Don’t look so surprised

Saturday 23rd October 2010
Vegans might privately feel angry, feel judgemental, think all omnivores stupid … but we have to stop right there – we shouldn’t show our feelings too readily … because it’s so easy to knock people down, that’s the very reason we shouldn’t be tempted to do it. The only thing that really works here is good natured exchange (foreign to many!!). It starts with tolerance and then moves on to NOT being a pain in the arse. Obviously vegans pontificate but if we do it we’ll be shut out if we seem people-haters or too intellectual. If we are going to be hated let it be from mistaken identity. However good our arguments it’s not necessary to seem too cock sure of ourselves. To shake that complaisant image (unfair though it is) we can try listening, (even they speak rubbish or they’re obviously misinformed). To shake it further we can drop that standard ‘shocked and surprised’ look. Further - skip the anger … no, not totally avoid it but just add it like salt and pepper to food - good for effect, for adding some drama, but give too much and everything is spoilt. Anger looks cute in kids but sad around grown ups. Animals don’t feel the need to get angry except with offspring. They just aren’t like that, so why do we have to be? Anger and judgment - I once heard the worst-ever indictment of judgement - that it (value-judging) was nowhere to be found in the universe, except here, amongst humans. Angry humans.
Who needs anger? If we can’t keep it in our pants we’d be better off keeping quiet, staying indoors … we can’t do too much harm if we’re calming down with a nice cup of tea.