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Speaking to someone without respect for them or their views isn't going to change their minds - ever. I have a "flat earther" friend on Facebook. I didn't know
by LyndsySimon 7y ago
Speaking to someone without respect for them or their views isn't going to change their minds - ever.
I have a "flat earther" friend on Facebook. I didn't know that about him until after I'd already friended him, but he posts about it constantly. After an initial private message of "Are you for real?", I've made it a point to as mildly as possible point out the obvious logical fallacies in the things he posts. I don't expect I'll ever change his mind - it's possible, but you can't reason someone out of a position that they didn't reason themselves into. Instead, I'd just like to have him see inconsistencies in what others who believe what he believes say. Over time I'm hoping that will at the very least keep it from spreading.
- deeng 7y ago> ... but you can't reason someone out of a position that they didn't reason themselves into. I'm living proof that this isn't true. I was a Young Earth Creationist for nearly 30 years, despite having an engineering degree from one of the world's best universities. I no longer believe in anything supernatural. It took a very long time, but I was eventually reasoned out of a position I wasn't reasoned into. When people incorporate ideology into their identity, challenging the ideology directly is often interpreted as a personal attack or something else not worth honestly engaging with. A far better approach is to examine the methods people use to reach conclusions. There's a conversation technique called Street Epistemology that does exactly that. IMHO, it's the most productive way to have these kind of conversions.
- lidHanteyk 7y agoInteract with them in person, in private, and you'll change their mind. It can't be done over social media.