this post was submitted on 17 Feb 2025
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How to "deprogram" people? (lemmygrad.ml)
submitted 2 weeks ago by borschtisgarbo@lemmygrad.ml to c/asklemmygrad@lemmygrad.ml
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It just feels so hard. People constantly complain about their material conditions, yet when someone comes to them with Marx-Engels, they immediately brush it off. They are more keen on falling to mysticism and far-right ideology, in regards to "solutions". I know you cannot convince people by debating them, you can only make yourself feel good when you "win", but otherwise you are likely only making them less likely to latch on to socialism. Still, I don't know how to approach this. How do I convince them? Do I constantly, in every conversation about how the grocery prices are too high, mention the theories of Marx? Do I just sit around until they, on their own accord, pick up Capital or even just the Manifesto?

Whaddoido?

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[–] cimbazarov@lemmygrad.ml 15 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I feel you, it's difficult as hell. The most success I've ever had was someone admitting I was right about something. Never actually "converted" someone though.

I guess we just have to accept there's not going to be a single conversation that's going to change someone's opinion. Mostly we have to meet people where they are at, otherwise they aren't even going to listen to what you have to say. Some form of Socratic dialogue I think is a good approach. I see the best I can do is plant seeds in their minds, and whether they grow into something will depend on the contradictions playing out in society and onto their consciousness.

Another thing I've noticed is people seem to be most open for solutions in places they are most vulnerable.