[_bxg1]

I feel so powerless against this terrifying trend. All I can do is try to insulate myself from misinformation and inflammatory content - which is hard enough - but I have close relatives who positively eat it up without even thinking twice about taking a critical eye. I've tried engaging them on it and encouraging healthy skepticism, and it's been entirely fruitless. The average person seems to have zero capacity to reflect on and be aware of their own biases and emotions and how those affect their judgement and are affected by their environment.

I'm just so frustrated and exhausted. It's hard not to lose all hope for humanity in times like these.

[jakeogh]

How do you insulate yourself while engaging them? I have a similar problem, close people who are imho thoroughly insulated, and that's the real issue; the insulation. It's not an accident or organic, it's induced. The information sources they trust relentlessly remind them to be insulated.

It's rather advanced propaganda, almost completely done with insinuation and emotional cues based on lies previously anchored.

Skipping the pre-chewed information sources by going directly to the sources that their trusted sources often mention but do not link to causes an emotional reaction.

[bg4]

I agree with you entirely and I'm rather anxious that this will only accelerate until there is devastating tragedy in the world.

[blhack]

Maybe your model for the state of humanity is being manipulated by people who stand to make a profit by making you feel this way.

[linuxftw]

> The average person seems to have zero capacity to reflect on and be aware of their own biases and emotions and how those affect their judgement and are affected by their environment.

I totally agree. The only option is to oppose democracy, it's immoral. The unaccountable masses of idiots have done nothing but help enrich and consolidate power for the political class.