Extreme vegans presenting at DSs' school

[Tipsntoes]

DS1 is in lower sixth as part of their General Studies element (they call it something else but I forget!) they have guest speakers. This week it was what he describes as "extreme vegans". Apparently they gave a very one sided presentation about the evils of eating animal products, supported by lots of graphic images.

DS and his friends are outraged at being lectured to in this way and have spent the day having heated discussions and formulating a counter argument. AIBU to think this is exactly the reason the presenter was invited?

Sounds like it has achieved exactly what the school wanted!

Of course! What is he outraged about exactly?

Why extreme vegan? You either is or you ain’t. Or were they ‘sanctimonious’ vegans?

At least it causes debate. Job done.

Yep.

We had a guy come in to give an hour of propaganda about why animal testing was brilliant and should be less regulated. It led to a brilliant debate.

What's the problem? What's the aibu?

What are his complaints? The graphic images?

Does he object to the enforced religious worship he’ll have experienced from reception age?

I think it's wonderful that they took themselves off and worked together to produce a counter argument. That's brilliant initiative and may be why they were invited?

It might make the students reduce their meat intake a bit.

It would be odd if vegans presented a “balanced” view on consuming animal products!l when the whole point of being vegan is to avoid them.

I still think it’s weird that not wanting to kill or harm animals is seen as ‘extreme’. Is the counter argument is ‘it’s fine to kill and torture animals because they taste nice?’

What's the issue ? Bit obvious what their view would be

Oh dear it wasn't supposed to be an entirely serious post. DS was surprised that such an organisation was invited to talk to them, he thinks the images were extreme. They are complaining about having been subjected to it, while I am quietly thinking it's brilliant that it stimulated such a discussion.

Snowflake generation outraged that some people hold views different to theirs. It is called growing up

They’re nearly adults. YABU.

There is nothing wrong with young people - especially sixth formers - being exposed to bias / one sided arguments / passionate views / political views as long as it is clear that this is what it is and that other views are sought. And it sounds as if their responses are brilliant. Just the outcome that you would hope for.

The people to be wary of are the antidemocraticones who shut down debate. Anyone promoting #nodebate are the people to be wary of, not extreme vegetable loving vegans.

anti democratic ones

Wait until he is at university, anyone Vegans can then be no-platformed and he can live his life in extreme bliss unaffected by any beliefs and ideas that are different from his.

Anything that offends anyone should be banned.

I think there are extremes of things. Like the extreme environmentalist on radio 2 today who said that anyone driving a diesel car should be killed as the planet doesn't need them. That's quite extreme and I despair of my carbon footprint and aim to be more eco etc.
Of course you can have extreme vegans too. Ones who fabricate animal welfare images etc.

Lively debate is good.

Did they discuss the important extra of supplementation, fortification or defecation? Vegans need one of those.

Also she-who-must-not-be-named on mumsnet wants all those of a certain religion listed for execution. Another extremist. That one is extremly bigoted and racist and extremely unpleasant.

I was a 6th form tutor for several years until I left the school last summer. We used to do a Big Friday Question every week where I would pose a deliberately controversial question and they would discuss. The best ones were always the ones they were still debating about three days later.

He thinks the images were extreme - does he think they were real, or falsified?

So is he unhappy to have discovered that horrible things happen? Or because he would prefer to have remained sheltered from harsh reality? If he thought they were falsified, there would be no cause for upset, dismissal would be easy.

Or is it that he thinks the images were real but examples of bad practice, not typical? That would be a good point from which to start learning more about farming, abbatoirs and food supply. Useful. Not a cause for upset.

Absolutely genius idea of the school - i agree op i think thats exactly what they were after!

specialistsubject assuming a broad and balanced diet, they only thing vegans need to supplement is b12, which everyone should be supplementing regardless of diet. B12 deficiency is common amongst those with animals in their diets as well.

I see your amusement at the students being a bit shocked and not realising that they are sort of being played. However, I think it's a bit of a shame if the school tries to promote discussion by promoting extreme viewpoints. I would think 6th formers (most of society at the moment) could use more encouragement at the other end of the scale - understanding diversity and nuance.