Im skeptical that the new trend of screaming at people who are eating a chicken sandwich at a restaurant is effective but I applaud people who care enough to use their voices and I appreciate their advocacy. There is room for all different kinds of approaches in the movement. When I talk to people about eating animals, I give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they dont know about the horrors of animal agriculture, its impact on climate change, and the fact that they dont need to eat animals to survive. I give them that benefit of the doubt because when I ate animals, I didnt know and I considered myself an animal advocate and environmentalist. I also embrace peoples incremental steps towards compassion because I know it almost always leads to more progress. This is a suggestion -- not a criticism: If you want to enter a restaurant to talk to people about eating animals, consider using a more friendly approach that may include an inspiring and passionate message that people may respect and hear. It can still be loud but consider disarming the customers by making statements such as, You may not realize that... and Im here to help you learn what I learned about... Think about the most effective classroom teachers you had as a student and consider emulating their best traits because thats what you are as an animal advocate: an educator. Also, consider inviting customers to take some literature from you outside the restaurant if theyre interested in learning more. If someone walked into a restaurant when I ate animals, screaming and crying, Im not sure I would have understood or listened. Sadly, to many people, it just looks crazy and fills a tired narrative about the unhinged animal rights activist. Its important that we consider how were perceived by others since this isnt about making ourselves feel good; its about being effective. Again, I want to emphasize that this is a suggestion and an opinion. Im not telling anyone how to advocate. You can do whatever you want. Scream louder and cry harder if thats what you think works but please consider my feedback. This is my advice based on 24 years of advocacy for animals. Ive learned a lot from my own mistakes.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 04:14:33 +0000
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