It’s very rare that someone will ever change their mind on the spot because of something you said. What is more likely to happen is that they may go away and think about it privately and only slowly come around to what you were trying to tell them. Maybe even years later! Don’t focus on changing minds, focus on planting the seeds that can sprout into changed minds.
It’s also a good idea to get comfortable with the fact that you may never see the fruits of that seed. You may never find out if the person did change their mind or how it impacted them or those around them. You never know who is listening quietly from the sidelines and thinking about what you're saying. You're unlikely to ever be thanked or given anycredit. So rather than focusing on an outcome (changing their mind, winning the debate), simply focus on being a good steward of your beliefs and ideas.
@Philosophi_Cat UGH, but isn't it so unnerving when they act like it was their original thought? my sister did this all the time to me, it just made me resent her in the end
@Philosophi_Cat Yes, agreed . Plant seeds. People don’t change overnight, it’s a gradual process. They have to piece everything together themselves as new facts emerge and events confirm what you say, they start noticing. You can’t undo a lifetimes mind control in a few seconds.
@Philosophi_Cat The ancient philosophers knew that the best way to plant seeds of change in the mind is to ask questions that lead to specific answers.
@Philosophi_Cat When I got fired and had to change careers for not getting vaxxed, a coworker that I argued with said, "I may not agree with you yet, but you are the only person I know that truly stands by what he believes" Curious where he's at now
@Philosophi_Cat I had an exchange with someone on here once and two months later he commented and told me he’d been thinking about what I said and that it had made a big difference for him. I thought that was really sweet, you never know who is paying attention and how your words can impact them
@Philosophi_Cat it seems in general we tend to hold what is best or truthful in our eyes. other people are a short cut, one of the ways we might stand on the shoulders of giants... but that depends on what you plant in the garden of your soul.