In regards to eating meat

[Pablísimo]

I wonder if they've ever done a cost/benefit analysis to see how effective those ads are, or if it would even be possible to do so. I remember reading many years ago about a pro-life campaign in which they sent a mailing with graphic images of aborted body parts to certain areas of a large city. They claimed that abortion rates plummeted for a certain period of time immediately following the mass mailing. I have no idea how accurate that was, of course, but it was interesting.

Good question. I wonder if it is possible. It would be interesting to see the effectiveness somehow empirically. I realized just now when writing the last message that I'm not the target audience for PETA! So maybe my bad reactions to their messages isn't the best indicator of their effectiveness in the wider world.

It's still very hard for me to view those images. After all these years, it still gets to me.

Oh me too! I get physically ill, sick to my stomach, and want to vomit. I'll have a headache for the rest of the day, and just feel overall very down, like a black cloud hanging over me. All for viewing 1 minute of a cow getting killed. I sometimes force myself to watch it, because I have to screen it before posting it somewhere. Like, I watched those 2 that I posted a few days ago. At great cost. My day is shot afterwards.

Thank you for speaking out and advocating. Having to review that stuff clearly takes a personal toll on you, and I know exactly how you feel. That you are willing to endure that to help raise awareness speaks volumes of your compassionate nature. That's a Buddha move, for sure.

It's precisely because it does affect me so much, that I believe it's effective to others. How can anyone see it and not be affected?

The problem is, that most won't even watch it.

I haven't thought about it like that before -- that my very reactions might be indicative of its effectiveness. But then, I'm not a meat eater so am I comparing apples to oranges? Hmmm.....I'll have to give this some more thought. You've given me something to ponder. Though I prefer a gentle approach, perhaps these images do play a positive role. It may be that we need a myriad of different groups and approaches to create positive change. I will give this some more thought.

Thank you again for helping me broaden my perspective and challenge my assumptions. It's good for all of us to question things we take for granted and old understandings.

Love to all

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And if I'm not affected?

Then you are simply different than those who do. But so what? You're still a wonderful, beautiful aspect of the Creator who is far, far, far more than a dietary opinion. Your meat eating doesn't define you to me. When I look at you, I see a different and yet insightful, interesting, and loved Other-self.

So what if you don't have the same reaction? I can respect that.

But I do have a very strong emotional reaction to those images. I hope that my perspective can be respected as well.

Agreement is in no way necessary for mutual respect and understanding.

Love to all