@ZeldalovesLink I do understand what veganism is, but I also understand about ecology, land management, food production etc and I'm aware of the bigger picture, which is something that many vegans seem to be completely oblivious to.
@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman has already covered most of it. But like many other none vegans, my concern lies with animal welfare and improving it. Not exchanging one bad practice for others a million times more horrific so I can put it out of sight and out of mind.
I think factory farming is abhorrent, hence not supporting it in anyway. But if we all decided to follow the vegan philosophy the (admittedly low) minimum protection animals have in the human food chain would completely disappear and compared to the hell that would be inflicted uk factory farms and conveyer style slaughter would look like a Disney film. And please don't tell me livestock etc would gradually disappear. It hasn't yet happened for all the unwanted ponies and cobs bred every year, that if they're lucky end up in a uk slaughter house.
To add to the environment argument, it's completely irrational to suggest being vegan is better on principle. A diet based on whatever is available or can be produced locally with minimal damage is the best thing for the environment. And in many places, particularly in the uk, that's an omnivorous diet. Buying a load of imported plastic wrapped food doesn't become environmentally friendly because it's labelled vegan. And eating locally raised meat doesn't automatically become damaging because vegans don't understand how ecology and land/ food production works.
I think what makes me laugh the most about the vegan movement is their widespread use of the big supermarkets. The big names that played a massive role in the change from traditional farming to factory, and forced the price of animal products, and therefore welfare to the floor.
All that said, if people choose to be vegan on an individual level I can respect that. I just disagree with the myth it makes them kinder/ more respectful of animals. And I have zero respect for the vegan movement as a whole, not only for the reasons I've already explained, but because the extreme, uninformed and often batshit theories are counterproductive to improving welfare.