Anger

814: 

Vegans might privately feel angry, feel judgemental, believe all omnivores are stupid, etc. … but we must stop right there. We don’t need to show any of this just to prove we feel passionate about what we are saying - it’s just too easy to knock someone down with anger. At the time, it might feel good - it’s like letting off steam.  But it works against us in the end. The only thing that really works with omnivores is good natured exchange. (Don’t forget, we’re not trying to get people to sign the pledge here, just get them to see the animals they eat or use differently).

Our views, when being expressed, should be peppered with statements of tolerance and non-judgement. We should always be aware of not being a pain in the arse, evangelical-wise. Veganism is heavy medicine, and needs to be dispensed in small doses, at first.

As soon as we launch our case, we can expect suspicion, dismissiveness and even hostility. So, obviously, as advocates for animals’ rights or as representatives of vegan principle, we shouldn’t get hostile. We are supposed to be peace-lovers.

Probably every vegan today, at one time in their life, disliked what veganism stood for, even though at the time we might not have been fully aware of what the idea meant (apart from its meaning of abstaining from ALL animal-based foods). For me it was like that. “Vegans are weird, spoilers, self righteous ...”. I distinctly remember that it was the same before I admitted to myself that I was gay. I was revolted by other gays. How strange! Of course, I don’t feel that way now! But I did then. How, when you get the full picture, perceptions can change.

As vegans we mustn’t ever act hostilely towards ‘non-vegan people’ if only because we were that way ourselves, once. (Almost all of us, excluding those who were brought up as vegans). We need to keep a sense of proportion here. However good our arguments, we can still seem as if we’re up-our-selves. We can easily forget how we come across as being righteous, being right, being highly self-disciplined, etc. We get a reputation for looking down on those who can’t cut it or who don’t agree with us. To shake that image (unfair though it might be) we need to get rid of that ‘shocked-surprise-raised-eyebrow’ look. We need to drop the anger too, even though anger can be okay, but it’s like the salt and pepper in food, it’s good for dramatic effect but too much spoils everything.

I doubt if animals use anger. And while we’re on the subject, it’s the same with judgement. I doubt if animals ‘do’ judgement either. Vegans think they can get away with showing anger because they have so much to be angry about – we being self-appointed ambassadors for animals (and there being so many animals being put through so much unimaginable torture). Surely, we say, that’s worthy of getting-angry-about? But, why waste all that emotional energy on anger. Why spoil good relationships by imposing our value judgements? It might make us feel good at the time but it’s not helpful for communicating our point of view. And it’s surely a reputation-killer.