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>The correct answer to people being wrong is education, never censorship. What do you do when people reject education itself as a matter of course or principle

>The correct answer to people being wrong is education, never censorship. What do you do when people reject education itself as a matter of course or principle? Or can only view such attempts defensively, see them as patronizing at best, and so radicalize further as a result? Heck, even "this post is misleading" approaches, which leave the original content intact, are seen by some as a form of censorship (and definitely as propaganda to be discarded) and I don't think that's an unreasonable response based on their existing point of view. Fundamentally, if misinformation is more appealing and attractive than truths, how far can educational approaches go? If it's information junk food, then I see education helping no more than it helps for the obesity crisis - perhaps less so because that unhealthiness actually feels bad and prompts action. There's no equivalent with disinfo.

sneak 6y ago
> What do you do when people reject education itself as a matter of course or principle? Shrug. Sometimes the wrong choices of others can't be helped. > Fundamentally, if misinformation is more appealing and attractive than truths, how far can educational approaches go? Well, based on approximately the last 1000 years of history, considering that we have an orbiting science lab 400km above the Earth and outdated superstitions seem to be waning worldwide, I would venture a preliminary guess that in the long run, truth will win out. All of the other times we tried mass censorship, it ended very poorly, with millions upon millions of deaths. Trust in your fellow human beings. You can't have a society without trust. Most people are not malicious, nor are they exceedingly dumb. Let people read. If you're worried about people not knowing the things they need to know, or being mislead by wrong or bad information, I encourage you to write a book, or make a website. Hell, I'll even help you set it up, for free, if you need assistance doing so.

sneak 6y ago

> What do you do when people reject education itself as a matter of course or principle? Shrug. Sometimes the wrong choices of others can't be helped. > Fundamentally, if misinformation is more appealing and attractive than truths, how far can educational approaches go? Well, based on approximately the last 1000 years of history, considering that we have an orbiting science lab 400km above the Earth and outdated superstitions seem to be waning worldwide, I would venture a preliminary guess that in the long run, truth will win out. All of the other times we tried mass censorship, it ended very poorly, with millions upon millions of deaths. Trust in your fellow human beings. You can't have a society without trust. Most people are not malicious, nor are they exceedingly dumb. Let people read. If you're worried about people not knowing the things they need to know, or being mislead by wrong or bad information, I encourage you to write a book, or make a website. Hell, I'll even help you set it up, for free, if you need assistance doing so.