Open Letter to Matt

[TheVeganAtheist]

Thanks everyone. It was a ton of work. More then I expected (especially the first video)

The open letter formatting looks good, but all of the links are broken:

will jump on that and fix them

At the end of the third video, you said "Don't forget to check out part three", but I just watched part 3.
You've created an endless loop!

ya I realized that after watching it again. I cant tell you how many times I reviewed the video, and somehow missed it. I had a different ending recorded, however I forgot to swap it out (so its like the ending of the 2nd part). I will add an annotation fix, however im not going to delete/fix/upload again.

You pronounced utilitarian as ulitarian in the first video at 12:22

ya, I noticed that. Slip of the tongue. I found it challenging to read/record a letter written by someone else.

On another note, ive noticed a big drop in subscribers (around 100 already). Its interesting to see the hate mail, the misrepresenting of the arguments made in the video, and the obvious projection of people's already held biases towards veganism.

Great job with the videos!

I'm not sure when/if I'll finish watching this. Bizarrely misrepresenting a 7-year-old video and accusing me of dismissing scientific consensus while YOU are misrepresenting what the AHA actually says about meat (already posted 2 quick links) is rather strange.

I might fisk the whole video if there's time, but I'm off to do an interview.

And, I'm only a little over 6 minutes in, so maybe it gets less dishonest.

(in the comment section)

:/ Doesn't seem like he's that open minded about it...

ya, I noticed that as well. Seems he thinks we misrepresented his words. I think what we have here is an issue where the old Dillahunty of 7 years ago is conflicting with the new Dillahunty.

[brimstoneSalad]

On another note, ive noticed a big drop in subscribers (around 100 already). Its interesting to see the hate mail, the misrepresenting of the arguments made in the video, and the obvious projection of people's already held biases towards veganism.

Your subscribers see it first, they can't double subscribe if they like it so there's not much visible positive feedback. It should take a while for the link to trickle out and for you to bring in new subscribers. Please keep us posted.
We've had seven new forum members since you posted the video and this posting.

ya, I noticed that as well. Seems he thinks we misrepresented his words. I think what we have here is an issue where the old Dillahunty of 7 years ago is conflicting with the new Dillahunty.

He doesn't seem to understand the concept that the AHA would also recommend Lard over Butter; that doesn't mean it's a good idea to eat Lard.

They're trying to advocate the least unhealthy thing that they think people will actually switch to. AHA doesn't believe vegan advocacy will be very effective, because most people will ignore the message (they're advocating to the mainstream public who are very resistant to doing reasonable things), so advocates different kinds of meats which are slightly less unhealthy instead.
AHA would also be unconcerned about fish, since that's not really their department (heavy metals being the chief concern there).

You should invite Matt to the forum, or ask him if he has another medium he would like to communicate by. Youtube comments aren't very useful.
You could tell him you'll link to the discussion from the description.

[Volenta]

:/ Doesn't seem like he's that open minded about it...

Well, lets not conclude that already. Lets wait and see how he will respond to it in from a broader viewpoint than specific health organization claims (even though they also should be addressed by us).

I do feel that it's annoying that we couldn't find anything more recent... After all, most people here love his work (I do) and don't want to attack him personally by what would be a misrepresented view of him today. If he can look through that and is able to state his current stance, it would be great.

Edit: typo

[EquALLity]

Wow, they're great! I hope he writes a response addressing the points.

Though, on the third one, if we are going to say that somebody's actions are immoral, I think we do need to back that up. He needs to back up his claim if he says it is ethical to fund the meat industry, yeah, but wouldn't we be asserting something also?

Of course, that claim is backed up, and you backed it up in the videos. And it sounds like he's saying that he doesn't need to back up his claim at all. o_O

[brimstoneSalad]

Lard over Butter

Eeek, I didn't say the AHA did or does currently recommend that (they might, you'd have to search), but just that they would based on their position statements regarding harmful saturated fats and the profiles of these two fats.

I responded to Thulyblu here:

http://theveganatheist.com/forum/viewto ... 8609#p8609

Somebody please share that link with him or her, as well as with Matt.

If there are any other coherent replies that should be addressed, please let me know.

[Volenta]

Here is a post from him on Twitter:

@PhotoJennBo @VeganOnYoutube 43 seconds in and already 2 false accusations. 1:35 assert that speciesism is wrong and an appeal to Dawkins..

https://twitter.com/Matt_Dillahunty/sta ... 2676403200

I wonder what he thinks this false accusations are, since the introduction mainly focused on introducing the topic. Presenting Dawkins' view, which some people are taking as 'appeal to authority'-fallacy, actually isn't one if you read/listen carefully (it's not used to argue against Dillahunty's position). If he thinks that we accuse him of speciesism, he's also wrong. Not everything that is stated is an evaluation of his position, and I hope he can look through that in his response.

The letter is well thought out and his position in the TV show has been analyzed intensely. I hope people will do the same with the letter to see the soundness in it.

[TheVeganAtheist]

There's more from Matt on Twitter.

Im surprised by his initial reaction to a very well thought out letter.

[thebestofenergy]

'This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever watched... so far'
I don't know if he could be in a stroger defensive state than in what he's right now.

[miniboes]

He is indeed extremely defensive. I have not seen him actually rebut any of the arguments, however. He did not at all respond to the second and third part.

[brimstoneSalad]

He is indeed extremely defensive. I have not seen him actually rebut any of the arguments, however. He did not at all respond to the second and third part.

I saw a related link for this, which I kind of remember:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEerPl5GWfs

Matt has a tendency to have hissy fits when people criticize him, apparently.

And this calling anybody who criticizes him 'dishonest'? Looks like a habit too.

I think we're seeing a window into theist Matt.
Which makes me wonder if people ever really change, and if he's not the same as he ever was as a theist, in terms of behavior and tendency to lash out irrationally against criticism, just minus the fact of believing in a god.