Could this explain the loyalty of Trump supporters?

[Arkansas Granny]

[Moostache]

1. For some of them, yes....for others? Pure morons is sufficient. (n/t)

[Cracklin Charlie]

2. What does he say about...

Their inability to admit they were fooled?

[samnsara]

3. Im still holding out for the subliminal advertising during The Apprentice.....

...and Fox News theory

[Gothmog]

4. Trump supporters are idiots and racists

[BSdetect]

5. Its a one to one process to open them up to reality.

Very tedious really.

[erronis]

9. Like reprogramming a cultist - is that called confirmation bias?

And I do think it is true to some degree for liberals, just much more for mental conservatives.

I'm really a computer/logic geek but I think trying to codify our biases is a great effort:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cognitive_Bias_Codex_With_Definitions,_an_Extension_of_the_work_of_John_Manoogian_by_Brian_Morrissette.jpg

[robbob]

19. Was it the Stanford experiments?

My memory is a bit foggy, but I believe there was a psychological experiment where participants were shown “studies” on an issue like whether the death penalty helped deter crime (for example) and then asked to formulated an opinion either for or against the issue.

They took the participants who arrived at an opinion in line with what they had read, and then revealed to them that the studies they had been shown were complete works of fiction, and were told that existing studies showed the exact opposite conclusions to the one they had been shown. An astonishingly high percentage of the people clung to the conclusion they had arrived at and would not change their opinion, even after being shown evidence that they were wrong. The mind, once made up, is hard to change.

[erronis]

21. Not sure, but I'll take a look at the Stanford experiments. A simpler metaphor is "Once a Ford

Always a Ford".

I have a very smart partner who acts like s/he makes decisions rationally. However when it comes down to choosing a new product, the prior product/line will win out. Unless it is determined totally crap in which case it will never be selected again.

I think there are so many biases, but "buy-in" to a philosophy seems to be hard to combat. Especially if the philosophy doesn't really have any bases to describe it or to argue against.

Who could be against dump's Momma's Apple Pie? (Have you seen a picture of her? OMG)
Who could be against dumps slogans?
Who could be against dump?
Treasonous!

[robbob]

26. Found the article

It was the subject of another DU post:

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds/amp

[erronis]

33. Wonderful, thank you. I get the New Yorker but don't always have time to read it all,

Or to remember what I've read.

[robbob]

35. What were we talking about?

😁

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. I endorse that remark. . . . nt

[ginnyinWI]

7. Trump supporters are afraid of the future.

Too many changes in our society make them scared. They want to go back to the familiar old days and old ways. Even the young ones!

Trump speaks to that. If he has any gift or talent, it is his ability to make the "sale" by speaking to just what his target most wants.

[PJMcK]

14. I agree that's a huge part of their problem

Are you familiar with a book from the 1970's titled, "Future Shock," by Alvin Toffler? He defines future shock as a psychological condition where an individual is unable to cope with the accelerating rate of change in society. It's a fascinating and complex idea that he articulates effectively.

In 2016, during the presidential campaign, I re-read the book because much of what Trump was saying reminded me of this idea. While some of it feels a bit dated, his hypothesis has proven true and as you wrote, "Too many changes in our society make them scared."

If you enjoy reading books, try finding a copy. It's informative, wise and often quite funny.

[murielm99]

18. I read this when it was written.

I think I still have a copy.

This is much like culture shock. I think many Americans are experiencing culture shock within their own culture. They don't understand the new technology and social media. Their jobs have become obsolete and they don't know how to retrain. They don't like the browning of the population. It is a scary and lost feeling, like being forced to live in a culture that is not one's own.

[PJMcK]

20. Cool that you read it back in the day, too!

I still have my paperback copy and there's a funny little story about the books publication.

When it was released in paperback, they printed the covers in four or five different colors as if to reflect the idea of change. My copy has a pink cover but a new friend has it in his bookshelf with a green cover.

In my very personal opinion, it's not too difficult to address change if you don't take some things too seriously. And there are organic things that can keep you mellow, (wink).

[Old Enough 2]

8. Fool Me Once Fool Me Again Fool Me......GWB

Once a Horses Ass Always a Horses Ass

[erronis]

10. Oh, how I miss W. Just please don't bring back the henchmen!

[Stardust1]

11. For the last 80 or so years

we have been conditioned to be anti-education/anti-science. Also we have been taught that 'might makes right' meaning that the truth is seen as something that is dictated by the 'winners' rather then an objective constant. To the majority the only way their views can be wrong is if they admit they're wrong.

[Texin]

15. And the public school system has and most religions seek to limit critical thinking

Then there's the cult of personality that exists today, when people like the Kardashians can command attention and become famous for not being famous. It's a perfect storm of idiocy.

[Stardust1]

24. Yup

Think about how much of our societies money goes to Kim Kardashian compared to, say, a doctor that saves lives on a regular basis.

[Lifelong Protester]

31. I take exception to your painting

public schools as a limit to critical thinking. Not in Wisconsin.

[maddiemom]

16. I first saw the difference from just a decade before, when I began teaching at the end of

the Sixties/early Seventies. Although the Sixties did usher in major strides in civil rights and critical thinking, there was quite a backlash in the areas you mention: just hybernating in wait for a Trump.

[TwistOneUp]

12. True dat! nt

[maddiemom]

13. He's my favorite sage.

You're right! Twain nails it exactly. I especially love "The Mysterious Stranger." Although dark, due his family tragedies,it's sadly on the mark.

[PJMcK]

17. The biggest problem we face is with respect to education

Mandatory public or private education is critical for an informed society to function. Our predecessors saw the need for a robust public education system to ensure that our populace would be able to function, contribute, consider issues intelligently and critically and to help advance our country.

Over the last three decades or more, the Republicans have chiseled away at our education systems. They've done this at the federal, state and local levels. They've been unrelenting and ruthless in their pursuit of diminishing the education of our children.

The results have been catastrophic!

This is why people watch Fox News or get lost in tabloids or turn away from their civic responsibilities. Far too many Americans have been forced into lives of ignorance. This is the result that the GOP and the 1% have been after for these last years. With the assistance of the ignorant, these "masters of the universe" can advance their own financial and personal interests at the expense of the rest of us.

While I agree with the quote, Samuel Clemens was far too smart and wise for our time.

[colsohlibgal]

22. Republicans Need A Large Dumbed Down Base

And they hate public anything which is why they have gone after public schooling.

Add Fox News and it’s cable clones and you have a steady supply of people lacking critical thinking.

PT Barnum was right on with his thought that you should never underestimate the stupitidy of the American people.....at least among enough of us to allow a crass rich bumpkin to get enough votes to lose by only 3 million votes but to win the uniquely American creation the Electoral College, where you can win despite losing....if you are a Republican.

Maybe we can come back to some kind of equitable normalcy, time will tell.

[Poiuyt]

23. 3 Reasons Why So Many People Still Support Trump

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/paul-buchheit/77587/3-reasons-why-so-many-people-still-support-trump

1. Trump's Followers Believe They're Better Than Other People

2. They're Driven by Hatred for Their Perceived Enemies

3. They Refuse to Admit They Were Wrong

--------------

Full explanation at the link.

[moondust]

25. Partly.

I'd say much of it is the tribalist bigotry and hatred common in "flyover" states that is far less prevalent in coastal states that have much more diverse populations. That tribal hatred trumps everything else. It's a cult.

[VOX]

27. Anger and fear. Anger and fear. Anger and fear. Anger and fear.

They have two primary emotional settings: Anger and fear. And an unwillingness (or incapacity) to think critically, which opens the door to these powerful negative emotions.

EVERY right wing “news” outlet figuratively applies electrodes to zap those two brain areas (anger and fear), dispensing “information” about what their audiences should be afraid of (socialism, immigrants, POC, gays, empowered women, government, Islam, liberals, etc.).

Furthermore, audiences are taught to be enraged at what they fear (empowered woman = BENGHAZI!!!, “feminazis”; POC = the Muslim-Kenyan Obama, any African American gunned down by police; liberals = flag burning!, etc.)

It’s a deceptively simple formula, and as all can see, it’s very effective.

[american_ideals]

29. Yes. And the propaganda outlets also provide talking points.

"Trump colluded with the Russians? Well UraniumOneHillaryObamaDemsWorkedWithUkraine...."

Whataboutism is a very effective propaganda technique. Fox and Limbaugh give their audience plausible talking points to allow viewers to hang on to their false ideas.

g

[VOX]

34. Precisely. On some boards like the Washington Post...

It’s difficult to distinguish between bots/trolls and “actual” right-wingers, because as you point out, the talking points have been repeated enough, and/or have been widely distributed on any particular day. They ALL stay on-message. It’s kind of uncanny. I actually admire their discipline (while utterly loathing their message).

[american_ideals]

28. Fox and Limbaugh explain it. Propaganda works. That's why GOP billionaires pay for it.

[liberalla]

30. wow, what a good observation!

[Cha]

32. Timeless.. It never changes.. there

will always be fools.

Thanks MarkT!