Effective Vegan Activism? RE: Vegan Gains Video

[TheVeganAtheist]

Anyone else see this video produced by Vegan Gains? https://youtu.be/WJzw7SeVnHI

This kind of activism really rubs me the wrong way. I feel that it would result in more animosity towards vegan and veganism then any positive effect on the patrons of the restaurant. I posted a series of remarks in the comment section of the video, and I have received all manner of support and anger.

I feel this kind of activism is childish and short sighted. It appears that a lot of new vegans full of passion and anger are all for "sticking it to them 'murders' (as they put it)". I feel that we need to remember what it was like to be those people (most of us at some point ate animals and didn't think twice). This would totally put me off of veganism if this was my first exposure.

While this might work for some people to get them vegan, I would imagine it would make more enemies then converts.

Thoughts?

[Lightningman_42]

I agree with your points. I read the comments that you left under the video as well as your conversational exchanges with others. I think your analogy described it quite well. I can't find it anymore but I think you said it something like this:

"If a group of people in favor of gay rights walked into a restaurant full of right-wing-conservative-evangelical Christians, and loudly preached about how homosexuals are deserving of equal respect and legal rights to heterosexuals (and furthermore that homosexuality is in no way sinful or shameful) how would their message be received?"

No matter how important and truthful a message is, it will be useless if those who present it do so in a way that disgusts and turns off the very people whom they're trying to educate. Most of all this video makes me wonder how much the protesters actually care about animals. If vegans are aware of the harm done upon animals by humans, and want to reduce it as much as possible, then it's important to convince nonvegans to stop contributing to it. This can be most effective if vegans educate people who show interest, by presenting factual information about the problems with animal agriculture, and providing more ethical alternatives. It's important to do so in a manner that will actually capture the audience's attention, and make them want to learn more.

It appears that a lot of new vegans full of passion and anger...

Vegans can and should be passionate about the cause they're promoting, and I'd be surprised if they honestly weren't angry about what humans are doing to animals. Now if this passion and anger stems from a genuine concern for the well-being of animals, then it's important for us vegans to use it to actually help animals, not piss off their oppressors regardless of the consequences (which are not good for animals).

[brimstoneSalad]

Yeah, that kind of stuff is embarrassing. Just watching it, I feel embarrassed for them.

You have to give them one thing: That takes balls.
But I don't think it's very useful.

[knot]

I had to mute it when they started it chanting, it became too cringy :X.I like when vegans troll and confront meat eaters in public, but stuff like this is probably why some think vegans = radical feminists or religious nut jobs. If they had been smarter about it then it might have been more effective. Though I am not sure how to possibly do effective activism in that setting

[tobyvacher]

Absolutely horrendous.

If the people you're trying to talk to are laughing at you, that's a clear sign you're doing it the wrong way.

This is a great article about not shaming other vegans, but I think all the points are equally important for not shaming meat eaters.
veganstrategist.org/2015/10/05/shaming-vegans-harms-animals-melanie-joy/
Give them the facts in the right way, and let them make their own decisions. They'll realise their own guilt and shame for themselves, so they don't need angry activists forcing it on them when, in their minds they're "just trying to enjoy a nice meal".