How would you approach persuading a far extreme conservative toward center? What would you set as a realistic goal for a productive discourse? Would it be better attempt to do so in person rather than online?

  • Apytele@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    I’ve talked here before about how delusions self-reinforce by:

    • contextualizing everything (even new information that at face value seems contradictory) as part of the delusional belief system.
    • driving the person away from non-delusional social supports through repeated conflicts.

    So the solution is to get them out of the cult bubble and into diverse reality based interests / hobbies that connect them with people who don’t have those beliefs. You specifically want plenty of variety to increase the odds that they will both:

    • find one they like enough to pay attention to outside of the context of the delusional belief system
    • find people that are willing to look past the toxicity long enough for them to reintegrate.