My friend, I would like to remind you as gently as possible that brainwashing does not exist and was in fact an orientalist lie popularized to explain away why US soldiers would support China.

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml -3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, that's a fair point. It's important to keep in mind that people are accepting the propaganda because they want to believe it and they understand that it serves their selfish interests.

[–] GarbageShootAlt2@lemmy.ml 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yes, thank you for being understanding. I think it's better to avoid calling people brainwashed because -- as one liberal in this thread pointed out -- it denies agency which our interlocutors plainly do have which makes them much more responsible for their bad epistemology than the theory of "brainwashing" allows for.

If we want to persuade people -- and I've seen that you have incredible enthusiasm for that cause! -- we must do our best to meet them where they actually are rather than where we imagine them to be.

I'll get off my soapbox here, I just wanted to mention it. I wish you all the best in your efforts!

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml -4 points 11 months ago

👍