Why I am not a vegan

[Aion]

You don't think it's possible to be compassionate towards those who are seemingly shocked by their realization? As though they deserve that pain as 'payment' for their ignorance? I know that is likely not what you mean, I just want to point out that compassion, like love, can often be conditional.

I do have compassion. Perhaps I sounded harsh. I certainly do not feel their pain is payment for their ignorance. Jeez.

What I meant is that I am detached (for the most part) from this situation in the general public. I'm not an activist. The part that I play, if I have a part, is to be who I am. Part of who I am feels immense compassion and sadness for the needless suffering of animals (and humans such as those who are starving, etc.). I do have compassion for those waking up to these things, but I am what I call a warrior spirit. So from my point of view, yeah, it's hard to wake up and see things you don't want to see, but I personally face those things with courage as much as possible. So my compassion for those waking up is comparatively weaker than for those suffering. I hope this doesn't sound conditional because it's not. 

Do you feel the same reaction to a scratch as you would to someone stabbing you with a knife? Their are varying degrees of emotional content. This is what I mean. I hope I have made myself clear. If I haven't, I will try to explain more comprehensively.

I understand what you mean, I am just philosophizing on the nature of this. You say you have a warrior's spirit and so treat things with a certain degree of courage. If I am incorrect please correct me, but you then say that because of this nature within yourself you thus comparatively have 'less' compassion, presumably from the sense of perhaps expecting others to be able to match your own warrior's spirit?

Do you expect that all will be as courageous as you are? I know you don't, I am asking intentionally blunt questions because I want to sort of mirror the way I see others approaching questioning to examine its efficacy.

For myself, I have always had a hard time 'comparing' conditions between individuals. Saying 'more' or 'less' suffering doesn't make any sense to me, as if suffering can be quantified. So, in the same vein, 'more' or 'less' compassion also doesn't make sense to me. I understand the concept, I just don't have it in my experience because for me, compassion is compassion, suffering is suffering. In my eyes no matter how great or small they are recognizable as the same.

I guess you could say I apply as above, so below, the holographic principle. Within every slight suffering is the greatest suffering and in the most subtle compassion is the most radiant compassion. So, for me, it is hard not to view others equally through the eyes of compassion. I am not intending to counter your experience, only to offer you some experience had by another self for your contemplation.