How do you know if someone is vegan? As the joke goes, they will tell you. While this stereotype has some truth to it, I also think the vegans have truth to their preaching. I recently was visiting home and there was confusion by a family friend's claim that her biggest mistake was not raising her kids as vegans. We discussed the ethics of veganism and the arguments for meat consumption were shocking to me. This conversation made me realize how misunderstood vegans are. While I am not vegan, I do believe factory farming is appalling. I hope to lay out a convincing argument against factory farming, dispel the arguments that were brought up (and other arguments I've heard before), and explain why vegans are so annoying.

The Case Against Factory Farming

The first stop on our journey is one of the many factory farms across our country. Intelligent animals such as pigs are crammed together for months where they are only given the necessities to grow and be slaughtered. This happens all hours of all days all across the world to produce all the bacon and pork that we consume. There is little doubt in scientific literature about the intelligence, social behavior, and range of emotions that pigs exhibit. Likewise, there is little doubt they are routinely abused in factory farms. Just because this treatment is hidden to us when we buy bacon at the grocery store doesn't mean it doesn't happen, nor does it make it okay. Would you be okay pulling the trigger for each slice of bacon you enjoy?

If we swap these pigs with dogs, few Americans would argue any of this treatment is ethical. In fact, Americans are appalled seeing dog meat for sale in other countries. I'd really encourage you to ponder this for a while. Why don't these countries see that abusing and killing Fluffy for steak is unethical? It's the same reason we are okay abusing and killing Wilbur. A culture exists that views these animals as lesser livestock rather than living and loving beings.

The Pro-Meat Arguments

1. But if killing animals isn't ethical, are lions unethical for hunting?
   
   
No, hunting is very much natural. However, lions don't factory farm gazelles. Likewise, human tribes hunting also don't factory farm. In my opinion, the ethics get much murkier when talking about humans engaging in sustainable volume hunting practices rather than factory farming. But unfortunately, these practices are used in practically none of the meat one can readily purchase. Factory farming isn't natural even if hunting is. Factory farming is a technology that allows for the rearing of vast amounts of animals in very poor conditions. Luckily, technology has also given us supermarkets with vast amounts of nutritious and delicious alternatives to factory farmed meat. Unlike the lions, we have a true alternative to maintain our health while also maintaining our moral duty to care for animals on this planet.


2. But eating meat is natural and we evolved to eat it?
   
   
While eating meat is natural, factory farming is certainly not. I believe a balanced high protein diet can still be achieved even without meat. But as technology gave us factory farming, it also gave us iron supplements and protein powders to fill in nutritional gaps as needed.


3. But meat tastes good?
   
   
Just because something is enjoyable doesn't mean it is ethical. I doubt it's enjoyable to the animal that died. The world of vegetarian cuisine has some great meatless options. I highly recommend "native vegetarian" meals rather than trying to replace a steak with a portobello mushroom.


4. But what about vegetables? Don't they die too when you eat them?
   
   
No vegetarian or vegan is advocating against eating a potato because the potato was killed. There is little scientific evidence showing plants suffer in a similar manner to livestock. Plants certainly use water, land, and resources to be grown, but given the trophic level they sit on is the lowest, they use significantly fewer resources than a similar calorie amount of livestock would. Ultimately we have to eat something which comes from somewhere.


5. But what about "dumb" animals?
   
   
Once again things get murky ethically when we talk about ants or crickets. The vast majority of meat eaters are consuming pigs, cows, and chickens which are all capable of emotions and frequently abused. Where exactly this line is drawn is complex but I believe it's better to err on the side of caution than supporting animal abuse.


6. But vegetarians all hated meat before they became vegetarian?
   
   
This may be true for some vegetarians, but I certainly enjoyed meat before making the choice to not consume it. I miss it way less than I thought I would, but I think that's mostly because there are so many "native vegetarian" dishes that are delicious.


7. But what will I eat at that BBQ?
   
   
Frequently there are nutritious and vegetarian-friendly options no matter where you go. Being a "flexitarian" is also a common option, where one seeks to be vegetarian in everyday life but will occasionally eat meat at a gathering. Dramatic reduction in meat consumption is often directionally correct if a little unsatisfying to a completionist.


8. But what about our meat eating culture?
   
   
It's undeniable that meat eating is ingrained in our culture. We eat turkey for thanksgiving. Sharing stories over a Sunday pot roast is how we connect with our friends. Grilling burgers and dogs for the fourth of July is a national pastime. Just because something is culturally acceptable doesn't make it ethical. Eating dogs is culturally acceptable in many countries, and yet Americans still are appalled by the practice. Ultimately while we share meals to connect with one another, the connection comes first and foremost and the meal is an afterthought. A fourth of July with black bean burgers is no less of a celebration, and the memory of your father teaching you to smoke a brisket is no less of a memory if you now smoke tofu instead.


9. But why not be vegan if you don't want to support animals being harmed?
   
   
I would agree here. Vegetarianism is certainly a step in the right direction, but I'd encourage anyone to go further as they see fit.

Why Vegans Won't Shut Up

Even if you disagree with everything I've written so far, vegans don't. Put yourself in the vegan's shoes. If you lived in a world where you saw constant consumption of what you believe are abused creatures, wouldn't you also try to convince others to be vegan? Wouldn't you be proud that you don't partake in this abuse? Even if they come across as obnoxious, it's really hard to fault the vegans for trying to evangelize and end this widespread tragedy. Could you fault a Mormon for regretting raising their kids in a tradition they think will avoid eternal damnation? Veganism is just as existential to vegans. It's hard for a vegan mom to not regret raising kids with a lifestyle that could end so much animal suffering. To a vegan mom, pigs are dogs.