Speaking to the Ignorant

[P3nT4gR4m]

For the record I've never been involved in a debate about the rights and wrongs of eating meat that didn't descend into a slagging match within about 5 or 6 syllables.

And I'm almost as old as Roger - I've been in a few of these now.

[LMNO]

To the Original Post:

I'd start by easing up on the "you're ignorant" bit.

Condesending to people is never a good opening gambit.

[Mangrove]

To the Original Post:

I'd start by easing up on the "you're ignorant" bit.

Condesending to people is never a good opening gambit.

Agreed.

Can't remember the exact source of the quote but to paraphrase:

"You cannot judge another man's soul  by the contents of their dinner plate."

[P3nT4gR4m]

Unless said dinner plate is full of live babies

[Mangrove]

Unless said dinner plate is full of live babies

Oh yes. I forget about the 'Idi Amin Clause'.

[Triple Zero]

this thread is now about converting Politician168023 to eat meat.

pay close attention and then simply apply the reverse process to the other guy.

step one:



(something wrapped in bacon. i dunno what, but it looks good and it got bacon!)

[e]

honestly the sort of... sheen on that bacon makes that look most unappetizing (to me).

[Payne]

Unappetizing bacon is the best kind!

[Triple Zero]

honestly the sort of... sheen on that bacon makes that look most unappetizing (to me).

post better bacon pics then.

[e]

               nom nom nom nom!
                      \






and this one came up when I searched "bacon art": http://www.brandspankingnew.net/img/headers/lil_kim_lachapelle.jpg   it has bewbies so I put it behind a link in the interest of SFWness.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

What do *you* think is the best way to communicate with people who are self-confessed ignorant?

He already told you that he didn't want to learn. He asked you why you don't eat meat, you told him, after that it became a pissing match. It's your choice whether to enjoy the pissing match or to walk away from it.

Personally, it's at the point where someone indicates that they would prefer to stay ignorant that I walk away from the topic.

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

My general rule of thumb is if you can't sway them through reasoned argument, then work off emotions, lies, rhetoric, appeals to fallacies etc to bring them around.

This is the correct motorcycle.

[Roo]

What's the best way to speak to self-confessed ignorant people?

The same as anyone else.

In the case of this vegge vs. meat-eater argument, it's not so much that the guy wants to remain ignorant, as that he wants to remain a meat-eater. For some people, that's something that goes all the way down to their core beliefs and identity. That's not something that most are willing to change without exceptionally good cause.

But the fact that someone eats meat doesn't automatically mean they're stupidly ignorant. Sure the guy probably hasn't seen the videos of our meat industry, but if he knows what's good for him, he doesn't want to see those images. Also, just because he chooses to remain ignorant about eating meat, doesn't mean that he's a complete idiot. After all, it's virtually impossible to know everything, and we often have to filter out stuff just to keep our heads from exploding.

At this point, you may have already lost the argument with this guy. He was probably curious about what would motivate someone to be vegge, but wasn't intending to convert. He may not have ever met a vegetarian in person before in his entire life, and wondered if they are all the militant vegans we hear about through the media. Did you reinforce his preconceptions, or break them? If the former, you've already lost the argument, and would be best to drop it. But if it was the latter (which is what you will always want to aim for), then you'll have his attention, and a much better chance of changing his perceptions.

[Cainad (dec.)]

My general rule of thumb is if you can't sway them through reasoned argument, then work off emotions, lies, rhetoric, appeals to fallacies etc to bring them around.

This is the correct motorcycle.

2nded

[Messier Undertree]

His response was "They don't do that in this country" so I replied by sending him a couple of web links and a video which proves that they do. I titled the email "Eat this". He responded by saying "No, eat this" and posted a pic of a burger.

You realise that your friend just owned you, right?

His ability to do whatever the hell he wants, regardless of your personal opinion, is an admirable one.

He saw "what actually happens", decided it wasn't a big deal, and chose to eat meat anyway.

Disagreeing with you doesn't mean that he's ignorant.

Free thought is a bitch like that, isn't it?