Don't Confuse Me With the Facts!
Mar. 21st, 2014 10:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stickmakerA recent study has confirmed what most of us already knew: Trying to convince someone who values emotional impact over reality that they're wrong by using facts is more likely to increase their conviction than change their opinions.
Basically, people who argue from opinion rather than fact go all "All you have is 'Blah, blah, blah.' We have passion!" If pressed to justify their position they will find a reason to discount your facts, present irrelevant points of their own and smile triumphantly.
Doesn't matter whether it's vaccination, climate or the paths of the planets. They know what they know and attack anyone trying to correct them. Because they're right (by their own definition).
This study, unfortunately, had only vague suggestions about how to reach such people.
Basically, people who argue from opinion rather than fact go all "All you have is 'Blah, blah, blah.' We have passion!" If pressed to justify their position they will find a reason to discount your facts, present irrelevant points of their own and smile triumphantly.
Doesn't matter whether it's vaccination, climate or the paths of the planets. They know what they know and attack anyone trying to correct them. Because they're right (by their own definition).
This study, unfortunately, had only vague suggestions about how to reach such people.
