There were some concerned queries about my post on abstaining from beef, so I'll like to clarify about it. I just object to pointless gestures at the expense of losing one's own identity, due to the excuse that it will make someone else feel better. I dated the same guy 2 more years after I gave up and declared myself a beef-eater. After I began to stop eating beef upon his initial protest, he didn't really bother about it though it took a conscious effort from me to abstain for so long. :) At least the cows were safe from me during that interval.