Putting people at ease

If vegans do have the chance to speak about animal rights, the fewer flowery language we use the easier it is to simply exchange information and ideas. If we can move on from making our listeners feel uncomfortable each time we bring this subject up, the sooner we can win a reputation for being sensitive and interesting and shed the one at the moment which is intimidating, guilt-inducing, not very well informed and not interesting. In other words, if we show respect for people listening to us and then continue to open up doors for them to walk through, we’ll be bringing them deeper into the issues almost without them noticing. That may stop them wanting to retreat half way through what we are saying. Our job isn’t to make up their minds for them but to let them take in what we say which, afterwards, thinking about it, helps them come to their own conclusions. If we can ease their suspicion of us, our advocacy can be of great service to them. Bottom line: it’s the way we talk about these difficult issues that counts. It t helps us educate more effectively.