The conservatives I know who are saying things like this are the worst offenders of swallowing the lies.

Well confirmation bias is a problem on both sides of the aisle, though in my experience I would agree that liberals are more willing to educate themselves on issues. And far less likely to dismiss rigorous scientific inquiry as "a conspiracy". (Though not always.)

Benign!

Yay! Excellent news!

Yay suela!

Yeah, that's awful, flea. Ugh.

I think confirmation bias is a huge huge issue. And it's one that's very difficult to defeat, because most of my (extensive) network of conservative friends and family find themselves in a total echo chamber. If literally all of your news, tv, newspaper, internet, radio, repeats the same erroneous info, it can feel very much like it must be the truth. Then if everybody you know and interact with on a daily basis also lives in that echo chamber, it can be difficult to source differing opinions.

I will say, like I always do in these conversations, that I do know many thoughtful, intelligent, compassionate, tolerant conservatives who are as dismayed by the state of their party as any of you are. People who are major donors making a difference in multiple charitable endeavors. Folks who are genuinely not bigoted, but are daily trying to live out their lives in service of others to the best of their ability.

I also know people who are absolutely hateful, of course, for whom I will always remain a closeted liberal because it's just not worth the battle. But they're not everyone.

And Liese says what I'm thinking, but don't have the capacity to articulate today. Though I am finding that they are being drowned out and marginalized by the hateful ones.

Yay consuela.

msbelle needs to see this: [link]

Glad it was good news, Consuela.

I have friends and family who are good people and conservative, though I find it difficult to talk politics with them because I have a lot of trouble getting my point across in conversation (I'm much better in text when I have time to formulate my thoughts.) But having involved debates on Facebook tends to go nowhere as you get random "friends of friends" jumping in with no attempt to be civil and derailing the whole thing.

I personally try to avoid the echo chamber and read people I disagree with a few times a week, even it's not great for my blood pressure sometimes. I stay away from the frothing mouthpieces, though.

(Edited because I know the difference between derail and detail, even if my phone does not.)

I have friends and family who are good people and conservative, though I find it difficult to talk politics with them because I have a lot of trouble getting my point across in conversation

God, this is me, so much. I can't muster the information I need to make my point when talking off the cuff.

All of the inlaws on one branch of my family are conservative, and at least some of them I think skipped voting in their primary entirely, because they couldn't bear any of the candidates. Rich, very conservative, Southern white people.

Well, we're supposed to follow one of the rules, but it's pretty damn unclear which one. Sheesh.

I feel like dates cause more confusion than you'd think for a calendar system that's been in place for, what, 500+ years?

In that kind of situation, I'd give specific dates as examples. Like, are you saying if the analysis took place in Jan 2015, there should NOT be a sentence about the date it took place but if the analysis took place in Jan 2012 then there SHOULD be a sentence about the date?

I will also offer that the left has its share of loonies, too. This recent habit of Internet mob justice trying to ruin the lives of perceived bigots turns my stomach. Attempting to destroy someone's livelihood because of their political beliefs, no matter how loathsome, is appalling. Not to mention it feeds into the right-wing meme of victimhood from leftist bullies.

By all means, call out injustice when you see it and try to educate people on why it is wrong, but dont sink to petty vengeance.