No amount of evidence will ever persuade an idiot.

MARK TWAIN

When was the last time that you tried to convince someone who would not listen to fact or reason?

What was that experience like?

Did you find a way to clearly communicate the facts, without prejudice, regardless of their inability to be susceptible to any form of logic?

Did you use some hypnotic potion or spell in order to get your point across?

Of course you didn’t, because you are engaging with someone who does not have the tools for critical thinking at their disposal, thus leaving you continuously at war with whatever influential stimulation that has previously spun them into that frame of mind.

Independent of anything you may possibly say, explain, demonstrate or project, you will always be face-to-face with a resolute mindset that has been entirely predicated upon incomplete, and in some cases non-factual information.

This apparently indomitable wall of confusion that you are trying to penetrate is so firmly cast in stone as to eradicate every quality that your intelligence wishes to leverage; and which ultimately levels the playing field to your word versus their preconceived notion, in which all of your efforts, and all of your energies will ultimately be dismissed in favor of whatever concept so readily provides them comfort in their ecosphere.

When we are working to create a disparate reality in the mind of another under these circumstances, we would be well to remember that such a disparate reality is a complete break from everything that they have come to believe to be true and without training in any form of critical thinking or reasoning on their end, we are merely reduced to the concept (in their mind) of a shrieking voice, trying to persuade them with no basis (in their estimation of us) upon which to stand.

It would be more productive to smash your head into a brick wall than to expend any serious amount of time or energy trying to convince them otherwise.

I used to believe that it was only critical thinking and logic that precluded another party from listening to reason and ultimately potentially changing their mind. I love a spirited debate and there are many times when I discover that my opinion is faulty, or distorted because I am speaking with someone I respect, and I am continuously learning. But the truth is that there is more than a lack of critical thinking on their side of the issue. There is also a social agenda disparity that weighs heavily on what they perceive to be true.

At some point, you just have to accept that there is no solution to this problem and you have to simply let go and either appreciate them as the person that they are without judgement, or you may opt to remove yourself from their presence.

Spending any additional time working to convince them, is a complete waste of valuable time and energy. Skip the debate next time. Don’t comment on the social media thread. Let it go.

Happy Friday!