Momentary Flabbergastation

[Myrina]

... I've tolerated right-wing relatives and acquaintances over the past several election cycles, mainly by ignoring them.

But this time around it's clobbering me over the head how incredibly STUPID - just plain low IQ stupid - the vast majority of these folks are. And I want to scream at them to pull their head out of their a&&ses, read a book and get a clue ... but obviously I can't (well, maybe I can but it's not worth the high blood pressure).

I am flummoxed at how people can be SO DUMB, unable to think (or think critically) or so willfully ignorant of basic economic facts and the documented history of what a Republican Administration will do to this country that they would enthusiastically support idiots like Romney and mini-Romney.

WHAT. THE. HELL.

Anyway, I just needed to get that out before it gave me an aneurysm.

Thanks for listening. We now take you back to your regularly scheduled programming.

[TrogL]

1. The problem with having a rational discussion with these people is you end up gobsmacked

I was in a quasi-debate with some the other day. They would blurt out some insane piece of crap and I'd just freeze in my tracks thinking "what does that even mean???". Something like "the morals of society have fallen apart to the point where it will be like the fall of Rome". My response - "name examples". One guy went off on a five minute rant about contraception, saying God supported something that sounded suspiciously like the rhythm method but he swore up and down wasn't.

Another was saying there were insufficient studies about children raised in same-sex households. When I showed her study after study, she said the sample size was too small or it wasn't long term. Turned into No True Scotsman. Then the same woman said gay marriage led to polygamy. I called her on slippery slope.

I'd provided handouts on logical fallacies and most of them had never heard of the concept.

[Myrina]

2. Exactly!

<--- over and over and over again ...

[Mopar151]

3. At this point, they are in multiple layers of denial

And they have "bought into" several narratives that have been laser-targeted at their predujidices and backgrounds. A big turnaround at this point will be very upsetting - try for smaller increments. I find the recent Time article comparing Presidents Obama and Eisenhower is a nice place to start.

[Mr.Bill]

4. It's fun to ask them which two presidents doubled the national debt while in office.

Most common answer I get - "I know Jimmy Carter was one of them."