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When I first learned of Twitter, I asked the question most of us probably did: "What's the point?"
Of course, it consumed me and I've been relying on Twitter to get the word out on a lot of my projects and thoughts. Twitter is quick, simple, and highly visible to say the least.
A platform on vegan advocacy
My regular readers have noticed I push for something called "microactivism." To some, "activism" means putting on a show, holding up a sign, shouting into a megaphone. But none of this does any good without dialogue. Though it won't get you a picture in the newspaper, dialogue is one of the most effective means of vegan advocacy.
Initiating dialogue can be difficult, however. You can't just walk up on the street and ask people why they aren't vegan or throw statistics in their face. Opportunities need to be created.
Recently, I've been experimenting a bit with Twitter search. I currently have keywords like "trying to go vegan" and "switch to a vegan diet" saved to watch those who blurt out their intentions into the Twittersphere.
Vegan advocacy has a stigma of belonging only to those with fantastic public speaking skills and a will to go out to face insane mockery. However, there are loads of people out there who are ready and willing to go vegan. What are they waiting for? They're waiting for you.
For one reason or another, they've been tuned in to the suffering of animals and want to respond accordingly. Unfortunately, people who only mean the best have recommended these individuals go vegetarian or eat more "humane" and "ethical" meat. The Google results for "how to go vegan" and "animal rights" aren't any better. Animal rights ideology and dietary issues are new concepts to these good souls. We as ethical vegans have a great responsibility to lead these people in the right direction.
Suffice to say, I've found it tremendously simple to nudge our friends into expanding their thinking and giving veganism a serious try.
-Maybe I can help you with that. I screwed up many times before I went vegan completely but I did it and never looked back
:How did you do that? It so hard. The first day was fine for me, then after it really kicked in LOL.
-It's certainly different for everyone. I see you say you're a "meat lover," in that case, I would suggest adding protein rich vegan foods. Have you tried tofu, tempeh, seitan?
-Also as a general tip, the best way to kick the foods you crave is simply to stay away but you need something to replace
:Thank you for the tip. I am so guilty, I just had french toast LOL, I am gonna try tofu for a bit.
:I had eggs and tuna today, but haven't had any other meat and won't. I am really trying LOL.
-Remember, only you can make this decision for yourself. But I will help you along the way as much as you want
:It's tough, especially I am the cook of the family. Nobody wants to give up meat LOL. I will join some forums for sure.Thanks :)
(Still keeping up with this user. Give her your encouragement: @SavannaStarla)
:Cracking movie, so sad though. I want to go vegan, I keep feeling bad about the dairy cows...
-I know what you mean, man. I went vegan a few years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. DO IT! I'll help you
(if you agree, let @JoelDTD know!)
"Vegevangelism"
Some have accused hardy advocates like me of "vegevangelism" saying that I am "forcing my beliefs on people" If you are such a person who refrains from talking to others about vegansim, I want you to know that advocacy does not require any forcing of beliefs. Vegan advocacy is about helping people with the beliefs they already have. It's as easy as answering questions and all you need is a computer, a pen, or a voice.
Potential vegans are out there. Who will respond to them, you or their meat-waving idiotic friends? Think about that.
Comments
Wow! That's an awesome idea, to look up people who are trying to go vegan. I just did that after reading this article and started a conversation. :)
Twitter is definitely raising my awareness! My diet is veering toward raw and vegan through the help of my growing tweeting family. I definitely am terribly concerned however of what will become of the martyred domestic animals if people stop raising them for consumption? Did adopt a cow work? We need to rethink the grossly inadequate distribution of our land ratio to animal and human. I imagine it would be helpful if society could pull itself together to treat people humanely as well.. Oh gosh, what I mean is Twitter roks! VeGaN PoWeR!! Git the good word out! xo
"Vegan advocacy has a stigma of belonging only to those with fantastic public speaking skills and a will to go out to face insane mockery."ROFLOL
I think the aims of vegan activism are gr4et. Not yet vegan myself, I spend a lot of time working on behalf of farm animals. I find myself dismayed by those who are consdescending to people at earlier stages of change. The Animal Activist's Handbook is great, but can't resist suggesting that if you eat a piece of fish or an egg, your ethical shortcomings match you to those who live on Big Macs. Likewise, carbon footprint fanatics suggest that if you fly once a year you might as well stop recycling etc, because you are a filthy polluter. As for vegetarians who eat the occasional piece of cheese...special fires in hell await.
I'm not personally offended by these tactics, but I've been around long enough to know they are highly counterproductive.
The sanctimonious can be deadly boring. No offense, I'm just saying.
pati, who is being sanctimonious here? The Animal Activist's Handbook was written by leaders of PETA and Vegan Outreach, organizations this blogger doesn't even support (I certainly don't). Perhaps you should be complaining to the people who wrote that rather than perfectly respectful Tweeps.
The idea is to no longer bring animals into this world in order to be our property. So there would be no animals "left" to take care of.
Great article Adam...I'm sure there has been lots of research done on the impact Twitter has on a social movement, I want to look into it and see. CERTAINLY there has been tons of research on the impact of the internet (sociologists are particularly intrigued because it has helped the less than noble causes as well, ie. the neonazis and KKK). I know R. Yates was looking into this internet advocacy earlier in the summer. When I first went vegetarian in the mid-90s, I was totally isolated--Appalachia, no internet, of course nothing on TV...I only knew of veganism like a year or more later through some PETA literature I'd ordered. Would have been GREAT to have Twitter back then. I will say, though, in the pre-internet days, PETA really was a lifeline for folks like me, what with the tons of free lit they mail out...and that's all I'll say on that!
So far I have tried starting a conversation with three people people who mentioned going vegan, and none of them have responded. I wonder if I'm doing something wrong.
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