Turning Nasty

2021:

In public, some vegans protest in the streets (or in the media) for Animal Rights. In our fierce fight for ‘rights’, we mightn’t leave room for ideas, like ‘having all-round-respect for animals and humans alike’.

In our daily interactions with people, it’s this one small weakness that damages the reputation of the animal advocate. It’s one of the main contested issues within the Animal Rights and Vegan movements - how we appear to the general public, how our words are couched, and how we deal with contentious issues sensitively. Same say “go in soft”, others like to throw their metaphorical fists about. The whole process of communicating effectively is what we are surely all about?
Here are omnivores listening to us, hearing  about our interest in Animal Rights, asking themselves whether we are people they can identify with. It rests with a gut reaction – about vegans – whether they are violent or non-violent by nature.
If we use ‘emotional blackmail’, we’ll succeed in proving that others are WRONG but we’ll be remembered for the humiliation we cause when we show how others are wrong or make them feel foolish.
An omnivore listening to a vegan can feel like being vomited on by a drunk. Whenever listening, how can the omnivore be certain the vegan’s views are going to be expressed in a reasonable way. As vegans, if we come across as fierce, we may reinforce that old familiar evangelical image. Whatever the subject, when we get steamed up about it, it’s the outrage that sounds so ugly and ridiculous.
Vegan shouts: listener cringes. What the listener does NOT do, is say, “That is so true and from this moment on I will join you in your outrage”, especially if they have a ham sandwich in their lunch pack!