I agree that veganism is getting in the way of animal advocacy. This post makes great points about how veganism alienates the vast majority of humanity. And to me, veganism’s effect on the majority of humanity is actually just the tip of the iceberg of the problem of how veganism harms animals:
To people in the meat, egg, and dairy industries, veganism is worse than alienating. It’s a direct threat. To someone who makes their living in animal agriculture, the word “vegan” can sound like an attack. “Vegan” can sound like, “I am boycotting all animal products because I want you, your company, and your entire industry to go out of business. I want you to fail at everything you’re trying to achieve and lose your livelihood. I hate you, all your colleagues, and your family. I think you are all fundamentally evil.”
That’s not a very friendly message to hear. It doesn’t open a farmer, farm worker, or ag executive up to want to collaborate with animal advocates. It doesn’t open a poultry-industry veterinarian up to want to consider an animal advocate’s perspective. Imagine how scary it would feel to hear a message like that. Imagine how little you’d want to network with, collaborate with, or be influenced by, someone who sends you that kind of message.
Meanwhile, the best thing for animals would be maximal collaboration and communication between animal agriculture and animal advocates. Farmers, ag executives, and others in the meat, egg, and dairy industries are the ones who have the most power to influence animals’ lives for the better. They are the most important audience for animal advocates to speak with. And they are the most important people for us to learn from. So why should we animal advocates constantly threaten them each time we open our mouths?
I agree that veganism is getting in the way of animal advocacy. This post makes great points about how veganism alienates the vast majority of humanity. And to me, veganism’s effect on the majority of humanity is actually just the tip of the iceberg of the problem of how veganism harms animals:
To people in the meat, egg, and dairy industries, veganism is worse than alienating. It’s a direct threat. To someone who makes their living in animal agriculture, the word “vegan” can sound like an attack. “Vegan” can sound like, “I am boycotting all animal products because I want you, your company, and your entire industry to go out of business. I want you to fail at everything you’re trying to achieve and lose your livelihood. I hate you, all your colleagues, and your family. I think you are all fundamentally evil.”
That’s not a very friendly message to hear. It doesn’t open a farmer, farm worker, or ag executive up to want to collaborate with animal advocates. It doesn’t open a poultry-industry veterinarian up to want to consider an animal advocate’s perspective. Imagine how scary it would feel to hear a message like that. Imagine how little you’d want to network with, collaborate with, or be influenced by, someone who sends you that kind of message.
Meanwhile, the best thing for animals would be maximal collaboration and communication between animal agriculture and animal advocates. Farmers, ag executives, and others in the meat, egg, and dairy industries are the ones who have the most power to influence animals’ lives for the better. They are the most important audience for animal advocates to speak with. And they are the most important people for us to learn from. So why should we animal advocates constantly threaten them each time we open our mouths?