What a load of bullshit. You cannot win an argument with facts and fact checking, when you’re talking to someone who only believe their feelings and poor sources.
“I’ve looked into this, and it’s actually been widely debunked. Would you be open to reading a source I trust?”
“I know this feels true, but it’s coming from a site known for disinformation. Can I share why I’m concerned?”
I tried this many times, it doesn’t work. All the fact checking sources I provide are considered false and left wing propaganda. The only source they trust is Fox / Facebook / racist neighbor / etc. If it’s about science stuff, they know better than a professor in that field. They don’t question their sources. They don’t believe in facts and science, only in feelings. And their feelings were created by populist politicians, radical groups, fake news sites originating from Russia, etc. And when they have a feeling, there’s no arguing with it anymore.
This goes for any cult member. And with cult I also mean the Christian churches, and any other religion. Anyone who blindly follows what is dictated to them by whoever they worship or follow.
I’ve seen a lot about cults. I think the only way to hopefully pull someone away from a cult is to isolate them from it, show the real world for a while, then talk about how their cult world is actually very far from normal and okay. This works only sometimes, some people get away from it, then to return a bit later. Or they fall for another cult.
But there’s no arguing with someone who doesn’t trust facts and doesn’t use any form of logic.
I couldn’t agree more. Way back when, I thought I was okay at discussing topics like public health, evolution, vaccines, and the like with the “low information voter” crowd. Then I went to university for the better part of a decade, became a Real Scientist™, then worked in research and public health.
The result? I am no better at discussing these topics with them. If anything I’m less effective as I’m now seen as part of the conspiracy or an overeducated blowhard, so they write me off even faster.
I can gently and politely correct the misinformation that comprises the core of their beliefs, complete with sources, but it doesn’t matter one bit. Most of them aren’t interested in truth so much as what makes them feel good about themselves and their place in the world. To be fair, I meet just as many liberals who similarly have many feelings-based opinions (Vaccines! Organic food! GMOs!), but much of the MAGA crowd actually makes ignorance as a core value a point of personal pride. It’s fucking bizarre.
You’re lizard people from planet X, I knew it! There are portals in universities so they can brainwash all the intellectuals and take over the world. Everyone knows that, it has been posted on Facebook.
I just don’t bother anymore with those people. I used to try a lot, but it’s hopeless. Maybe if we all laugh at them for being so dumb, they maybe eventually realize they’re the ones being brainwashed, losing touch with reality. I prefer to encircle myself with nice and like minded people. I just block and ignore anyone else. Including my family.
If forced to interact with some Maga, I just go full scorn and derisive dismissal. Follow up jokes about flat-earthers and the earth being the center of the solar system. Add in whatever ridiculous thing I can think of. I just keep it up until they don’t want anything to do with me because I’m not buying what they are selling. I’m an asshole though, and I don’t really care if some nutter likes me or not.
What a load of bullshit. You cannot win an argument with facts and fact checking, when you’re talking to someone who only believe their feelings and poor sources.
I tried this many times, it doesn’t work. All the fact checking sources I provide are considered false and left wing propaganda. The only source they trust is Fox / Facebook / racist neighbor / etc. If it’s about science stuff, they know better than a professor in that field. They don’t question their sources. They don’t believe in facts and science, only in feelings. And their feelings were created by populist politicians, radical groups, fake news sites originating from Russia, etc. And when they have a feeling, there’s no arguing with it anymore.
This goes for any cult member. And with cult I also mean the Christian churches, and any other religion. Anyone who blindly follows what is dictated to them by whoever they worship or follow.
I’ve seen a lot about cults. I think the only way to hopefully pull someone away from a cult is to isolate them from it, show the real world for a while, then talk about how their cult world is actually very far from normal and okay. This works only sometimes, some people get away from it, then to return a bit later. Or they fall for another cult.
But there’s no arguing with someone who doesn’t trust facts and doesn’t use any form of logic.
I couldn’t agree more. Way back when, I thought I was okay at discussing topics like public health, evolution, vaccines, and the like with the “low information voter” crowd. Then I went to university for the better part of a decade, became a Real Scientist™, then worked in research and public health.
The result? I am no better at discussing these topics with them. If anything I’m less effective as I’m now seen as part of the conspiracy or an overeducated blowhard, so they write me off even faster.
I can gently and politely correct the misinformation that comprises the core of their beliefs, complete with sources, but it doesn’t matter one bit. Most of them aren’t interested in truth so much as what makes them feel good about themselves and their place in the world. To be fair, I meet just as many liberals who similarly have many feelings-based opinions (Vaccines! Organic food! GMOs!), but much of the MAGA crowd actually makes ignorance as a core value a point of personal pride. It’s fucking bizarre.
You’re lizard people from planet X, I knew it! There are portals in universities so they can brainwash all the intellectuals and take over the world. Everyone knows that, it has been posted on Facebook.
I just don’t bother anymore with those people. I used to try a lot, but it’s hopeless. Maybe if we all laugh at them for being so dumb, they maybe eventually realize they’re the ones being brainwashed, losing touch with reality. I prefer to encircle myself with nice and like minded people. I just block and ignore anyone else. Including my family.
If forced to interact with some Maga, I just go full scorn and derisive dismissal. Follow up jokes about flat-earthers and the earth being the center of the solar system. Add in whatever ridiculous thing I can think of. I just keep it up until they don’t want anything to do with me because I’m not buying what they are selling. I’m an asshole though, and I don’t really care if some nutter likes me or not.