For example, if you asked most people, "is it wrong to rape someone?", they would probably say yes. Most of them wouldn't ask a bunch of questions to qualify the answer. They wouldn't say, well, in the 1850s, it was probably okay. They would probably say yes, rape is always morally wrong. If you asked most people, "is it wrong to blow torch a dog (as Gary Francione does in his excellent book, Introduction to Animal Rights: Your Child or Your Dog?) for pleasure?", they would probably also say yes. Most of them wouldn't ask a bunch of questions to qualify their answer. They wouldn't say, well, if it were a dachshund or a poodle, I might feel differently, or if they're going to eat the dog, then that's fine. They would probably say yes, blow torching a dog for pleasure is always morally wrong.
And yet, if you asked most people, "is it okay to enjoy the benefits of these processes or the processes themselves?", many of them wouldn't know what you're asking exactly. If you asked, "is it okay to eat hamburger, drink milkshakes, ride horses, wear leather?" and so on, they would probably think that either you were asking them a trick question or about to try to them a free magazine. They don't understand that the results (the burger, the boots, etc.) are unavoidably tied to the process (animal use), and that all animal use is wrong, regardless of whether they taste good, look good, make us laugh, etc. But still, most people already believe that it's wrong to harm at least some other animals (human are non) independent of the context in which that harm occurs. What they don't understand is the connection between the process and the result, and they don't understand how to act on the relationship that this information poses; they don't know how to act on their own views.
So, why aren't they all vegan, then? Lots of people have beliefs that they don't understand very well, and even if they do understand them, they don't act on them very consistently. Moral character isn't naturally occuring. It takes works and practice. When it comes to nonhuman animals, when it poses us the slightest bit of inconvenience, we rush to make excuses. They're just animals, some will say. We're human beings and that makes us special, others will say. It's just a little, still others will say. Yet, the truth is, mostly people don't really believe any of these claims very firmly, and others will be unsure of what it is they believe exactly. They know that's what they're supposed to say and that that's a safe answer. That's what they've been coached to say over and over again by a culture that teaches them to love some nonhuman animals as persons but that it's morally fine to use others.
As advocates, how do we help people to understand better what it is that they already believe, and as important, how do we get them to take action on their beliefs? How do we get them to go from a subjective, irrational and passive relationship with nonhuman animals to an objective, rational and active one? The answer, of course, is education. But not all attempts at educating others are equally good. Telling people to go vegetarian and other indirect approaches are harmful to the interests of nonhuman animals. Moreover, losing our temper and harassing people are very unlikely to encourage anyone to go vegan or to stay vegan. We have to draw out the views others already hold, help them understand those views more clearly, and motivate them to act on those views. The question is, how do we do that?
First, we have to understand that most people will be very resistant to change. That's normal. No one likes to think of themselves as a murderer or friends and family as murderers. They will a) not want to hear about it b) make excuses and rationalize their own behavior, c) reconstruct their own immoral choices as moral choices if there's the slightest opportunity for them to do so and d) look to you to forgive them for, and expiate their guilt with respect to, their choices. Don't let them off the hook; help them get the burden of animal use off their backs.
Remind them that a) veganism is not frightening and the changes are easy, b) that they will probably be happier living a simpler life where they don't use nonhuman animals, and c) remind them that it doesn't matter to the dog or to the woman if they are treated well when they are raped or blowtorched: all animals (human and non) have an interest in continuing their lives and not being harmed. Make it clear that there are alternatives, that the alternatives are readily available and that there is nothing weird about taking the rights of nonhuman animals to be harmed seriously. If anything, it's deeply weird (and, of course, immoral) to think it's morally fine to torture nonhuman animals just because they taste good, look good or make us laugh.
Second, be prepared for common fallacies. Some people will put these forward sincerely as questions and some people will put them forward in order to try and antagonize you. Be disciplined. Respond to everyone patiently. For example, some people will argue that other nonhuman animals eat other nonhuman animals, why shouldn't human people? This is an appeal to nature. The simplest way to respond to this is that if a dog humps your leg or if a human stranger humps your leg, the first is an inconvenience, and the second is a crime. Human beings form moral intent, whereas other nonhumans cannot. Lots of things happen in nature between nonhuman animals, and it's irrational for human beings to justify their moral actions on the basis that 'it happens in nature'.
Others will appeal to the Bible: the Bible says it's okay! Others will appeal to the population: but most people eat meat! Others will argue that one person's veganism makes no meaningful economic difference. If you can, do your best to counter these arguments, but also do your best to try to understand whether or not the objections being made are being made to have a sincere discussion or to shut you up. If someone is trying to shut down the conversation, politely move on to someone who is interested in hearing more. For some people, it may take a very long time for them to be convinced, and your time is better spent talking to people who are ready to have a meaningful conversation about veganism.
Third, don't be prejudiced. The guy in the business suit who eats meat three meals a day may be more receptive to talking about veganism than the vegetarian crust punk who eats happy eggs. This may seem counterintuitive, but many people stop thinking about veganism the moment they feel they've solved their moral problems and fulfilled their moral obligations with vegetarianism or 'happy' animal products. Moreover, lots of people are interested in hearing about how they can relieve themselves of the moral burden of nonhuman animal use. Veganism is good news, and when you assume that it isn't, that people don't want to hear about it, or that they're too dumb to understand it, that sells yourself, nonhuman animals and other human beings short. It's also elitist, and reflects confusion, bad faith or both.
Fourth, don't be so defensive. People ask questions when they meet someone who has what they take to be a 'non-traditional lifestyle'. They're curious. Some of them will be annoying about it. Try to remember that nonhuman animals are who's important. The difficulty of answering a few questions when it's appropriate to do so is very small when compared with what many nonhuman animals face. Be brave for them! Moreover, consider that its not just your obligation to say something, it's your right to say something. Free speech isn't just for patriarchal white supremacist speciesist asshats: it's also for feminists, anti-racists and vegans. Science, reason and compassion are all on your side. Most of all, though, if you have trouble talking to people, practice, practice, practice.
Fifth, role play difficult conversations with friends and family. Subject them to talking with you about veganism (even if they're already vegan). Get them to humor you. Make them think up crazy objections to veganism and think about the answers. Ask other abolitionist vegans how they would answer. Read Francione's blog since he answers a lot of these kinds of questions. Try changing the topic of conversation back to what you want to talk about. Try your mack out. Repeat it. Practice it. Win the hearts and minds of friends and family, and when you have, move on to others. One of the most difficult challenge any vegan faces is not knowing how to answer a question. If you face a question you can't answer, just say you don't know. More important, once you've practiced how to respond to common objections with your entourage, you won't be flummoxed when you get out into public. Most people will start the conversation for you by asking "so, why are you vegan?" This is your opening! Seize it!!
Sixth, don't let others provoke you. There are a lot of childish people in the world who don't take morality of any kind (and not just veganism) seriously. Society rewards them frequently for immature behavior. They'll do their best to rain on your parade. Yes, that sucks. Yes, it wears us all down. But don't give up. Retaliate by being the resplendent moral person that you are and remember that if I could be educated, so can other people. Veganism is (or at least it should be) a community of people who think for themselves. You're not alone. I hope to be here for a long time to tell you to toughen up, to think about it when the swelling goes down, and to get the thumb out of your mouth. It's not because I'm mean. It's because I have faith in you. There are others just like me, and there will always be others long after my fingers are too frail to type.
Seventh, most of all, try to remember that most people already believe that we owe nonhuman animals some moral consideration purely because they're persons, too. They are, after all, fighting through years and years of social conditioning to try to understand that what they believe applies typically to another human being, a dog, or a cat, also applies to a cow, a chicken, a fish, a sheep, an elephant, and any other animal. It's not just a revelation for many people; it's a change of years worth of habitual thinking. Many of them won't really understand the idea that nonhuman animals shouldn't be used as property. Once they understand that, they won't understand necessarily that veganism is the absolute moral baseline to respecting that right. But you can change their minds. Many will also be scared of the unknown the same way that you are. They won't understand just how much you're asking them to change and how it will affect their lives, and that will provoke hesitation. Worst, they won't understand how easy the change is and how much happier they will be once they have made it until they've done it. They'll need some cheerleading and encouragement, and you can help them by explaining these things.
If we take nonhuman animals seriously, then our work is mostly that simple. It may seem complicated or daunting, but it's like phoning for job adds or apartment classifieds. It's the first few calls that are the hardest and after that, it gets easier, since we've cultivated a habit of knowing what to say. Still, it can be emotionally draining, repetitive work, but it's nonviolent mass movement that provides the basis of all lasting, meaningful social change, and most of all, if nonhuman animals can't rely on you to speak for them, who can they rely on?
Over the coming weeks, I hope to answer more questions about how to respond to the sometimes difficult questions that get raised in pratical work in a series of blog articles. If you're not vegan now, you should go vegan. If you're already vegan and you're not an abolitionist, you should definitely check out Introduction to Animal Rights: Your Child or Your Dog? and Gary Francione's blog. And if you want to learn more about how to be a more effective activist, feel free to find me on Twitter or Facebook and ask questions or pose scenarios and I'll do my best to include the more common questions in future articles.
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