a Christian (I'm now atheist) and I knew that fasting was difficult and full of temptation.  I took responsibility for that and didn't expect others to make it easier for me.  Possibly your coworkers feel that way too.

Answer 22

If they are doing it deliberately I'd say it was quite cruel, however, if not deliberate then I'm fine with it. Why should we all bend over backwards to keep the peace for one persons religion?

I certainly wouldn't skimp on my lunch because of it and if i wanted a cooked one i'd have it.  It is afterall their own choice to fast.

Answer 23

I have to say, despite my disagreement with the Muslim faith, that that is just rude. You (not you specifically but the person or people behind these things) may not agree with their beliefs, but it is their constitutional right to exercise them without interference or ridicule.  

Answer 24

Cruel and totally disrespectful.

Answer 25

I would call it just having lunch. I try and stick to lent and if I am tempted in any way or break the fast then thats down to my weakness nobody else.

Answer 26

Well it's certainly not funny.

Disrespectful in the least, and possibly bordering on harassment.

Answer 27

I fast as a Christian, and i would say that it would make me stronger. I think though that if they are Christians, and are behaving that way then they are missing a wonderful opportunity to share the love of Christ with them by their actions ftowards the lost.

The world is cruel, that is an example of it right their, just let them know you don't agree with their childish behavior.

Answer 28

When they shall say:

Peace (be upon you) and safety (in their Law worketh Wrath),

then sudden destruction comes Back<--Firing on them: 1Th 5:3;

And as F5 L-w Harvestors cut a swath a mile wide, 20 miles long,

I wouldn't get too close to any of them Peace & safety they sayers,

whether they be Is-Lamb-ic, or Jew-ish, or even so-called Christians.

Nor would I accuse or condemn them & be self-condemned thereby,

if law judging others is "inexcusable" behaviour, with consequences.  

Answer 29

Everybody has the right to practice or not practice his/her customs without interference.  This means that the fasting people cannot prevent you from eating or doing anything with food that you would do normally.  Meanwhile, you should not tempt them with food just because it is disrespectful to both the fasters and their religion.  Although you are not morally obligated to so, I would recommend not eating while they are near you if you can do so without much inconvenience.  Remember, these people work with you every day.  You don't want to end up with angry coworkers.  

Answer 30

How do you know they are fasting?  The way fast are suppose to be held only God and the person fasting are to know.  Still if they are true to their fast then food put in front of them should not be a problem.  If the lady has food frequently then I would do nothing.  If not it is still her right to have food at her desk unless there is an office policy against it in which case you need to enforce the policy.

Answer 31

Jeremy Paxman surprised me recently, when he said that you should not attack someone else's Faith. I'm with him.