Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Attracting reactionary types

Surprise, surprise. The wackos at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are trying to capitalize on the swine flu stories to promote their radical brand of veganism.

A new PETA billboard cites swine flu and other animal-borne illnesses as a reason to "go vegetarian" because "Meat Kills," according to a news release from the organization.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals also mentions mad cow disease, MRSA and e.coli in the billboard that soon will appear in San Antonio.

(from KENS-5)

I used to wonder why PETA seemed to be made up of unreasonable reactionaries. Now I think I know why. Their recruitment methods attract just the type of person that will respond to their wacky stunts: someone who reacts unreasonably to unfamiliar situations.

Here's my reasoning:

Swine flu cases have been popping up around San Antonio, but the virus is a strain of influenza, something we are all familiar with, albeit in a seasonal form. The flu is spread through the air and through contact; it can't be contracted by eating pork because cooking the meat kills any harmful organisms, including the flu virus. Yet PETA discounts this and plays on raw emotions to make people think a bacon sandwich is going to give you swine flu. Most reasonable people won't be swayed by this tactic, but some others -- who might let their emotions get the better of their reason -- could react to the ploy by believing it and swearing off meat. Which, of course, is PETA's goal.

So, PETA reacts to a disease outbreak by putting out more of their scary nonsense, hoping to get some other people to react and change their meat-eating ways. But people with reactionary personalities are the only ones likely to be swayed by such arguments, and when they join PETA then the organization just has more of the same people with the same mindset.

And they do it all over again, waiting for another crisis to hang their anti-meat hat on.

It's all well and good for someone to become a vegetarian, but I advise making that choice based on thoughtful reflection, not a PETA billboard.

2 comments:

Jason said...

I'm neither reactionary nor vegetarian, but...

There actually is a reasonable argument to be made that these giant pig farms make for superb breeding grounds for pestilence of various types.

The trend towards centralization of food production needs to be reversed, especially where meat is concerned. I'm convinced of that, for this reason and a myriad more.

PETA preaches on diet but also works to stop factory farming. I'd guess that's what the billboard you saw is referring to.

And if it was, too bad they couldn't be more explicit.

Albatross said...

PETA often uses a sledgehammer when a gentle tap might do. That tends to turn people off to the message.