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| How to co-exist peacefully with the other half May 25, 2007 | by Barbara Fairbanks, HSNTx Vice President
Have you ever been in your place of work, at a party, or in a public place with people you know when you become aware of sad or inhumane stories being told? It can catch you off guard and garnish an immediate gut reaction, particularly if the experiences are being related in a light-hearted or even joking manner.
Those of us that are strong advocates for animals have to develop a tolerance for being around those that don?t see life the way we do, and our response to such situations can actually make a difference in the way non-animal advocates may view ?our kind? in the future.
To react in anger or disgust usually does nothing but bring more of the reaction you are angry about. For some reason, especially in groups, stories of animals running in terror or vocalizing out of trauma, or otherwise reacting to teasing or torture often bring laughter from people you wouldn?t normally expect to find such situations funny (sort of a mob mentality). In my own experience, I have found that as soon as it becomes known that I am an animal advocate, I am hit up with ?well then you sure don?t want to hear what I did to my neighbor?s cat?, with the person proceeding to relate the whole sordid story. Unbelievable as it might seem, some people seem to relish hitting sensitive spots they see in others.
I have found that the best reaction in a group of people I know is to interrupt politely with, ?you know, you?re right ? I DON?T want to hear it? and, if that doesn?t stop the story-telling, walking out of the area without fanfare but with a brief, ?I really don?t want to hear it so let me know when you?re finished? usually stops the offender in his/her tracks. You aren?t being judgmental about your friends/colleagues; you are simply letting them know that although they are free to talk about whatever they like, you don?t have to listen.
With people with whom I share mutual respect through work, church, or other activities, I find that expressing non-judgmental curiosity one-on-one sometime after one of these group story telling events to find out why an animal?s distress would be any more humorous than a child?s distress sparks some thought and almost always results in more awareness in that person.
With more and more videos of animals in uncomfortable situations popping up over the internet as ?funny videos?, it becomes important for animal advocates to find diplomatic and respectful ways to help people become aware that what they are laughing at is not actually considered humorous by everyone. Good luck in your efforts to change attitudes, one story and one video at a time! |
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