Hypersensitivity

1715: 

Edited by CJ Tointon

We usually know what people are into by what they want to talk about. If they like football and you dislike football, try not to mention the sport unless you want a blow-by-blow description of the last game played! It's the same with charity workers. If you volunteer your time to sponsor some worthy charitable cause, you'll probably want others to know about it. Even using subtle overtones, your generosity usually shines through. We like to boast about the work we're most proud of.

People involved with great causes are lucky if they find people to talk to about 'it'. But with 'Animal Rights' and 'Veganism' that sort of luck is almost non-existent - especially amongst 'olds'. For me, it's unlikely I'll find anyone raising this guilt-laden subject with a 'known vegan'. They know the danger. They know that ethical vegans know just how to make non-vegans feel uncomfortable! 

Vegans are usually passionate and enthusiastic talkers on the subject. But even if we only say half of what we could say, it's usually too much. We must hold back, if only to counter the unfortunate reputation vegans have - that we find it difficult to 'zip our lip'.  Vegans often feel like exploding with frustration, so we go on the attack. Ultimately though, we know it does no good.

It's very difficult to deliver our incontestable reasons for being vegan - not because we're confused about them, but because no one is asking!  Nor are they asking why animals need to be liberated, etc., etc. When an enthusiastic vegan starts to talk about this subject, you can hear the groans. If we are asked to say something, we need to be quick - usually much quicker than we'd like to be. We have to say whatever we have to say with patience, respect and non-boringness (in that order). One single fact about animal husbandry might be enough to digest at one sitting. If there's a genuine question being asked, then a throwaway line might be all that's needed. The value of what we say is in its power to act as a catalyst. In the end, however, Going Vegan is a very private matter and one's 'status' is one's own business.

Discussing Animal Rights in depth with omnivores is just not going to happen! Not a proper discussion anyway. We must be brief with our opinions if we want to gain peoples' trust and have them reform their opinion of ethical vegans. No diatribes, sermons or lectures. This subject is far more sensitive than any other subject on earth. Most people know what's going on, but they don't do much thinking-for-themselves, content to draw their strength from Normality. Their confidence comes from their safety-in-numbers. We are talking to those who are hypersensitive to personal criticism, especially regarding animal farming and animal eating. They're on the defensive. We might never attack them directly, but for the average omnivore we're no less dangerous for that. We set the standard because we know that communication channels wither fastest at the first hint of getting personal. And we can so easily make this look personal!

It's rather like a parent trying not to be destructively authoritative with their teenage son or daughter. They are trying to establish a safe channel for discussing any subject without closing down or inhibiting the young person wishing to talk through their thoughts. And it's especially important for them to be able to trust that the parent won't embarrass or stamp on them.


It's this sort of careful handling of our subject that we're considering here. We have a job of tending huge numbers who still can't imagine what it's like being 'Vegan'. These are the ones most hypersensitive to our comments about diets and food and attitudes to animal use.