It’s interesting to observe how some people react when interacting with others who try to minimize the harm being done in the world. Non-vegans react quite strongly when a vegan makes the case for why we ought not to be using animals for food, clothing, entertainment, medical testing and other things. Visit any “animal issue” forum site, or the comment section of any major news story about animal rights or a vegan way of life, and you will see what I mean.
Our use of other animals is intertwined with our self-worth and self-identity at a very deep and fundamental level, and to even entertain the notion that such use is morally wrong can be profoundly unsettling. The more I think about it, the more I realize that veganism isn’t so much about the other animals, it is about who we know, accept and want ourselves to be.
The biggest challenge we face, then, is one of trying to find ways to communicate our message such that we create safe spaces in which others can consider their own lives in relationship to all the other lives around them. A space where others do not fell threatened or judged, talked down to or preached at. Being right – having a consistent, logical, well-considered and well-reasoned argument – is vital, but it doesn’t matter if we are right when others won’t listen, or when they cannot hear.
When others do not want to hear what we are saying about how we all need to change our relationships with other animals, it isn’t their fault, it is ours. When the audience doesn’t think the comedian is funny, the audience isn’t to blame. When the movie fails at the box office, the studio can’t blame the public. The people producing the message bear the responsibility of crafting the message such that it resonates with it’s intended audience.
It doesn’t matter if we are right. We must become better messengers.
5 Comments
Nice post, Tim. I particularly appreciate the sociological points, of course, and I think you are “spot on,” as we say in Ireland. On the “message crafting” point, there is a balance to be struck here. Social movements need to move people as well as try to tap into existing beliefs, so we cannot start speaking to people in an entirely alien tongue (some people say that the rights-based position does exactly that and so they stick to welfare themes “that the people understand”) but, on the other hand, we have to challenge the orthodox and traditional to bring about social change.
At the end of this chapter: http://roger.rbgi.net/avoiding_unpleasure_and_evading.html I reproduce Stephen Clark’s “Devices of the Heathen” which “amount to reasons, justifications and excuses, and are (or have been) a handy resource for factory farmers, meat eaters, vivisectors, bloodsports enthusiasts, animal circus proprietors and customers, and a host of others wanting to make some usage of animals and their living and dead bodies.” I guess I’d throw in that list “animal welfarists” and “vegetarians” if I were to write it now.
Here Clark talks about how conventional thinkers defend themselves in eight different ways. I think you’ll be interested in what he says but I think he’s certainly indicating that no social movement can “merely” pander to prevailing norms and values.
I think, therefore, that we have to “push the envelope” – or whatever the latest phrase for expressing this idea is nowadays – but do so in a way that does not leave our potential audience(s) in a position in which they can easily turn away from our messages. That does mean, however, taking them out of their comfort zone in which no change is likely to occur.
Hi Roger!
Thanks for the comment and for the link; the chapter “Avoiding Unpleasure and Evading Knowledge” is fascinating. I found this bit particularly interesting:
Reading about the 8 “Devices of the Heathen”, particularly the sixth, it’s hard not to be pessimistic about our chances to bring about the paradigm shift we are seeking. But, we will press on regardless, won’t we?
tim
Tim, I’m with you four trillion percent (rounded up) for the difficulty of promoting Veganism on news stories and threads where we would *think* it belongs! For example, I’m constantly in the “Pets and Animals” section of my countries most popular website, and do you think the majority believe Veganism to fit there? “stay on the topic, the issue is how awful it is that one Dog was set on fire, now pass me the Chicken flesh” ….
I try my best to be calm, to “respond, dont react” as Gary Francione has mentioned, but its rather frustrating. Sometimes I get a little acerbic with others, to the point of saying “if you think one Vegan promoting Veganism, the respect for *all* is “forcing X down your throat”, have you considered the 56 Billion land animals killed each year? (PDF link) What about the television advertisements you see around meal times? Do you think that I, as a Vegan, ring the Broadcasting Standards Agency in tears each of the three times a night a”KFC” ad comes on? ”
I dont think being rude like that helps much though! I find it unfair that anything that may (and will) be taken as a “prod” at NonVegans is verboten, yet am expected to handle the “you MURDER plants! You’re a bad bad man!” etc comments. In NZ at least, to be endlessly upbeat (how I normally am) is seen as “Spamming” or being PC, as our providing links to other resources! Never mind that I may well have a list of bit.ly shortened links on my iPhone, and type each Tweet etc “by hand” during my work breaks.
Particularly interesting is how if I sound like I’m “on my own” on this one, as if I’m having *gasp* original thoughts of my own, then I’m *clearly* and oddball, and not to be believed! Yet, by quoting from others, always with a link, then I “cant think for [myself]” and just “copy and paste” from others!~
I try not to see it as being my success or failure if others kill animals after I’ve spoken with them about Veganism. Generally, I’m as friendly as anyone could be, to the point its taken as insincere, yet at least PUBLICLY, in the vast minority.
Over time, with more Vegans who promote Veganism (such a “divisive” idea!), more people will listen, think for themselves, and decide to be Vegan on their own accord. I dont see myself as an activist having “notches on the bed post”
- “I think, therefore, that we have to “push the envelope” – or whatever the latest phrase for expressing this idea is nowadays”
Roger, its “fwd tha email”, you’re welcome :^)
Hi Jordan!
Thanks for your comments. It is difficult to frame one’s message to suit one’s audience when it often seems that one’s audience is hell-bent on misconstruing and misinterpreting everything that is said, no matter how it is said. I know, because of the work you do on your blog and in your podcasts, that you understand probably as well as anyone that there is a whole group of “lurkers” who never talk to you, but who listen to what you say, and how you say it. I admire your ability to use humor, and to weave stories and news reports into your writing in a way that, I am sure, so many find as engaging as I do. For every one person who takes exception to what you say, I willing to bet that there are 4 or 5 who are realizing that you are speaking the truth, even if they can’t admit it yet.
tim
“fwd tha email” – that’s not very good, now, is it? OK, young people, you can do better than dat!
One Trackback/Pingback
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by maggie b, Vegan Valkyrja. Vegan Valkyrja said: RT @timgier: It doesn't matter if we are right: http://wp.me/pKYQZ-yX [...]
Post a Comment