Unmasking Lies: How to Spot Animal Ag Misinformation

Today I'm analyzing the subtle tactics used to spread misinformation in a debate between animal and plant agriculture - ft. Will Harris of White Oak Pastures Ecologist Nicholas Carter, and Professor of Animal Science Jason Rowntree.

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Original Debate

Nicholas Carter’s Timestamped references:

Nicholas Carter’s Website

Nutrition Made Simples Breakdown of the White and Hall Study

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[DebugYourBrain]

NOTE: I will delete replies to this pinned comment. If you want to comment start a fresh comment thread.

With respect to the studies Jason mentions:


Furthermore, he seems generally averse to talking about studies, and their inclusion reads as perfunctory since the more overarching narrative they are selling seems to be “you can’t trust reductionist science, anyone can create any model that behooves them, you need to trust farmers’ anecdotes instead.” He devotes very little time to actually talking about any studies that make a positive case for animal ag and instead focuses most of his time listing limitations, citing anecdotes, and generally making it seem like science is complicated and can't really tell us much.

Also note that the point of this video isn't to say Will and Jason are bad people, or that vegans are never guilty of falling prey to their biases etc. This video is meant to highlight commonly used tactics and points of confusion that exist in a wide array of discussion/debates. This particular debate is just a vehicle, a single instance of a broader pattern.

I encourage everyone to watch the full debate as there's a lot of interesting stuff going on there, but what I particularly recommend is checking out Merchants of Doubt.

When I say “Both Sides” helps the status quo I’m generally referring to status quo behaviors. For instance, at one time smoking was the status quo in society much as eating animal flesh is the status quo now. I’m also referring to status quo at the individual level of behaviors. If your personal status quo is to smoke cigarettes, you’re going to need more than “it’s really unclear if it’s bad for you it’s just sort of complicated” to actually motivate you to quit.

[akiiis]

I have never seen a vegan explain something with such simple, understandable finesse..vegan contents out there is mostly all jumbled up and has not been put into a comprehensive structure like what you have done. People may have to watch a long 3 hr debate just to get a point... superb work

[Natalie.Fulton]

Thanks for this! It's super helpful to have someone with a deep understanding of scientific methodology break this stuff down

[samanthuel]

The quality of your videos is seriously next level. You're putting out some real good in this world! 🌱

[CatherineKlein]

Excellent breakdown! I couldn’t make it through that debate haha

[carbrock.]

What you say about doubt generating inaction generating strengthening of the status quo is brilliant.

When someone says “you have your science and I have mine” fails to understand reality at its most basic level, that science is the search for the objective truth that is hidden from our primitive senses and limited experience.

[tigerwolf]

New anti-vegan argument: If we didn't raise all those cows, WHO would all eat that CORN?!

[C-shadow]

It's amazing how effective these tactics are! Clearly we need to improve the average person's thinking skills a great deal, but definitely easier said than done

[Figaroblue]

Your videos get better and better. You are doing amazing work.

[mairzydoats]

I love these analyses. It's easy for me to forget how scientists view things in the moment and get pushed around by "common sense" and emotional pandering. 💚🥗💚

[RobbieTao-flfo]

I’m sick of slave owners trying to justify slavery in 2023

[goodlad]

Great breakdown of the frequent illogical defense mechanisms and misinformation many animal ag supporters peddle

[suicune]

Well said! I wasn't able to find hard info about it but I tried looking up how much GHG went down during lockdown in 2020. The best I could find was roughly 4-5%. Isn't animal ag something like 14%? So even when the entire world is as shut down as it could be, it pales in comparison to animal ag. And methane is far worse than CO2.

[joshwong]

Oh come on! You should have at least 50K subs with this high level of information by now🌱💪

[_MrSnrub]

Nice job picking apart the bass ackwards logic these people used.

[teresarands]

Great video! I always learn from you. Honestly, one of my favorite youtubers

[StarWonder]

Dishonest, fallacious AND disingenuous arguments from the farmers. The farmer said someone used an ad hominem when talking about industry funding? What? They don't even know how fallacies work while saying someone is using a fallacy who is not at all, while making nothing but fallacies themselves.

[maxwell_edison]

Uh-Oh, i spot a bit of a audio desync when you've got your face overlayed on the video.

[victoriousvegan]

Keep shinning a light on these dark figures, exposure goes along way.
It is easy to recognize these tactics once they have been highlighted. May more and more of the public be enlightened by your vids! Thank you for all you do!

[BeyondaThought]

Yeah this is why the point "you need both sides of the argument" is also BS. Having someone who farms cows in regenerative argument is going to be problematic from the start.