this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2024
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[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (4 children)

I wonder which kind of arguments made him change his mind; the evidence based ones or the ones calling him an idiot.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 9 months ago (1 children)

My guess is neither of those. People don't really base their world view on facts. Maybe his life situation improved, he found a healthier community or a hobby

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It sure as hell wasn't strangers with evidence-based arguments that did it. I've seen plenty of cultists on reddit before I left. They are like brick walls and each fact is a rubber ball.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

Actually in his case OP mentioned that might actually be the case.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago

Probably personal connection paired with facts and persistence.

It's not easy changing someone's mind. You need a lot of dedication, especially if they're in a community that reinforces their belief.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

likely the former because calling someone an idiot isn't going to change their mind

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Unfortunately arguments also don't work very well. People only change their mind when their mind changes. They basically have to figure it out themselves. No amount of external arguments can ever do that.

The way to encourage people to change their minds is simply to question them until they start thinking about the topic, and then give them access to information.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (2 children)

My favourite 'thought trigger' point is from Bill Burr, it goes something like: "lets for a second say that the earth is flat, then what possible reason could there be for governments, scientists, airlines, internet warriors, etc have for convincing you that it is a sphere. What do they have to gain by you believing this?".

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I'd probably start much simpler. "Why do you think the earth is flat?"

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

I like that. Keep it short & simple.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

This is also how people discover is some religious thing, so what a famous dude in my country did to convince flat earthers was pointing out that the bible talks about the moon. It can't be a satanist conspiracy now.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

IIRC another YouTuber did a response video to his, disproving everything he said. And it opened his eyes.