Why limit compassion from any that really want to live? Being human should not be a prerequisite for being a subject of compassion. I understand defense is needed against biting pests, but animals being used are not that but defenseless beings in captivity, from the demand from any of us, who could choose differently, and have healthier ways with that, which I showed in my previous posts, while it does not demand as many resources and as much land and water with diminishing environments and contributing to loss of species.
“a vegan is assumed to be a sanctimonious, hyper-sensitive liberal freak”
You could be a living counter-example to that perception, prove lots of people wrong and normalize being vegan in our society.
You can be vegan and do outreach. I’ve been doing outreach for about 6 months and got tens if not hundreds of people commiting to go vegan. There are lots of people that are compasionate towards animals and just don’t know what they’re supporting. That maximizes the impact and you don’t have to say ‘animal exploitation is bad’ while partaking in it (i.e. being a hypocrite).
“I’d rather eat meat that’s already prepared than watch it go to waste”
If you’re not waiting for the animal explotation product to be thrown out and are at the table consuming it, other people are creating the demand for this product in your name. If you’re commonly having meals with this group, even if you wait until it gets thrown out, they’ll make more knowing you will get the leftovers and the demand will increase specifically because of you.