How to teach low information Americans?

[Miigwech]

Dem's need to solve this. Social media, internet chat, blogs, pod casts, it ain't working.

[IcyPeas]

1. you can't

so long as Fox news and Breitbart and Druge etc. are allowed to exist. these people really BELIEVE fox news. they believe CNN and MSNBC are the liars.

[The Genealogist]

2. One has to want to learn

I think that many low information voters are perfectly fine not knowing or caring.

[Collimator]

28. This was my first response.

Some people congratulate themselves on not being "know-it-all" elites or emotional saps who get worked up about things that they (the low info types) are convinced can never change.

They can be highly suspicious of ideas that are complex or opinions that are nuanced. They want a simple world, and thus, they live in a simple world.

[dewsgirl]

3. There was an Onion article a couple weeks ago, GOP

senators were standing by Trump after he strangled their loved ones. I honestly believe that many that support him, still would if this scenario presented itself. We are in serious danger and I have no idea what anyone can do.

[Raftergirl]

4. You can't

teach stupid.

If we vote we win. End of problem.

[maxsolomon]

5. low info voters don't watch fox or read brietbart.

those are MIS-information voters.

low info voters don't even know incorrect facts. they "know" that "both sides are the same", "there's no difference", "voting doesn't matter", etc.

[genxlib]

14. That is true but I think there is a spill over effect

Those low information voters are still left with broad impressions that effect how they vote. They will tell you that Clinton is corrupt even though they can't possibly tell you any specifics. They have just gotten a sense of it from the pervasive stench that was in the air.

That is one of the reasons that I think the text running on the bottom of FOX (chyrons) is more damaging than anything they actually say. If people are voluntarily watching FOX they are hopeless. I thing the real damage is done to the low information voters by seeing those chyrons at the car dealer, coffee shop, diner, etc. Details don't matter if you can generate the general feeling that everyone thinks Clinton is corrupt (for example)

[Sapient Donkey]

18. I think that's a key point that's not a lack of information, but too much bad information

Obama spoke about this during his farewell speech. Far too many stay in their silos and only hear the information they want because it reinforces what they want to believe. Some of these silos happen to silos full of shit too, and those people refuse to allow anything else in or explore other thoughts.

I would say that this isn't just right-wingers who do this, though. I think they have much more of a problem, but this seems to be common across the board. I know I've seen my fair share of people who support something I support, but they clearly have bad information or no idea what they are talking about. It's fine to discuss topics and even be wrong (I'm wrong a lot), but far too many people are not even open to learning and understanding other points of views/thoughts on an issue.

[Kurt V.]

6. a network devoted dem messaging. think fox but opposite.

maybe a left leaning billionare could fund it.

[Moostache]

7. Here's the plan...

1) Dress up like Trumpy Bear
2) Start a rally with the usual hate-filled tripe
3) Sneak in subliminal messaging and hypnosis to the arena
4) Implant the idea in their minds
5) Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

They did not start off as hateful idiots...it took a lot of hours of steeping in sewage to reach their level...

[Books_Tea_Alone]

8. With the current crop of low-info voters it boils down to one thing only

Racism. While there has always been low- information voters, those that exist today are truly deplorable and at the heart of their hatred is racism. Plain and simple. With a good dose of misogyny thrown in as well.

[cwydro]

9. Are we talking about low income whites, blacks, lantinx, who?

Just curious, because the outreach might be different based on race, education, social media use, etc?

Or are you only speaking about whites?

[pintobean]

10. This thread is a good example

of what's wrong. Insults aren't persuasive.

[jberryhill]

12. Insults aren't persuasive?

Trump won the Republican primaries, and the hearts of the GOP by dishing nothing but insults.

[sir pball]

23. He insulted the right people.

The ones they already hate. The ones they hate in a way that I'm honestly not sure we can fix. We might not be able to teach them - as regrettable as it is, we may well have to politically destroy them.

[jpak]

11. Step 1 - stop watering the crops with Brawndo

[genxlib]

15. +1

[Brawndo]

21. But Brawndo's got electrolytes

[sir pball]

24. Please - Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho was a MUCH better President.

[Newest Reality]

13. Old Skool?

See Dick. See Dick think. Think Dick, think!

See Jane. See Jane think critically. Jane is learning to reason. Reason Jane, reason.

Today, Jane and Dick learned a new word, logic.

Jane and Dick are petting their dog, Fallacy. Pet Fallacy, Jane and Dick, Pet. "What is a fallacy, Jane?" asks Dick.


Something to that effect. Nice and slow. Basics first.

[nolabear]

16. Start by asking questions and trying to understand.

Before anyone goes ballistic on me, let me say I hate the racism, the rage, the rancor, the desire to only hear what people want to hear, the way we liberals are talked about and threatened and dismissed.

But here’s something I know from being a therapist and just a person raised by extreme conservatives who were steeped in a culture, a sense of failure and a pride whose abandonment felt like death to them.

Shaming, taunting, dismissing, etc. makes the calcification of those things far worse. Asking respectful questions and not letting them evoke that shame and fear in you does, eventually, make you a person and not just whatever they’ve been told you are. You might not change minds but you do open the door just a touch.

Now, those profiting from the fear mongering will do all they can to slam it shut again. So the effort needs to be ongoing and to have one main message. “I am curious about you. I won’t attack you if you’ll talk honestly to me. I’ll learn from you and if you want to I’ll let you know about me too.”

The idea someone will see the light, have an epiphany, come to Jesus, it doesn’t work that way. The dedication has to be extraordinary. And the capacity to care for those who ring every “unlovable” bell we’ve got.

I don’t know very many who say they’re willing to be that open and patient, to accept, not an excuse, but a reason, and to be curious about what is in fact a reason. But I am sure it’s necessary. And it’s just a first step.

[LAS14]

22. I think we should make a habit of looking for some common ground...

... with whomever we happen to be interacting with. Search for it. Then build on it.

Which is not to say that there's just no hope with some people.

[nolabear]

31. I agree. And I know it's hard when you're feeling so attacked.

And it’s hard to connect that to reason when it gets to a certain point. But it’s something.

[Takket]

17. MAGATs are a lost cause.........

but honestly public education is where we start to fix all this. The right has done everything they can to dismantle the system, turn public schools into almost churches... Have to fix that if you want to raise smart kids.

[LAS14]

20. Yeah, but see my post #19 just below yours. nt

[LAS14]

19. Ever since the Trump era began, I've been thinking about...

... public school teachers. How do they teach the norms of a democratic society without being slammed for pushing a Democratic agenda? What a mess!!!

[MyOwnPeace]

29. And, please don't forget..........

there is not a "machine" punching out "LIBERAL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS!"
School teachers are community citizens from all over the country that are doing that job because that is their choice, not driven by any political ideology. They are citizens of a local community that has raised their own and hires them to teach their children.
Thus, if you're in a very "red" area, chances are that your staff was born and raised there and "Mom & Dad" were "good-by-God-Republicans" and why wouldn't I be?
They're not tearing down the public school systems and "professional organizations" (unions) without some support from those very people that staff the public schools now.
It is not a simple question - nor is there a simple answer..........

[theophilus]

25. Billboards. Something to catch the eye. Short messages about

what the Republicans are doing to the middle and lower classes, etc. Use a bit of humor or sex appeal (either one). They only watch Fox so they need to be assailed with the truth while they are out and about or, especially, stuck in traffic.

It must be done! The media can only do so much because the ones who need to see the truth are not watching the right channel. Also, the corporate media only puts out a little of the truth that needs to be told, imo.

[Miigwech]

26. Yes, totally agree.

[lostnfound]

32. Totally agree. Nt

[elleng]

27. Too damn late, repugs have ruined education systems AND

have successfully used their brand of propaganda.

[LunaSea]

30. Some can't be helped.