Two forces

In advocating for animal rights there are two things going on at the same time: we are trying to advocate for the animals but we are also trying to come across as an acceptable and rational human being. On one level we need to seem just like the rest, not better than anyone. On another level we want to stand out and have what we are saying taken seriously. Some would say this is impossible to pull off, given the subject - Animal Rights is an unpopular cause which will make us unpopular. That’s something we just have to face.
We are torn between two forces here - being ineffective but acceptable or saying “to hell with social acceptance, better to be disliked than ignored”. Two forces: either we stand up for what we believe and feel good about it or we compromise to gain the support of others. It’s our choice. But it does rather depend on who we are talking to. It means observing them and then deciding on our approach.
Some days I just go along silently with whatever happens. I don’t speak out. I keep smiling and everyone likes me. Other days I bite, and I can see how it affects people who might have thought I was a sweet guy. One day I’m cowardly, the next I’m violent.
We might ask ourselves how we are ever going to turn attitudes around when we don’t dare to speak up. These days if your voice is too soft no one will hear you let alone listen, let alone pay attention. If our message gets lost it matters because there is such a massive a shift needing to take place, if we want to see an eventual abolition of animal slavery. We need so much support for that to happen so we can’t afford to waste any opportunity to communicate with others.
But how do you make people want to listen to you? This is the eternal question. Be too sweet and they won’t take us seriously, be pushy and they’ll run away. Either way we lose our opportunity, but the price we pay in losing our friendships is too high and a solid enough reason not to be too outspoken. So maybe we don’t try to convert friends and family but confine ourselves to speaking in public; being outrageous, dramatic and courageous when we’re most exposed. That will hopefully have the effect of stopping us becoming too aggressive in our overall approach, both to friends and strangers, whilst still being effective with our message.