The phenomenon of the Randi Rhodes Conversion.

[dougolat]

7. I think your'e on to something:

Some, perhaps many, can be helped.
It's hard, I've tried, but there's often the feeling that this person is just stuck in a narrow perspective or is burdened with some basic misinformation, and the right idea might really help.
Like the guy who came into work one day, muttering about how we don't need "that gay rights crap." I said right, WE don't need it, but 5% or 10% of the population thinks they DO, and how can we justify using the laws to enforce OUR preferences on them, when they're having a hard enough time, knowing how much they're disapproved of by so many to begin with? Where's the harm in letting a few people be different, if it's so important to them? If it bothers us, it's OUR problem, but let's leave 'em be, why not?
This was in a small group, and I thought I saw some re-evaluating going on.
Anyway, thanks for that good thought.