Two types

[Montyruth]

There's a parable in the Bible (and no, I'm not a complete bible basher but this is relevant) where a sower sows seeds and some falls on stony ground, some on soft ground etc. and the stony ground symbolises the listeners who are only surface listeners, the good ground the listeners who take heed and change for the better etc.

I have found with being vegan that when people ask about why, and I tell them, and explain about the real dairy story, the reality of what happens to calves and male chicks etc., it's the same. I am a teacher and sometimes explain my beliefs to my kids (when they ask). Some stare wide-eyed and obviously horrified. But they don't change. Adults react the same way.

Some people almost take a pride in being hard-hearted. It's the weirdest and most disturbing reaction, when people laugh and say something like: 'the animals are below us'. Or, 'yeah but I don't care cos meat is so nice'. Why are people so hard?

The reason I'm posting is because I wonder sometimes how many people are ever likely to 'convert'? For many years I was a closet vegan because it's not my way to trumpet my personal decisions. But then I realised that I owe it to myself and my own sense of ethics to be honest and open about my convictions. The animals wouldn't thank me for putting other people's comfort zones before their terror. So now I'm straight about it. But I feel like I'm up against a world that doesn't give a toss. Or worse, DOES, but clearly not enough to change anything.

Have other members ever managed to successfully influence others? Have you changed them? I myself was changed by my 12 year old daughter, so I know it can be done.

Would love to hear your stories as a new member.

Ruth

[manzana]

Like I mentioned in the vegan flag topic, I plan to fly some colors as I run my ten miles around town simply to get people's attention and give them a positive image to associate with the word "vegan" (which will be on the flag). Otherwise all they might see are food and gas signs in between the billboards. Well that's about all I can do for now, offering myself as an example to people who may not otherwise be exposed to the idea. Not that I'll likely know what they think of it (unless an angry mob is chasing me). :D

[Gliondrach]

People are very resistant to change unless they are ready to change or they can see a clear benefit. Some people become veggies or vegans in an instant but others take time. I took time to become both even after I knew of all the horrors.

A lot of people still believe we need some animal products to stay completely healthy. You can show them evidence and pictures of healthy vegans but they'll find excuses and say the examples are not representative of most people.

Keep sowing the seeds. Some will germinate, but you can't tell which ones will. Some seeds can lie dormant for years but then burst into flower.

[Vinnie]

Yeah a lot of people say meat is too nice to give up. Just keep plugging away at them.

[Ayashi Foxtail]

I guess I'm Chenli's convert! lol

[Kimberlily1983]

I don't get it, either. I don't get how people can recognize the wrong in one instance, then shrug their shoulders the next. :(

[Montyruth]

I guess it really is like any oppressive regime. People KNOW it's happening but they've been so conditioned to detach from the reality that they still don't make the connection because they can't and don't have to see it.

I give my dog leftover raw bones from the butcher (they are free and I would not pay for them). My thinking is that she is a dog, a carnivore, and I have a duty to her to give her what she should naturally eat. I wouldn't actually choose to have a pet dog nowadays but she is still with us from my meateating, unthoughtful days. My point is that meateaters come to my house, with me a committed vegan, and are totally repulsed if they see the dog chomping naturally and heartily on a raw bone. They think it is utterly disgusting. But they eat meat themselves! And they STILL go home and eat a burger! What is with people???

I wish the world would change!!

[Bowwowmeow]

Some people almost take a pride in being hard-hearted. It's the weirdest and most disturbing reaction, when people laugh and say something like: 'the animals are below us'. Or, 'yeah but I don't care cos meat is so nice'. Why are people so hard?
This I will never be able to understand. I was given birth by a hard hearted, cold, unloving woman, and as a result of this I simply can't be like her in any way. Not even because I object intellectually. It's like I have no choice but to be the exact opposite. She hurt me so much and caused me so much pain I can't stand the thought of being like her and treating others the way she treated me.

I never had anyone try to persuade me that other animals were any different from me, in all the ways that matter, so when I speak of "others" they are always included.

[manzana]

I guess it really is like any oppressive regime. People KNOW it's happening but they've been so conditioned to detach from the reality that they still don't make the connection because they can't and don't have to see it.

I wish the world would change!!

I suppose that if more people become advocates of veganism and celebrate its higher level qualities of freedom and happiness, then it will occur to others around them that there's something positive about it.

So be proud of yourself and show others the way...