[ note: this is outsider thoughts—I am neither EA nor Vegetarian (nor “rationalist”, in the community/identity sense). ]
First, are you asking about vegan or just vegetarian (or even semi-vegetarian)? The arguments are different, and especially the “better topics to spend energy on” is scalable in terms of how much thought and effort it actually takes.
Second, I think you missed an important consideration: influence and normalization. Even if your contribution is small, and even if (perhaps especially if) you don’t proselytize or demand anything from others, your demonstration that this is a valid and fulfilling way to live makes it much more likely that others will choose it as well.
[ note: this is outsider thoughts—I am neither EA nor Vegetarian (nor “rationalist”, in the community/identity sense). ]
First, are you asking about vegan or just vegetarian (or even semi-vegetarian)? The arguments are different, and especially the “better topics to spend energy on” is scalable in terms of how much thought and effort it actually takes.
Second, I think you missed an important consideration: influence and normalization. Even if your contribution is small, and even if (perhaps especially if) you don’t proselytize or demand anything from others, your demonstration that this is a valid and fulfilling way to live makes it much more likely that others will choose it as well.