How to Answer People Who Tell You to Get a Life for Being an Animal Activist

Animal advocates/activists have probably been instructed to "get a life" more times than they care to count. Even though we're not exactly sure what that means, there are a variety of ways to respond. In fact, there's a whole arsenal of responses to brilliant statements just like that. In this article I will suggest a few.

Instructions

1. When they say, "get a life," you can answer: "Helping those that can't speak for themselves; that's a good life." Or you can just go the "You mean like yours? No thanks, I'll pass" route. Then don't forget to commend them for their creativity and originality.

2. If they ask you why you're wasting your time when there's a war going on in Iraq, there are a variety of ways to answer depending on the situation. For instance, if it's on the Internet you can ask why they are wasting their time online scolding you--there's a war going on in Iraq for crying out loud. If an angry shopper who is patronizing a puppy mill-supplied pet store you are protesting informs you there's a war in Iraq, you can ask why he/she is shopping for an expensive dog (instead of rescuing one from a shelter) while there's a war going on--not to mention a recession. Tell them they should be sitting at home staring at the wall like every other American (of course that would be facetious).

3. If they ask why you're not helping children or the homeless, ask them how they know you don't--before proceeding to ask them what they've done to help children or the homeless lately. Fact: people who care about animals tend to be more compassionate across the board than people who like to insult animal activists.

4. If they tell you you're a hypocrite for eating meat and wearing leather, ask how they know you do (A large percentage of animal advocates don't eat meat or wear leather). But let's say you do--two wrongs don't make a right--and it's better to do something than nothing at all, like them.

5. If they tell you that you are a hypocrite for protesting animal experimentation or boycotting products tested on animals, yet you still go to the hospital--inform them that the majority of animal experimentation has been proven useless and obsolete--aside from being cruel and inhumane.

6. When they shout at you the other all-time winner: "get a job." You can say, "my job is only 40 hours a week; I choose to spend some of my spare time helping animals."

   "A job? What are you doin' here? I guess you're on your lunch break or is your paper route done for the day?"

7. Or you could just not answer at all. Chances are it will be falling on deaf ears--so just continue to do what you do. It's their problem.