The Backfire Effect

[NellieRose]

Science tries to explain how/why conservatives overlook facts and follow misleading information...even going as far as believing the misleading info MORE when new information shows the original information provided to be false or wrong.


MotherJones.com (http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2008/09/the_backfire_effect.html): http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2008/09/the_backfire_effect.html


WashingtonPost.com (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/14/AR2008091402375_pf.html): http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/14/AR2008091402375_pf.html

A somewhat satirical article from Gawker (http://gawker.com/5052329/scientists-explain-why-people-vote-for-republicans) on the subject citing multiple reports: http://gawker.com/5052329/scientists-explain-why-people-vote-for-republicans

[Scorpiosue1102]

Interesting read.

[Amanda Rockwell]

Are you kidding me? I sincerely hope you're joking. If not.....

One of those "writers" needs to have someone proof read before they publish their articles.

[mama_pajama]

I don't need scientists to show that this happens, I see it all the time. Trying to get my very well-educated yet very conservative mother and in-laws to let go of the misleading information is like bashing my head against a wall.

[txmusicmom]

So all of us are in that category if we're conservative?

:eek

:shrug

[mama_pajama]

So all of us are in that category if we're conservative?

:eek

:shrug

I just want to say for the record, I do not think all conservatives are like this. But I do experience a lot of frustration when dealing with people who are like this, and in my personal experience with my family, these people are conservatives.

[Hollie]

Honestly, I did not read these articles. However, I can say that this is something that is not isolated to people who hold conservative views. This type of thing can be seen among any group of people that hold distinct views. It does not characterize everyone in any group, though. I would really consider this thread inflammatory. It appears to target a group of people here in our DST community, not some politician or idea. I am not sure I understand the goal of this thread.

[BrendaJ]

:rofl2 That's so funny!!

[BrendaJ]

Oh, you weren't joking.

[Amanda Rockwell]

Exactly Hollie. I let an immediate reaction out, when this is really what I was thinking.

Honestly, what really comes to mind is, hypocrisy. The biggest form I've yet to see in this forum.

[Lena Brandenburg]

What a great big load of crap.

[Tiffikat]

I would say it's true, just not simply only for conservatives. If you read the second article it gives a few examples where Democrats did the exact same thing. I do think perhaps the thread should not have been specifically pointed at conservatives.

[MommySpice]

I would say it's true, just not simply only for conservatives. If you read the second article it gives a few examples where Democrats did the exact same thing. I do think perhaps the thread should not have been specifically pointed at conservatives.

My sentiments exactly. :) It happens in ALL groups of people, not just conservatives.

[Tiffikat]

Vickie I hope you'll notice that the majority of people responding to this do not agree with the thread being directed at conservatives.

[Glueless Media]

Vickie I hope you'll notice that the majority of people responding to this do not agree with the thread being directed at conservatives.

Why yes Tiffany I do:) . I read the articles and then responded before even reading the rest of the comments. My remark is in response to the original poster.:)

[NellieRose]

Honestly, I did not read these articles. However, I can say that this is something that is not isolated to people who hold conservative views. This type of thing can be seen among any group of people that hold distinct views. It does not characterize everyone in any group, though. I would really consider this thread inflammatory. It appears to target a group of people here in our DST community, not some politician or idea. I am not sure I understand the goal of this thread.

You are absolutely right that this type of response can be seen in many areas or groups of people. The articles cited were those that studied "conservatives" and "liberals" so I found it fitting to share it in this Forum....both groups studied were effected so in turn I would be targeting myself as I have been labeled a "liberal".

Regarding the Q&A with the Staff Writers for the Washington Post they answer readers questions regarding the story/study and it is quite interesting.

I am sure if we go looking we could find this type of study as it applies to other groups.

Again, the Gawker article as stated is somewhat satirical and people are free to take away from my original post what they chose to, I didn't participate int he separate studies noted, just found it interesting as I can not understanding why someone continues to believe a non-truth....food for thought and a look into Human Nature.

[Hollie]

Science tries to explain how/why conservatives overlook facts and follow misleading information...


You are absolutely right that this type of response can be seen in many areas or groups of people. The articles cited were those that studied "conservatives" and "liberals" so I found it fitting to share it in this Forum....both groups studied were effected so in turn I would be targeting myself as I have been labeled a "liberal".

Did you accidentally leave that out of the OP then, as quoted above? I was really confused as to the point of the thread, and surprised as well. I didn't think you truly meant to be divisive, but the way this read, it was hard not to see it that way. KWIM?

[NellieRose]

Did you accidentally leave that out of the OP then, as quoted above? I was really confused as to the point of the thread, and surprised as well. I didn't think you truly meant to be divisive, but the way this read, it was hard not to see it that way. KWIM?

I know what you mean and did NOT forget to leave that out...I was just going with the headline of the story/studies.....in retrospect I should have ADDED that thought to avoid some being offended. ;)

[movefearlessly]

it's difficult for some people to overcome a lifetime of indoctrination. for the record - i'm not saying this occurs more in conservatives or liberals. i truly believe the very first problem is the labels we slap on one another. and, since in my heart of hearts i believe in conspiracies of all kinds (yes, i have a hat made of tinfoil!), i think the labeling is one of the ways those who really benefit from such indoctrination start their dirty work. they sure don't like it much when we start to think for ourselves.

take this example: how did Charles Manson so effectively indoctrinate a group of people that they were willing to follow through on some extraordinarily heinous crimes? labeling. us vs. them. i listen to his interviews over the years and think "are you KIDDING me? what a loon!" but they believed - even years afterward, in the face of all logic and reason. it took many years of separation from him and reeducation (re-indoctrination?) for those individuals to come out of the fog.

labels. bad.

[Hollie]

I know what you mean and did NOT forget to leave that out...I was just going with the headline of the story/studies.....in retrospect I should have ADDED that thought to avoid some being offended. ;)

No problem. Thank you for clearing it up:)

[NellieRose]

it's difficult for some people to overcome a lifetime of indoctrination. for the record - i'm not saying this occurs more in conservatives or liberals. i truly believe the very first problem is the labels we slap on one another. and, since in my heart of hearts i believe in conspiracies of all kinds (yes, i have a hat made of tinfoil!), i think the labeling is one of the ways those who really benefit from such indoctrination start their dirty work. they sure don't like it much when we start to think for ourselves.

take this example: how did Charles Manson so effectively indoctrinate a group of people that they were willing to follow through on some extraordinarily heinous crimes? labeling. us vs. them. i listen to his interviews over the years and think "are you KIDDING me? what a loon!" but they believed - even years afterward, in the face of all logic and reason. it took many years of separation from him and reeducation (re-indoctrination?) for those individuals to come out of the fog.

labels. bad.

Roxanna I love that you are a conspiracy theorist and have the obligatory "tinfoil hat"! :giggle

Earlier today in a conversation the discussion of "labels" came up and while it was heated, the points on all sides were quite interesting.

[Hollie]

Great points. Very interesting!

it's difficult for some people to overcome a lifetime of indoctrination. for the record - i'm not saying this occurs more in conservatives or liberals. i truly believe the very first problem is the labels we slap on one another. and, since in my heart of hearts i believe in conspiracies of all kinds (yes, i have a hat made of tinfoil!), i think the labeling is one of the ways those who really benefit from such indoctrination start their dirty work. they sure don't like it much when we start to think for ourselves.

take this example: how did Charles Manson so effectively indoctrinate a group of people that they were willing to follow through on some extraordinarily heinous crimes? labeling. us vs. them. i listen to his interviews over the years and think "are you KIDDING me? what a loon!" but they believed - even years afterward, in the face of all logic and reason. it took many years of separation from him and reeducation (re-indoctrination?) for those individuals to come out of the fog.

labels. bad.

[movefearlessly]

Roxanna I love that you are a conspiracy theorist and have the obligatory "tinfoil hat"! :giggle

Earlier today in a conversation the discussion of "labels" came up and while it was heated, the points on all sides were quite interesting.

oh, i bet. wanna make me REAL mad REAL quick? label me! and i think most people are the same way. who wants to feel predictable, or be painted into a box?

my husband, BTW, does not appreciate the charm of me seeing conspiracies everywhere. he thinks i watch too much TV. probably right, too!

[dgreenshield]

[quote=NellieRose;1553221]Science tries to explain how/why conservatives overlook facts and follow misleading information...even going as far as believing the misleading info MORE when new information shows the original information provided to be false or wrong.

I did not read the articles because I found the statement above to be offensive. Overlooking facts, reading misleading information, looking for alternative explainations occurs in many groups from conservatives to liberals. We can find information to support liberal, conservative and independent views on any issue.

[kinderkim]

it's difficult for some people to overcome a lifetime of indoctrination. for the record - i'm not saying this occurs more in conservatives or liberals. i truly believe the very first problem is the labels we slap on one another. and, since in my heart of hearts i believe in conspiracies of all kinds (yes, i have a hat made of tinfoil!), i think the labeling is one of the ways those who really benefit from such indoctrination start their dirty work. they sure don't like it much when we start to think for ourselves.

take this example: how did Charles Manson so effectively indoctrinate a group of people that they were willing to follow through on some extraordinarily heinous crimes? labeling. us vs. them. i listen to his interviews over the years and think "are you KIDDING me? what a loon!" but they believed - even years afterward, in the face of all logic and reason. it took many years of separation from him and reeducation (re-indoctrination?) for those individuals to come out of the fog.

labels. bad.

Absolutely. Labels cause so many unnecessary problems in our world.

I've always refused to align myself with a political party, and after trying to come to a determination of how to vote in this election, I have a rip-roaring headache, a whole new cynical outlook on politics, and one impossible wish: a party-free political system. What I wouldn't give to just have a choice of individual candidates minus all the party rhetoric. How awesome would it be to choose who you think is best for President and then have that same choice on VP?

For now, I'm still stuck trying to figure out where all the candidates really stand, but it's getting awfully hard to do that when having to wade through all the attacks and mud-slinging :( I never thought I'd say this, but I'm ready to throw my hands up in defeat and not vote at all :blush

[Amanda Rockwell]

Thank you for clarifying, Jayne!

I agree on the labels. Unfortunately it's something we all do. It doesn't just go with politics either. I have an obsession with purses, so I know how much certain purses cost. If I see someone with a couple of the purses I've had my eyes on, I assume they have a lot of money. It's silly because I don't have a lot of money, yet I will gladly save up and buy a purse when I am able, and it's ok to do so. It seems like a silly comparison, but it just goes to show how we label people on a daily basis and don't even realize it.

It's really hard to lump people together when it comes to politics because that's not always the case. Many people don't consider themselves conservative or liberal, yet they hold more values of one party.

Maybe it's time to have one party for president and another for VP. I wonder if that would be more attractive for people.

[NellieRose]

Thank you for clarifying, Jayne!

I agree on the labels. Unfortunately it's something we all do. It doesn't just go with politics either. I have an obsession with purses, so I know how much certain purses cost. If I see someone with a couple of the purses I've had my eyes on, I assume they have a lot of money. It's silly because I don't have a lot of money, yet I will gladly save up and buy a purse when I am able, and it's ok to do so. It seems like a silly comparison, but it just goes to show how we label people on a daily basis and don't even realize it.

It's really hard to lump people together when it comes to politics because that's not always the case. Many people don't consider themselves conservative or liberal, yet they hold more values of one party.

Maybe it's time to have one party for president and another for VP. I wonder if that would be more attractive for people.

Holy crow....were you eavesdropping on us????? :D

The handbag thing makes for a good analogy...we were dicussing how the brain is automatically sizing up situations/people even though you aren't actually necessarily aware of it and how in the end we are really labeling everything around us....it was so interesting to hear all the thoughts.

[NellieRose]

[quote=NellieRose;1553221]Science tries to explain how/why conservatives overlook facts and follow misleading information...even going as far as believing the misleading info MORE when new information shows the original information provided to be false or wrong.

I did not read the articles because I found the statement above to be offensive. Overlooking facts, reading misleading information, looking for alternative explainations occurs in many groups from conservatives to liberals. We can find information to support liberal, conservative and independent views on any issue.

If you read a few posts above yours this was all hashed out...no harm, no foul. ;)

[Amanda Rockwell]

I'm wearing my psychic pants today :D LOL

[Hollie]

Absolutely. Labels cause so many unnecessary problems in our world.

I've always refused to align myself with a political party, and after trying to come to a determination of how to vote in this election, I have a rip-roaring headache, a whole new cynical outlook on politics, and one impossible wish: a party-free political system. What I wouldn't give to just have a choice of individual candidates minus all the party rhetoric. How awesome would it be to choose who you think is best for President and then have that same choice on VP?

For now, I'm still stuck trying to figure out where all the candidates really stand, but it's getting awfully hard to do that when having to wade through all the attacks and mud-slinging :( I never thought I'd say this, but I'm ready to throw my hands up in defeat and not vote at all :blush

Wow--I feel the exact same way! Except that I *will* vote. Even if I do a write in.

[snaggletooth75]

LOL Amanda on the purses. I too have an obsession and am constantly saying I wish i had her money yet I dont know how she bought it. It could have been a gift for all I know :lol:lol
I wish there was some way to mesh both parties ideals into one! Would make it alot easier come election day.

Thank you for clarifying, Jayne!

I agree on the labels. Unfortunately it's something we all do. It doesn't just go with politics either. I have an obsession with purses, so I know how much certain purses cost. If I see someone with a couple of the purses I've had my eyes on, I assume they have a lot of money. It's silly because I don't have a lot of money, yet I will gladly save up and buy a purse when I am able, and it's ok to do so. It seems like a silly comparison, but it just goes to show how we label people on a daily basis and don't even realize it.

It's really hard to lump people together when it comes to politics because that's not always the case. Many people don't consider themselves conservative or liberal, yet they hold more values of one party.

Maybe it's time to have one party for president and another for VP. I wonder if that would be more attractive for people.