That mother: not cows and pigs
Rather than birds, fish, cows, highlight individuality: that mother, that child, that individual. Shift from food categories to someone, like a dead human body on their plate.
Essay
Working the flowchart
The ten steps, in the order the room allows.
06Working the flowchart
The steps can reorder when the conversation requires it, but you never go blank and never announce you are lost. Recover and ask the next principle.
Don't want to lie = already lied
If someone says they don't want to lie and won't commit, that means they already lied when they agreed humans should respect animals while they exploit. Hold them to that.
Hypocrisy directed at them
Ensure hypocrisy is addressed at them directly once step 3 lands, you stop being a hypocrite, you cannot respect them while exploiting. Not abstract talk about people or society being hypocritical. Distinct from calling them hypocrite from line one.
Exploitation beyond consumption
Consumption framing is wrong. They may pay for someone else to consume without eating themselves. They exploit without any products, zoos, rodeos, skin, testing. Step 3 is use them for your purposes, not what's on their plate.
Gave ammo
So you buy meat for your family but don't eat it yourself, is that okay?
Gives nothing
Can you truly respect other animals if you use them for your purposes?
Vegan mentioned early → ask Q4
If they bring up veganism before you reach question 4, ask question 4 right then. Define the ethical principle before any declaration language.
Step 4Premature Vegan Ask
All humans: justice not personal choice
Definition is about all humans living without exploiting, understanding this shows veganism is a justice movement, not a personal choice or diet.
Positive definition: not should NOT
When defining veganism, focus on what they should do, live without exploiting, respect, not what they should not do. Psychological resistance spikes on prohibition framing.
Live vegan: never go/try/go
Always live vegan, never go vegan, going vegan, choosing vegan, or give veganism a try/a go. Change is a decision, not an experiment.
Ask why you should live vegan (step 5)
Alternative to 'biggest advantage': do you know why you should be living vegan? Same answer, animals gain another voice for justice, and you stop being a hypocrite. You don't have to talk about animals separately; it's one question with two benefits.
Gave ammo
What's the biggest advantage of veganism for the planet and your health?
Gives nothing
Do you know why you should be living vegan?
Liberation now: not later
If you were in your victim's position, how fast would you want to be liberated? Now or later? Would you want your freedom now? Urgency without debating conditions.
Your victims while not vegan
As long as you're not vegan, these are your victims, even if the farm is a friend's. Personal accountability, not industry abstraction.
Live free: most would rather die
They don't just want to live, they want to live free. Most would rather die than go through what they go through. Use urgency and freedom, not better treatment.
Anything stopping you: not what do you think
Step 7: ask is there anything stopping you, not what do you think would be preventing you. 'What do you think' hands them control and implies there might be a valid reason. Binary, direct language.
Gave ammo
What do you think would be preventing you from going vegan?
Gives nothing
Is there anything stopping you from living vegan now?
Tie step 7 to respect not veganism
You say you want to respect animals, is there anything actually preventing you from living that way? Frames objections around respect they already claimed, not abstract veganism.
Gave ammo
So what's stopping you from going vegan?
Gives nothing
You want to respect animals, is anything preventing you from living that way right now?
Don't plant other people's excuses
Do not tell the bystander what excuses other people use: most people think it's expensive, most people worry how friends will react, etc. You plant ideas they may not have had. Let them surface their own objections. Ask what is stopping them, not what stops most people.
Gave ammo
Most people don't go vegan because they think it's too expensive or their friends won't approve. Is that you?
Gives nothing
Is there anything stopping you from living vegan now?
Question 8: how many SHOULD
Question 8 must always be how many animals SHOULD be exploited, right and wrong, not how many will be or need to be.
Decision not time
Change doesn't take time, it takes a decision. Every moment not vegan creates victims.
Trying means eventually: not now
When they say I'll try: trying means I might do it eventually. Put them in victim position, would I'll try be acceptable from your oppressor, or would you want them to stop immediately?
Gave ammo
Great, trying is a good first step!
Gives nothing
If you were your victim, would I'll try be good enough, or do you need them to stop now? Vegan from now?
For real? Test genuine declaration
After vegan from now, for real? Can I get a handshake on that? Tests whether declaration is genuine, especially with groups or when someone seems to be pulling your leg.
Can't make you a promise right now
Bystanders often say: I can't make you a promise right now. Don't accept it or soften. This isn't about promising you personally, they already agreed humans should respect animals. Continuing to exploit while saying that is the broken commitment. Press: live vegan from now on?
Gave ammo
Non-vegan: 'I can't make you a promise right now.' Activist: 'No pressure, whenever you're ready.'
Gives nothing
This isn't about promising me, you said humans should respect animals. Vegan from now on?
Checkpoint
Spot the line that holds the frame. Pass each unit at 70% to complete the course and earn your certificate. Nothing is locked, and you can retake it as many times as you like.