Thanks for the correction galen. You are right, s/he is the equivalent of it not you. I have corrected my original post.

I just don't find your arguments particularly convincing.

Honestly I have no illusions about convincing anyone regarding animal rights. Nor should you take my arguments as all there is to animal rights. I'm one person being true to the experiences that shaped me. Becoming vegan is a dramatic life decision and not an easy one to stick with socially. It took a long chain of events and a lot of introspection for me to appreciate all life and want to respect it above all. So I don't expect anyone to change their views based on someone else's views. But I do hope this gives people a different perspective and hopefully compel someone to do more research and watch a few documentaries on the subject. However, if this thread makes people to stop and question for a minute why they do what they do, that's enough accomplishment for me. Of course I'd want everyone to stop hurting animals but ultimately if you're ok with eating them, that's your own call. I just hope you don't come to regret, like I do, some of the things I did back when I was an omnivore. Guilt can be another powerful type of suffering.