You know, I was at a barbecue last weekend, and my uncle was grilling burgers. The smell was amazing, and everyone was having a great time. My vegan cousin was there too, eating a veggie patty, and she seemed happy. But here’s the thing—she was also constantly checking labels and asking about ingredients. It looked exhausting. Look, I get the ethical argument for veganism. I really do. But I think it misses something about human nature. We evolved as omnivores. Our bodies are designed to eat meat. And when you look at it from a utilitarian perspective, the happiness people get from sharing a meal—a real meal with meat—outweighs the harm to animals in many cases. It’s not perfect, but neither is forcing everyone to change their diet. The debate isn’t about right or wrong, it’s about what works in the real world.

So here's what I keep coming back to: is tradition really a good enough reason to keep doing something harmful? My opponent talks about the joy of a barbecue, but let's think about that from a deontological perspective. If we wouldn't accept treating a dog that way, why is a cow different? I get that change is hard and that food culture matters. But the "it works in the real world" argument cuts both ways. Factory farming works because it's efficient, not because it's right. The happiness at that barbecue is real, sure, but it's built on suffering we've just gotten used to ignoring. From a virtue ethics angle, what kind of person are we being when we prioritize convenience over compassion? That's the question that keeps me from being comfortable with the status quo.

So picture this: my neighbor switched to plant-based last year, and now he’s constantly posting about how much better he feels. But then I see him at a party, and he’s sneaking bites of cheese when he thinks no one’s looking. That’s the thing—pure veganism often fails in practice. We’re not machines, we’re humans with cravings and social ties. I agree with my opponent that factory farming is messed up. No argument there. But the leap from “factory farms are bad” to “no one should eat any animal products ever” is too big. You can reduce suffering without going full vegan. Buy local, eat less meat, support better farms. That’s a middle ground that actually works for most people. From a utilitarian view, that approach reduces more suffering overall because it’s sustainable. A hundred people eating less meat beats one person being perfect and the rest ignoring it.