On: Is it my fault if you can't handle the truth? (201...

[BeetleB]

> Instead, guide them towards the path to figuring out for themselves that they're wrong. Build a foundation of truths and facts they can evaluate their own beliefs against.

But before you do that, examine the context. Would they care to even find out the truth?

In over half the cases, I submit to you that they do not. Assuming that they value the truth as you do makes much of this submission relevant.

Very often, they want to have a conversation, and there are needs behind it - and usually "discover the truth" is not one of them.[1] Trying to guide them towards the path of truth is, simply put, derailing them. That's not the path they seek.

[1] I mean I'm sure it is for me and you, but we are in the minority.

[falcolas → BeetleB]

> That's not the path they seek.

Nope. But sometimes a good shove down that path is the right thing to do. I've seen a lot fewer posts in an extended family chat about drag shows after posting my own comment about how we were all entertained by Klinger, Mrs. Doubtfire, Bugs Bunny, Monty Python, et.al.

Have they changed their views? Not that anybody has said, but the quiet is nice.

[atoav → falcolas]

This is the right thing to do. Their media diet might not present them with a lot of pieces that don't fit their pre-existing world view.

So giving up in resignation would rob them of yet another window into a more complex world.

[atoav → BeetleB]

> Trying to guide them towards the path of truth is, simply put, derailing them. That's not the path they seek.

If they actively want to lie to themselves you are not gonna easily stop them. But sometimes you still gotta put up the signposts for them to discover. Because guess who is more likely to walk down the wrong path:

A) someone who is never presented with facts that don't fit into their world image

B) someone who sees these facts constantly and from all different kinds of directions

Influencing someone's world view is a incredibly slow process. So even observing the difference one made is hard. And sometimes you don't do it for them, but yourself, because you have to live with not having done enough if they end up drifting into a cult.

[BeetleB → atoav]

> But sometimes you still gotta put up the signposts for them to discover.

Everything is true when you prefix it with "sometimes" :-)

My point is that "sometimes" applies a minority of the times - and by minority I mean perhaps less than 10%.

In most of the cases someone is "wrong", neither A nor B above applies. Their world view in those cases are irrelevant to anything - even to them.