How to Deal with Conspiracy/Right-Wing Family Members/Friends?

[Hawkins]

I often sometimes get into a situation where family members or friends talk to me about conspiracy theories about Covid-19 or right wing propaganda they picked up from facebook group and the like.

They just bombard me with facts and I honestly can't even deny it because I can't fact check everything in advance .

i even feel stupid because they are so sure about everything the say and I have to play the part of defending the mainstream narrative even though I can't be 100% informed and fact-checked on everything. I even end up thinking, maybe I'm not open minded enough for just dismissing these opinions.

I mean what can you do? Just agree with this stuff? It just bugs me that people are so easy to believe low quality sources of information, even though I understand it to a degree.  But who has the time and energy to walk these people through their thinking errors when they get sucked into these things.

[Opo]

@Hawkins I try to stop them when they say something im suspicious of and ask for proof. 

If they just keep going it's done. Trying to reason with someone after that is wasting time so I just saying crazy shit until they realize their efforts are pointless and give up. 

Just use their logic against them by taking it to the extreme. 

I'm hoping that maybe if they see how stupid my reasoning is they will realize that they are doing the same thing.

This technique stops any future conspiracies from them, other ones seem to just give them a time out. 

[commie]

Agreeing with them would be irresponsible. That only emboldens them. But that doesn't mean you somehow become responsible for defending the opposing view. Let them know you think people are taking advantage of their credulity and leave it at that unless you actually know the topic and enjoy silly arguments. In my experience, they won't change their mind even if you show them documents, authoritative analyses and the like. Only do research for your own sake and not theirs. Wasting your valuable time wouldn't be open-mindedness! You can't possibly listen to everyone so you have to choose.

The one thing you might need to be open-minded about is right-wing views. There are reasonable right-wingers. In some times and places, the average right-winger is going to be brainwashed into idiocy but you shouldn't generalize.

They'll probably only change their mind when their leaders are defeated. Work towards that if you care but don't waste your time on clueless followers.

[No Self]

There is generally no point whatsoever in arguing, as they are 'brain-hacked' and can always win by accusing critics of being closed-minded conformists.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-08-24/how-the-qanon-conspiracy-theory-is-affecting-australian-families/12564566

Ever heard of browser-redirect viruses? Hackers can program a computer's internet browser to automatically redirect to shady websites that display advertisements and provide revenue to the hackers. Except this time, it's been done to a human brain using social media AI algorithms.

You should have a right to ask them to stop peddling their views. Beyond a certain point, it is harrassment. I have distanced myself from people over this issue. I also got rid of Facebook as I found it upsetting watching so many people become radicalised more and more over time.

[Parththakkar12]

@Hawkins There's only one way I know of to resolve this situation -

1. Research your position thoroughly and fact-check everything you believe, and

2. Go down their rabbit holes to integrate their perspectives. If you conclude that it is factually inaccurate, it won't bug you so much! Next time you can show them your findings.

[hoodrow trillson]

Ask questions.

"Really?  Tell me more about that."

If they hit you with something ridiculous that you probably have a hunch is complete bullshit just say:

"Hmm, I haven't gotten deep in that topic so I have no idea for myself.  I'll have to check it out."

Just don't be an ass.  Even if they have the "wrong" opinion/belief (in comparison to yours) they're still people just like you.  You have to have somewhat of an innate talent to not want to always be right and just listen to their perspective as insane as it may seem.  Same thing applies in reverse if you were speaking to them about spirituality, no self, duality, etc.  They'd probably think you're nuts and or try to be right and shut you down.