We joke about this, but I have come to realize that this business of people believing things against all evidence and common sense has become an all too common form of "mass hysteria."
In the instant case, he cited the exact number of slaves (16) which the New Jersey state site said waited to be freed by the 1/23/1866 NJ ratification of the 13th Amendment; and within two days is back to stating New Jersey had no slaves that needed freeing by the 13th Amendment. He knows the exact number and chooses to ignore his own evidence when he feels like it.
We are living in an "Emperor's New Clothes" society and people have lost the ability to think rationally. They simply accept what the leading voices in society tell them without resorting to any critical thinking of their own.
The education system, if it can be called that, has failed its mission of teaching the three R's and critical thinking; but apparently has been quite successful at the new mission of indoctrination in idiocracy.
People are all too willing to believe insane things, and will deny any evidence which shows them otherwise.
How about a snake oil salesman who promises 3.5T of snake oil with a zero dollar cost plan? Can any rational person believe that? Some believe the government can give away free money with no consequences. Inflation is the evidence that will serve as a wakeup call—just a bit late.
We seem to be doing positively wonderful compared to Australia. Citizens, give up your guns and you will all be safe. If they ever get out of lockdown, perhaps they will adopt an Aussie equivalent of the 2nd Amendment. We have a growing contingent that believe the nonsense that 2A does not protect an individual right.
What American history class teaches anything even approximating a true and accurate retelling of the events surrounding the adoption (or pronouncement of adoption) of the 13th and 14th amendments?
For some folks who have believed a falsehood all their life, perceived evidence to the contrary is what seems insane. The falsehood has become their reality. They are conditioned to defend their belief, even where it makes no sense to others.
Ah, so you've met BroJoeK? :)
I made the same point to him years ago. Since they still had slaves in northern states, you can't claim to have abolished slavery. The existence of slaves means you still have slavery. It isn't gone yet.
The education system, if it can be called that, has failed its mission of teaching the three R's and critical thinking; but apparently has been quite successful at the new mission of indoctrination in idiocracy.
I think it is a combination of things, and the primary component is prosperity. It not only induces people to indulge idiocy, it creates the situation where incompetent unqualified people are tolerated as "teachers."
I believe the old adage, "Hard times make Hard Men" applies. When life is harder and mistakes have painful consequences, people are less willing to make or tolerate foolishness. We are becoming victims of our own success through the promulgation and indulgence of stupidity, and this is because the consequences to foolish thinking aren't serious... yet.
For some folks who have believed a falsehood all their life, perceived evidence to the contrary is what seems insane.
This. I have been having a recent conversation with another freeper to whom I believe this concept applies exactly.
The falsehood has become their reality. They are conditioned to defend their belief, even where it makes no sense to others.
I saw a very good meme circulating on another website. Some Actress bimbo opines that "Men shouldn't have opinions on abortion because men don't get pregnant."
Someone writes below her comment: "Well nowadays men get pregnant too."
:)