anti-veganism sentiment

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!

You both like debate.

You: Hello. I'm Adam. I like to argue/discuss. Where are you from?

Stranger: I'm from Australia

You: US

Stranger: nice

Stranger: do you have any topics in mind?

You: I usually argue for veganism, or buying local, based on certain animal's living conditions in the US (i.e., the suffering, not against slaughter).

Stranger: I don't think I'd disagree with you on that on

You: Ok

You: I'll continue

You: Have you ever had pets?

Stranger: no

You: Fair enough

You: What would you feel like if someone says they eat cats or dogs?

Stranger: I havent really thought about it, and this isnt something I've really thought about

Stranger: wow I just said the same thing twice

You: lol

You: it's ok

You: How about thinking on it now?

Stranger: My gut reaction is that I'm not okay with it

Stranger: but I don't think that the feeling is backed up rationally if I'd be okay with eating any other animal

You: right...

Stranger: Like I said I havent thought about it

You: Yes, thanks for your input

You: If you were to guess, assuming that you can get the same tastes and textures, would it be hard to be vegetarian?

Stranger: It wouldn't

You: Hm, ok.

You: I'm going to make a leap here

You: Do you think being a healthy vegan would be hard?

Stranger: I don't know much about nutrition, but as far as I'm aware, it's a lot easier to get certain nutrients such as protein if you have meat in your diet. I'm not sure how much more difficult it would be to include substitutes for that in a vegan diet.

You: I understand where you're coming from.

You: I'm pretty happy with this conversation so far. I realize I haven't really said anything significant.

You: And I'd say you haven't been really convinced of anything...but, I'm just happy about it.

Stranger: I like to think that I have a pretty reasonable perspective

You: I agree. The last person who actually got into a discussion with me kept believing what he wanted to believe. For instance, they wanted a picture of me (thinking I would look pale/unhealthy). Yet, I told them that all my pictures online are old.

You: I have pale, relatively unhealthy looking pics (old ones). And they thought that was so great, that I'm vegetarian and look unhealthy...

You: yet that was when I ate meat...so...

Stranger: I don't really understand the anti-veganism sentiment

You: huh, you're right...

You: perhaps American hubris?

Stranger: eh

Stranger: I think that people believe that vegans are preachy

Stranger: but who isn't going to want to spread the word about something that they think is morally important

You: I like that idea.

You: It's like a TED talk I heard about Vipassana mediation

Stranger: People don't like being told that they are doing something wrong

You: Right, that too.

You: Anyway, I gotta go

Stranger: Alright, I'll give that ted talk a watch

You: Some women

You: Vipassana Meditation and Body Sensation: Eilona Ariel at TEDxJaffa ...

You: I believe that's it.

You: Have a nice night or day!

Stranger: yeah

Stranger: alright will do, you too