How to Discuss Veganism Online

Nov 30, 2020

"Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light."
-George Washington

Determine Your Audience

First things first, you need to know who you're talking to, and I've found there are three general categories: trolls ("Veganism is stupid"), PC police ("Stop shaming people"), and intellectuals ("Your argument is invalid"). If they're a troll, then please go visit "Dealing With Trolls & Anti-Vegans," and if they're an intellectual, check out my Standard Arguments Against Veganism series to learn more about how to answer the more legitimate issues people bring up. Today's post is geared mostly for the PC police, though it can also be useful with certain cases of intellectualism.

Confronting the Police

To be clear, I'm not totally anti-PC, but what these people don't understand is that activism, and animal rights activism in particular, is always going to offend someone. To them, anything you say against carnism or speciesism is a personal attack on their character, and they feel threatened by you. This has been and always will be the case when people are confronted with their own hypocrisy.

These kinds of people will almost never address the actual issue for which you're trying to raise awareness; they will always attack your character, your manner of speaking, your method of activism -- in their minds, you will always have done something wrong. They do this because they can't allow themselves to consider your argument; that would mean they'd have to actually think about what you said instead of just reacting with a reflexive defense mechanism.

Before I was vegan, similar to probably every other pre-vegan, I avoided watching any kind of animal agriculture footage, but if someone had just asked me why I did that, I wouldn't have an answer. Though I knew I was a good person and an animal lover at heart, I wouldn't want to admit to anyone, and especially to a vegan, that I was wrong. Just remember that even if they fight tooth and nail against whatever you say, there's probably a battle going on inside their minds, even if they won't admit it to you.

Stay on Target

When you are in a conversation with a carnist, they will keep trying to use other excuses to justify their position. The trap I often fall into with this is that sometimes I don't even realize I'm going off course and getting dragged down into their endless cycle of justifications. Instead of trying to rebut all of their excuses, think to yourself, Why did I make this post? or Why did I leave this comment? What is the message I'm trying to get across?

If you want to discuss why dog parents are morally inconsistent by loving their dogs but eating other animals, then don't get dragged into the discussion of any other issue. You aren't talking about impoverished people in food deserts eating whatever they can afford, or people hunting seals in northern Canada, or the actions of any person other than the one with whom you're interacting. Keep the conversation focused on their actions and why they aren't vegan.

Craft One Question

When I'm creating posts for Instagram, I find it helpful to come up with one question that I can ask any carnist that comments, regardless of the excuse they're trying to peddle. No matter what they say, I want them to answer my question. For the example of dog lovers, I'd keep asking them what the difference is between dogs and other animals that justifies loving dogs and killing others. Once they answer that question (in a logical and justifiable manner), then we can start discussing other areas of concern they may have.

One of the basic rules for trial attorneys is to never ask questions to which you don't already know the answer. The same principle should be applied with outreach; you don't want to get caught asking questions of which you aren't absolutely confident you know the answers. (Of course, sometimes you will be asked questions that you can't answer, but you don't want to be the one initiating that kind of discussion. It's ok to not know everything, but don't start outreaching on a subject with which you're unfamiliar.)

Why It's Effective

One important reason why this method works so well is because you don't give off that same know-it-all-vegan vibe as you do when answering questions and providing information. It can seem like you're genuinely interested in the answers they have instead of just telling them they're wrong. When I've gotten into conversations when I don't use this approach, I often feel like the driver of a car combating with another person over the steering wheel; it's chaotic and stressful. But with this method, it's like I'm on autopilot. I don't have to think too much about responses, and I can let them do all the work. At the end of the day, they need to convince themselves as to why veganism is the most sensible option.

Ending a Conversation (Part 1)

Unfortunately, as with all things, this method isn't totally foolproof. That doesn't mean it isn't working as intended (remember that even if they don't tell you, their gears are still turning and processing what you said), but it can be frustrating when you're trying to outreach with someone that just won't have any of it.

For instance, I was going back and forth with a girl on Instagram, and I had asked her the same question three or four times, and she kept responding with all these different excuses about every reason under the sun why all people can't be vegan. Instead of continuing the conversation, I decided to respond to a few of her arguments, providing resources as I went. For the health excuse, I said that humans are herbivores and cited NutritionFacts.org, The Game Changers, and What the Health. For the humane excuse, I mentioned a few standard "humane" practices and urged her to watch Dominion, Earthlings, or Land of Hope and Glory. And for the "they're already dead" excuse, I briefly explained how supply and demand works. Lastly, I simply asked her to check out the resources I shared and learn more about the industries she's supporting, and as this was before the election, I felt it poignant to point out that she votes with her dollar every time she buys something. Luckily, she said she would check out the sources I provided, and I have high hopes that she began making positive changes in her life.

Sometimes, all you can do is provide people with some information and hope they will be intrigued enough by the points you made to start learning for themselves. We can't force people to be vegan, because they have to ultimately make that choice for themselves, but we can push them in the right direction.

Watch Your Tone

Generally, I keep my tone polite and keep my responses informative instead of snide or spiteful. (If I feel myself getting angry, I put my phone or laptop away so I can think about what kind of reply would be most effective, and then I return once I've calmed down. I don't want to be a "hysterical vegan.") Of course, the specifics of how you initiate conversations and how you respond will depend on your strengths and preferences, but I've found that this method works well for me.

Also, I try to agree with them as much as possible. When I post things against wool or fur, non-vegans claim that it's the best available option when the alternatives are environment-polluting synthetic materials. So, I tell them that I agree that synthetic materials are terrible and should be eliminated, but then I rebut their argument by saying that animal farming, even for non-food animals, is one of the top contributors to water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, land use, ocean dead zones, etc., and isn't that worse, or at least comparable, to synthetics? I want to find common ground with them so they can see me as somewhat of an ally instead of an absolute adversary.

Ending a Conversation (Part 2)

Oftentimes, people don't even respond once you start asking questions because they don't have an answer that won't incriminate themselves. However, some people just want to argue. Though they may not be trolls, they could be intellectuals that think they know everything there is to know about the issues, or they could keep trying to argue that you're being too aggressive with your approach. (I can't tell you how many times people have asked me to not use certain hashtags, like #meatlover or #leatherjacket or #cheeseaddict, because they're offended by what I'm saying. Like, obviously, that's why I use those hashtags -- to infiltrate their speciesism.)

When it comes to people like this, it's often best to ignore them or, if you're already in a conversation with them, just leave. It's never a bad idea to leave them with a few facts or a question and some resources, but with people that just want to argue, it likely won't be as effective. (It can't hurt, though!) Don't waste your time on people that aren't willing to have a civil conversation.

Do What Works For You

At the end of the day, you are the best judge of what kind of online outreaching will work for you. These are simply some tricks I've picked up along the way that I found best suit my style of activism. I don't like confrontation, so I had to find a way to confront people without being overly confrontational. But the most important thing to take away from all of this is that doing anything is better than nothing.

be conscious, be kind, be vegan