Even pollsters now agree that debate doesn’t affect beliefs. Despite this nearly universal understanding, advocates and activists continue to push for “open debate” and “free speech”. They insist “the best answer to bad speech is good speech”.
What really changes minds is EXPERIENCE.
New thought: When was I able to change my mind about imperialism, specifically neocon anti-Islam imperialism? I was able to change after I turned off the TV and radio.
In other words, LESS input and LESS fake debate and LESS speech gave me the internal room to remember my own sane past beliefs, and examine my actual experience.
As long as I was exposed to “debate” and “good speech”, I was stuck in the channels defined by the “good speech”.
The solution to bad speech is silence. Stopping bullies and forcing broadcasters to avoid fake debates leaves the field open for people to talk and think and remember.
Polistra's Mill 