this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2024
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I doubt that you find a lot of people that enjoy killing pigs as implied by the smiling guy your comic. I think nowadays almost no one ever killed an animal or saw one being killed in real life. Most people just buy meat from the butcher or supermarket and try to ignore where it's coming from.
If we want veganism to grow, I don't think it's helpful to discredit those you'd like to change as fundamentally evil people. If 'we' don't want to be seem as the annoying, extremist vegans, we shouldn't declare 'them' as heartless, evil murderers.
Maybe just my personal opinion, but I saw the meme geared more towards the slaughterhouses themselves rather than the consumer individually. On the subject of slaughterhouses, the meme is a lot truer.
Slaughterhouses have a VERY high rate of problems, both in their practices and amongst employees. While I would describe employees as victims of circumstances in many cases (for example, they’re more likely to suffer an injury on the job than the average worker, or have high rates of alcoholism and drug addiction,) they also have a high rate of engaging in a lot of abuse towards the animals they’re killing, or in domestic violence at home. It’s often seen as a consequence of the emotional toll of the brutal conditions animals are in slaughterhouses. Most of these places completely ignore animal welfare laws.
Here is the wiki article on slaughterhouses, I know a lot of people poo-poo wiki since anyone can edit, but if you have any sources or evidence that is contrary to what I said, I’d be very interested in reading it, since I haven’t really encountered any.
Again, maybe it’s just me that sees something different than everyone else, as I never think of the individual consumer as being malicious - I really saw this as about being those that are actually in the factory farming business (whether as an employee or as a CEO.)
I see where you're coming from. For me 'completely normal person' implied that the comic refers to normal consumers and not a tiny minority. If it's targeted at slaughterhouse employees that enjoy killing animals then we're talking about a) a really small part of society and b) noone that would be considered a considered a normal person by the mainstream.
I'm completely on board with you that most and especially the bigger, industrialized slaughterhouses are horrible places. But I think also the majority of non-vegans agrees on that. And I also don't think that every employee working there is inherently an evil person. At least in Germany these jobs are paid extremely poor and as very few locals are willing to do that work, the industry exploits workers from Eastern Europe who desparately need the money to support their families. I doubt that these people enjoy what they do. And out of the few psychopathts who do, there's for sure a decent share that turned sick because of their violent job.
They’re still paying for the system, that’s still complicity in the murder of sentient beings.
Ever bought literally ANYTHING that is made in China, Bangladesh, India etc.? Oh what a monster of human being you are as you are clearly supporting child labor, slavery, horrible working conditions and destroying the environment with harmful chemistries!
Ever drove a car? Down to hell with you and the fossil fuel that's running through your veins!
Eating vegetables or fruit? Maybe even from non-ecological agriculture? So you obviously enjoy deforestation of the rain forest and poisoning all these innocent insects and birds!
I could continue that list like forever but I think you know where I'm going.
Veganism is not about being perfect but about reducing harm as much as possible.
I support better labour practices and public transit and active transport.
We need to report on the flaws of plant agriculture.
I think we agree that veganism is not the only aspect of morally superior behavior.
And I'm 100% sure that we can reach more people by including rather than shaming them. Bring vegan cake or cook for your coworkers. Show them that there's more than just bread and water. Invite them to a vegan restaurant. If someone tells you that they're trying to reduce meat in their diet, praise them for their efforts rather than reminding them that they're still causing harm drinking milk.
Positive affirmation is such a powerful tool whereas blaming is mostly divisive and increasing defensive behavior.