A family’s handwritten note to their neighbors about a cooking issue has sparked debate.
Sarah, a wife and mother living in Burns Beach — a suburb in northern Australia — took it upon herself to write a handwritten letter to her neighbor. Her concern? The “upsetting” smell of cooked meat drifting from their window.
In her message, she asked the family next door to take what she described as an “important message” seriously. What followed was a request that some found a little unusual.
The note starts with the line: “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,” it continues. “We would appreciate your understanding. Thanks. Sarah, Wayne & Kids.”
According to the Daily Mail, the letter made its way to social media after being posted on the Hey Perth Facebook page.
Online, opinions quickly clashed. Many people disagreed with the vegan family’s request and felt their tone came across as “entitled”.
Someone else chimed in and wrote: “They should go live in the bush. Everyone cooks and some smells I can’t stand but that is outrageous.”
A third person shared their thoughts too: “As a resident of Burns Beach, I quite enjoy the smells of peoples dinner while taking the dog for a walk & guessing if people are having roasts, bbq’s, curries etc…I’d do a spit roast in the backyard & invite Wayne & Sarah over for a beer.”
Another person was more frustrated with the wave of “hate talk” that popped up online whenever someone dared to have a different perspective.
“This hate talk back and forward is embarrassing. Everyone has different points of view, different ways to live,” he wrote. “I enjoy meat but I see the way this post is socially shaming and creating more riff and I’m disappointed that this is how we are choosing to raise our children and showing them how to behave.”
