What to do if you meet an extremist?

#111

My Dear Friend of Democracy, 

Do you sometimes meet an extremist or a conspiracy "theorist"? 

People who believe there is a particular type of contrail used to intentionally release toxic chemicals and additives around the world? People who think that people from other cultures are second-class citizens? People who believe that elites made up the Corona pandemic and that these elites want to suppress the people and bring them into line?

What do you do when you encounter such people? Change the subject? Be confrontational?

Here are the two rules I try to follow.

First, I speak my mind. These people should not think that their opinions are common and accepted. I show them that they are not by speaking out my opinion. That is the least I can do—show my colors.

Secondly, if I have more time, I do something else. Then, I speak my mind, if at all, at the end of the conversation. Before that, I try to question the opinion of the person I'm talking to by asking why they think what they say makes sense and how they think contradictory aspects fit together. If you ask honest questions, you can sometimes get the other person to ask themselves these questions. 

At least sometimes.

Whatever you do, leaving xenophobic thinking and conspiracy "theories" uncommented is not an option. It would encourage those people to believe that more and more people think like them and that their views have become common sense. 

It must never get that far.

See you in Europe, 

Johannes