This feeling extends to opening gifts, being the recipient of any sort of party or recognition, and delivering any kind of news that we know may bring with it a line of intense questioning. Neither of us is very good at defending our decisions, not because we don’t believe in them, but because the attention immediately drives us to this place of awkward misery that we can’t seem to climb out of.
“Why aren’t you eating bacon?”
“Umm… actually I don’t really eat meat.”
“Oh you’re one of those vegetarians. I don’t see how people can live that way. Why don’t you eat meat?”
“Uh… well, kind of environmental and animal rights reasons.”
“People have been eating meat for thousands of years! What do you even eat if you don’t eat meat? Do you think animals really have feelings? Do you think one person not eating steaks is going to save the world?”
“Never mind. Pass the bacon.”
Lately I’ve been trying to think of a good response to those lines of questioning that make me uncomfortable – where I’m forced to defend parts of my life that really don’t affect anyone but me, but it’s obvious that people have already made their judgments. My first thought was “F*** off!” Just crudely surprising enough to throw people off their game, but sadly not all that clever. “None of your business” is so cliché. “This is not a decision I have taken lightly, and I enter into it knowing full well the consequences, but I understand if it is not a choice you understand” is true, but it has no zip.
I guess that I’m at a loss and open for suggestions. In the meantime I guess I’ll just continue my awkward, half-assed explanations.
1 comment:
When someone asks me a question I don't feel like answering, like "why do you do *whatever*?" I just say "reasons" and stare back at them until they feel uncomfortable and look away. So I guess the question is, would you rather feel awkward or have people think there is something seriously wrong with you?
Personally, I like your first idea.
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