Do you mean specifically how to handle it online? If so, I think some of it can be simplified very easily: If you’re actually trying to agitate or something like that, you need to abandon any ideas of moralizing and treat them gently so as to discourage them from acting defensively, make an effort to understand whatever dogshit worldview they are propounding, and then patiently try to explain things to them from the standpoint of seeking to help them, which is part of what the goal should be. They are unlikely to listen to you until you have won their confidence, and if you view things in terms of what they “deserve” then you will never get anywhere.
The actual execution is very complex, but I think the organizing principle for what type of response to have is genuinely that simple most of the time.
no, i’m already with you on what it takes to genuinely dissuade someone from reactionary beliefs and insecurities. i’m more focused on getting people to be willing to engage at all. what’s required of them in what you laid out about how to help these people work through their reactionary beliefs is emotional vulnerability and honesty. i have no idea how to prompt this out of them, and it seems to me that we live in times where people feel less and less able to actually genuinely socially connect in a way that builds up more resilient and well-developed humans. and that’s online and in person. maybe my sample just sucks though, y’know?
I see . . . Yeah, if I knew about how to do that one then my life would be completely different. Exhibiting a mild degree of emotional vulnerability yourself can be helpful and so can expressing interest in what they have to say, but I don’t really have any good suggestions for you that you haven’t already though of. Sorry about that.
Do you mean specifically how to handle it online? If so, I think some of it can be simplified very easily: If you’re actually trying to agitate or something like that, you need to abandon any ideas of moralizing and treat them gently so as to discourage them from acting defensively, make an effort to understand whatever dogshit worldview they are propounding, and then patiently try to explain things to them from the standpoint of seeking to help them, which is part of what the goal should be. They are unlikely to listen to you until you have won their confidence, and if you view things in terms of what they “deserve” then you will never get anywhere.
The actual execution is very complex, but I think the organizing principle for what type of response to have is genuinely that simple most of the time.
no, i’m already with you on what it takes to genuinely dissuade someone from reactionary beliefs and insecurities. i’m more focused on getting people to be willing to engage at all. what’s required of them in what you laid out about how to help these people work through their reactionary beliefs is emotional vulnerability and honesty. i have no idea how to prompt this out of them, and it seems to me that we live in times where people feel less and less able to actually genuinely socially connect in a way that builds up more resilient and well-developed humans. and that’s online and in person. maybe my sample just sucks though, y’know?
I see . . . Yeah, if I knew about how to do that one then my life would be completely different. Exhibiting a mild degree of emotional vulnerability yourself can be helpful and so can expressing interest in what they have to say, but I don’t really have any good suggestions for you that you haven’t already though of. Sorry about that.
Ok, we’re on the same page. Fair enough purpleworm. I’m with you entirely, don’t worry about it.