Veganism, in my mind, is a philosophy based on the concept that it’s unethical to use animals as mere objects, as slaves, as commodities. That extends well beyond factory farming and the atrocities therein. Veganism, in my mind, isn’t simply a boycott of nonvegan items; it’s a way of living that respects animals.

Moreover, I think there is good reason to focus on the death of males versus the suffering of females: death is easier to understand than torture. For example, even those who disagree understand the anti-death penalty arguments. There isn’t any confusion over the principle issue: death. But when it comes to torture, there’s a ton of debate and confusion. What is and what isn’t torture becomes a matter of debate. But when you speak of death, there’s no question.

Again, my reasoning is simply that we ought to appeal to as many humans as possible in as simple terms as possible, just like above where I defended promoting vegetarianism over promoting egg-free, dairy-free meat-eating. But of course, do your own thing and promote veganism however you see fit

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I’m not trying to take you to task, Elaine. I read this sh-t all the time. It’s common to focus on the plight of the male animals to get people to sympathize. I personally think the plight of the female animals is enough to elicit sympathy.

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That is, children understand the vegetarian argument VERY easily. They don’t understand the vegan argument as easily. Children are not a measure of whether the argument is good or not, but they are a good measure of how persuasive the argument is to the general population. (They say you should write at a sixth grade level if you want to be understood by the average person. And this is why videos of animal suffering are more persuasive than written words.)

I think for most people who care about animals, the idea of eating dead animal flesh is incongruous with their concern for animals. Advocating a dairy-free and egg-free diet that still includes animal flesh just feels wrong.

On an intellectual and emotional level, the relationship between meat-eating and suffering is so much stronger than the relationship between dairy or eggs and suffering. It doesn’t require any special knowledge or experience to understand vegetarianism. Animal rights, in the most basic sense of right to life, are self-evident.

Even veganism is easy to understand on a purely intellectual or emotional level. But dairy-free, egg-free meat-eating is more complicated.

If someone had suggested that I continue eating animal flesh but not dairy or eggs, I would have ignored them and thought they were crazy. It was simple: I care about animals so I don’t eat them. Later, that became: I care about animals so I don’t use them.