Speaking to the Ignorant

[Politician168023]

Hello, long time no see.... I had a lot of work recently - doh!

Anyways, here is my question:

What's the best way to speak to self-confessed ignorant people?

Consider this problem, if you will...

I am a vegetarian.

(I watched the news when I was 9 years old, realised that some animals had been comodified and being kinda sceptical about the quality of other commodified goods, and understanding the evils of humankind, decided that these animals were treated in cruel ways through our strange addition with making things faster and cheaper).

I don't believe that eating meat is wrong, I simply believe that torturing animals is wrong. (I'm not talking about the killing process - I'm talking mainly about the farming methods) Anyways - this is not a debate on vegitarianism or farming methods - nor do I wish it to become one, if you want to know about those things then do your own research (ie. think for yourself Schmuck )

OK so back to the question. I guy @ work asked me about being vegge today - and i replied with the above reason. His response was "They don't do that in this country" so I replied by sending him a couple of web links and a video which proves that they do. I titled the email "Eat this". He responded by saying "No, eat this" and posted a pic of a burger. I said words to the effect of "It is not because men’s desires are strong that they act ill; it's because their conscience is weak". He then replied again by saying "I am weak willed and have little to no morals or conscience". So, I say to him that "Lack of intelligence also… as those who think, think." And he responds with "No time to think too busy eating cows and seals and bears".

So, the man is into his music - I post him the lyrics to 2 songs about Ignorance and Narcissism (for those of you interested, Get the shot by Attitude, and Reflection by Tool)

And his response is the lyrics to Sesame Street..... see where we are going here? .....That's right, nowhere!

I reply with "Happy smackhead! Pass the needle plix!"

and he says nothing.



So, after this massive post and explaination.

What do *you* think is the best way to communicate with people who are self-confessed ignorant?

Please note: In your reply please refrain from talking about vegetarianism, this will distract from the point of the arguement. Please also note that I was not trying to pass judgement on the guy for eating meat, nor was I trying to pass my viewpoint on to him. What I wanted to do was to show him *what actually happens* so that he could then decide for himself =)

[Politician168023]

I would like to post in response to this 2 links as points of interest:

http://www.deardrkristi.com/?p=7

http://deoxy.org/8_larvals.htm

[Payne]

Hmmmm. I tend not to communicate with people who WANT to be ignorant. It's their choice after all, and it will provide me with lail when then self pwn.

I have to say though that my responses to you would have been somewhat similar

[Cain]

My general rule of thumb is if you can't sway them through reasoned argument, then work off emotions, lies, rhetoric, appeals to fallacies etc to bring them around.

[Payne]

I think my sig is appropriate. Not the fisting Bono bit, the actual quote.

Though fisting Bono is always appropriate, regardless of circumstance.

[Politician168023]

I like it Nice quote

[e]

"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." - Mark Twain

[Cramulus]

It sounds like you're hitting a brick wall because he just doesn't care. I think you're being trolled. He can remain callously passive and unmoved, and is perhaps amused by the energy you're spending trying to change his mind.

I mean, if you came up to me with that shtick I'd probably brush you off too. If he were interested in debating with you about veggie-ism, you'd have a foothold. He'd be at least somewhat receptive. But I mean, if someone came up to me and tried to debate about, say, some facet of celebrity gossip, I couldn't care less. "Well don't you want to be informed?", "No."

And for that matter, what does it matter if he's ignorant about one of your personal choices? It doesn't really affect him, right? Unless your goal is to get him to embrace vegitarianism... well, that's a horse of another color

[P3nT4gR4m]

Ignorant people are not for communicating with.

Ignorant people are for conning out of cash

EOT

[e]

Ignorant people are not for communicating with.

Ignorant people are for conning out of cash

Perhaps tell him you've converted to a meatitarian and offer to buy him burgers for lunch one day with his own money.  And then give him a salad!  Oh, the trickery.

[Politician168023]

Well he started the conversation... firstly he asked me about being a vegge.

Secondly, this guy is some work collegue... he "seems" clever enough, but I don't know him. So I couldnt really make a judgement, and didnt know he was ignorant until he told me he was.



Edit: People often like to have the ability to explain complex phenomena in simple terms, in the interests of communication.

In the interest of communication, I would love to be able to find the 'hook' with this guy and not pass on my opinion, just some basic info.

[hunter s.durden]

Fuck you, I love meat.

[Thurnez Isa]

I say you club him then eat him

oh wait you dont eat meat

[P3nT4gR4m]

You could wear the skin thos.

Assuming you're not a vegan

[AFK]

I'd say give it up, you're not going to get anywhere with this.  I mean you're talking about a basic of life, consumption.  He likes meat, so he's going to eat meat.  I imagine he was curious about vegetarianism on some level, but it was a novel interest.  That is, he wasn't asking because he would ever consider being vegetarian. 

That doesn't mean you can't communicate with this person, it probably does mean you can't communicate with him on this topic.  I'd say let it die, and go eat a bacon cheeseburger.  They are delicious!