A useful link

[sholio]

I haven't actually tried this in the real world, but I found this link on convincing reluctant friends/family to get the vaccine extremely helpful.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/20/opinion/covid-19-vaccine-chatbot.html

(Goes to NYTimes, so might be paywalled.)

It's in the form of an interactive chatbot where you pick answers and then see how that plays out. Obviously real-world results may vary. But I think it's not just useful for talking about Covid, but other political topics as well - at least, with someone you want to convince, whose mind you have some hope of changing. And what it made me realize is that most of your reactions in a situation like that are wrong. You don't want to try to pressure them; appeal to their sense of duty, responsibility, or shame; or dazzle them with statistics. Apparently what works best (and I've heard this other places, too, for talking about political topics) is to ask them exactly what they're worried about, listen and restate that back at them, and then basically cushion the worry with a lot of reassurance and a few carefully chosen, simple and reassuring statistics on the parts of it they're worried about. Some people might want more information after that. But apparently what most people want is just to be listened to and reassured and have their worry taken seriously, and then they're a lot more open to listening to you in return.

Comments

[anna_wing]

I had unexpected success, quite unintentionally, by casually dismissing the concern raised as being one shared by a group of people whom my interlocutor particularly disdained. A totally non-reason-based approach, which nonetheless actually got through just long enough for a more evidence-based follow-up to register.

[sheron]

I mean I think this is true for most people. When you think the other party doesn't understand your concerns you can't really trust what they're saying. Anyway, I haven't read the article yet, let's see...

[calandrahunter]

"But apparently what most people want is just to be listened to and reassured and have their worry taken seriously, and then they're a lot more open to listening to you in return."

That tracks with conspiracy theorists in general - a lot of that also stems from insecurity, so if being listened to helps them feel more secure, they may in turn be more receptive to listening themselves.