pick a pitch, any pitch ;)

 As you know, I've been playing with elevator pitches of late, and I've concluded that I may need as many pitches as there are circumstances, snort. And while I still like the last one I came up with, I'm thinking now that it's just too general. What I really want to convey right away is the WHO of my concern, so I've decided that I'm vegan because I don't want to support animal cruelty might just be more on the mark.

Obviously, as a vegan, I don't support animal use either, but since other vegans aren't going to be asking me why I'm vegan, I need to tailor the message to the audience. So, depending on whom I'm speaking to, I want a variety of pitches handy but with the focus being on other beings rather than health or environment. Therefore, future pitches might include:

• I'm vegan because I don't believe in violence
• I'm vegan because I don't want to support animal cruelty
• I'm vegan because I don't want to contribute to animal exploitation
• I'm vegan because I believe in justice for all beings
• I'm vegan because it's the right thing to do
• I'm vegan because it's the Christian thing to do
  (when speaking to Christians for example)
• I'm vegan because... What about you? What pitches do you use or prefer?
• I'm vegan because I can't NOT be vegan (Tom's line in comment below -- thanks!)

Comments

krissa said...

That cartoon is cute. :) ... For me it's all about the fact that I love and feel connected to our fellow creatures too much to participate in hurting them in any way.

ReplyApril 04, 2014 at 03:18 AM

have gone vegan said in reply to krissa...

Cartoons that are cute AND vegan -- what could be better? ;)

ReplyApril 05, 2014 at 03:32 PM

veganelder said...

I like the justice thingee...but mostly I like the who notion. :-) All of these are good.

ReplyApril 05, 2014 at 07:11 AM

have gone vegan said in reply to veganelder...

Yeah, WHO is important. Especially since the beings vegans consider to be whom are usually and erroneously regarded as what by most others. So who should take precedence over what. :)

ReplyApril 05, 2014 at 03:37 PM

Tom said...

This is a great project! It's not an easy thing to summarize. The problem with the first four suggestions, I think, is that non-vegans don't think they believe in violence, or animal cruelty, or contribute to exploitation; they also are likely to believe in justice. "Right thing to do" and "Christian thing to do" will only raise most people's defenses, which is fine, but it won't win any sympathy or converts. Sorry. I'm having a bad day today :-[

I do like the double meaning of Lee Hall's Twitter tagline, which is a kind of pitch: "I'm vegan for life."

The only tagline I've come up with myself is an adaptation of what I've heard some writers say about writing—they "can't not write"—"I can't not be vegan." But that's not a pitch, only a statement. When asked directly why I'm vegan, which almost never happens, I usually say "I'm vegan for the animals."

ReplyApril 05, 2014 at 08:16 AM

have gone vegan said in reply to Tom...

Sorry you're having a bad day, Tom. But as you know, we both tend to value questions over answers, and agree that people who disagree with our views help keep us on our toes. :)

So thanks for chiming in! I think you're right about the first four pitches, but I actually see the "problem" as being the beauty of them all. In a sense they're provocative pitches, but I want people to think, hey, I don't believe in violence, cruelty, etc., and have them spin their wheels for a bit. If a pitch can make them think, instead of having it go in one ear and out the other, then all the better methinks!

As for the last two, yeah, I would probably use them when I'm feeling a bit pissy and annoyed, and it definitely wouldn't garner much sympathy or support. But that's the thing. Just because I'm vegan now doesn't mean that my competitive streak (I like winning) or judgmentalness (I often DO think that I'm right) has waned much, snort. And in that sense being vegan ain't easy, double snort.

It may be a statement instead of a pitch, but I really like the "I can't not be" line. In fact, I like it so much that I may just totally steal it from you! Yep, I'm going to, and will add it to the list above. Thanks Tom! :)

ReplyApril 05, 2014 at 04:07 PM

krissa said...

Just thought of something about this post which underlines the need for carrying around pamphlets. Now of course, people like the family member of mine I've told you about wouldn't be moved, but then again people like them don't ask or care why someone is vegan. If someone cares enough to ask, it might be good to have a pamphlet or some kind of handout showing and explaining (in as much detail but without being long because most people won't read something long) the cruelty inherent in farming, research, circuses, fashion (again, too many and they won't stick with reading/looking at it all) But something like that.

I'm not sure how many people who ask (I have never been asked why by anyone other than one person I'm back in touch with after years of losing track) "why" really care and don't have a preconceived notion and are already mentally arguing in their mind as they ask. But I do think that our fellow animals have more power to persuade than we do when given the chance and the voice to do so.

I've told the people in my family and the few friends I have "why" I'm vegan even though they didn't ask, but strangers here never ask why. And it's like I'd mentioned before, here it's generally given that it's an "animal rights" decision. It's slowly also being seen as a diet decision, though. :(

ReplyApril 06, 2014 at 04:40 AM

have gone vegan said in reply to krissa...

Hey Krissa, you're so right about having pamphlets ready. Much better to give a pitch and then be able to say, here, if you'd like some more information, or, this info explains my position better than I can, or something to that effect.

That way it gives them facts to read rather than what they may perceive to be a personal opinion, plus it gives them the chance to read and think about it at their own pace and in their own time. A little less confrontational perhaps?

Thank you so much for reminding me of this! I really REALLY need to order a bunch. And there's quite a few out there, so you can easily tailor the info to your audience. Yes, it'd be super handy to have a variety of pamphlets available. Thanks again for the reminder. :)

ReplyApril 06, 2014 at 08:22 PM

Krissa said...

Yeah, I couldn't believe it yesterday morning when I was thinking about this post of yours and was like "DUH!". Even though no one here asks why, I could still have some (from PETA probably, but I can also check the Tierschutz) and leave them in public places and also if by chance one day anyone asks "why", I can have something ready.

Since I 'became' vegan, I've always believed that our fellow creatures who suffer so much because of us humans are their own best spokespersons, but they don't get the chance to speak most of the time without our help. Thanks for bringing up this great topic!

ReplyApril 07, 2014 at 06:04 AM

have gone vegan said in reply to Krissa...

Do most people in Germany know some English as well? (I know in Holland a lot of folk are fairly fluent.) Because then you could probably easily order pamphlets online from places like Vegan Outreach, for example.

Yes, animals in pictures likely do a better job of persuading than supposedly superior humans could. :)

ReplyApril 08, 2014 at 11:59 AM

Bea Elliott said...

I also try never to enter any public space without my loaded "arsenal" of pamphlets. It's a must have accessory - preferably in a see-through bag! :)

I don't get asked often either why I'm vegan - even when I wear the "ask me why" tee. But I get my foot in any which way I can. For instance if these folks have a dog or cat around, I'll lavish some attention on their fur-companions and then say something like "It always makes me sad when I think about how wonderful we treat our pets and how sorry the lives of other animals are". Of course then they want to know what I mean --- And so there's my in.

Sometimes it's diet or health related... Or the environment - There's good reason to be vegan there too. And sometimes, it's just someone who seems to enjoy experimenting with different cuisine --- Someone who just loves to cook. I'll mention seitan or quinoa and that perks their interest to try new a new dish. It all depends. And yes... Even as a non-theist I pitch the Christian values too - Kindness is nondenominational and universal isn't it?

But... Getting back to your list. The top reason of mine is the first in your group. I don't believe in violence. But there is the caveat of "unjustifiable" violence or preventable violence. I adamantly reject using force on others when there are ways it can be avoided. Trouble is in our culture very few fully realize the violence and harm on their plates... They make it so easy to disguise it.

Keep at your pitching and re-thinking better methods of advocacy. It all matters. ;)

ReplyApril 09, 2014 at 12:45 AM

have gone vegan said in reply to Bea Elliott...

Thanks for all the great ideas on how to get those conversations rolling. I'll have to remember them when I'm out walking, or shopping in the grocery store. Speaking of which, I love it when someone in the checkout line is nosy and asks me about something I'm buying as that's an easy way for me to start one of my spiels! :)

Yep, the violence is so cleverly (malevolently?) disguised. Even more reason for that (the more transparent the better) bag of pamphlets. That's really part of our job: peeling away the layers of deception. And even if others won't listen, at least they can't claim they didn't hear.

ReplyApril 09, 2014 at 08:50 PM

what I need to remember before judging too quickly

 Because I'd like everyone to go vegan RIGHT NOW, and can't understand the apathy and complacency of those who still eat animals. Especially if they've been exposed to at least some of the facts of animal agriculture. And because being vegan is so my normal, and so the world I've inhabited for more than five years, I want others to hurry up and get there already. But it may be wise for me to remember the following:

• I didn't become vegan until I was 46
• while I knew in grade school that the idea of animals performing stupid tricks for humans in circuses or aquarium amusement parks made me uncomfortable and sad, I couldn't really put into words why
• in my early 20s I scoffed at a friend's sister becoming vegetarian because eliminating certain food products didn't make any sense to me if you weren't going to eliminate ALL animal-derived substances whether they be food, clothing, toothpaste or anything else, and of course, that was impossible
• I had no idea at the time that the concept I was referring to was called veganism, and was much more possible than I imagined
• when in my late 30s I actually ran across the term vegan, I too, asked what those weird vegans ate if they didn't eat meat, eggs, or dairy
• when in my early 40s I was horrified one night by seeing a cat skinned and boiled alive on a TV documentary program and began to wonder how people decide what animals to eat and what ones to love, I found it too painful to contemplate for long, and put it out of my head for another couple of years
• that it was only when I viewed an online video on factory farming (I don't even remember which one), that things finally went click, click, click...

So if it took me that long before I could even see, let alone connect, the numerous dots, then perhaps I need to practice the skill of patience and not demand that others become wise in far less time than I did?

Comments

Krissa said...

Good points. I've had to remind myself, too, how long it took me to actually get it even though I considered myself an "animal" lover my whole life.

Sometimes when I look back at how long it took me to get it when I should have, I can't understand why that was. You might remember, I was cruelty-free and didn't eat any animal products other than eggs and didn't wear animal products...I did believe the "kein Ei mit drei" campaign here (eggs are numbered 0-3 and 3 are supposedly the cruel ones, when in fact, they ALL are. But why I believed it, I'll never know. My cow friend is what got me to finally give up eggs and I know you remember that. But it did take so long. So yes, I guess we do have to have patience for others because there was a time where most of us vegans really didn't have a valid excuse at all for continuing the way we did either.

Sorry if this was rambling, my computer/internet is having problems and I've had to re-connect in the middle of this a few times. Grrr.

ReplyMarch 19, 2014 at 09:11 AM

have gone vegan said in reply to Krissa...

Hey Krissa, sorry to hear of your computer woes, but no, you weren't rambling at all. And yeah, looking back it can be hard to see why we didn't see what we see so clearly now! It's more than hindsight, that's for sure.

But as veganelder eloquently states below, we mistakenly tend to think of change as an event rather than a process, and we don't tend to like change all that much.

ReplyMarch 19, 2014 at 08:37 PM

veganelder said...

It is very difficult to apprehend and to remain persistently aware that "change" is often (always?) a process and not an event. Internal perceptions, assumptions, understandings, and meanings must all be configured in a "just so" way in order for "change" to occur. Often an "aha" moment is preceded by minutes, hours, days, months and sometimes years of large and small restructurings, factual intakes and experiential happenings. Motivation too plays a very very consequential role in this process.

Change can be disturbing and painful as well as exciting and exhilarating. Change can be frightening, even terrifying. Courage is no small element in many "change" processes.

Most, if not all, adults who "change" to a vegan outlook struggle with a few, some or all of the aforementioned phenomena. Makes ya wonder if maybe the question isn't why someone doesn't change but rather why someone does?

I'll shut up.

Thank you for your changing. :-)

ReplyMarch 19, 2014 at 10:10 AM

have gone vegan said in reply to veganelder...

Good summation of change! I always quip that it took me 46 years to go vegan overnight, but as you say, it's really an accumulation of moments and insights and shifts. Change may look instantaneous, but it's a process, even when we don't recognize it.

Yep, amazing any of us manage to change at all given our almost innate reluctance.

And no, don't ever shut up on my account. ;)

ReplyMarch 19, 2014 at 08:45 PM

Bea Elliott said...

Thank you for sharing with us the account of the processes you went through... I was a vegetarian (way back) when I was a teen. And then I got side-tracked with career, relationships and all the conveniences/compromises that I thought would make my life complete. For decades without guilt, I shrugged my shoulders with the excuse that "they" were dead already. And truthfully in my head they all just "died" from old age. I'm embarrassed to say this now, but I think it proves how relatively intelligent people avoid judging even themselves.

Lately I too am having a shift that requires adding patience to my tool-kit-for-change. I'm trying hard not to get attached to the outcome and am satisfied for the opportunity to plant seeds. They say it takes six generations for an idea to take hold. That makes us all pioneers for a better world! There are many who have live and died without a bit of the passion or vision we have. No, change won't happen quickly... But it *IS* happening even so! ;)

ReplyMarch 25, 2014 at 11:55 PM

have gone vegan said in reply to Bea Elliott...

You're so welcome! :)

Yeah, I'm with you on the don't-get-too-attached-to-the-outcome mode of thinking. While that doesn't mean I don't try to spread the vegan word, ultimately I'm vegan because that's the set of values I adhere to, whether the rest of the world goes vegan with me or not. And as you said, there ARE changes happening, and certainly more of them and more quickly than even five years ago, so obviously some of us are doing something right. ;)

ReplyApril 02, 2014 at 05:14 PM

what Christmas is all about

 

That's some (modified) speech, snort. Have to admit that A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of my favourite shows of the season, and the one I make sure not to miss. As relevant now as it was in '65 (though hard to imagine that commercialization was as rampant back then), it offers a great message no matter what your beliefs.

Veganism, for most vegans I hope, is about fighting commodification of sentient beings. We disagree with the notion that other species (including our own) are objects for human animals to use, own or destroy. And at a time of year when consumption as celebration is all around us, it seems even more fitting to remember that consuming other animals in whatever form is wrong no matter what month we happen to be in.

It's always a good time though to put into practice what Linus (reciting the Gospel of Luke Ch2 v14) said at the end: "...and on earth peace and goodwill towards men [sic] [recte ALL]."

May peace and goodwill to all rule all of our hearts and actions.

Merry Christmas everyone! :)

being vegan means only one thing

 

What? I can already hear you say.

Didn't I write being vegan means many things just three posts ago? Yep. But we're vegans right? Which means we're smart cookies comfortable with paradox (I have 2 more to add to the series) and contradiction. (In other words, we're Walt Whitman-esque. See the great quote Tom provided in the first comment here.)

Yes, even though we're all the things mentioned in the post above, what being vegan really boils down to is giving voice to the voiceless. In a way, you're a reporter. So, time to brush up on the Five Ws? ;)

Comments

veganelder said...

Speaking the human language for those too worthy to be reduced to such a low class communication mode...because we've turned it into the language of killers and harmers and oppressors.

I agree. :-)

ReplyJuly 20, 2013 at 09:39 PM

have gone vegan said in reply to veganelder...

Of course after posting this I got to pondering whether other sentient beings really couldn't be heard, or whether we're just refusing to listen. Semantics maybe, but it seems to me that they're communicating pretty clearly what they don't want, but because it doesn't serve our interests, most of us don't want to hear it.

And we really do pride ourselves on our communication mode, don't we? Cats, for example, usually only meow to humans. They don't need to do it with other kitties as they can communicate just fine without it. So why is it that we view our ability to use language as something that makes us superior, whereas it could be just the opposite? ;)

ReplyJuly 23, 2013 at 05:36 PM

Bea Elliott said...

I agree we vegans are journalists. We're all reporting the story of the silenced victims. We're all whistle blowers on the system. Sadly we're also as villanized as the others who show naked emperors. People fear truth... How do we change this while working our magic with the 5 W's? :/

ReplyJuly 25, 2013 at 01:03 AM

have gone vegan said in reply to Bea Elliott...

I wish I knew, Bea, I really do. :(

ReplyJuly 27, 2013 at 08:05 PM

have gone vegan said in reply to have gone vegan...

Well that was quite the lame answer!

All we can do is continue to see the truth, communicate that truth as best we can, advocate in whatever way we most excel, be an example of truth in action, and hope that everyone eventually catches on to the truth of animal use/abuse.

I am more hopeful though, because even in the last five years of being vegan it's starting to feel different. Everyday folk seem to know exactly what I mean when I use the term "vegan", and everyone seems to have a vegan friend or relative or know of someone in their vicinity who's woken up to the truth of animal ag. We really are at the beginning of a more widespread awareness, and veganism is becoming mainstream like never before. Obviously it's not moving as quickly as we'd like, but we're getting there. Of that I'm sure.

ReplyJuly 28, 2013 at 05:44 PM

being vegan means many things

 

It means, if nothing else, that you are a witness.

On a continual basis, you are bearing witness to the cruelty and atrocity waged on innocent sentient beings, and while that may sound passive, it really isn't. Seeing, recognizing and acknowledging what others refuse to see, is the first step in changing reality.

Being vegan also means that you're a humanist and a feminist. A human rights advocate, animal rights advocate, a poverty advocate, and a peace advocate. In short, and to sum it all up, YOU are a truth advocate.

You're a student and a teacher, learning and imparting knowledge as you go. You may be a mentor and/or mentee, a mover and a shaker, and some of you are even leaders.

You're an artist and a rebel, a dreamer and a visionary (What is now proved was once, only imagin’d. --William Blake), and a poet.

You're an optimist, an idealist, and a realist all rolled into one.

You're a gardener. Literally, if you happen to grow your own veggies or flower beds, or figuratively as you plant seeds of compassion and change. You're an environmentalist, championing the cause of our host planet and ALL her guests. You're even a nutritionist of sorts, as you pay more attention to what your body needs than most.

You're a warrior for all sentient beings, plus a conscientious objector to the unholy and horrific war on animals.

You're an intersectionist, deconstructionist, and systems analyst as you figure out how justice issues intersect, and how different political, economic and cultural forces collide and collude in keeping oppression alive.

You may be tired, or suffer from compassion fatigue, or even PTSD as unrelenting cruelty will affect anyone trying to make this world a better place. What you are NOT though, is crazy (although living in an insane world can certainly be crazy making), and you are definitely not a domestic terrorist no matter what the real terrorists may claim.

What you ARE is strong, and motivated, and perhaps even a bit of a hero.

So don't ever think of yourself as just a vegan.

Because you're not.

++++++++++++

Comments

Tom said...

"Don't ever think of yourself as just a vegan."

Thanks for the reminder! And what a great graphic. Looking forward to sharing it! Did you create it—or, do you know who did?

ReplyMay 21, 2013 at 08:03 PM

have gone vegan said in reply to Tom...

And thank you! :)

I'm sorry, no, not sure who created the graphic. Normally if I know, I either state a name or give a link, so I probably just scooped it up from Google Images at some point. If anyone DOES know, please indicate it in the comments and I'll properly attribute it in the post.

ReplyMay 21, 2013 at 08:18 PM

veganelder said...

Excellent points and reminders. Hooray for all y'all great folks out there! The more of you there are...the better off everyone is.

ReplyMay 21, 2013 at 10:05 PM

have gone vegan said in reply to veganelder...

Thanks. If I didn't think there were too many people on the planet already, even I might be preaching "go forth and multiply" -- but only for vegans of course. ;)

ReplyMay 24, 2013 at 05:09 PM

Beaelliott said...

Wonderful! You've managed to compile a list of all the best attributes of a whole, compassionate and engaged person! Yep - That would be a Vegan or an aspiring one for sure! Not "just" a Vegan at all! Thank you for this tribute to us! ;)

ReplyMay 23, 2013 at 08:37 PM

have gone vegan said in reply to Beaelliott...

You're more than welcome! And thanks. I truly hope this post has inspired both vegans and vegans-to-be. :)

ReplyMay 24, 2013 at 05:11 PM

Debbie said...

I so needed to read this right about now. I admit that I am one of those who gave in to compassion fatigue. I tried to avoid being a witness but I can’t un-know what I know. This post is the perfect reminder that being vegan isn’t just about not consuming animals it is about fully participating in trying to make this world better for everyone. I don’t want to live any other way. Thank you for reminding me of that!

ReplyMay 25, 2013 at 03:17 PM

have gone vegan said in reply to Debbie...

No problem! Sorry for replying so late. :(

I sure hear you about compassion fatigue -- something I've been thinking about of late and have a few thoughts on that I'll be sharing at some point. Hope the conference you went to is still inspiring you!

ReplyJune 04, 2013 at 08:04 PM