Debating veganism: How to change someone's opinion - 6 Minute English

Dan: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English.

I'm Dan and joining me is Rob.

Rob: Hello.

Dan: Here at BBC Learning English,

we're always discussing diets.

Rob: I am on a see-food diet.

When I see food,

I just have to eat it!

Dan: I suppose there's no chance of converting

you to a vegan diet, is there?

That seems be the most talked about

food fad at the moment

– a fad is something that is popular

but only for a short time.

Rob: Of course, veganism

– that's not eating or using any products

that come from animals –

may be more than a fad.

It could be a lifestyle that improves our health

and the planet. And it could be here to stay.

But personally,

me becoming a vegan would take some persuading.

Dan: I'm sure it would.

And in this programme we'll be discussing the debate

about veganism and how it's sometimes difficult

to change people's minds.

But first a question to answer.

We've mentioned what a vegan eats

but what about a lacto-ovo-vegetarian?

Which one of these items can they eat?

Is it a) pork

b) fish

or c) cheese?

Rob: I'll say b) they can eat fish.

Dan: Well, you’ll have to wait until the end

of the programme to find out.

But now back to veganism.

According to some national surveys,

there are now around 3.5 million full-time vegans

in the UK... and the number is growing!

Rob: And what was recently a radical lifestyle

choice is slowly moving into the mainstream

– or has become accepted by most people as normal.

Dan: Advocates of veganism say their healthy lifestyle

would also free up space and resources for growing

food and it would help reduce greenhouse

gas emissions.

Rob: Yeah, but come on Dan.

Having a meat-free diet means you might not get all

the nutrients you need.

Dan: Well, this is all part of the debate, Rob.

There's always two sides to an argument

and it's something that's been discussed on BBC

Radio 4's Farming Today programme.

They spoke to Dr Jutta Tobias Mortlock,

a senior lecturer in organisational psychology

at London's City University,

who explained why views about veganism

are so polarised

– that means 'causing people to divide into

two groups with opposing views'.

Dr Jutta Tobias Mortlock: This issue touches on

personal beliefs, and beliefs always trump facts

and so, often when we talk about beliefs,

we're touching on important values.

Values are the things that guide our opinion

over what's right versus what's wrong.

And so whenever people argue over whether it's right

or wrong to eat meat, they are in fact not debating the

facts around this issue, they're actually debating the

beliefs about what's moral or immoral about this.

Dan: So it seems in the whole debate about veganism

we are basing our views on beliefs.

A belief is something we feel is true or real.

Our beliefs are based on our values

– those are the things we think are right and wrong.

Rob: And when we argue over the rights and wrongs

of veganism, we base it on our values – not hard facts.

We talk about our view on what is immoral

– so what society thinks is wrong or not acceptable.

But basically, there is no right or wrong answer.

Dan: That's why we need facts, Rob.

Rob: So Dan, what can I do if I want to win you

over to becoming an omnivore, like me?

Dan: According to Dr Jutta,

there are two main routes to winning someone over:

a direct, fact-based approach or a 'peripheral route',

which might be more effective.

Let's hear her explain how it works.

Dr Jutta Tobias Mortlock: If I'm working with you and

I'm trying to get you to come round to my side,

I might not focus on the central facts.

I might focus on the peripheral stuff

around how I'm constructing my argument.

I'd look for ways of how they overlap as people,

like what do they have in common?

And that's a way to debate an issue

such as this controversial one

in a way to get people to feel connected to each other

and to actually feel that they value

each other as decent human beings.

Rob: Interesting! This is a more subtle way of

winning an argument.

She says we should focus on the peripheral stuff

– these are the things that are not as important as the

main argument but are connected to it.

Dan: So we could say we're looking for common ground

– things that both sides agree on

or at least understand. Dr Jutta talked about making

both sides feel connected.

And it's a good point.

Even if you don't want to be a vegan,

you should respect someone's choice to be one.

Rob: Yes, it's all about valuing someone as a decent

human being.

'Decent' means

'good and having good moral standards'.

Like us, Dan!

Dan: Well, they're wise words, Rob!

Of course, it would be morally wrong – immoral –

not to give you the answer to our quiz question.

Earlier I asked which one of these items

can a lacto-ovo-vegetarian eat.

Rob: I said b) fish.

Dan: Sorry, no – that's something they can't eat

but they can eat cheese.

A lacto-ovo-vegetarian is a person who eats vegetables,

eggs, and dairy products but does not eat meat.

Rob: No meat! No steak! How can they enjoy eating?!

Dan: Rob, remember as a decent human beings,

we respect all views here.

Rob: Just joking – but now I'm deadly serious

about reviewing some of the

vocabulary we've discussed today.

Dan: OK. Our first word was 'fad'.

A fad is something that is popular

but only for a short time.

Rob: Next, we mentioned 'mainstream'.

Something that is mainstream has become accepted

by most people as normal.

Dan: Then we had 'polarised'

– that describes a situation that causes people

to divide into two groups with opposing views.

Rob: A 'belief' is something we feel is true or real.

And 'immoral' describes something that society thinks

is wrong or not acceptable.

Dan: We also mentioned 'peripheral', which relates

to things that are not as important as

the main argument, but are connected to it.

It also means 'situated on the edge'.

Rob: And finally, 'decent' means 'good or good enough'.

Dan: Don't forget you can learn more English with

us on our website at bbclearningenglish.com.

Rob: Bye for now.

Dan: Goodbye.