A subject like no other

752:

A ‘refusal-to-consider’ this matter of animals deserving to have ‘rights’ is defensiveness, but understandable.

I remember, years ago, trying to talk up the idea of veganism with a group of hostile listeners - I knew the subject was very controversial but at first didn’t realise that it was quite unlike any other controversy, about something like politics or religion. This was a highly sensitive matter. It went right to the heart of a person’s philosophy and lifestyle. It was like trying to discuss the person’s mental health with them. While my arguments seemed reasonable, the idea of conforming to them was just too uncomfortable to face up to. The last thing a meat-eater wants is to discuss it … while, of course, a vegan wants very much to discuss it. And since the non-vegans are very much in the majority the strength of numbers make it an okay subject to avoid.

            Given half a chance, vegans will do anything to promote vegan principle, but our methods of persuasion often make non-vegans go into reverse – what might seem to me a ‘good idea’ becomes a ‘not-so-good-idea’ when you don’t want to hear about it. ‘Veganism’ is one subject that can turn even our friends unfriendly.

This ‘good idea’ might seem simple at first but it trails behind it long, stinging tentacles that frighten people.