If you're right, I'm wrong

If Idea A is correct,
and Idea B conflicts with Idea A,
then Idea B is incorrect.

People want to believe that they are smart, moral, and caring individuals. So, when I tell new people I am a vegan, there's a process that almost always takes place. The person thinks (most likely subconsciously), "Lisa thinks eating animal products is wrong. My opinion (that eating animal products is okay) conflicts with that. So, either she's wrong or I'm wrong. And I am a smart, moral, and caring individual. There's gotta be something wrong with her view.

And so, they have two choices: 1) Commit to spending time to consider both opinions, and come to a logical conclusion, or 2) Rationalize their opinion or break down mine.

Unfortunately, human nature makes us want to choose the latter. And so, people usually cling to myths about protein or nonsense about being at the top of the food chain. They tell me how hard it would be, how they knew someone who died from eating spinach, how animals don't suffer, how animals are supposed to suffer, or how they only eat free-range animals. These are all rationalizations.

It's human nature to rationalize our opinions and behaviors. It makes us feel correct. It allows us to maintain our view that we're smart, moral, and caring individuals. It helps us feel good.

But it doesn't help us grow.