Holding the interest

If the days of speaking in public, standing on a soap box are dead we may need to communicate in a different way. It’s a more intimate age today. And this subject having such a complex network of arguments doesn’t allow for slogans to deliver it. We need to be able to talk intimately about animal rights, even on a one to one level, introducing issues during an intelligent conversation. So, when talking casually-almost, this subject of animal usage might come up. The first thing that usually arises is one’s status in this development. If you’re a vegan it’s generally known that we do significant things that others don’t do. Status differences may be impossible to deal with, but if it isn’t destructive it may provoke an interest:
“You’re a vegan then?”
“Yes”
“Why?”
“It’s what I feel passionately about”
As soon as the significance of that mixes in with what is already known about veganism, interest may fade. As soon as it sinks in that we are supporters of animal liberation it may be overwhelming. They might regret asking the question. They may say something to stop us going any further, by changing the subject. Or they might go the other way, and try to provoke us:
“You’re what?”
It’s interesting how vegans can respond to this, by then making too sure they understand what a vegan is and boring them.
Ideally we get a green light. Gingerly, they might respond well by asking us to explain:
“y….e .. s, go on …”
Now, this last response, if sincere, is so rare that it usually takes us by surprise … but we need to be ready for it. By being prepared to say what we stand for and why, they can be made to feel quite comfortable, not assaulted by what we say.
But how effective is this approach? - how do we say what we want to say both casually enough and informing enough? How can we do it without confronting? How do we answer a question in such a way that leaves the other person interested and better informed but not put off?