Is veganism a foot in the door towards effective animal advocacy (EAA) and donation to EAA charities? Maybe it’s an easier sell than getting people to donate while remaining omnivores, because it’s easier to rationalize indifference to farmed animals if you’re still eating them.
Maybe veganism is also closer to a small daily and often public protest than turning off the lights, and as such is more likely to lead to further action later than be used as an excuse to accomplish less overall.
Of course, this doesn’t mean we should push for EAs to go vegan. However, if we want the support (e.g. donations) of the wider animal protection movement, it might be better to respect their norms and go veg, especially or only if you work at an EA or EAA org or are fairly prominent in the movement. (And, the norm itself against unnecessary harm is probably actually valuable to promote in the long-term.)
Finally, in trying to promote donating to animal charities face-to-face, will people take you more or less seriously if you aren’t yourself vegan? I can see arguments each way. If you’re not vegan, then this might reduce their fear of becoming or being perceived as a hypocrite if they donate to animal charities but aren’t vegan, so they could be more likely to donate. On the other hand, they might see you as a hypocrite, and feel that if you don’t take your views seriously enough to abstain from animal products, then they don’t have to take your views seriously either.
Is veganism a foot in the door towards effective animal advocacy (EAA) and donation to EAA charities? Maybe it’s an easier sell than getting people to donate while remaining omnivores, because it’s easier to rationalize indifference to farmed animals if you’re still eating them.
Maybe veganism is also closer to a small daily and often public protest than turning off the lights, and as such is more likely to lead to further action later than be used as an excuse to accomplish less overall.
Of course, this doesn’t mean we should push for EAs to go vegan. However, if we want the support (e.g. donations) of the wider animal protection movement, it might be better to respect their norms and go veg, especially or only if you work at an EA or EAA org or are fairly prominent in the movement. (And, the norm itself against unnecessary harm is probably actually valuable to promote in the long-term.)
Finally, in trying to promote donating to animal charities face-to-face, will people take you more or less seriously if you aren’t yourself vegan? I can see arguments each way. If you’re not vegan, then this might reduce their fear of becoming or being perceived as a hypocrite if they donate to animal charities but aren’t vegan, so they could be more likely to donate. On the other hand, they might see you as a hypocrite, and feel that if you don’t take your views seriously enough to abstain from animal products, then they don’t have to take your views seriously either.