Anyone noticed this? Do people only want to listen to people who are hypocritical like them because it makes them feel less insecure or judged?
It’s so absurd I want to test the boundaries of it.
Imagine if in a group of people who reaffirm each other’s biases and lifestyles of using animals for everything.
Someone speaks out and says “I know I’m not vegan and I’m a hypocrite… but vegans have some good points. We should probably be moving away from animal products for the sake of the animals and the environment and even our health.”
The group reaction is positive, accepting, encouraging, agreeable. Some people even admit they’re hypocrites or should try to go vegan.
Then, that same person who originally spoke in favor of veganism, becomes vegan. Next they say to the group “I’m vegan now… best choice I ever made. I don’t regret it, wish I did it sooner, and you feel much better not just health wise but in your conscience and peace of mind… knowing you’re not contributing to all those horrors involving animals and the planet…”
Suddenly because that person is now vegan and no longer in the same “self-aware hypocrite” category as the rest of them, the mood change and the reaction turns negative and they start criticizing the new vegan, making excuses to not be vegan or accusations of imperfection against the vegan, etc etc.
Surely if you point out the inconsistencies someone would realize they’re subject to a psychological complex and mental coping mechanism more than anything.
You would hope so, but I strongly disagree that would really happen.
It’s so absurd I want to test the boundaries of it.
We’ll wait for your paper. I suggest you put less creative writing in it.
Absolutely YES.
I think it’s as simple as projecting their guilt to tear down the person making them feel guilty.
Feeling guilty is hard. Feeling angry is easy and fun!
Like how Ethan Klein is able to criticize the meat industry all the time because he isn’t vegetarian. He even stops himself and says “I can’t say this because I’m not vegetarian” but little does he know, he’s the ONLY type of person who can criticize what happens to animals and be listened to. Someone who cares but hasn’t made the next step (yes, vegan would be the proper step, not vegetarian, but even then). As soon as you’re a vegan, your opinion on animals or the environment feels like it doesn’t matter as much, because people are too challenged by someone who’s “walking the walk” and not just talking the talk. That’s why we really need non-vegans speaking up for vegans and veganism, as ridiculous as it sounds. (Plus, maybe some reverse psychology activism/outreach/advocacy : Don’t be afraid to pretend to be a regretful non-vegan lending your voice to the vegan perspective, if doing so can have the unexpected effect of saving more animals than if you were honest about being a vegan yourself. Try it: Make your regular pro vegan post, but then preface it with “I’m not vegan but…” beforehand. Compare reactions to the same post without that “disclaimer”).
