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Almost as though these interviews and debates don't really matter. They're just fuel for a barrage of bot-powered social media spam and talk radio/podcast spin.
My father-in-law will periodically pop in to hang out. He listens to right-wing radio and has friends who are hooked on it, and he will ask these very bizarre pointed questions about why Harris/Biden are doing XYZ. And all I can respond with is "They're not doing that. That's totally manufactured. Here's proof." He'll acknowledge it. But then he'll come back a week later with another nonsense allegation.
I want to say "Just Google this shit before you ask", but then I Google it myself and find a wall of right-wing hysterical talking points based on how my father-in-law phrased the question.
I appreciate you posting that. My late ex fil did the same thing. Had a total conspiracy minded friend. Was always awkward I had to be the one to say "No, Trudeau didn't do that."
At least he was nice and respectful about it. My cousins on the other hand... well, I get very high at family gatherings now.
The best way to counter such stuff - instead of disagreeing right away and making their defenses pop up, just ask them where the facts are for the claim. If they say it's something they heard or read, ask where those sources got their info. Letting them dig further helps to show how valid or invalid what they say might be, it might plant a bit of doubt for the next time they run across something that is designed to be accepted without evidence. Maybe. I mean, that's all we can do really, help them be more critical thinking, even if by accident.
The problem with this approach is that it requires critical thinking.
If they "see it on the internet on Jimbo's blog" they believe that is equally believable to "its posted on nasa.gov". I attribute some of this to technology getting really good at some things that it makes those that don't know how technology works that other unbelievable things are also real.
A more modern part of it is that if you Google the phrases they use, you get more of the same. And the YouTube/Twitter algorithms will show you similar content to what you've already been shown. Both of these work to appear as multiple, independent sources, even if it's really just a bunch of right-wing nutjobs repeating the same, completely fabricated talking points.
I kind of wanted Harris to ask in the interview, "How many transgender inmates are there, Brett? Dozens? And how many of them want surgery? One? Three? I'd rather spend our time talking about issues that affect more than three Americans."
This isn't an issue that the President should be spending her time on. This isn't an issue the viewers should be spending their time on. She'll follow the law, and that's all that needs to be said on that subject. Unless you want to talk about why it keeps coming up, to be divisive and hateful.
This is where critical thinking comes in. As in "I'm seeing this same language multiple places. Who are these sources saying it? Do I trust them? Do they post other things that are also all copies of one another? With who they are do they have a motivation to distort the truth or outright lie?"
This would have been amazing, but I don't know if would resonated the way it should with the intended audience. We know this is the same crowd that largely believes even one abortion by one person is too many.
Exactly how it went the first time someone mentioned springfield ohio to me
Does your partner hate Fox News (or talk radio in this case) for stealing their father from them?
Mine does.
Edit to add: so much so that she often wonders aloud if there's a chance she and all the others can sue Fox for ...something. I wish they could. I wish the people of the USA had some means of redress for all the harm Fox news has caused by irresponsibly masking angertainment and calling it news.