to reduce a very strong critique of dominant ways of thinking to being about marking their own identity rather than listening to it for what it is is a very immature and dangerous way to be.
When Francione & his followers criticise Vegan Outreach, and yet adopt the same approach with the only difference being a reference to Gary Francione's blog tagged onto the brochure, I suspect that what we are seeing is fanaticism rather than an attempt to help animals.
In your own view Roy neither Zoe or myself, nor Patty Mark or any number of others are 'followers of Francione'.
It's not fanatacism at all, it's using resources in a way best for animals - instead of directing potential vegans to a site that doesn't promote veganism as an imperative, we direct them to a site that does. Which actually isn't Francione's anyway. As you've pointed out yourself there are several ways in which I/many at ALV differ from Francione... something 'fanatics' or 'cult members' don't usually do.
Fanatacism usaully requires a total lack of critical thinking and a pledged allegiance to a certain ideology - in your case the dominant animal 'rights' one. Santayana says that it usually involves "doubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim" which is exactly what campaigning for a cleaner floor or different(!!) slaughter method is doing. It also involves very little tolerance for difference, not based upon rhyme or reason but based simply upon the fact that it is deviation. To reduce critique of counterproductive/ineffective/unethical 'advocacy' which aims to make animal activism more productive, more effective and more ethical to being about the critic's desire to mark their own personal identity reeks of fanatical intolerance of difference.
Also, you seem to have quite a muddled view/explanation to others of people who are inclined not to advocate for bigger cages and longer cages and perhaps a sharper knife and instead to keep a clear message that a vegan message is necessary if we are talking for animals. Your response is to say every deviant is a cult follower of Francione, yet at other times you talk about them/us not even following Francione...
You can talk about fanatacism all you want, but I just think it's funny you won't concede how pervasive it is when related to the dominant discourse on animal 'rights'.
I'm sure there are a fair few Francione fanatics, but essentially the dominant animal 'rights' groups are based entirely on fanaticism. Which is very sad.
And as a note.. I refrained from using 'new welfarism' to describe dominant animal 'rights' groups here so as not to perpetuate your confusion.. I can just see a rant coming about ALV's single issue campaigns or Open Rescues. But even if that were to come it would, as far as your earlier posts are concerned, give us more credibility as independent of Francione and thus perhaps our criticism of certain 'advoacy' would gain more crediblity in yours/others eyes.
