The videos of slaughter houses and commercial farms is readily available. Many documentaries include it and it's even been broadcast on the news. Some people have made changes based on that, but I think it's a small number, not "most".
I think there is difference between vicarious experience vs real view. I don't think I have ever seen any news related to egregious violation by animal industries. In fact, I think news are accomplice to such violation because they are afraid of negative PR and keep advertising "happy" cows, green farms as a mean of propaganda through advertisements.
I think I can relate to this with war. If people see war with their eyes they would empathize it. But, if US media shows how they are doing some favor to humanity (like how media show how animal are important for human diet blah blah) many people are oblivious to war.
I still hold my opinion that if human see the egregious violation of animal industry in real time, or they have to kill animal themself for food, most would abstain meat for sake of emotions.
"I don't think I have ever seen any news related to egregious violation by animal industries."
Just search for it. There are articles and videos about it on various networks like NBC, fox, etc.
"... or they have to kill animal themself for food, most would abstain meat for sake of emotions."
Well, there are about 15 million hunters in the US. It's also reasonable to expect that many more people would start/return to to hunting if that were the only way to get meat. And for areas like cities where it's impractical, I think many people would not be bothered by having to kill a domestic animal for meat if it was the only way.
84% of vegetarians and vegans return to eating meat. Seems like pretty strong evidence to support the idea that a majority of people would still eat meat, even if they had to witness or perform the killing. Would a significant majority stop eating meat? Probably, but current levels are 2% vegetarian or vegan in the US. I don't see that going beyond 49% even if you had to kill the animal yourself.
Any evidence to even tentatively support your side?
