The communication game

1808:

       

Once we can clean up our act at home (establish a vegan kitchen for example) it’s a good start. It’s good for the kitchen, for the body, for the mind, for the animals, etc. But the trap is ready to spring shut on ‘me’.

I consult the mirror, and what a fine image I present - a complaisant vegan, ready to climb into the pulpit and tell everyone I meet what sinners they are, and how I’ve seen the light, etc? What a great figure of fun I’d be, if I tried that stunt.

If we want to be taken seriously, any hint of that must disappear. Preaching and pontificating is exactly what others expect; they might want to see vegans as old-time evangelists, open to easy mockery. It’s much harder to ignore someone you like and respect, who isn’t tub-thumping.  So, there’s a balance to strike here. Our aim, as vegans and advocates of animal rights, is to be likeable, genuine and capable to field ALL questions or accusations. Then we can be direct and even a little self-effacing, yet come across as being clear about where we’re coming from. If we can strike the right balance, it will show in our confidence in communicating. Naturally we want to talk about animals, food, abattoirs, as well as our dreams for the future and fears for the present. Naturally we’ll want to share what we know with anyone who’ll listen.  And ultimately we’ll be aiming to build a strong support base for animal liberation.

But here’s the rub – that sort of support is not going to be easily won. It can’t be sped up. It can’t be disassociated from the exponent. So we must therefore balance our passion and outrage with compassion and patience.

This isn’t simply about passing on information, as if we were explaining the mechanics of a car engine. We are speaking to those who idealistically opposed to everything we stand for, and have to be to maintain their very lifestyle.  Today, we have to recognise that the punter is sceptical, immune to information that might well be misinformation.  You can’t blame people for being suspicious, especially when they know the whole of the world is thoroughly linked to the use of animals.

Which is why, at this early stage in the development of a new consciousness, we must speak simply and be transparent. If we have anything serious to say, our ideas should be based on facts that can be easily checked.  And in that regard our opinions will be fairly black and white, requiring a simple agreement or disagreement. But in the end it comes down to an emotional exchange, and as presenters of arguments we must try to be likeable people. With whom others can easily identify.