No worries, people often find it hard to discuss controversies with me since I am very matter of fact and avoid using emotion as much as possible. Outside of those discussions, I seem a lot more friendly, I won't bite! haha.
Anyway, the point of these discussions is that it helps me learn other perspectives as well as others people learn my perspectives, hopefully. I learn better ways to present my arguments and help clarify my means of communication, though, many people may get uncomfortable with my logic. I too used to be a die-hard animal activist, though, I have learned that animal protection has merits that are dependent on each different situation, and how things that seem unrelated, like human research, ect. are actually factors.
Anyway, I would be interested to see what you choose to do with your career. I once contemplated that career path in marine biology in cryogenics. Certain animals live thousands of years in the ocean and may hold the key to cryogenics or self-repairing functions (to address Alzheimer, cancer, organ restoration), like coral. I've always been fascinated in how that could be researched to unlock information that would revolutionize the medical world and the lives of mankind.