I have been repeating the oft hear line: "you can't change someone's mind with rationality if rationality didn't inform their belief." But many actually think

I have been repeating the oft hear line: "you can't change someone's mind with rationality if rationality didn't inform their belief." But many actually think they are being rational! My anecdote of the day: I had a friend tell me that some official brit study claims that "vaccinated individuals carry 251 times the load of COVID-19 viruses in their nostrils compared to the unvaccinated. How can anyone believe MSNBC's bullshit when they ignore real science??" WTF? (I say to myself.) So, I actually get online and try to search for some recent viral load study. I find this link on some ridiculous site: https://adarapress.com/2021/08/26/study-fully-vaccinated-healthcare-workers-carry-251-times-viral-load-pose-threat-to-unvaccinated-patients-co-workers/ https://adarapress.com/2021/08/26/study-fully-vaccinated-hea... That lame site says his line verbatim, but when you look at the actual abstract of the study that is linked: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3897733 https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3897733 It says: "Breakthrough Delta variant infections are associated with high viral loads, prolonged PCR positivity, and low levels of vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies, explaining the transmission between the vaccinated people. Physical distancing measures remain critical to reduce SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant transmission." That is a totally different conclusion! This friend is totally convinced that the government and media is trying to trick him into getting this vaccine. This is someone who actually has a BS in Science and built a MM$ business in a highly scientific field. He's read Demon Haunted World. I've always considered him to be one of my more intelligent and knowledgeable friends. And now I just do my best to avoid topics like this with him. I am really coming to the opinion that the internet is yet another technology that our species has the intelligence to build, but lacks the wisdom to use without causing more harm than good.