A vegan family in Burns Beach, a northern suburb in Australia, has sparked a neighborhood commotion over their neighbors' meat cooking habits.
Armed with a penned letter, wife and mother Sarah took a stand against the "upsetting" smell of cooking meat wafting from the house next door.
In her letter, Sarah appealed to neighbor Kylie, expressing her concerns and making a somewhat unusual plea, writing: "Hello, Neighbour. Could you please shut your side window when cooking, please?
"My family are vegan (we eat only plant-based foods) and the smell of the meat you cook makes us feel sick and upset. We would appreciate your understanding. Thanks. Sarah, Wayne & Kids."
According to the Daily Mail, the contentious letter found its way to the Hey Perth Facebook page, sparking a virtual tug-of-war amongst netizens. In fact, the post has since amassed more than 400 comments from divided Facebook users.
Many took issue with the vegan family, condemning their behavior as "entitled".
One indignant commenter shot back, writing: "I would fire up the smoker and do a 12-hour brisket, with a sausage sizzle for lunch thrown in. Entitled much." Another added, "They should go live in the bush. Everyone cooks and some smells I can’t stand but that is outrageous."
A lot of other people - and I mean a lot - also suggested heading over to the road and having a BBQ.
Yet, others found Sarah's request both civil and rational. "Why all the nasty comments?" one person asked. "I'm a meat eater, but she was polite and respectful in her request and it's not hard to close a window. Why not just be a considerate neighbor and close the window, rather than turning it into a big issue?"
Another user pointed out the negativity surrounding differing opinions. "This hate talk back and forward is embarrassing. Everyone has different points of view, different ways to live," they noted, urging for mutual understanding and community spirit.
And this person agreed, wiring: "Just tell them no and move on from this subject. There's no need to shame your neighbours over a polite request they sent you in a letter."
This suburban showdown leaves us with an intriguing question: was the vegan family's letter reasonable or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
