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0 pointsLastTrain2mo ago0 comments

There are as many answers to that are there are Trump supporters I know. These aren't stupid or evil people, and I don't think its as nefarious the things you are suggesting, at least in most cases. On the other hand, as I sit here and try to answer your question, I can't come up with anything that paints anyone in a very good light and I just end up with more questions.

Ultimately I think there is a common personality trait that allows a person to rationalize pretty much anything. And I think most people have that personality trait. Maybe I do for all I know.

The exchange in Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls always comes to mind:

    “But are there not many fascists in your country?"
    "There are many who do not know they are fascists but will find it out when the times comes.”

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johnnyanmac2mo ago

I agree with your sentimen. I'll use a favorite quote of mine as well

        Man is not a rational animal; he is a rationalizing animal.

    Robert A. Heinlein, Assignment in Eternity

Whether they know the evil or not, they will go out of their way to to find a way to justify it. That's why those scare news on networks works so well. It gives them "permission" to accept something they wanted to believe,and now they have "proof".

Moreover, it's part of a core issue many in this society fall into (all across political spectrums) : it is shameful to be wrong. And apologizing makes you "weak". Even if you do change your mind, you can never admit it. And some people will be on their deathbed spouting a belief they changed on rather than "showing weakness".

I don't know how and if we can change that cultural element. That seems deeper than any billionaire regime.

throwawayqqq112mo ago

We have to teach kids about cognitive biases, best by example or demonstration, and how you keep your sceptic guard up for life. We needed this even before the internet started to actively target these cognitive biases.

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