It wasn't totally hopeless until the last 15 years or so when the propaganda networks really took hold. Now the best you can hope for is a glimmer of light in between when your conversation ends and when they tune back in to Fox News
this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2025
304 points (100.0% liked)
People Mastodon
128 readers
121 users here now
People tooting stuff. We allow toots from anyone and are platform agnostic (Mastodon, BlueSky, Twitter, Tumblr, FaceBook, Whatever)
founded 3 weeks ago
MODERATORS
As bad as Fox news is, it's not the real problem. People get their 'news' from social media now. Engagement optimized algorithms have found that outrage is the best way to keep people scrolling. The social media companies' incentives are to stoke division so 'line go up'. Fox news feeds some of the garbage onto the pile, but the way we have societal conversations is broken because of the profit incentives.
Facts logic or reason ain't gonna change the mind of someone who didn't use to come to a conclusion in the first place.
I hear that a lot, but it really isn't the case. I was raised in a white conservative Christian bubble and was able to learn thanks to online discussions and scientific studies. When I realized my positions contradicted the evidence I changed them. I don't believe I'm some kind of rare flower of reason blossoming in a desert of ignorance; there are probably tons of people just like me, so don't give up on them.
had a ex that would tell me "hear me out, this will make sense," i would reply "ok, go on," and then would proceed with some horoscope/tarot/astrology stuff... after a while became was clear i would not listen to logic
Humans are emotional creatures. Some people invest emotionally in good sources. Some people can more easily put aside their emotions when new facts arise.
Many people are little better than toddlers.
Idc about solutions! I want you to say things to make me FEEL better!! - my gf monthly...
It’s not a mental illness. It’s just a lack of awareness of the power of confirmation bias. Even just an underestimation of the depth to which people will go to protect their worldview.
You’re only saying that because of your tendency to search for, interpret, favor and recall information in a way that confirms or supports your prior beliefs or values.
Last time this worked was probably before social media, before TV and before newspapers. Maybe not even back then?
I think we developed this argument style while writing letters, and you'd want to think about their point for days.