Post 1970, post 2010

However much we learn about this subject, we’re always disappointed by what’s being picked up by others. In our society for all the ugly human dealings with animals, we still won’t recognise animal rights. It’s as if omnivores (animal-users) either know nothing or care nothing about this subject. It is evicted from thought so that most people don’t even know they don’t care.
Either way, we animal advocates are missing our target. We’re not convincing people about the need for the liberation of animals. Until vegans reach-out rather than push-away, nothing will change. By becoming more professional (less oikish) in our approach we become more reliable. Then we seem safer as people and what we say more likely to reach them. Obviously, if we just let things work out how they will, if we simply leave it to them to find out, they’ll be side-tracked by other issues (which are nonetheless important issues).
As activists we vie for attention-space. Every advertiser and sloganeer shouts for attention. We need to be different. We need to stand out as that much more responsible, professional. Unless we stop waving our arms about, until we move past the shouting stage and get closer into hearing range, people will look the other way. They’ll be seduced by those who ‘do it’ better than we do.
Admittedly, we start with a distinct disadvantage in the first place. Unlike the save-planet-save-children causes, which can appeal to self-interest, ours at first can’t (perception-wise). Ours just looks like hard work. It’s a tough message.
We need all our skill to help it along. Erm, we don’t need to capsize it by alienating omnivores. We’re supposed to help them along, ease their perception-worries, so they’ll be able to pick up on what we’re saying.