Can you Ask a Pig if his Glass is Half Full?
Experts in the UK have shown for the first time that a pig’s mood mirrors how content he is, highlighting that pigs are capable of complex emotions which are directly influenced by their living…
A message to all vegans
Most non-vegans think of vegans as a group of people who all share the same views. Many think that we are crazy, although that’s beside my point.
What they don’t realise is that within the vegan community there is a huge amount of disagreement and arguments. Although most everyone agrees that animals deserve equal respect, there is a lot more to it.
Some are abolitionists and think animals should be left alone completely and never come under our power. Those would disagree with having pets, horses, etc. We live our lives, they live theirs.
Others are utilitarians and believe that if the good outweighs the bad then it’s ok. They believe that if animals were treated with respect inside of egg and dairy farms then it would be ok to consume their products. Those may even be in favor of animal testing as well depending on the benefits it brings to society as a whole.
And there are many variations within those 2 extremes of people. And there are many other types of people too. It gets very complex!
The problem is that these groups often spend half their time debating each other’s views and forget that ultimately they have something very important in common; they all share respect for animals, and they all would prefer to live in a world with less suffering.
They discuss all these possible future scenarios if we move way way or another, as though we’re playing chess.
Who cares what may happen in a utopian future situation? Who cares about consequences to a reality that’s so far away? The focus right now should simply be to teach people to respect non-humans like they respect each other. After we achieve that amazing feat, then let’s start thinking where we go from there. Whether we’re allowed to keep chickens for eggs or not, whether we’re allowed to intervene with nature, whether we should save the old lady or the puppy from a house fire - none of that matters right now, and it’s a complete waste of time to discuss it!
So please, for the sake of the animals, stop trying to prove each other wrong. Spend more time educating non-vegans and less time debating vegans who are already doing their part!
