Navigating Intellectual Conversations with Trump Supporters: A Real-Life Journey

Hello everyone, today I want to discuss an experience I had firsthand when attempting to initiate intellectually honest conversations with Trump supporters. This journey has been enlightening, but it's not without its challenges. Let's explore the three main issues you might encounter and offer some advice on how to handle them.

Problem One: Intellectual Honesty

The term "intellectual honesty" is often fraught with tension when dealing with Trump supporters. Trump's supporters frequently rely on a timeline filled with misinformation, logical fallacies, and conspiracy theories. Here are a few items you might encounter:

Logical Fallacies: They will spout a laundry list of quotes and arguments that can be traced back to the Logical Fallacy Index. Keeping a pocket guide or bingo cards can help you stay on top of these common and often recycled tropes. Unsubstantiated Claims: This includes the assertion that the Earth is flat, the claim that the moon landing was a hoax, and oddly enough, they might just tell you that "Europe is somewhere." These are not only false but also serve to undermine the foundation of logical discourse.

Problem Two: Deceptive Conversations

Contrary to the idea of a conversation, supporters of Trump often repeat talking points and use "whataboutisms." A "whataboutism" is an evasion tactic where someone responds to a criticism by shifting the focus to another problem. This kind of interaction does not lead to meaningful conversation or understanding. Instead, they repeat the same baseless claims daily, reinforcing a version of reality that is far from reality.

Personal Anecdote

My first encounter with one of these dynamics occurred on election night. The individual confronted me, saying, "If you say anything bad about the new president, I'll kill you." This was in Brooklyn, where tensions are already high. Another person was even told that the only way to run a business was to win the lottery and use the money to ensure everyone gets paid. This business model is completely flawed and hinged on a series of baseless assumptions.

Our discourse quickly shifted to the Russian interference in the election. Faced with this reality-check, I asked, "So about Russia?" His response was, "Cool, I guess." Sadly, despite proving a myriad of false claims wrong, the conversation still felt like a losing battle. Despite recognizing Trump as a liar and a knucklehead, they believed he was a great president as long as he didn't take away their Second Amendment rights. This episode highlighted the absurdity of some of their beliefs and actions.

Conclusion and Advice

We are supposed to be a society of ideas, and these ideas are debated peacefully. But we are seeing a trend where people are trying to suppress ideas based on personal beliefs. This will only lead to resentment and ultimately, a less informed and more trusting society.

Here are a few pointers to consider when engaging with Trump supporters:

Stay focused on the facts and avoid debates that are more about emotional reactions than logical reasoning. Keep a pocket guide handy to recognize and address common logical fallacies. Encourage a more respectful and intellectually honest debate by maintaining clear boundaries and avoiding the "whataboutism" tactic.

It's a challenge, but perhaps by sharing these insights, we can contribute to a more informed and civil discourse. Remember, sometimes the hardest part of the journey starts with taking the first step.