12 Comments
User's avatar
Susan T's avatar

The analysis does not include the influence on a person to person basis. I know I've influenced my friends if not to go vegan to at least lessen their intake of meat and consider vegan options. They're much more sensitive to my being a vegan and more frequently will calculate that into our meetups at restaurants. It may seem subtle but when it never was that way before, this feels like progress.

We need a lot more vegan restaurants though! My non-vegan friend said she ate out at vegan restaurant and it was fantastic and she recommended it to ME.

There has to be a lot more people like her out there listening to us.

Expand full comment
Wayne Hsiung's avatar

Agreed. There are lots of little wins for veganism that aren't reflected in larger trends.

Expand full comment
Holly's avatar

In the US, I'll blame our president and his partisans for fueling the outrageous behavior on social media that is grabbing everyone's attention in the name of entertainment and license to act out. Animal rights posts tend to show cute animals frolicking in green pastures with soothing music playing in the background. Something one would watch like reading a bedtime story.

If you ask someone if they are in favor of improving the conditions animals are forced to live in, the vast majority of people will say "yes". But that in itself doesn't mean they are willing to make major changes in their behavior. It would mean changing aspects of their everyday lives that impact long-upheld traditions and beliefs. I think children are more likely to align with the need to change our treatment of animals. The upcoming generations may be key to the future of animal rights and personhood.

Expand full comment
Catherine's avatar

I love reading your intelligent well considered words, I think about things in a different way afterwards, fresh perspectives thank you

Expand full comment
Wayne Hsiung's avatar

Thanks Catherine!

Expand full comment
Veronika's avatar

I hope so 🤞🤞🤞

Expand full comment
Ellen In NC's avatar

“And the lion shall lie down with the lamb” when we achieve the Peaceable Kingdom.

Expand full comment
Wayne Hsiung's avatar

Isaiah 11!

Expand full comment
RICHARD M KARCICH's avatar

Why isn't the 6th Extinction, which we're currently part of, legitimately able to be considered a Threat in your analysis?

Expand full comment
James Greene's avatar

I've taken to watching this youtube of a Sex Pistols concert at Brixton Hall, London from 18 years ago, pretty much when I have lunch-- https://youtube.com/watch?v=o_SQI9kgqIc . Johnny Rotten opens with "Pretty Vacant" at the age of fifty, and he gets a rather involved response from his audience throughout the show, who all seem fine with hanging out together and letting go of their frustrations. Now I get news that doesn't strike me as strange as technics and business management evince an increasingly predatory nature-- https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-23/us-pedestrian-study-we-re-walking-faster-hanging-out-less . We're at a stand-off in human relations. We hold off in uncertainty concerning one anothers' motives and respond apprehensively when directly addressed, unless if by someone with whom we've established a connection of trust, in a particular context. Otherwise we're down a rabbit hole on a day-to-day basis that can go on for as long as since Johnny last won over his crowd. What to my mind hangs in the balance is whether we don't somehow manage together to cancel out "Apocalyptic AI: religion and the promise of artificial intelligence," 2008-- https://knox.academia.edu/RobertGeraci .

Expand full comment
Catherine Desjarlais's avatar

We must never give up on the goal of ending animal cruelty and suffering.

Expand full comment
Paul Goldring's avatar

Thanks, Wayne. Yes, things may seem grim but societies evolve, and I believe that evolution is generally guided by a Force for Good. With the decline in religious belief will come a search for new ethical standards, with Compassion as one overarching value.

Expand full comment