Wow, you've had a very different experience, and apparently met very different people (or at least saw different sides of them).
I have never discussed those things with my friends or acquaintances anywhere in the world, across many countries... I don't know anything (or care about) any of them, so I suppose I self-select out of those groups.
The people I end up bonding with (all over the world) are usually because of hiking and outdoor stuff, board games, Dungeons and Dragons, martial arts, history, travel, food, whiskey, couch surfing or hosting, national parks, musical theater, etc.
If someone tried to talk to me about cars, sports, or dead fish, I'd probably just excuse myself. It'd be a huge bore for me and them alike.
I don't doubt what you said, that these are popular topics with men in some parts of the world (especially parts of North America). But it's also totally possible to go through life meeting many people without ever discussing any of those, thankfully...
Hunting/fishing are one type of "outdoor stuff".
Like how bombs / machine guns are types of “engineering”? :)
Sure.
I believe that anyone who eats meat cannot take a moral stance against hunting in general. An animal that lived in the wild then was killed and eaten lived a more fulfilling life than an animal in a factory farm that was killed and eaten.
FWIW, I didn't mean to make it a moral argument. I'm just not personally interested in hunting and fishing, but I don't have an ethical problem with them if done in moderation. Nature is violent and ruthless... a well-aimed shot is one of the less miserable ways for a wild animal to die. And yes, they're absolutely outdoor activities :)
Like you said, it's at least better than factory farming, and in some cases, hunters are an important part of conservation efforts.
I happen to be vegan, but have also had a few friends who hunt & fish. I don't fault them for it, or hunters in general. It's just not something I would want to discuss with them or join them for. Not out of any ethical quandary, it's just not something I want to spend my time doing or thinking about (heh, they're just far less exciting when you can't eat what you catch).
I think that’s fair; I’m coming up on seven years meat-free and can confidently say that hunting is disgusting.
Whether done in captivity or in the wild, there is no such thing as humane slaughter.
Indeed