system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
Honestly? No. I think about what went into my food every time I eat meat — it’s important to me that the meat is used well, and not just shoved into a fucking hotdog slurry or something. 

People really dislike vegans for a few reasons, imo — firstly: shame is an awful motivator. People *hate* negative reinforcement.

Secondly: pretty much every mature adult accepts that it’s impossible to save the world. We do what we can by fixing the problems in front of us, and helping those we care about. We don’t actually give a shit about some nebulous, far off idea of an animal-cruelty free future, not due to lack of empathy, but due to *distance*. Vegans act like meat eaters are without empathy, but I think most of the vocal ones are simply without perspective — and, indeed, some of *them* are lacking in empathy.

For most of the vocal vegans they feel empathy for animals due to their closeness to them, but fail to understand that most other people feel empathy — *just like they do* for the things they are close to. None of us can care about every issue in the world — imagine if I were to shame a vegan for not trying to help starving children in Africa? (Which, arguably, is actually a more pressing issue.) 

What’s more, their chosen resolution to the issue is to, RE: Shame people. People who really have very little control over the system at large — people that grew up in meat eating families and with non-vegan diets. Being vegan is *expensive and difficult*, and not everyone can afford to do it, or has the time and energy to. 

If someone was really, truly, trying to correct the animal cruelty issue they wouldn’t be shaming others in a performative act of virtue signaling, but rather trying to change the system as a whole. Things like writing vegetarian cookbooks, investing in artificial meat alternatives, conducting research into lab grown meat — all those thing actually make a measurable impact, and without trying to shame people. Most of the more vocal vegans I see are more akin to certain religious people: shaming others in an effort to seem holier than thou, without actually trying to help and correct the issues at their core.

Which is why I dislike vocal vegans. I really don’t give a shit about someone being vegan if they aren’t in my business, however.
gpt
How do you suggest, then, that activists further their causes? I don't think I've shamed anyone. I've pointed out some factual concerns, but if we want to help starving people (using crop space for people not livestock could help with this) and also stop cruelty to other beings, these facts need to be pointed out. 

While I surely agree that changing one's diet takes considerable effort and work, like trying anything new, it's certainly not more expensive. Fake meat products can be, but beans, tofu, lentils, etc have always been very affordable foods. 

I also agree that sharing helpful information is a great way to help people start a journey into veganism, but the conversations I have with most people typically involve the mere mention of veganism and then me responding to attacks on my choices, or how I am not that great of a person, or how my beliefs are wrong and they are going to eat twice as many hamburgers just because. No one ever bothers to ask how they can help or make a difference. I suppose this is the case for most activists working against the social norm. Believe me, I'd love to field questions about how people can ease into veganism for the environment, ethical reasons, health reasons whatever!