being vegan can sometimes be hard mentally

身為純素者，在精神上有時還蠻難熬的

as your mindset and beliefs seem to be so remote and disparate from the majority of society

因為你的思維和信念，與大眾似乎有很大的差異

It's especially confusing to think how our friends and family who we consider rational loving caring people

尤其是想到那些我們認為理性、有愛心、重感情

and are against the willful harm of animals yet

反對傷害動物的親友們

they allow animals lives to be taken for food and the pleasure of their taste buds

都願意讓動物為了他們的食物與口慾而送命

It is quite the ethical Paradox that actions do not match their values

行為與價值觀不一致，是一種道德上的矛盾

but we as Vegans cannot fall prey to the nature of hindsight bias

但身為純素者，我們不該犯「事後諸葛的通病」

as most of us were previously in the same position

因為多數的純素者，曾經也是肉食者

We need to make use of this understanding

所以我們應該利用過來人的經驗

help people understand the disconnect of their values and actions

來協助他們了解個人的價值觀，與行為之間不連貫的問題

It is our job to educate people on this and as the saying goes

教育大眾是我們的責任，俗語說的好

Education does not exist to persecute you but the question begs

「教育不是拿來害你的。」而問題是—

Why do people eat meat?

為什麼人們要吃肉呢？

well this can be explained by the belief system known as carnism

這點可以從「肉食主義」的信念體系得到解釋

an ideology which was coined by Dr. Melanie Joy in 2001

肉食主義是由梅樂妮·喬伊博士於 2001 年所創立

Carnism is a belief system around the eating of meat

肉食主義是一種意識形態，它是一個與吃肉有關的信念體系

of only specific types of animals

但只吃某些特定的動物

It is justified by the notion of the three N's

並藉由「3N」來合理化肉食行為—

natural normal and necessary

「自然」(natural)、「正常」(normal)、「必要」(necessary)

all which are logical fallacies

然而這些都是不合邏輯的謬論

Carnism is a highly ingrained and indoctrinated social norm

肉食主義是一種被深植、灌輸於大眾的社會規範

One which when you think about it was never choice anyone made themselves

經過思考後，你會發現肉食並非出自我們的選擇

It is a practice and an acceptance that is taught from a young age

它是一種常規，讓我們從小就開始接受它

It has continued to be normalized as everyone else around you continues to eat animals

長大後，該行為持續被正常化，因為身邊的人也持續吃著動物

It is socially accepted as Moral

社會將它視為一種「合乎道德的正常行為」

The most important part of carnism to add some sense of rationality

該理論最主要的目的，是引導我們作出更理性的選擇

and help carnist understand the concept of their ideology is by demonstrating how they only accept only particular

並透過肉食主義，向肉食者分析該思想體系的概念—

is by demonstrating how they only accept only particular

「只將某些特定物種視為食物，

species of animals as food and not others

而其他物種則不該食用；

If these same practices were applied to animals they don't consider food.

若以相同方式對待他們認為不是食物的動物

They would then classify this as unacceptable cruelty

則會被肉食者視為一種天地不容的殘忍行為。」

There is absolutely no rational or logical reason

但是沒有任何一個合理、合邏輯的理由

to have the divide between animals

來將動物區分為

to say that some are okay to eat and to some it is unacceptable,

「可食用」和「不可食用」

how does one draw the line between animals that are food and those that are not

我們又該如何在「食用動物」與「非食用動物」之間劃分界線？

as mentioned previously

正如前述

It is quite the psychological Paradox where people's actions do not match their values

這是一種心理上的矛盾，它讓我們做出與價值觀不一致的行為

They are the huge disconnection

人們和真相之間有著巨大的隔閡

and don't even look at their plate, and think this was a living breathing sentient creature

他們看到眼前的食物，並不會想到該食物曾經是個活生生、會呼吸、有感知的動物

They totally dissociate from that reality

他們與實際狀況毫無連結

the livestock industry has done a great job in making people believe that

畜牧業者也很成功地讓人們認同

these animals are a commodity and inanimate objects

這些動物只是商品、只是沒有生命的東西

without names without emotions that do not feel pain

沒有名字、沒有情感、沒有痛覺

Yet, they are so similar to the pets we keep in our own home that we consider family

然而牠們卻和我們家中，被視為家人的寵物如此相似

So how does understanding carnism help you when talking about veganism?

那麼，了解肉食主義對你在談論純素主義時，又能帶來什麼幫助呢？

But why not try the three E's?

何不試試看「3E」—

Empathize educate and ease

「同理心」(empathize)、「教育」(educate)、「隨合」(ease)

Empathize with them and tell them you understand that these are ingrained and indoctrinated beliefs

設身處地為他們著想，並且讓他們知道，肉食主義是我們從小被灌輸的

which they had no decision over

並非我們能決定

Simple statements such as I understand that you think it's natural, normal and necessary

只須告訴他們，例如「我知道你覺得吃肉很自然、正常，而且是必要的，

but that simply isn't the case

但事實並不然…」

If they are open to it suggest some materials they can consume to understand it further

如果他們願意跟你聊，即可提供能幫助他們進一步了解純素主義的資訊

number two, explain just like them you're once a victim of this psychological paradox

並向他們解釋，你曾經也是這種矛盾心理下的受害者

to help them understand this

為了幫助他們了解

you can use examples of animals such as dogs that are eaten in other countries

你可以舉「其他國家吃狗肉」的例子給他們聽

And ask what is the real difference?

並詢問他們「這之間的真正差別為何？」

If they think it is weird and wrong ask them why?

若他們認為吃狗肉不妥、不對，再詢問他們「為什麼？」

Just get them thinking about it

藉此刺激他們思考

number three, if they are concerned with their actions or

如果他們對於自己的肉食行為產生顧慮

thinking about what they could possibly do

或至少願意看看自己能做些什麼調整

Put them at ease as changes are probably one of the most daunting things in life

讓他們放輕鬆，因為「改變」是最讓人怯步的一件事

Demonstrate the easy transition and the options and resources available

跟他們說明，轉純素是件容易的事，同時提供他們不同的選擇和相關資訊

Reinforce that it was the best decision that you ever made

並跟他們強調，轉純素是你今生做過的最好決定

and the other benefits such as health and environmental factors

以及純素生活對於個人健康和地球環境的各種好處

Now I hope this has helped you

希望以上內容對你有幫助

and if you have any further questions or concerns

若有進一步的問題或考量

feel free to ask them in the comment section below

歡迎在下方留言處向純素者提出

But further information on carnism,

若想對肉食主義有更進一步的了解

I highly recommend watching Dr.Melanie Joy's Ted

我強烈推薦梅樂妮·喬伊博士的 Ted 演講

or to get an in-depth understanding

想更深入了解

Grab her book "why we love dogs eat pigs and wear cows"

可閱讀她的書籍《盲目的肉食主義：我們愛狗卻吃豬、穿牛皮？》

an introduction to Carnism

對肉食主義有的完整介紹

I hope you enjoyed this video and if you found it valuable, please share with your friends

希望你喜歡這部影片，若覺得有幫助，請與親友分享

and don't forget to subscribe for more information on discussing veganism

也別忘了訂閱頻道以得到更多探討純素主義的內容