Not alone

Whenever I get into a "discussion" about my veganism, I find myself constantly caught in one particular trap.  It is a fallacy that most of us fall into and one that opponents of vegetarian and vegan diets are particularly good at pulling off. That is the "You are alone" fallacy.  What does it look like?  Take this argument, which represents almost every single discussion I've gotten into about my diet:

Them: "Why do you even bother being a vegan?"

Me: "Because it helps prevent suffering"

Them: "You are not really making a difference.  Do you think the industry actually cares if you abstain from meat? The suffering will go on no matter what you do. ", etc, etc, etc.

Do you see what is going on here?  They are saying that you, yourself, cannot possibly make a difference and so you might as well give up.  If you (and I've done it more times than I can count) continue on with this line of reasoning you will be in trouble.

Let me first say that I do believe one person can make a difference.  Even if it would take a lifetime of veganism to save a handful of chickens and a couple of cows and pigs, it will have been worth it.  So for me, if I were the only vegan on the entire planet, I would gladly continue on as I am.  Whether anyone else thinks it is doing any good is irrelevant to me.  But, that really isn't the point.  The problem with the line of reasoning in the above discussion is that it is completely wrong.

The fact is, you are not alone.  According to a 2016 Harris poll, nine million Americans eat a vegetarian or vegan diet (About one million vegans).  And that number is on the rise.  That is just in America.  Avoiding meat eating is huge in other industrialized nations as well.  Just read the wiki page on the subject and check out the references.

Does this mean the end of cruelty to animals?  I am afraid not.  Even with these numbers the meat industry is still a juggernaut of unprecedented means and influence at its disposal. Too many people are still addicted to meat.  Too many people are under the delusion that eating meat is essential to their survival or health. And too many people are still unaware (or simply don't care) of the immense suffering that goes on every hour of every day at farms and slaughterhouses around the globe.

But even in the face of such terribly great odds, you are still making a difference.  At the end of the day, each and every animal you save makes a big difference to that animal. And, I believe, contributes directly to the betterment of society, our environment and ultimately to our consciences.

So keep on keeping on.  You aren't alone. You are doing a great good!  And the next time someone says "you", you correct them and say, "You mean 'us'".