Not sure where to put this question.

[jackrussellgirl]

This is sort of a strange question but whenever I tell people that I have guinea pigs they make some remark about eating them. Yesterday one of my friends told me to fire up the BBQ! How rude is that! I never know what to say but I get really upset. What should I say to people that tell me to eat my pets or make some rude comment about killing and eating them?

[Tatalp]

Tell them that you don't appreciate "jokes" like that. Ask them if they think it would be funny if somebody made a joke about eating their cat or dog.

[MetallichicA]

I get that all the time. I've learned to just say, "HAR, har, har" really snotty, and since it obviously didn't get a rise out of me, they drop it.

[jackrussellgirl]

Even my own family does it. My sister told me to take them outside and drop kick them and she proceded to give a demonstration!!! (Not with the real GPs of corse.) She kept going on until I started crying!! No kidding. I'm still really pissed at her.

[weta!]

Just tell them that dogs are eaten in some Asian countries. I get it all the time from my neighbour (who I trust to feed my boys while I'm away). Try not to let it bother you - they are, after all, ignorant people who haven't discovered the joys of being a cavy slave . . . yet.

[MetallichicA]

If they know that you'll get upset, then they'll tease you. Just blow it off, people will be like that. No sweat!

[VoodooJoint]

I'd just ask them if they went to a special school to become such an insensitive bore or if it comes naturally.

[Faunn]

My dad always does that with my piggy and rabbit. But he's stopped....For now...^_^

[Piggiemum]

I agree with MetallichicA completely, don't get upset, it just encourages them and they think that is funny.

My brother in-law recently got back from 2 months of labor-intensive volunteer work in South America where they ate guinea pigs like we do beef and pork (you can find them in fast food places). He knew we loved piggies and promised not to try them, although there was lots of pressure and he got teased a lot about it.

[Martini]

Originally Posted by jackrussellgirl

This is sort of a strange question but whenever I tell people that I have guinea pigs they make some remark about eating them. Yesterday one of my friends told me to fire up the BBQ! How rude is that! I never know what to say but I get really upset. What should I say to people that tell me to eat my pets or make some rude comment about killing and eating them?

I know that feeling. I get that at work all the time. Fortunately i'm also their boss so i just get them back by giving them the jobs no one wants to do. Haha, a small amount of revenge never hurt. =)

[tattooyu]

I get that all the time too. My best defense? Say nothing and just glare at them. Don't laugh, don't smile, just glare...and then walk away.

[Trace_n_Ripley]

My boss, who likes to pick on me (don't worry -- he gets it back!), made some dumb "joke" about eating my girls a while back and the cool thing was, I didn't have to get him back -- before I could say anything, the secretary who sits across from us made some dry comment about his having PMS that day. She and I both laughed ourselves silly!

[Aertyn]

My dad always makes really insensitive jokes about that sort of thing, he's such a jerk, when we tell him to shut up, he laughs and keeps going on about it. And he wonders why we don't like him. Honestly, for a guy as smart as him, he can be a real idiot (all the time!)

[CapuPebbles]

I get that too. My dad sometimes say to me yummy, yummy. I just don't pay him no mind. I know deep down he does not mean it. I also had co-workers making remarks about eating my piggies. I just see it as ignorance.

[VoodooJoint]

When my husband decides to make those stupid jokes I hold the GP (or rabbit) in his face (which he hates) and say "Eat Me!". But, as you may have guessed it's not in the literal sense.

[KjerstiMoo]

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

When my husband decides to make those stupid jokes I hold the GP (or rabbit) in his face (which he hates) and say "Eat Me!". But, as you may have guessed it's not in the literal sense.

That's hilarious!

But I must admit I do the occasional joke about that myself. When Love asks "what's for dinner", I sometimes reply "pigs" (in norwegian, pork is called "svin" and guinea pigs are "marSVIN". Ordinary pig as in the animal is called "gris"). Or, if we're barbequeing, I'll say "let's take Monster, there's more meat on him". It's just joking of course, I would never harm my pigs. But I don't take it so seriously, coming from someone who knows I love my pigs. If a stranger would say it, UNjokingly, I would be pissed.
But personally I get more annoyed when people call my piggies hamsters. Why is it so hard to tell the difference? Hammies are tiny furballs who make noise all night and piggies are furry tubes with brains that eats stuff and sleeps.

When it comes to people actually eating piggies, I think it's their choice. It's the national dish of Chile or something like that, and it's just as common as us eating pork. I don't think the issue is WHAT animal people eat (as long as it's not endangered), but how the animal is treated beforehand and how it's put down. If they've been treated right and humanely put down, I don't mind people eating it.
But I would never try eating piggies myself.